Securities Act File No. 333-151672
Investment Company Act File No. 811-22208
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | x | |||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ¨ | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 | x |
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | x | |||
Amendment No. 101 | x |
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)
Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code: (317) 917-7000
Capitol Services, Inc.
1675 S. State St., Suite B, Dover, Delaware 19901
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With Copies to:
John H. Lively
The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc.
A member firm of The 1940 Act Law Group
11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Ste. 310
Leawood, KS 66221
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
¨ | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b); |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b); |
x | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1); |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1); |
¨ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2); or |
¨ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485. |
If appropriate, check the following box:
¨ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (SMIDX)
PROSPECTUS
February 21, 2013
11135 Baker Hollow Road
Columbus, IN 47201
(877) 764-3863
(877) SMI-Fund
www.smifund.com
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS |
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The SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (the Fund) seeks total return. Total return is composed of both income and capital appreciation.
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)
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of the amount redeemed within 60 days of purchase) |
2.00 | % | ||
Fee for Redemptions Paid by Wire |
$ | 15.00 |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees |
1.00 | % | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees |
0.00 | % | ||
Other Expenses 1 |
0.54 | % | ||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 1 |
0.45 | % | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
1.99 | % | ||
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Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement 2 |
(0.09 | %) | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses, After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement |
1.90 | % |
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Estimated for first year of operations. |
2 |
The Adviser contractually has agreed to waive its fee and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to maintain Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, dividend expense on short sales, 12b-1 fees, and acquired fund fees and expenses) at 1.45% of the Funds average daily net assets through February 28, 2014. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years in which the expense was incurred, provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the expense limitation. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. |
Expense 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 that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. Only the 1 year number shown below reflects the Advisers agreement to waive fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
1 year |
3 years |
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$193 |
$616 |
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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 annual operating expenses or in the Example, above, affect the Funds performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund uses a dynamic asset allocation investment strategy to achieve its investment objective. This is done by investing in securities from the following six asset classes U.S. Equities, International Equities, Fixed Income Securities, Real Estate, Precious Metals, and Cash. Markets experience times of inflation, deflation, economic growth and recession. The Funds adviser, SMI Advisory Services, LLC (the Adviser) believes great value can be added by adjusting portfolio exposure between the six asset classes as changes in market environments are identified. Generally, the Adviser will invest in each of the three best asset classes as determined by the Adviser. The factors considered in determining which asset classes are best at a particular point in time include, but are not limited to each classs total returns for the most recent one, three, six, and twelve months, changes in those returns, asset flows, and historical volatility. The Adviser periodically rebalances the Funds asset allocation in response to market conditions as well as to balance the Funds exposure to the chosen asset classes. The Funds investment strategy involves active trading, which may result in a high portfolio turnover rate. The Fund obtains its exposure to the particular asset classes by investing in the instruments below:
U.S. Equities Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (collectively, underlying funds) that invest primarily in the equity securities of companies located in the United States. The underlying funds may invest in companies of any market capitalization. The Fund may also invest directly in such companies. The Fund may also utilize derivatives, such as investing in futures contracts.
International Equities International equity securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in the equity securities of companies located outside of the United States, including issuers located in emerging market countries. The underlying funds may invest in companies of any market capitalization. The Fund may also invest directly in such companies. The Fund may also utilize derivatives, such as investing in futures contracts.
Fixed Income Securities Fixed Income Securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in fixed income securities of varying maturities and credit qualities including high-risk debt securities (or junk bonds). The underlying funds may invest in fixed income securities denominated in foreign currencies. The underlying funds may also invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts, currency forwards or credit default swap agreements. The Fund may also invest in fixed income securities directly. The Fund may utilize Scout Investments, Inc. through its REAMs Asset Management division (Subadviser) when direct investment in fixed income securities are among the chosen assets.
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To the extent the Fund utilizes the Subadviser to manage the fixed income allocation of the Funds overall assets, the Subadviser attempts to maximize total return over a long-term horizon through opportunistic investing in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities of any duration, such as short-term fixed income securities, U.S. government securities, corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, repurchase agreements, obligations of foreign governments or their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, credit default swaps and credit default swap index products. The Subadvisers fixed income selection process combines top-down interest rate management with bottom-up bond selection using internal research and scenario analysis, focusing on issues the Subadviser believes are undervalued. The Subadviser first establishes the fixed income portfolios duration, typically between two and seven years, based on market conditions then screens issues and identifies which bonds the Subadviser believes will perform the best under the most likely scenario, considering factors such as sector exposures, the Subadvisers outlook for interest rates, fundamental credit analysis and option-adjusted spread analysis. The Subadviser selects fixed income securities for the Funds portfolio based primarily on valuation. The Subadviser constantly monitors the expected returns of the securities in the Fund versus those available in the market that the Subadviser is considering for purchase. The Subadviser will replace securities that it feels are approaching fair market value with those that, according to its analysis, are significantly undervalued. The Fund may buy or sell credit default swap (CDX) contracts. The Fund also may enter into CDX agreements as a buyer or seller, which may include both single name CDX agreements and CDX index products. When the Fund writes CDX contracts, it will segregate cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the notional value of such contracts. The Fund may enter into single name CDX agreements to gain exposure to a particular company when it is more economically attractive to do so rather than purchasing traditional bonds. CDX index products and options thereon allow the Fund to gain broad market exposure but with less company-specific risk than single name CDX agreements. The Sub-Adviser may utilize Treasury futures, which are derivative instruments that are based on U.S. Treasury bonds and notes and that allow investors to protect themselves against volatility in interest rates.
Real Estate Real estate securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in real estate securities. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Precious Metals The Fund may invest in ETFs or other investment companies that invest primarily in precious metals. The Fund may also invest in ETFs or other investment companies that invest in mining and other precious metal related companies. The Fund may also invest in Publicly Traded Partnerships (PTPs) that invest in precious metals. PTPs are traded on stock exchanges or markets such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. They are generally treated as pass-through entities for tax purposes, they do not ordinarily pay income taxes, but pass their earnings on to unit holders.
Cash (and cash equivalents) The Fund will utilize Scout Investments, Inc. through its Reams Asset Management division (Subadviser) when direct investment in cash and cash equivalents are among the chosen assets. The Fund may hold short-term cash instruments including U.S. Treasury securities, repurchase agreements, short-term debt instruments, money market deposit accounts, and money market funds.
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The Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of all management fees and other expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses than other mutual funds that invest directly in securities. Actual expenses are expected to vary with changes in the allocation of the Funds assets among the various underlying funds in which the Fund invests.
For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund will be considered non-diversified, which mean that its portfolio may be comprised of a smaller number of securities than a diversified mutual fund.
All investments involve risks, and the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by any government agency. As with any mutual fund investment, the Funds returns and share price will fluctuate, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Below are some of the specific risks of investing in the Fund. Insofar as the Fund invests in ETFs and other investment companies, such ETFs and other investment companies may be directly subject to the risks described in this section of the prospectus.
Market Risk . The prices of securities held by the Fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.
Management Risk . The Advisers investment approach may fail to produce the intended results. If the Advisers perception of a securitys worth is not realized in the expected time frame, the Funds overall performance may suffer.
Other Investment Company Securities Risks . When the Fund invests in another mutual fund or ETF, the Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by the underlying fund. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. In addition, the Fund may be affected by losses of the underlying funds and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of the underlying funds (such as the use of leverage by the funds). The Fund has no control over the investments and related risks taken by the underlying funds in which it invests. In addition to risks generally associated with investments in investment company securities, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to traditional mutual funds: (i) an ETFs shares may trade at a market price that is above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETFs shares may not develop or be maintained; (iii) the ETF may employ an investment strategy that utilizes high leverage ratios; or (iv) trading of an ETFs shares may be halted if the listing exchanges officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide circuit breakers (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.
Fixed Income Securities Risk . To the extent the Fund invests directly or in other investment companies or ETFs that invest in fixed income securities, the Fund will be subject to fixed income securities risks. While fixed income securities normally fluctuate less in price than
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stocks, there have been extended periods of increases in interest rates that have caused significant declines in fixed income securities prices. The values of fixed income securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.
Credit Risk . The issuer of a fixed income security may not be able to make interest and principal payments when due. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the issuer will default on its obligation.
Change in Rating Risk . If a rating agency gives a debt security a lower rating, the value of the debt security will decline because investors will demand a higher rate of return.
Interest Rate Risk . The value of the Fund may fluctuate based upon changes in interest rates and market conditions. As interest rates increase, the value of the Funds income-producing investments may go down. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value when interest rates rise. Debt obligations with longer maturities typically offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price movements as a result of interest rate changes than debt obligations with shorter maturities.
Duration Risk . Prices of fixed income securities with longer effective maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter effective maturities.
Prepayment Risk . The Fund may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which are subject to fluctuations in yield due to prepayment rates that may be faster or slower than expected.
Income Risk . The Funds income could decline due to falling market interest rates. In a falling interest rate environment, the Fund may be required to invest its assets in lower-yielding securities. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income or yield of the Fund for any particular period.
High-Yield Securities (Junk Bond) Risk . To the extent ETFs or other investment companies in which the Fund invests invest in high-yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as junk bonds), the Fund may be subject to greater levels of interest rate and credit risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. Junk bonds are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuers continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Funds ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, the Fund or an underlying fund may lose its entire investment, which will affect the Funds return.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . The Funds investment strategy may involve active trading, which would result in a high portfolio turnover rate, which may negatively affect performance.
Foreign Securities Risk . The Fund may invest directly or through underlying funds in foreign securities, which are subject to risks not typically associated with domestic securities, such as currency risks, country risks (political, diplomatic, regional conflicts, terrorism, war, social and
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economic instability, currency devaluations and policies that have the effect of limiting or restricting foreign investment or the movement of assets), different trading practices, less government supervision, less publicly available information, limited trading markets and greater volatility. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging or developing countries.
Real Estate Risk . The Fund may invest directly or through underlying funds in real estate securities. Real estate securities are susceptible to the many risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in property values, increases in property taxes, operating expenses, interest rates or competition, overbuilding, changes in zoning laws, or losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred directly by the Fund.
Credit Default Swaps Product Risk . The Fund or the underlying funds may invest in credit default swaps and related instruments, such as credit default swap index products. Credit default swaps and related instruments may involve greater risks than if the Fund or underlying funds invested in the reference obligation directly. These instruments are subject to general market risks, liquidity risks and credit risks, and may result in a loss of value to the Fund. The credit default swap market may be subject to additional regulations in the future.
Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk . Movements in interest rates may quickly and significantly reduce the value of certain types of mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Mortgage- and asset-backed securities can also be subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages and other assets and prepayment risk.
Market Timing Risk. Because the Fund does not consider underlying funds policies and procedures with respect to market timing, performance of the underlying funds may be diluted due to market timing and therefore may affect the performance of the Fund.
S mall- and Mid-Cap Stock Risk . Small- and mid-cap company stocks in which the Fund or the underlying funds may invest tend to be more volatile and less liquid than large company stocks. Small- and mid-cap companies are less widely followed by stock analysts and less information about them is available to investors.
Commodity Risk. Some of the exchange-traded products, funds and other instruments in the Funds portfolio may invest directly or indirectly in physical commodities, such as gold, silver, and other precious materials. Accordingly, the Fund may be affected by changes in commodity prices which can move significantly in short periods of time and be affected by new discoveries or changes in government regulation.
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In August 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it would stop issuing private letter rulings authorizing favorable tax treatment for funds that invest indirectly in commodities or derivatives based upon commodities. The IRS has previously issued a number of private letter rulings to funds in this area, concluding that such investments generate qualifying income for RIC qualification purposes. It is unclear how long this suspension will last. The IRS has not indicated that any previously issued rulings in this area will be affected by this suspension. This suspension of guidance by the IRS means that the tax treatment of such investments is now subject to some uncertainty.
RIC Qualification Risk. To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), the Fund must meet certain income source, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. Among other means of not satisfying the qualifications to be treated as a RIC, the Funds investments in certain ETFs or publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) that invest in or hold physical commodities could cause the Fund to fail the income source component of the RIC requirements. If, in any year, the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any reason and does not use a cure provision, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation and would become (or remain) subject to corporate income tax. The resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Funds net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of distributions.
Publicly Traded Partnership Risk. Publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) are partnerships that may be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. They often own businesses or properties relating to energy, natural resources or real estate. They are generally operated under the supervision of one or more managing partners or members. State law may offer fewer protections from enterprise liability to investors in a partnership compared to investors in a corporation. Distribution and management fees may be substantial. Losses are generally considered passive and cannot offset income other than income or gains relating to the same entity. These tax consequences may differ for different types of entities. Many PTPs may operate in certain limited sectors such as, without limitation, energy, natural resources, and real estate, which may be volatile or subject to periodic downturns. Growth may be limited because most cash is paid out to unit holders rather than retained to finance growth. The performance of PTPs may be partly tied to interest rates. Rising interest rates, a poor economy, or weak cash flows are among the factors that can pose significant risks for investments in PTPs. Investments in PTPs also may be relatively illiquid at times.
Derivative Risk. With respect to the equity investments of the Fund, underlying funds may use derivative instruments such as put and call options on stocks and stock indices, and index futures contracts and options thereon. There is no guarantee such strategies will work. If the underlying fund is not successful in employing such instruments in managing its portfolio, the Funds performance will be worse than if it did not invest in underlying funds employing such strategies. Successful use by an underlying fund of options on stock indices, index futures contracts (and options thereon) will be subject to its ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of the securities generally or of a particular market segment. In addition, underlying funds will pay commissions and other costs in connection with such investments, which may increase the Funds expenses and reduce the return. In utilizing certain derivatives, an underlying funds losses are potentially unlimited. Derivative instruments may also involve the risk that other parties to the derivative contract may fail to meet their obligations, which could cause losses.
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With respect to the fixed income portion of the Fund, underlying funds in which the Fund invests may use derivatives to seek to manage the risks described below. With regard to the Funds investments in Treasury futures, the Fund may seek to manage interest rate and inflation risks.
Interest rate risk . This is the risk that the market value of bonds owned by the Fund will fluctuate as interest rates go up and down.
Yield curve risk . This is the risk that there is an adverse shift in market interest rates of fixed income investments held by the Fund. The risk is associated with either flattening or steepening of the yield curve, which is a result of changing yields among comparable bonds with different maturities. If the yield curve flattens, then the yield spread between long-and short-term interest rates narrows and the price of a bond will change. If the curve steepens, then the spread between the long- and short-term interest rates increases which means long-term bond prices decrease relative to short-term bond prices.
Prepayment risk . This is the risk that the issuers of bonds owned by the Fund will prepay them at a time when interest rates have declined. Because interest rates have declined, the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in bonds with lower interest rates, which can reduce the Funds returns.
Liquidity risk . This is the risk that assets held by the Fund may not be liquid.
Credit risk . This is the risk that an issuer of a bond held by the Fund may default.
Market risk . This is the risk that the value of a security or portfolio of securities will change in value due to a change in general market sentiment or market expectations.
Inflation risk . Is the risk that the value of assets or income will decrease as inflation shrinks the purchasing power of a particular currency.
Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified and may invest a greater portion of its assets in the securities of a single issuer, or a smaller group of issuers, than a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting the prices of such issuers securities.
Industry or Sector Focus Risk . To the extent that underlying funds in which the Fund invests focus their investments in a particular industry or sector, the Funds shares may be more volatile and fluctuate more than shares of a fund investing in a broader range of securities.
Ratings Agencies Risk. Ratings agencies assign ratings to securities based on that agencys opinion of the quality of debt securities. Ratings are not absolute standards of quality, do not reflect an evaluation of market risk, and do not necessarily correlate with yield.
Style Risk . The particular style or styles used primarily by the advisers of underlying funds in which the Fund invests may not produce the best results and may increase the volatility of the Funds share price.
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Volatility Risk . The value of the Funds investment portfolio will change as the prices of its investments go up or down.
Liquidity Risk. In certain situations, it may be difficult or impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at an acceptable price.
The Fund recently commenced operations and, as a result, does not have a full calendar year of performance history. Investors should be aware that past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Investment Adviser SMI Advisory Services, LLC, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The equity portion of the Fund is managed by SMI Advisory Services, LLC, which is also responsible for determining the asset allocation of the Fund.
Portfolio Managers The following portfolio managers are jointly responsible for managing the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund since its inception in February 2013, subject to the ultimate decision-making authority over all portfolio decisions and trading practices by the Senior Portfolio Manager. Each portfolio manager has been managing the Fund since its inception.
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Mark Biller; Senior Portfolio Manager |
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Eric Collier, CFA; Co-Portfolio Manager |
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Anthony Ayers, CFA; Co-Portfolio Manager |
Subadviser and its Portfolio Managers Scout Investments, Inc., through its Reams Asset Management division, serves as Subadviser for the Funds cash and cash equivalent investments and fixed income investments when direct investment in fixed income securities are among the chosen assets. The following portfolio managers are jointly responsible for managing the day-to-day investment decisions for the direct investment in the fixed income securities and cash portion of the Fund, subject to the oversight of Mr. Mark Egan. Each portfolio manager has been managing the Fund since its inception in February 2013.
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Mark M. Egan, CFA, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager |
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Thomas M. Fink, CFA, Portfolio Manager |
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Todd Thompson, CFA, Portfolio Manager |
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Steven T. Vincent, CFA, Portfolio Manager |
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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Minimum Initial Investment | To Place Buy or Sell Orders | |
$2,500 general accounts, retirement accounts or custodial accounts
$2,000 for Coverdell ESA accounts |
By Mail: Sound Mind Investing Funds [insert name of specific Fund] c/o: Huntington Asset Services, Inc. P.O. Box 6110 Indianapolis, IN 46206 |
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$0 for Automatic Investment Plans | By Phone: (877) 764-3863 | |
Minimum Additional Purchases $100 |
You may purchase or sell (redeem) your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open, either directly through the Funds Transfer Agent by calling (877) 764-3863, or through your broker-dealer or financial intermediary. You may also redeem shares by submitting a written request to the address above.
The Funds distributions are taxable and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account (IRA) or 529 college savings plan. Tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those accounts.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or trust company), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
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PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
The Fund uses a dynamic asset allocation investment strategy to achieve its investment objective. This is done by investing in securities from the following six asset classes: U.S. Equities, International Equities, Fixed Income Securities, Real Estate, Precious Metals, and Cash. Markets periodically experience times of inflation, deflation, economic growth and recession. Specific asset classes will typically respond quite differently to these various types of market conditions. The Funds adviser, SMI Advisory Services, LLC (the Adviser) believes great value can be added by adjusting portfolio exposure between the six asset classes as these changes in market environments become apparent. Efforts are made to be in the right place at the right time and possibly more importantly to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Generally, the Adviser will invest in each of the three asset classes it deems best at that particular time. The primary factors considered in the analysis of which asset classes to invest in at any particular time include the total returns for each class during the most recent one, three, six, and twelve months, changes in those returns, asset flows, and historical volatility. The Adviser periodically rebalances the Funds asset allocation in response to market conditions as well as to balance the Funds exposure to the chosen asset classes. The Funds investment strategy involves active trading, which may result in a high portfolio turnover rate. The Fund obtains its exposure to the particular asset classes by investing in the instruments below:
U.S. Equities Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (collectively, underlying funds) that invest primarily in the equity securities of companies located in the United States. The underlying funds may invest in companies of any market capitalization. The Fund may also invest directly in such companies. The Fund may also utilize derivatives, such as investing in futures contracts.
International Equities International equity securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in the equity securities of companies located outside of the United States, including issuers located in emerging market countries. The underlying funds may invest in companies of any market capitalization. The Fund may also invest directly in such companies. The Fund may also utilize derivatives, such as investing in futures contracts.
Fixed Income Securities Fixed Income Securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in fixed income securities of varying maturities and credit qualities, including high-risk debt securities (or junk bonds). The underlying funds may invest in fixed income securities denominated in foreign currencies. The underlying funds may also invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts, currency forwards or swap agreements. The Fund may also invest directly in fixed income securities. The Fund will utilize a Subadviser when direct investment in fixed income and cash are among the chosen assets. The Fund may utilize a Scout Investments, Inc. through its REAMs Asset Management division (Subadviser) when direct investment in fixed income securities are among the chosen assets.
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The Subadviser attempts to maximize total return over a long-term horizon through opportunistic investing in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities of any duration, such as short-term fixed income securities, U.S. government securities, corporate debt securities, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, repurchase agreements, obligations of foreign governments or their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, credit default swaps and credit default swap index products. The Subadvisers fixed income selection process combines top-down interest rate management with bottom-up bond selection using internal research and scenario analysis, focusing on issues the Subadviser believes are undervalued. The Subadviser first establishes the fixed income portfolios duration, typically between two and seven years, based on market conditions then screens issues and identifies which bonds the Subadviser believes will perform the best under the most likely scenario, considering factors such as sector exposures, the Subadvisers outlook for interest rates, fundamental credit analysis and option-adjusted spread analysis. The Subadviser selects fixed income securities for the Funds portfolio based primarily on valuation. The Subadviser constantly monitors the expected returns of the securities in the Fund versus those available in the market that the Subadviser is considering for purchase. The Subadviser will replace securities that it feels are approaching fair market value with those that, according to its analysis, are significantly undervalued. The Fund may buy or sell credit default swap (CDX) contracts. The Fund also may enter into CDX agreements as a buyer or seller, which may include both single name CDX agreements and CDX index products. When the Fund writes CDX contracts, it will segregate cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the notional value of such contracts. The Fund may enter into single name CDX agreements to gain exposure to a particular company when it is more economically attractive to do so rather than purchasing traditional bonds. CDX index products and options thereon allow the Fund to gain broad market exposure but with less company-specific risk than single name CDX agreements.
Real Estate Real estate securities in which the Fund may invest include open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in real estate securities. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs). The Fund may also invest in real estate securities directly.
Precious Metals The Fund may invest in ETFs or other investment companies that invest primarily in precious metals. The Fund may also invest in ETFs or other investment companies that invest in mining and other precious metals related companies. The Fund may also invest in Publicly Traded Partnerships (PTPs) that invest in precious metals. PTPs are traded on stock exchanges or markets such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. They are generally treated as pass-through entities for tax purposes, they do not ordinarily pay income taxes, but pass their earnings on to unit holders.
Cash (and cash equivalents) The Fund will utilize Scout Investments, through its REAMs Asset Management division (Subadviser) when direct investment in cash and cash equivalents are among the chosen assets. The Fund may hold short-term cash instruments including U.S. Treasury securities, repurchase agreements, short-term debt instruments, money market deposit accounts, and money market funds.
The Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of all management fees and other expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses than other mutual funds that invest directly in securities. Actual expenses are expected to vary with changes in the allocation of the Funds assets among the various underlying funds in which the Fund invests.
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For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund will be considered non-diversified, which mean that its portfolio may be comprised of a smaller number of securities than a diversified mutual fund.
Is the Fund right for you?
The Fund may be suitable for:
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long-term investors seeking a fund with a total return investment strategy; |
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investors who want exposure to a broad range of asset classes within the convenience of a single fund; and |
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investors willing to accept price fluctuations in their investment. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
All investments involve risks, and the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objectives. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by any government agency. As with any mutual fund investment, the Funds returns and share price will fluctuate, and you may lose money by investing in the Fund. Below are some of the specific risks of investing in the Fund. Insofar as the Fund invests in ETFs and other investment companies, such ETFs and other investment companies may be directly subject to the risks described in this section of the prospectus.
Market Risk . The prices of securities held by the Fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations. The growth-oriented equity securities purchased by the Fund may involve large price swings and potential for loss. Investors in the Fund should have a long-term perspective and be able to tolerate potentially sharp declines in value.
Other Investment Company Securities Risks. When the Fund invests in another mutual fund or ETF, the Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by the underlying fund. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. In addition, the Fund may be affected by losses of the underlying funds and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of the underlying funds (such as the use of leverage by the funds). The Fund has no control over the investments and related risks taken by the underlying funds in which it invests. Because the Fund is not required to hold shares of underlying funds for any minimum period, it may be subject to, and may have to pay, short-term redemption fees imposed by the underlying funds. In addition, the Fund may also incur increased trading costs as a result of the fund upgrading strategy.
In addition to risks generally associated with investments in investment company securities, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to traditional mutual funds: (i) an ETFs shares may trade at a market price that is above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETFs shares may not develop or be maintained; (iii) the ETF may employ an investment strategy that utilizes high leverage ratios; or (iv) trading of an ETFs shares may
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be halted if the listing exchanges officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide circuit breakers (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.
Derivatives Risk . Underlying funds in the Funds portfolio may use derivative instruments. The value of these derivative instruments derives from the value of an underlying asset, currency or index. Investments by the Fund in such underlying funds may involve the risk that the value of the underlying funds derivatives may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments, and the risk that an underlying fund may lose more than the amount that it invested in the derivative instrument in the first place. Derivative instruments also involve the risk that other parties to the derivative contract may fail to meet their obligations, which could cause losses.
Industry or Sector Focus Risk . To the extent that underlying funds in which the Fund invests focus their investments in a particular industry or sector, the Funds shares may be more volatile and fluctuate more than shares of a fund investing in a broader range of securities.
Fixed Income Securities Risk . While fixed income securities normally fluctuate less in price than stocks, there have been extended periods of increases in interest rates that have caused significant declines in fixed income securities prices. The values of fixed income securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of their issuers. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the higher the degree of risk as to the payment of interest and return of principal.
Credit Risk . The issuer of a fixed income security may not be able to make interest and principal payments when due. Generally, the lower the credit rating of a security, the greater the risk that the issuer will default on its obligation.
Change in Rating Risk . If a rating agency gives a debt security a lower rating, the value of the debt security will decline because investors will demand a higher rate of return.
Interest Rate Risk . The value of the Fund may fluctuate based upon changes in interest rates and market conditions. As interest rates increase, the value of the Funds income-producing investments may go down. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value when interest rates rise. Debt obligations with longer maturities typically offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price movements as a result of interest rate changes than debt obligations with shorter maturities.
Duration Risk . Prices of fixed income securities with longer effective maturities are more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter effective maturities.
Prepayment Risk . The Fund may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which are subject to fluctuations in yield due to prepayment rates that may be faster or slower than expected.
Income Risk . The Funds income could decline due to falling market interest rates. In a falling interest rate environment, the Fund may be required to invest its assets in lower-yielding securities. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income or yield of the Fund for any particular period.
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High-Yield Securities (Junk Bond) Risk . To the extent that the Fund invests in high-yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as junk bonds), the Fund may be subject to greater levels of interest rate and credit risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. Junk bonds are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuers continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Funds ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, the Fund may lose its entire investment, which will affect the Funds return.
Volatility Risk . Equity securities tend to be more volatile than other investment choices. The value of an individual mutual fund or ETF can be more volatile than the market as a whole. This volatility affects the value of the Funds shares.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . The Funds investment strategy involves active trading and will result in a high portfolio turnover rate. A high portfolio turnover can result in correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses. A high portfolio turnover may result in the distribution to shareholders of additional capital gains for tax purposes, some of which may be taxable at ordinary income rates. These factors may negatively affect performance.
Market Timing Risk . Because the Fund does not consider underlying funds policies and procedures with respect to market timing, performance of the underlying funds may be diluted due to market timing and therefore may affect the performance of the Fund.
Small- and Mid-Cap Risk . To the extent the Fund invests directly or in other investment companies that invest in small- and mid-cap companies, the Fund will be subject to additional risks. These include: (1) the earnings and prospects of smaller companies are more volatile than larger companies; (2) smaller companies may experience higher failure rates than do larger companies; (3) the trading volume of securities of smaller companies is normally less than that of larger companies and, therefore, may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger companies; and (4) Smaller companies may have limited markets, product lines or financial resources and may lack management experience.
Foreign Securities Risk . The Fund may be subject to the risk of investing in foreign securities, which are subject to additional risks not typically associated with investments in domestic securities. These risks may include, among others, currency risk, country risks (political, diplomatic, regional conflicts, terrorism, war, social and economic instability, currency devaluations and policies that have the effect of limiting or restricting foreign investment or the movement of assets), different trading practices, less government supervision, less publicly available information, limited trading markets and greater volatility. To the extent that underlying funds invest in issuers located in emerging markets, the risk may be heightened by political changes, changes in taxation, or currency controls that could adversely affect the values of these investments. Emerging markets have been more volatile than the markets of developed countries with more mature economies.
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Style Risk. The Fund may invest in underlying funds that use growth- and/or value-oriented investing styles, or other styles. If the underlying funds portfolio manager incorrectly assesses the growth potential of companies in which the fund invests, the securities purchased may not perform as expected, reducing the underlying funds return and ultimately reducing the Funds return, or causing it to lose money on the investment. With respect to underlying value funds, the market may not agree with a value managers determination that the funds portfolio stocks are undervalued, and the prices of such portfolio securities may not increase to what the Adviser believes are their full value. They may even decrease in value.
Credit Default Swap Product Risk . In addition to risks associated with swaps generally, credit default swaps may subject the Fund to additional risks. A credit default swap agreement is an agreement between two parties: a buyer of credit protection and a seller of credit protection. The Fund may either be the buyer of credit protection against a designated event of default, restructuring or other credit related event (each a Credit Event) or the seller of credit protection in a credit default swap. The buyer in a credit default swap agreement is obligated to pay the seller a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap agreement. If no Credit Event occurs, the seller of credit protection will have received a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap agreement. If a Credit Event occurs, the seller of credit protection must pay the buyer of credit protection the full notional value of the reference obligation through either physical settlement or cash settlement. If no Credit Event occurs, the buyer of credit protection will have made a series of periodic payments through the term of the swap agreement. However, if a Credit Event occurs, the buyer of credit protection will receive the full notional value of the reference obligation either through physical settlement or cash settlement from the seller of credit protection. A credit default swap may involve greater risks than if the Fund invested directly in the underlying reference obligations. For example, a credit default swap may increase the Funds credit risk because it has exposure to both the issuer of the underlying reference obligation and the counterparty to the credit default swap. In addition, credit default swap agreements may be difficult to value depending on whether an active market exists for the credit default swaps in which the Fund invests. Swaps and related options expose the Fund to counterparty credit risk (credit risk described above). The Fund could also suffer losses with respect to a swap agreement (or an option thereon) if the Fund are unable to terminate the agreement or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.
The Fund may also invest in credit default swap index products and in options on credit default swap index products. These instruments are designed to track segments of the credit default swap market and provide investors with exposure to specific baskets of issuers of bonds or loans. In general, the value of the credit default swap index product will go up or down in response to changes in the perceived credit risk and default experience of the basket of issuers, instead of the exchange of the stream of payments for the payment of the notional amount (if a Credit Event occurs) that is the substance of a single name credit default swap. Such investments are subject to liquidity risks as well as counterparty and other risks associated with investments in credit default swaps discussed above.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk . The yield characteristics of mortgage- and asset-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt obligations. For example, interest and principal payments are made more frequently on mortgage- and asset-backed securities, usually monthly, and principal may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these
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securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will increase yield to maturity. If the Fund purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity, while a pre-payment rate that is slower than expected will reduce yield to maturity. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a premium also impose a risk of loss of principal because the premium may not have been fully amortized at the time the principal is prepaid in full. The market for privately issued mortgage- and asset-backed securities is smaller and less liquid than the market for government sponsored mortgage-backed securities. As noted below, recent market conditions have caused the markets for mortgage- and asset-backed securities to experience significantly lower valuations and reduced liquidity.
Liquidity Risk . Liquidity risk is the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and price that the Fund would like to sell. The Fund may have to lower the price, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Funds management or performance. As noted below, recent market conditions have caused the markets for some of the securities in which the Fund invests to experience reduced liquidity.
Ratings Agencies . Ratings agencies, such as S&P, are organizations that assign ratings to securities based on that agencys opinion of the quality of debt securities. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general, are not absolute standards of quality and do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. Debt securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields while debt securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield.
Management Risk . The Fund is actively managed and depends on the decisions of its portfolio managers to produce the desired results. The Advisers or Subadvisers strategies may fail to produce the intended results. If the Advisers or Subadvisers perception of a securitys worth is not realized in the expected time frame, the Funds overall performance may suffer. There also is the risk that investment strategies employed by the portfolio managers of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests may not result in an increase in the value of the underlying funds and, therefore, that the value of the Funds investment in the underlying funds may not increase, or may actually decrease.
Real Estate Risk . The Fund may invest directly or in underlying funds that invest in real estate securities. Real estate securities are susceptible to the many risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in property values, increases in property taxes, operating expenses, interest rates or competition, overbuilding, changes in zoning laws, or losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred directly by the Fund.
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Additionally, equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act).
REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REITs investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REITs investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REITs investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.
Finally, investments in REITs also involve the following risks: limited financial resources, infrequent or limited trading, and abrupt or erratic price movements.
Commodity Risk . Some of the exchange-traded products, funds and other instruments in the Funds portfolio may invest directly or indirectly in physical commodities, such as gold, silver, and other precious materials. Accordingly, the Fund may be affected by changes in commodity prices which can move significantly in short periods of time and be affected by new discoveries or changes in government regulation.
In August 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it would stop issuing private letter rulings authorizing favorable tax treatment for funds that invest indirectly in commodities or derivatives based upon commodities. The IRS has previously issued a number of private letter rulings to funds in this area, concluding that such investments generate qualifying income for RIC qualification purposes. It is unclear how long this suspension will last. The IRS has not indicated that any previously issued rulings in this area will be affected by this suspension. This suspension of guidance by the IRS means that the tax treatment of such investments is now subject to some uncertainty.
RIC Qualification Risk. To qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must meet certain income source, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. Among other means of not satisfying the qualifications to be treated as a RIC, the Funds investments in ETFs or publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) that invest in physical commodities may make it more difficult for the Fund to meet these requirements. If, in any year, the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any reason, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation and would become (or remain) subject to corporate income tax. The resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Funds net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions. Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on the Fund and its shareholders. In such case, distributions to shareholders generally would be eligible (i) for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual shareholders, and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders, provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. In such circumstances, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special treatment.
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Publicly Traded Partnership Risk. Publicly traded partnerships (PTPs) are partnerships that may be publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. They often own businesses or properties relating to energy, natural resources or real estate. They are generally operated under the supervision of one or more managing partners or members. State law may offer fewer protections from enterprise liability to investors in a partnership compared to investors in a corporation. Distribution and management fees may be substantial. Losses are generally considered passive and cannot offset income other than income or gains relating to the same entity. These tax consequences may differ for different types of entities. Many PTPs may operate in certain limited sectors such as, without limitation, energy, natural resources, and real estate, which may be volatile or subject to periodic downturns. Growth may be limited because most cash is paid out to unit holders rather than retained to finance growth. The performance of PTPs may be partly tied to interest rates. Rising interest rates, a poor economy, or weak cash flows are among the factors that can pose significant risks for investments in PTPs. Investments in PTPs also may be relatively illiquid at times.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act), which means it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of any one issuer than a fund that is considered diversified for purposes of the 1940 Act. An investment in a non-diversified fund may entail greater price risk than an investment in a diversified fund. The Fund will be subject to substantially more investment risk and potential for volatility than a diversified fund because the poor performance of an individual security in the Funds portfolio will have a greater negative impact on the Funds performance than if the Funds assets were diversified among a larger number of portfolio securities.
General
The Funds investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days advance notice of any change in the investment objective.
From time to time, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Funds principal investment strategies, in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. For example, the Fund may hold up to 100% of its assets in short-term U.S. government securities, money market funds, repurchase agreements or money market instruments. The Fund may also invest in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its investment strategies. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.
A description of the Funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio securities is available in the Funds Statement of Additional Information.
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SMI Advisory Services, LLC, 11135 Baker Hollow Rd., Columbus, IN 47201 (P.O. Box 547, Columbus, IN 47202), serves as the adviser to the Fund. The Adviser has overall supervisory management responsibility for the general management and investment of the Funds portfolio. The Adviser sets the Funds overall investment strategies, developing, constructing and monitoring the asset allocation, identifies securities for investment, determines when securities should be purchased or sold, selects brokers or dealers to execute transactions for the Funds portfolio and votes any proxies solicited by portfolio companies. The Adviser oversees the Subadviser, which may manage the fixed income and cash portions of the Fund. The Subadviser is chosen by the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser reviews a wide range of factors in evaluating the Subadviser prior to recommending that the Board of Trustees approve the Subadviser, including, but not limited to, past investment performance during various market conditions, investment strategies and processes used, structures of portfolios and risk management procedures, reputation, experience and training of key personnel, assets under management, and correlation of results with other subadvisers. The Adviser then allocates a portion of the the Funds assets to the Subadviser, which is required to adhere to the strict investment disciplines established by the Adviser. The Adviser continually monitors and evaluates the Subadvisers performance to ensure that it does not deviate from the Subadvisers stated investment strategy. From time to time, rather than allocating assets to the Subadviser, the Adviser may instead manage those assets directly by purchasing securities of open-end mutual funds and ETFs that invest primarily in fixed income securities.
The Adviser is a joint venture between Omnium Investment Company, LLC, and Marathon Partners, LLC. Omnium was formed in 2005 by Anthony Ayers and Eric Collier, each a Portfolio Manager of the Funds, and other senior managers of Omnium. Marathon Partners was formed in 2005 by Mark Biller, Senior Portfolio Manager of the Fund, Austin Pryor and other managers of Sound Mind Investing, a Christian non-denominational financial newsletter. Mr. Pryor is the publisher, and Mr. Biller is the Executive Editor, of Sound Mind Investing.
The Fund is authorized to pay the Adviser a fee based on the Funds average daily net assets as follows:
Fund Assets |
Management Fee | |||
$1 - $250 million |
1.00 | % | ||
$250,000,001 to $500 million |
0.90 | % | ||
Over $500 million |
0.80 | % |
The Adviser contractually has agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse certain operating expenses, but only to the extent necessary so that the Funds total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, dividend expense on short sales, 12b-1 fees, and acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 1.45%. The contractual arrangement for the Fund is in place through February 28, 2014. Each waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the particular expense or reimbursement was incurred; provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the applicable expense limitation.
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The Funds semi-annual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2013 will contain information about the factors that the Board of Trustees considered in approving the Funds management agreement.
If you invest in the Fund through an investment Adviser, bank, broker-dealer, 401(k) plan, trust company or other financial intermediary, the policies and fees for transacting business may be different than those described in this Prospectus. Some financial intermediaries may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Some financial intermediaries do not charge a direct transaction fee, but instead charge a fee for services such as sub-transfer agency, accounting and/or shareholder services that the financial intermediary provides on the Funds behalf. This fee may be based on the number of accounts or may be a percentage of the average value of the Funds shareholder accounts for which the financial intermediary provides services. The Fund may pay a portion of this fee, which is intended to compensate the financial intermediary for providing the same services that would otherwise be provided by the Funds transfer agent or other service providers if the shares were purchased directly from the Fund. To the extent that these fees are not paid by the Fund, the Adviser may pay a fee to financial intermediaries for such services.
To the extent that the Adviser, not the Fund, pays a fee to a financial intermediary for distribution or shareholder servicing, the Adviser may consider a number of factors in determining the amount of payment associated with such services, including the amount of sales, assets invested in the Fund and the nature of the services provided by the financial intermediary. Although neither the Fund nor the Adviser pays for the Fund to be included in a financial intermediarys preferred list or other promotional program, some financial intermediaries that receive compensation as described above may have such programs in which the Fund may be included. Financial intermediaries that receive these types of payments may have a conflict of interest in recommending or selling the Funds shares rather than other mutual funds, particularly where such payments exceed those associated with other funds. The Fund may from time to time purchase securities issued by financial intermediaries that provide such services; however, in selecting investments for the Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.
The Adviser has entered into a Subadvisory Agreement with Scout Investments, Inc., through its Reams Asset Management division (Reams or the Subadviser), pursuant to which the Subadviser manages the fixed income portion of the Funds portfolio. The Subadviser makes investment decisions for the assets it has been allocated to manage. Subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser oversees the Subadvisers compliance with the Funds investment objective, policies, strategies and restrictions, and monitors the Subadvisers adherence to its investment style.
The Subadviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of UMB Financial Corporation. The Subadviser is located at 227 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana, 47202. Reams is compensated by the Adviser for its investment advisory services at an annual rate of 0.20% of the average daily net assets of the fixed income portion of the portfolio allocated to them. Reams is compensated by the Adviser for its advisory services at an annual rate of 0.01% of the average daily net assets of the cash and cash equivalents portion of the portfolio allocated to them.
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Reams provides continuous advice and recommendations concerning the Funds cash and cash equivalents investments and concerning the Funds fixed income securities when direct investments in fixed income securities and cash are among the chosen assets. In addition to providing investment subadvisory services to the Fund, Reams serves as investment adviser to pension and profit-sharing plans and other institutional investors and serves as subadviser to other open end mutual funds. As of January 1, 2013, the Subadviser had approximately $23.6 billion of assets under management.
The following provides information about the Advisers and Subadvisers portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of that portion of the Funds portfolio allocated to them.
Advisers Portfolio Managers
The Advisers investment team responsible for managing the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund consists of the following portfolio managers.
Mark Biller, Senior Portfolio Manager - Mr. Biller has ultimate decision-making authority regarding all portfolio decisions and trading practices of the Adviser. Mr. Biller has been a portfolio manager of the Sound Mind Investing Fund since its inception in 2005, and of the Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund since its inception in December of 2010. His duties involve researching and selecting the underlying funds in which the Fund invests, upgrading the Funds investments in underlying funds, determining the overall allocation among equity and fixed income assets as well as style categories, and monitoring the performance of the Subadviser. In addition to his duties at the Adviser, Mr. Biller is the Executive Editor of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter. He joined Sound Mind Investing in January 2000 and he is responsible for co-managing the newsletter and its online business. Mr. Billers writings on a broad range of financial and investment topics have been featured in a variety of national print and electronic media, and he has also appeared as a financial commentator for various national and local radio programs. The Sound Mind Investing newsletter was first published in 1990. Since it was first published over 20 years ago, the newsletter has provided recommendations to tens of thousands of subscribers using a variety of investment strategies, including the fund upgrading strategy that is used by the Fund. Sound Mind Investing does not manage accounts for readers and readers independently make their own determinations whether to accept investment recommendations published in the newsletter. Mr. Biller earned his B.S. in Finance from Oral Roberts University in 1994.
Eric Collier, CFA - Mr. Collier is a co-Portfolio Manager responsible for researching and selecting the Funds investments, determining overall allocation among style categories, and trading, subject to the ultimate decision-making authority of the Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Collier has been a portfolio manager of the Sound Mind Investing Fund since its inception in 2005, and of the Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund since its inception in December of 2010. In addition to his duties at the Adviser, Mr. Collier is a co-founder of Omnium Investment Company, LLC. At Omnium, he conducts analytical and quantitative research, and risk
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management. Prior to co-founding Omnium, Mr. Collier worked at Oxford Group, Ltd, a fee-only financial services firm. At Oxford Group, Mr. Collier provided investment advice to several high net-worth individuals concentrating on investment and financial planning strategies. Prior to that Mr. Collier was an Investment Analyst and Registered Investment Adviser Representative for Webb Financial Advisers, an investment advisory firm, from 1997 to 2000, where he was responsible for due diligence and manager selection on large cap growth and value securities, small cap growth and value securities, international cap securities, and fixed income securities. Mr. Collier graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Finance in 1998. He also studied at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands through the International Business Program at Indiana University. He has received the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and he is a member of the CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR)) and a member of the Investment Management Association of Indianapolis.
Anthony Ayers, CFA - Mr. Ayers is a co-Portfolio Manager responsible for researching and selecting the Funds investments, determining overall allocation among style categories, and trading, subject to the ultimate decision-making authority of the Senior Portfolio Manager. Mr. Ayers has been a portfolio manager of the Sound Mind Investing Fund since its inception in 2005, and of the Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund since its inception in December of 2010. In addition to his duties at the Adviser, Mr. Ayers is a co-founder of Omnium Investment Company, LLC. At Omnium, he also conducts analytical and quantitative research, and risk management. Mr. Ayers helped develop the Advisers risk management procedures and a proprietary daily risk management reporting system. Prior to co-founding Omnium, Mr. Ayers was an Investment Analyst at Oxford Group, Ltd., where he was responsible for performing manager searches and due diligence on various mutual fund portfolio managers specializing in large capitalized growth and value securities, small capitalized growth and value securities, international capitalized securities, and fixed income securities. Prior to that Mr. Ayers was a Senior Investment Representative for Charles Schwab, where he assisted high net-worth clients with developing and trading complex option strategies, hedging concentrated portfolios, constructing diversified investment portfolios, risk management, and making individual stock and mutual fund recommendations. Mr. Ayers graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Finance in 1996, and he is a CFA charter holder.
Subadvisers Portfolio Managers
The following portfolio managers are jointly responsible for managing the day-to-day investment decisions for the cash and cash equivalent portion of the Fund and the fixed income portion of the Fund when direct investment in fixed income securities are among the chosen assets, subject to the oversight of Mr. Mark Egan.
Mark M. Egan, CFA Mr. Egan joined the Subadviser on November 30, 2010. He oversees the entire fixed income division of the Subadviser and retains oversight over all investment decisions. Mr. Egan was a Portfolio Manager of Reams Asset Management Company, LLC from April 1994 until November 2010 and was a Portfolio Manager of Reams Asset Management Company, Inc. from June 1990 until March 1994. Mr. Egan was a Portfolio Manager of National Investment Services until May 1990.
Thomas M. Fink, CFA Mr. Fink joined the Subadviser on November 30, 2010. He was a Portfolio Manager at Reams Asset Management Company, LLC from December 2000 until November 2010. Mr. Fink was previously a Portfolio Manager at Brandes Fixed Income
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Partners from 1999 until 2000, Hilltop Capital Management from 1997 until 1999, Centre Investment Services from 1992 until 1997 and First Wisconsin Asset Management from 1986 until 1992.
Todd Thompson, CFA Mr. Thompson joined the Subadviser on November 30, 2010. He was a Portfolio Manager at Reams Asset Management Company, LLC from July 2001 until November 2010. Mr. Thompson was a Portfolio Manager at Conseco Capital Management from 1999 until June 2001 and was a Portfolio Manager at the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System from 1994-1999.
Steven T. Vincent, CFA Mr. Vincent joined the Subadviser on November 30, 2010. He was a Portfolio Manager at Reams Asset Management Company, LLC from October 2005 until November 2010. Mr. Vincent was a Senior Fixed Income Analyst at Reams from September 1994 to October 2005.
The Funds Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers, including a description of compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of the Funds shares.
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. This means that when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask for other identifying documents or information. We also may ask to see your drivers license or other identifying documents, and may take additional steps to verify your identity. If we do not receive these required pieces of information, there may be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Fund may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. However, if we are unable to verify your identity, the Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the Funds NAV determined on the day in which your account is closed. If we close your account because we are unable to verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment.
The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500 for general accounts, retirement accounts or custodial accounts, $2,000 for Coverdell ESA accounts and $0 for automatic investment plans. The minimum additional investment in the Fund is $100. The Adviser may, in its sole discretion, waive these minimums in certain circumstances. The Fund may waive or lower investment minimums for investors who invest in the Fund through an asset-based fee program made available through a financial intermediary. If your investment is aggregated into an omnibus account established by an investment Adviser, broker or other intermediary, the account minimums apply to the omnibus account, not to your individual investment; however, the financial intermediary may also impose minimum requirements that are different from those set forth in this prospectus. If you choose to purchase or redeem shares directly from the Fund, you
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will not incur charges on purchases and redemptions (other than for short-term redemptions). However, if you purchase or redeem shares through a broker-dealer or another intermediary, you may be charged a fee by that intermediary.
Initial Purchase
By Mail To be in proper from, your initial purchase request must include:
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a completed and signed investment application form; and |
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a personal check with name pre-printed (subject to the minimum amount) made payable to the Fund. |
Mail the application and check to:
U.S. Mail: | Sound Mind Investing Funds | |||||
c/o Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | ||||||
P.O. Box 6110 | ||||||
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110 | ||||||
Overnight: | Sound Mind Investing Funds | |||||
c/o Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | ||||||
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300 | ||||||
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 |
By Wire - You may also purchase shares of the Fund by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 to obtain instructions on how to set up your account and to obtain an account number.
You must provide a signed application to Huntington Asset Services, Inc., at the above address in order to complete your initial wire purchase. Wire orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund, its custodian and transfer agent are open for business. A wire purchase will not be considered made until the wired money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Fund. The purchase price per share will be the net asset value next determined after the wire purchase is received by the Fund. Any delays which may occur in wiring money, including delays which may occur in processing by the banks, are not the responsibility of the Fund or the transfer agent. There is presently no fee for the receipt of wired funds, but the Fund may charge shareholders for this service in the future.
Additional Investments
You may purchase additional shares of the Fund at any time by mail, wire, automatic investment, or online at the Funds website (www.smifund.com). Each additional purchase must be for a minimum of $100. Each additional mail purchase request must contain:
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your name |
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the name on your account(s) |
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your account number(s) |
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the name of the Fund |
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a check made payable to the Fund |
Checks should be sent to the Fund at the address listed under the heading Initial Purchase By Mail in this prospectus. To send a bank wire, call Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 to obtain instructions.
Automatic Investment Plan
You may make regular investments in the Fund with an Automatic Investment Plan by completing the appropriate section of the account application or completing an Automatic Investment Plan form with the proper signatures and attaching a voided personal check. Investments may be made monthly to allow dollar-cost averaging by automatically deducting $100 or more from your bank checking account. You may change the amount of your monthly purchase at any time. If an Automatic Investment Plan purchase is rejected by your bank, your shareholder account will be charged a fee to defray bank charges.
Tax Sheltered Retirement Plans
Shares of the Fund may be an appropriate investment for tax-sheltered retirement plans, including: individual retirement plans (IRAs); simplified employee pensions (SEPs); 401(k) plans; qualified corporate pension and profit-sharing plans (for employees); 403(b) plans and other tax-deferred investment plans (for employees of public school systems and certain types of charitable organizations); and other qualified retirement plans. Please contact Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 for information regarding opening an IRA or other retirement account. Please consult with an attorney or tax adviser regarding these plans. The Adviser has chosen to pay the custodial fees for IRAs. However, the Fund reserves the right to charge shareholders for this service in the future.
Other Purchase Information
The Fund may limit the amount of purchases and refuse to sell shares to any person. If your check or wire does not clear, you will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund. You may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in the Fund. Checks must be made payable to the Fund. The Fund and its transfer agent may refuse any purchase order for any reason. Cash, third party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), counter checks, starter checks, travelers checks, money orders (other than money orders issued by a bank), credit card checks, and checks drawn on non-U.S. financial institutions will not be accepted. Cashiers checks, bank official checks, and bank money orders may be accepted in amounts greater than $10,000. In such cases, a fifteen (15) business day hold will be applied to the funds (which means that you may not receive payment for your redeemed shares until the holding period has expired). Cashiers checks and bank official checks in amounts less than $10,000 will also be accepted for IRA transfers from other financial institutions.
The Fund has authorized certain broker-dealers and other financial institutions (including their designated intermediaries) to accept on its behalf purchase and sell orders. The Fund is deemed to have received an order when the authorized person or designee accepts the order, and the order is processed at the net asset value next calculated thereafter. It is the responsibility of the broker-dealer or other financial institution to transmit orders promptly to the Funds transfer agent.
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You may exchange your shares of the Fund for shares of another of the SMI Funds. In general, the same rules and procedures that apply to sales and purchases apply to exchanges, except there are no early redemption fees for exchanges between the two funds. You may call Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 to exchange shares. An exchange may also be made by written request signed by all registered owners of the account mailed to the address listed above. Additionally, if you already have an existing account with both Funds, you may do exchanges online at the Funds website ( www.smifund.com . ).
An exchange is made by selling shares of one Fund and using the proceeds to buy shares of the other Fund, with the NAV for the sale and the purchase calculated for each Fund as described in the prospectus under Determination of Net Asset Value. An exchange results in a sale of shares for federal income tax purposes. If you make use of the exchange privilege, you may realize either a long-term or short-term capital gain or loss on the shares sold.
Requests for exchanges will be processed at the next calculated NAV after receipt of the request (i.e., prior to close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (typically 4:00 p.m. Eastern time)). Before making an exchange, you should consider the investment objective of the Fund to be purchased. If your exchange creates a new account, you must satisfy the requirements of the Fund in which shares are being purchased. You may make an exchange to a new account or an existing account; however, the account ownership must be identical. Exchanges may be made only in states where an exchange may legally be made. The Fund reserves the right to terminate or modify the exchange privilege at any time.
You may receive redemption payments by check or federal wire transfer. The proceeds may be more or less than the purchase price of your shares, depending on the market value of the Funds securities at the time of your redemption. A wire transfer fee of $15 is charged to defray custodial charges for redemptions paid by wire transfer. This fee is subject to change. Any charges for wire redemptions will be deducted from your account by redemption of shares. The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the amount you are redeeming is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Funds net asset value, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Funds net asset value in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses, such as the payment of brokerage commissions, on the sale or other disposition of the securities received from the Fund. If you redeem your shares through a broker-dealer or other institution, you may be charged a fee by that institution.
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By Mail - You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund at no charge by mail. Your request should be addressed to:
U.S. Mail: | Sound Mind Investing Funds | |
c/o Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | ||
P.O. Box 6110 | ||
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110 | ||
Overnight: | Sound Mind Investing Funds | |
c/o Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | ||
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300 | ||
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 |
Your request for a redemption must include your letter of instruction, including the Fund name, account number, account name(s), the address, and the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem. Requests to sell shares that are received in good order are processed at the net asset value next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form. To be in proper order, your request must be signed by all registered share owner(s) in the exact name(s) and any special capacity in which they are registered. The Fund may require that signatures be guaranteed if you request the redemption check be made payable to any person other than the shareholder(s) of record or mailed to an address other than the address of record, or if the mailing address has been changed within 30 days of the redemption request. The Fund may also require a signature guarantee for redemptions of $25,000 or more. Signature guarantees are for the protection of shareholders. All documentation requiring a signature guarantee stamp must utilize a New Technology Medallion stamp, generally available from the bank where you maintain a checking or savings account. You can obtain a signature guarantee from most banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public. For joint accounts, both signatures must be guaranteed. Please call Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 if you have questions. At the discretion of the Fund or its transfer agent, you may be required to furnish additional legal documents to insure proper authorization.
By Telephone - You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund (up to $25,000) by calling Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863. You must first complete the Optional Telephone Redemption and Exchange section of the investment application or provide a signed letter of instruction with the proper signature guarantee stamp to institute this option. The Fund, the transfer agent and custodian are not liable for following redemption instructions communicated by telephone to the extent that they reasonably believe the telephone instructions to be genuine. However, if they do not employ reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine, they may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Procedures employed may include recording telephone instructions and requiring a form of personal identification from the caller.
The Fund or the transfer agent may terminate the telephone redemption procedures at any time. During periods of extreme market activity, it is possible that shareholders may encounter some difficulty in telephoning the Fund, although neither the Fund nor the transfer agent have ever experienced difficulties in receiving and in a timely fashion responding to telephone requests for redemptions. If you are unable to reach the Fund by telephone, you may request a redemption by mail.
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By Online Access If your account has been set up for online redemptions in advance, you may redeem any part of your account in the Fund by visiting the Funds website ( www.smifund.com ).
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions - The Fund has been designed as a long-term investment and not as a frequent or short-term trading (market timing) option. Market timing can be disruptive to the portfolio management process and may adversely impact the ability to implement investment strategies. In addition to being disruptive, the risks presented by market timing include higher expenses through increased trading and transaction costs; forced and unplanned portfolio turnover; large asset swings that decrease the ability to maximize investment return; and potentially diluting the value of the share price. These risks can have an adverse effect on investment performance.
Although the Fund does not accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions, the Board of Trustees has not adopted policies and procedures to detect and prevent market timing in the Fund because the Board of Trustees of the Fund does not believe that market timing is a significant risk to the Fund given the type of securities held in the Fund. The Fund may modify any terms or conditions of purchase of shares or withdraw all or any part of the offering made by this Prospectus. Although the Trustees do not believe that there is a significant risk associated with market timing for the Fund, the Fund cannot guarantee that such trading will not occur.
Additional Information - If you are not certain of the requirements for a redemption please call Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863. Redemptions specifying a certain date or share price cannot be accepted and will be returned. You will be mailed the proceeds on or before the fifth business day following the redemption. However, payment for redemption made against shares purchased by check will be made only after the check has been collected, which normally may take up to fifteen calendar days. Also, when the New York Stock Exchange is closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing, or under any emergency circumstances (as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission) the Fund may suspend redemptions or postpone payment dates. You may be assessed a fee if the Fund incurs bank charges because you direct the Fund to re-issue a redemption check.
Redemption proceeds sent by check by the Fund and not cashed within 180 days will be reinvested in the Fund at the current days NAV. Redemption proceeds that are reinvested are subject to market risk like any other investment in the Fund.
Because the Fund incurs certain fixed costs in maintaining shareholder accounts, the Fund may require you to redeem all of your shares in the Fund on 30 days written notice if the value of your shares in the Fund is less than $1,000 due to redemptions, or such other minimum amount as the Fund may determine from time to time. You may increase the value of your shares in the Fund to the minimum amount within the 30-day period. All shares of the Fund are also subject to involuntary redemption if the Board of Trustees determines to liquidate the Fund. In such event, the Board may close the Fund with notice to shareholders but without having to obtain shareholder approval. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or capital loss which may have tax consequences about which you should consult your tax adviser.
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Determination Of Net Asset Value
The price you pay for your shares is based on the Funds net asset value per share (NAV). The NAV is calculated at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business (the Stock Exchange is closed on weekends, Federal holidays and Good Friday). The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Funds total assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding. Requests to purchase and sell shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form. Because the Fund may hold portfolio securities that traded in foreign markets or that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its shares, the net asset value of the Funds shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Funds shares.
The Funds assets generally are valued at their market value. If market prices are not available (including when they are not reliable), or if an event occurs after the close of the trading market but before the calculation of the NAV that materially affects the values, assets may be valued by the Adviser at a fair value, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. For example, the Adviser may be obligated to fair value a foreign security because many foreign markets operate at times that do not coincide with those of the major U.S. markets. Events that could affect the values of foreign portfolio holdings may occur between the close of the foreign market and the time of determining the NAV, and would not otherwise be reflected in the NAV. When pricing securities using the fair value guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser seeks to assign the value that represents the amount that the applicable Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon a current sale of the securities. However, given the subjectivity inherent in fair valuation and the fact that events could occur after NAV calculation, the actual market prices for a security may differ from the fair value of that security as determined by the Adviser at the time of NAV calculation. Thus, discrepancies between fair values and actual market prices may occur on a regular and recurring basis. These discrepancies do not necessarily indicate that the Advisers fair value methodology is inappropriate. The Adviser will adjust the fair values assigned to securities in the Funds portfolio, to the extent necessary, as soon as market prices become available. The Adviser continually monitors and evaluates the appropriateness of its fair value methodologies through systematic comparisons of fair values to the actual next available market prices of securities contained in the Funds portfolio. To the extent the Fund invests in other mutual funds, the Funds NAV is calculated based, in part, upon the net asset values of such mutual funds; the prospectuses for those mutual funds in which the Fund will invest describe the circumstances under which those mutual funds will use fair value pricing, which, in turn, affects their net asset values.
Dividends, Distributions And Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund typically distributes to its shareholders as dividends substantially all of its net investment income and any realized net capital gains. These distributions are automatically reinvested in the Fund unless you request cash distributions on your application or through a written request to the Fund. The Fund expects that its distributions will consist primarily of net realized capital gains. The Fund declares and pays dividends at least annually.
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Taxes. Net investment income distributed by the Fund generally will consist of interest income, if any, and dividends received on investments, less expenses. The dividends you receive, whether or not reinvested, will be taxed as ordinary income except as discussed below (including in the table).
The Fund will typically distribute net realized capital gains to its shareholders once a year. Capital gains are generated when the Fund sells its capital assets for a profit. Capital gains are taxed differently depending on how long the Fund has held the capital asset sold. Distributions of gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held for one year or less are taxed at ordinary income rates; distributions of gains recognized on the sale of capital assets held longer than one year are taxed at long-term capital gains rates regardless of how long you have held your shares. If the Fund distributes an amount exceeding its income and gains, this excess will generally be treated as a non-taxable return of capital. Special rules govern the treatment of certain gains from hedging strategies which may result in only a portion of any such gains being taxed at long-term capital gains rates.
Unless you indicate another option on your account application, any dividends and capital gain distributions paid to you by the Fund automatically will be invested in additional shares of the Fund. Alternatively, you may elect to have: (1) dividends paid to you in cash and the amount of any capital gain distributions reinvested; or (2) the full amount of any dividends and capital gain distributions paid to you in cash. The Fund will send dividends and capital gain distributions elected to be received as cash to the address of record or bank of record on the applicable account. Your distribution option will automatically be converted to having all dividends and other distributions reinvested in additional shares if any of the following occur:
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Postal or other delivery service is unable to deliver checks to the address of record; |
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Dividends and capital gain distributions are not cashed within 180 days; or |
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Bank account of record is no longer valid. |
Dividends and capital gain distribution checks issued by the Fund which are not cashed within 180 days will be reinvested in the Fund at the current days NAV. When reinvested those amounts are subject to market risk like any other investment in the Fund.
Selling shares (including redemptions) and receiving distributions (whether reinvested or taken in cash) usually are taxable events to the Funds shareholders. These transactions typically create the following tax liabilities for taxable accounts:
Summary of Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences. The following information is meant as a general summary of the federal income tax provisions regarding the taxation of the Funds shareholders. Additional tax information appears in the SAI. Shareholders should rely on their own tax adviser for advice about the federal, state, and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
The Fund expects to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized gains to its shareholders at least annually. Shareholders may elect to take dividends from net investment income or capital gain distributions, if any, in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares. Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts it distributes, shareholders will generally be taxed on distributions, regardless of whether distributions are paid by the Fund in
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cash or are reinvested in additional Fund shares. Distributions to non-corporate investors attributable to ordinary income and short-term capital gains are generally taxed as ordinary income, although certain income dividends may be taxed to non-corporate shareholders as qualified dividend income at long-term capital gains rates provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxed as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long a shareholder has held Fund shares. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as federal taxes.
The Fund may invest in foreign securities against which foreign tax may be withheld. If more than 50% of the Funds assets are invested in foreign ETFs or index mutual funds at the end of the year, the Funds shareholders might be able to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to foreign taxes withheld.
Taxable distributions paid by the Fund to corporate shareholders will be taxed at corporate tax rates. Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction (DRD) for a portion of the dividends paid and designated by the Fund as qualifying for the DRD provided certain holding period requirements are met.
In general, a shareholder who sells or redeems Fund shares will realize a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholders holding period for the Fund shares, provided that any loss recognized on the sale of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares. An exchange of shares may be treated as a sale and any gain may be subject to tax.
The Fund may be required to withhold U.S federal income tax (presently at the rate of twenty-eight percent (28%)) on all taxable distributions payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification numbers or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, rather, it is a way in which the Internal Revenue Service ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholders U.S. federal income tax liability.
Shareholders should consult with their own tax adviser to ensure that distributions and sales of Fund shares are treated appropriately on their income tax returns.
Cost Basis Reporting. As of January 1, 2012, federal law requires that mutual fund companies report their shareholders cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the Internal Revenue Service on the Funds shareholders Form 1099s when covered securities are sold. Covered securities are any regulated investment company and/or dividend reinvestment plan shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012.
The Fund has chosen Average Cost as its default tax lot identification method for all shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Fund will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Funds standing tax lot identification method is the method covered shares will be reported on your Consolidated Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. You may choose a method
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different than the Funds standing method and will be able to do so at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of covered shares. Please refer to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service regulations or consult your tax adviser with regard to your personal circumstances.
General Disclaimer. For those securities defined as covered under current Internal Revenue Service cost basis tax reporting regulations, the Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered. The Fund and its service providers do not provide tax advice. You should consult independent sources, which may include a tax professional, with respect to any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method.
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You can find additional information about the Fund in the following documents:
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports : While the Prospectus describes the Funds potential investments, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports detail the Funds actual investments as of their report dates. The reports may also include a discussion by the Funds management of recent market conditions, economic trends, and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during the reporting period.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) : The SAI supplements the Prospectus and contains detailed information about the Fund and its investment restrictions, risks and policies and operations, including the Funds policies and procedures relating to the disclosure of portfolio holdings by the Funds affiliates. A current SAI for the Fund is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated into this prospectus by reference, which means it is considered part of this Prospectus.
You can get free copies of the current SAI and the Funds Annual and Semi-Annual Reports by contacting Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863. You may also request other information about the Fund and make shareholder inquiries. Alternatively, the Funds SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders also will be made available, free of charge, at the Funds web site at www.smifund.com.
You may review and copy information about the Fund (including the SAI and other reports) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 for room hours and operation. You may also obtain reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet site at http:// www.sec.gov , and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov , or by writing the SECs Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
Investment Company Act #811-21237
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SMI DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND (SMIDX)
A Series of Valued Advisers Trust
Statement of Additional Information
February 21, 2013
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the prospectus (the Prospectus) of the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (the Fund) dated February 21, 2013. A free copy of the Prospectus can be obtained by writing the transfer agent at Huntington Asset Services, Inc., 2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, or by calling Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 or (877) SMI-Fund. A Prospectus can also be downloaded from the Funds website: www.SMIFund.com.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND FUND
The SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (the Fund) was organized as an open-end non-diversified series of Valued Advisers Trust (the Trust). The Funds policies with respect to diversification are fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval or as otherwise allowed by applicable rules, guidelines, orders and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its staff.
The Trust is a management investment company established under the laws of Delaware by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 13, 2008 (the Trust Agreement). The Trust Agreement permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Trustees. The investment adviser to the Fund is SMI Advisory Services, LLC (the Adviser). Scout Investments, Inc., through its REAMS Asset Management division, is the subadviser for the fixed income investments (other than ETFs and other investment companies that invest primarily in fixed income securities) and cash investments for the Fund (the Subadviser).
The Fund does not issue share certificates. All shares are held in non-certificate form registered on the books of the Fund and the Funds transfer agent for the account of the shareholder. Each share of a series represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to that series with each other share of that series and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of income belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights, and the Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series so long as the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected. In case of any liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series are borne by that series. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.
Any Trustee of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Trust does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each whole share he owns and fractional votes for fractional shares he owns. All shares of the Fund have equal voting rights and liquidation rights. The Trust Agreement can be amended by the Trustees, except that certain amendments that could adversely affect the rights of shareholders must be approved by the shareholders affected. All shares of the Fund are subject to involuntary redemption if the Trustees determine to liquidate the Fund. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or a capital loss, which may have tax consequences about which you should consult your tax advisor.
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For information concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund, see How to Buy Shares and How to Redeem Shares in the Funds prospectus. For a description of the methods used to determine the share price and value of the Funds assets, see Determination of Net Asset Value in the Funds prospectus and this SAI.
The Fund may authorize one or more brokers or other intermediaries (an Intermediary) to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such Intermediaries would be authorized to designate others to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Funds behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized Intermediary or, if applicable, its authorized designee, receives the order.
Customer orders will be priced at the Funds net asset value next computed after they are received by an authorized Intermediary and accepted by the Fund. The performance of the Fund may be compared in publications to the performance of various indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. The performance of the Fund may be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. The Funds annual report will contain additional performance information and will be made available to investors upon request and without charge.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
This section contains additional information regarding some of the investments the Fund may make and some of the techniques it may use.
A. Investment Company Securities . Subject to the restrictions and limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and any SEC exemptive orders thereunder, the Fund will invest primarily in the securities of other investment companies (underlying funds). The Fund may invest in other mutual funds, money market funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including ETFs that hold a portfolio of securities which closely tracks the price performance and/or dividend yield of various indices, and other closed-end funds. When the Fund invests in other investment companies, it will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by the investment company. In connection with its investments in other investment companies, the Fund will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. For example, shareholders may incur expenses associated with capital gains distributions by the Fund as well as the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. Shareholders may also incur increased transaction costs as a result of the Funds portfolio turnover rate and/or because of the high portfolio turnover rates in the underlying funds. The Fund is not required to hold securities for any minimum period and, as a result, may incur short-term redemption fees and increased trading costs. When selecting underlying funds for investment, the Fund will not be precluded from investing in an underlying fund with a higher than average expense ratio. The Fund is independent from any of the underlying funds in which it invests and it has no voice in or control over the investment strategies, policies or decisions of the underlying funds. The Funds only option is to liquidate its investment in an underlying fund in the event of dissatisfaction with the fund.
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The 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies, such as the Fund, in the securities of other investment companies, including ETFs. However, pursuant to exemptive orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission to various ETF sponsors, the Fund is permitted to invest in these ETFs beyond the limits set forth in the 1940 Act subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in the applicable exemptive order, including a condition that the Fund enter into an agreement with the relevant ETF prior to investing beyond the 1940 Acts limits. As a result, the Fund may invest a substantial portion of its assets in a single underlying fund, or the Fund may own a substantial portion of the outstanding shares of an underlying fund. At certain times, an underlying fund may limit the Funds ability to sell its shares of the underlying fund. In such cases, unless the related underlying fund also is traded on a national exchange (e.g., an ETF), the portion of the investment subject to the restriction will be considered illiquid.
B. Equity Securities . The Fund invests in other investment companies that primarily hold a portfolio of equity securities. Equity securities are common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures, American Depositary Receipts, rights and warrants. Convertible preferred stock is preferred stock that can be converted into common stock pursuant to its terms. Convertible debentures are debt instruments that can be converted into common stock pursuant to their terms. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price valid for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have shorter durations.
C. Fixed Income Securities . The Fund may invest in other investment companies and ETFs that hold a portfolio of fixed income securities. The Fund may also invest in fixed income securities directly. Fixed income securities include corporate debt securities, high yield debt securities, convertible debt securities, municipal securities, U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, zero coupon bonds, financial industry obligations, repurchase agreements, and participation interests in such securities. Preferred stock and certain common stock equivalents may also be considered to be fixed income securities. Fixed income securities are generally considered to be interest rate sensitive, which means that their value will generally decrease when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall. Securities with shorter maturities, while offering lower yields, generally provide greater price stability than longer term securities and are less affected by changes in interest rates.
1. Corporate Debt Securities . Corporate debt securities include bonds, notes, debentures and investment certificates issued by corporations and other business organizations, including business trusts and equipment trusts, in order to finance their credit needs. Corporate debt securities include commercial paper which consists of short term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. The Adviser and Subadviser consider corporate debt securities to be of investment grade quality if they are rated at the time of purchase BBB- and Baa3 or higher by two out of the following three rating organizations: Standard & Poors Ratings Group (S&P), Fitch Ratings (Fitch), or Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys), or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In determining the investment rating of a particular security, the Adviser and Subadviser typically adopt the higher rating of any two of S&P, Fitch and Moodys. Investment grade debt securities generally have adequate to strong protection of principal and interest payments. In the lower end of this category, credit quality may be more susceptible to potential future changes in
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circumstances and the securities have speculative elements. If the rating of a portfolio security by any two of S&P, Fitch or Moodys drops below investment grade, the Adviser and Subadviser will dispose of the security as soon as practicable (depending on market conditions) unless the Adviser and Subadviser determine based on their own credit analysis that the security provides the opportunity of meeting the Funds objective without presenting excessive risk.
2. High Yield Debt Securities (Junk Bonds) . Subject to the limitation on investments in illiquid securities, the Fund may invest in securities that are below investment grade. The widespread expansion of government, consumer and corporate debt within the U.S. economy has made the corporate sector, especially cyclically sensitive industries, more vulnerable to economic downturns or increased interest rates. An economic downturn could severely disrupt the market for high yield securities and adversely affect the value of outstanding securities and the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest.
The prices of high yield securities have been found to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, and more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments. Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing. If the issuer of a security owned by the Fund defaulted, the Fund could incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices of high yield securities and the Funds net asset value. Furthermore, in the case of high yield securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities, their market prices are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and thereby tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash. High yield securities also present risks based on payment expectations. For example, high yield securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a high yield securitys value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Funds assets. If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, this may force it to sell its high yield securities without regard to their investment merits, thereby decreasing the asset base upon which the Funds expenses can be spread and possibly reducing the Funds rate of return.
In addition, to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield securities, and this may have an impact on the Funds ability to accurately value high yield securities and the Funds assets and on the Funds ability to dispose of the securities. Adverse publicity and investor perception, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities especially in a thinly traded market.
There are also special tax considerations associated with investing in high yield securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities. For example, the Fund reports the interest on these securities as income even though it receives no cash interest until the securitys maturity or payment date. Also, the shareholders are taxed on this interest even if the Fund does not distribute cash to them. Therefore, in order to pay taxes on this interest,
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shareholders may have to redeem some of their shares to pay the tax or the Fund may sell some of its assets to distribute cash to shareholders. These actions are likely to reduce the Funds assets and may thereby increase its expense ratio and decrease its rate of return.
Finally, there are risks involved in applying credit ratings as a method for evaluating high yield securities. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk of high yield securities. Also, since credit rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, the Fund (in conjunction with the Adviser) will continuously monitor the issuers of high yield securities to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the securities liquidity so the Fund can meet redemption requests.
3. U.S. Government Securities . U.S. government securities may be backed by the credit of the government as a whole or only by the issuing agency. U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills and some agency securities, such as those issued by the Federal Housing Administration and the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government as to payment of principal and interest and are the highest quality government securities. Other securities issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, are supported only by the credit of the agency that issued them, and not by the U.S. government. Securities issued by the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Land Banks, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) are supported by the agencys right to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
The Fund may also invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS are a special type of treasury note or bond that was created in order to offer bond investors protection from inflation. The value of the TIPS is automatically adjusted to the inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). If the CPI goes up by half a percent the value of the bond would go up by half a percent. If the CPI falls, the value of the bond does not fall because the government guarantees that your original investment will stay the same. TIPS decline in value when real interest rates rise. In certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, TIPS may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar duration.
4. Mortgage-Backed Securities . Mortgage-backed securities represent an interest in a pool of mortgages. These securities, including securities issued by FNMA and GNMA, provide investors with payments consisting of both interest and principal as the mortgages in the underlying mortgage pools are repaid. Unscheduled or early payments on the underlying mortgages may shorten the securities effective maturities. The average life of securities representing interests in pools of mortgage loans is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools as a result of prepayments or foreclosures of such mortgages. Prepayments are passed through to the registered holder with the regular monthly payments of principal and interest, and have the effect of reducing future payments. To the extent the mortgages underlying a security representing an interest in a pool of mortgages are prepaid, the Fund may experience a loss (if the price at which the respective security was acquired by the Fund was at a premium over par, which represents the price at which the security
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will be sold upon prepayment). In addition, prepayments of such securities held by the Fund will reduce the share price of the Fund to the extent the market value of the securities at the time of prepayment exceeds their par value. Furthermore, the prices of mortgage-backed securities can be significantly affected by changes in interest rates. Prepayments may occur with greater frequency in periods of declining mortgage rates because, among other reasons, it may be possible for mortgagors to refinance their outstanding mortgages at lower interest rates. In such periods, it is likely that any prepayment proceeds would be reinvested by the Fund at lower rates of return.
5. Asset-Backed Securities . Asset-backed securities are undivided fractional interests in pools of consumer loans (unrelated to mortgage loans) or other assets (such as equipment leases) held in a trust. Payments of principal and interest are passed through to certificate holders and are typically supported by some form of credit enhancement, such as a letter of credit, surety bond, limited guaranty or senior subordination. The degree of credit enhancement varies, but generally amounts to only a fraction of the asset-backed or receivable-backed securitys par value until exhausted. If the credit enhancement is exhausted, certificate holders may experience losses or delays in payment if the required payments of principal and interest are not made to the trust with respect to the underlying loans. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in the markets perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans or the financial institution providing the credit enhancement. Asset-backed and receivable-backed securities are ultimately dependent upon payment of loans by individuals or businesses, and the certificate holder generally has no recourse against the entity that originated the loans. The underlying loans are subject to prepayments which shorten the securities weighted average life and may lower their return. As prepayments flow through at par, total returns would be affected by the prepayments: if a security were trading at a premium, its total return would be lowered by prepayments, and if a security were trading at a discount, its total return would be increased by prepayments.
6. Zero Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Bonds . Corporate debt securities and municipal obligations include so-called zero coupon bonds and pay-in-kind bonds. Zero coupon bonds do not make regular interest payments. Instead they are sold at a deep discount from their face value. The Fund will accrue income on such bonds for tax and accounting purposes, in accordance with applicable law. This income will be distributed to shareholders. Because no cash is received at the time such income is accrued, the Fund may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its distribution obligations. Because a zero coupon bond does not pay current income, its price can be very volatile when interest rates change. In calculating its dividend, the Fund takes into account as income a portion of the difference between a zero coupon bonds purchase price and its face value.
The Federal Reserve creates Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (STRIPS) by separating the coupon payments and the principal payment from an outstanding Treasury security and selling them as individual securities. A broker-dealer creates a derivative zero by depositing a Treasury security with a custodian for safekeeping and then selling the coupon payments and principal payment that will be generated by this security separately. Examples are Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities (CATs), Treasury Investment Growth Receipts (TIGRs) and generic Treasury Receipts (TRs). These derivative zero coupon obligations are not considered to be government securities unless they are part of the STRIPS program. Original issue zeros are zero coupon securities issued directly by the U.S. government, a government agency or by a corporation.
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Pay-in-kind bonds allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. The value of zero coupon bonds and pay-in-kind bonds is subject to greater fluctuation in response to changes in market interest rates than bonds which make regular payments of interest. Both of these types of bonds allow an issuer to avoid the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments. Accordingly, such bonds may involve greater credit risks than bonds which make regular payment of interest. Even though zero coupon bonds and pay-in-kind bonds do not pay current interest in cash, the Fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments and to distribute such amounts at least annually to shareholders. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its dividend requirements. There is no limit on the amount of zero coupon bonds that the Fund may purchase; however the Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in pay-in-kind bonds.
7. When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Transactions . When-issued, delayed delivery and forward transactions generally involve the purchase of a security with payment and delivery at some time in the future (i.e., beyond normal settlement). New issues of stocks and bonds, private placements and U.S. government securities may be sold in this manner. The Fund does not earn interest on such securities until settlement, and the Fund bears the risk of market value fluctuations between the purchase and settlement dates. The Fund will segregate cash or liquid assets having an aggregate value equal to the purchase price until payment is made.
Forward commitments also include To be announced (TBA) mortgage backed securities, which are contracts for the purchase or sale of mortgage-backed securities to be delivered at a future agreed upon date, whereby the specific mortgage pool numbers or the number of pools that will be delivered to fulfill the trade obligation or terms of the contract are unknown at the time of the trade. The Fund may also enter into buy/sell back transactions (a form of delayed delivery agreement). In a buy/sell back transaction, the Fund enters a trade to sell securities at one price and simultaneously enters a trade to buy the same securities at another price for settlement at a future date. Although the Fund generally intends to acquire or dispose of securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund may sell these securities or its commitment before the settlement date if deemed advisable.
When purchasing a security on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuation, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. Securities purchased on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are subject to changes in value based upon the publics perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Accordingly, securities acquired on such a basis may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis may involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Investment in these types of securities may increase the possibility that the Fund will incur short-term gains subject to federal taxation or short-term losses if the Fund must engage in portfolio transactions in order to honor its commitment.
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Because when-issued, delayed delivery and forward transactions may be viewed as creating leverage, the Fund or underlying fund could lose more than it invested, federal securities laws, regulations and guidance may require the Fund and underlying fund to earmark assets to reduce the risks associated with derivatives or to otherwise hold instruments that offset the Funds obligations under the derivatives instrument. This process is known as cover. The Fund will not enter into any derivative transaction unless it can comply with SEC guidance regarding cover, and, if SEC guidance so requires, the Fund will earmark cash or liquid assets with a value sufficient to cover its obligations under a derivative transaction or otherwise cover the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. If a large portion of the Funds assets is used for cover, it could affect portfolio management or the Funds ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The leverage involved in certain derivative transactions may result in the Funds net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related investment.
D. Foreign Securities .
1. General . To the extent that the Fund invests in foreign investment companies, or in domestic funds that hold portfolios of foreign equity or fixed income securities, it will be subject to certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in underlying funds that invest solely in domestic securities. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.
Securities trading on overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market, but prior to the close of the U.S. market. Fair valuation of the Funds portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Funds net asset value (NAV) by short term traders.
2. Emerging Markets Securities . The Fund may purchase emerging market securities directly. The Fund may purchase ETFs that invest in, or other investment companies that invest and/or are located in, emerging markets.
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Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. 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.
Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.
3. Sovereign Debt . Sovereign debt differs from debt obligations issued by private entities in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Legal recourse is therefore limited. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entitys willingness to meet the terms of its debt obligations, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements.
A sovereign debtors willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including among others, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtors policy toward principal international lenders and the political constraints to which a sovereign debtor may be subject. A country whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international price of such commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of a countrys trading partners, or political changes in those countries, could also adversely affect its exports. Such events could diminish a countrys trade account surplus, if any, or the credit standing of a particular local government or agency. Another factor bearing on the ability of a country to repay sovereign debt is the level of the countrys international reserves. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves can affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and, thus, could have a bearing on the capacity of the country to make payments on its sovereign debt.
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With respect to sovereign debt of emerging market issuers, investors should be aware that certain emerging market countries are among the largest debtors to commercial banks and foreign governments. At times, certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on external debt.
Certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis, which led to defaults on certain obligations and the restructuring of certain indebtedness. Restructuring arrangements have included, among other things, reducing and rescheduling interest and principal payments by negotiating new or amended credit agreements or converting outstanding principal and unpaid interest to Brady Bonds, and obtaining new credit to finance interest payments. Holders of sovereign debt, including the Fund, may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to sovereign debtors, and the interests of holders of sovereign debt could be adversely affected in the course of restructuring arrangements or by certain other factors referred to below. Furthermore, some of the participants in the secondary market for sovereign debt may also be directly involved in negotiating the terms of these arrangements and may therefore have access to information not available to other market participants, such as the Fund. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of certain issuers of sovereign debt. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.
Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in such sovereign debt and increase the costs and expenses of the Fund. Certain countries in which the Fund may invest require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular issuer, limit the investment by foreign persons only to a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous rights than the classes available for purchase by domiciliaries of the countries, or impose additional taxes on foreign investors. Certain issuers may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. In addition, if a deterioration occurs in a countrys balance of payments, the country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. The Fund could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Fund of any restrictions on investments. Investing in local markets may require the Fund to adopt special procedures, seek local government approvals or take other actions, each of which may involve additional costs to the Fund.
E. Options . The Fund may enter into option transactions. The Fund will mainly purchase and sell options on securities indices. An option involves either (a) the right or the obligation to buy or sell a specific instrument at a specific price until the expiration date of the option, or (b) the right to receive payments or the obligation to make payments representing the difference between the closing price of a market index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple until the expiration date of the option. Options are sold (written) on securities and market indices. The purchaser of an option on a security pays the
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seller (the writer) a premium for the right granted but is not obligated to buy or sell the underlying security. The purchaser of an option on a market index pays the seller a premium for the right granted, and in return the seller of such an option is obligated to make the payment. Options are traded on organized exchanges and in the over-the-counter market. The use of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.
Options on securities indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
Because certain derivatives may be viewed as creating leverage, that is, the amount invested may be smaller than the full economic exposure of the derivative instrument and the Fund or underlying fund could lose more than it invested, federal securities laws, regulations and guidance may require the Fund and underlying fund to earmark assets to reduce the risks associated with derivatives or to otherwise hold instruments that offset the Funds obligations under the derivatives instrument. This process is known as cover. The Fund will not enter into any derivative transaction unless it can comply with SEC guidance regarding cover, and, if SEC guidance so requires, the Fund will earmark cash or liquid assets with a value sufficient to cover its obligations under a derivative transaction or otherwise cover the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. If a large portion of the Funds assets is used for cover, it could affect portfolio management or the Funds ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The leverage involved in certain derivative transactions may result in the Funds net asset value being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related investment.
F. Credit Default Swap Products . The Fund may invest in credit default swaps (CDS). CDS are bilateral financial contacts that transfer the credit risk of a third party reference entity or group of entities from one party to another. A buyer of a CDS receives credit protection or sheds credit risk, whereas the seller of a CDS is selling credit protection or assuming credit risk. The seller typically receives a predetermined periodic payment from the other party in consideration for guaranteeing to make a specific payment to the buyer should the third party reference entity suffer a default event. If a default event occurs, the seller would be required to pay the par value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in exchange for a default debt obligation. CDS are marked-to-market daily based on the mean of bid and asked quotes as obtained from multiple dealers, and changes in value, as well as the accrual of the periodic coupon payments, are recorded as unrealized gain or loss on credit default swap agreements. Gains or losses on swap agreements are realized upon termination of the swap contract and the
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periodic coupon payments. In addition to being exposed to the credit risk of the underlying reference entity, CDS are subject to counterparty risk, market risk and interest rate risk. CDS utilized by the Fund may not perform as expected or in a manner similar to the high-yield bond markets. The Fund will enter into CDS only with counterparties that the Subadviser reasonably believes are capable of performing under the CDS.
The Fund uses credit default swap products as an additional avenue by which to add value to the portfolio. There are two primary products utilized in this space. First, credit default swap index products offer a superior tool by which to attain broad market exposure in a risk-controlled and cost effective manner. The three main products used include the investment grade index (125 names), the high yield index (100 names) and the loan index (100 names). Index products allow the Fund to attain broad exposure while significantly reducing idiosyncratic risk (company-specific risk). As an example, a 5% position in the high yield index translates to 0.05% exposure to each constituent company. This avenue typically accounts for the majority trading volume in credit default swap products. In general, the value of the credit default swap index product will go up or down in response to changes in the perceived credit risk and default experience of the basket of issuers, instead of the exchange of the stream of payments for the payment of the notional amount (if a Credit Event occurs) that is the substance of a single name credit default swap. Second, single name credit default swaps are used to gain exposure to a particular company when it is more economically attractive than traditional bonds. Moreover, a single name credit default swap provides an avenue by which to express a negative view of a company.
G. Cash Equivalents . The Fund may invest directly in cash and high-quality short-term fixed-income securities. All money market instruments can change in value when interest rates or an issuers creditworthiness change dramatically. Various short-term fixed-income securities that the Fund invests in for cash management purposes are described below:
a. Repurchase Agreements . Repurchase agreements are agreements by which the Fund purchases a security and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller to repurchase the security at an agreed upon price and date. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed upon market rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Repurchase agreements must be fully collateralized and can be entered into only with well-established banks and broker-dealers that have been deemed creditworthy by the Adviser or Subadviser. Repurchase transactions are intended to be short-term transactions, usually with the seller repurchasing the securities within seven days. Repurchase agreements that mature in more than seven days are subject to the Funds limit on illiquid securities. When the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement it may lose money if the other party defaults on its obligation and the Fund is delayed or prevented from disposing of the collateral. The Fund also might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and it might incur costs in selling the collateral or asserting its legal rights under the agreement. If a defaulting seller filed for bankruptcy or became insolvent, disposition of collateral might be delayed pending court action.
b. Bank Obligations . Bank obligations include bankers acceptances, negotiable certificates of deposit and non-negotiable time deposits, including U.S. dollar-denominated instruments issued or supported by the credit of U.S. or foreign banks or savings institutions. Although the Fund may invest in money market obligations of foreign banks or
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foreign branches of U.S. banks only where the Adviser or Subadviser determines the instrument to present minimal credit risks, such investments may nevertheless entail risks that are different from those of investments in domestic obligations of U.S. banks due to differences in political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions. All investments in bank obligations are limited to the obligations of financial institutions having more than $1 billion in total assets at the time of purchase, and investments by the Fund in the obligations of foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks will not exceed 10% of the Funds total assets at the time of purchase. The Fund may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 10% of its net assets.
c. Commercial Paper . Investments by the Fund in commercial paper will consist of issues rated at the time of investment as A-1 and/or P-1 by S&P, Moodys or similar rating by another nationally recognized rating agency. In addition, the Fund may acquire unrated commercial paper and corporate bonds that are determined by the Adviser or Subadviser at the time of purchase to be of comparable quality to rated instruments that may be acquired by the Fund as previously described.
d. Investment Company Securities . (See A Above). The Fund may invest in other investment companies such as money market funds and short-term bond funds.
H. Preferred and Other Hybrid Securities. The Fund may invest in preferred and other hybrid securities. Hybrids are instruments that combine features of corporate debt securities and preferred stock. They may have perpetual (replacement language requiring the issuer to replace the security at maturity making the security perpetual) or long-dated (a minimum of 30 years but usually longer than 60 years) maturities (maturing at face value).They may make periodic fixed or variable interest payments (generally quarterly) and may allow the issuer to defer (cumulative issues) or skip (non-cumulative issues) interest payments for up to 10 years without being in default. Hybrids are junior in the capital structure (above common stock and preferred equity but below all debt, including trust preferreds). Hybrid issuers are primarily banks and insurance companies.
The Fund may invest in trust preferreds (or capital securities) which are created when a holding company issues a junior subordinated note that is purchased by an off-balance sheet trust entity. The trust entity (usually wholly-guaranteed by the holding company) then issues participation shares (or capital securities) in itself. Capital securities are generally allowed to defer interest (cumulative), have a final maturity, and are not convertible to preferred stock.
I. Foreign Currency Securities . The Fund may invest in forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The Fund may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions. The value of the Funds portfolio securities that are invested in non-U.S. dollar denominated instruments as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. The Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
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When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to establish the cost or proceeds relative to another currency. The forward contract may be denominated in U.S. dollars or may be a cross-currency contract where the forward contract is denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars. However, this tends to limit potential gains which might result from a positive change in such currency relationships.
The forecasting of a short-term currency market movement is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The Fund may enter into such forward contracts if, as a result, not more than 10% of the value of its total assets would be committed to such contracts. Under normal circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies. However, the Trustees believe that it is important to have the flexibility to enter into forward contracts when the Sub-adviser determines it to be in the best interests of the Fund.
Generally, the Fund will not enter into a forward foreign currency exchange contract with a term of greater than 180 days. At the maturity of the contract, the Fund may either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or may retain the security and terminate the obligation to deliver the foreign currency by purchasing an offsetting forward contract with the same currency trader obligating the Fund to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the foreign currency.
It is impossible to forecast with absolute precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of the contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the security is less than the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security if its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver.
If the Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund will incur a gain or a loss (as described below) to the extent that there has been movement in forward contract prices. If the Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, it may subsequently enter into a new forward contract to sell the foreign currency. Should forward prices decline during the period between entering into a forward contract for the sale of a foreign currency and the date the Fund enters into an offsetting contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, the Fund will realize a gain to the extent the price of the currency the Fund has agreed to sell exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should forward prices increase, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent the price of the currency the Fund has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the currency the Fund has agreed to sell.
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The Funds dealings in forward foreign currency exchange contracts will be limited to the transactions described above. The Fund is not required to enter into such transactions with regard to its foreign currency-denominated securities and will not do so unless deemed appropriate by the Subadviser. It should also be realized that this method of protecting the value of the Funds portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities held by the Fund. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, although such contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result should the value of such currency increase.
J. Real Estate Securities . The Fund will be subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including: i) declines in the value of real estate, ii) risks related to general and local economic conditions, iii) dependency on management skill, iv) heavy cash flow dependency, v) possible lack of availability of mortgage funds, vi) overbuilding, vii) extended vacancies of properties, viii) increased competition, ix) increases in property taxes and operating expenses, x) changes in zoning laws, xi) losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems, xii) liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems, xiii) casualty or condemnation losses, xiv) limitations on rents, xv) changes in neighborhood values and the appeal of properties to tenants, xvi) changes in interest rates and tax laws.
Investing in Real Estate Industries Companies. Investors also will be subject to certain risks associated with Real Estate Industries Companies. For example, the value of an investment in Real Estate Industries Companies that directly own real property may be affected by changes in the value of that property, while Real Estate Industries Companies that invest in mortgages and other debt instruments related to real estate may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Credit risk is the possibility that an issuer will default on a security by failing to pay interest or principal when due. If this happens, the Fund could lose money. Real Estate Industries Companies depend on management skills and generally may not be diversified. These Real Estate Industries Companies also are dependent on the income generated by the underlying properties to meet operating expenses, and they are subject to borrower default and to self-liquidation. In addition, some REITs possibly could fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.
The above factors also may adversely affect a borrowers or a lessees ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.
REITs, particularly REITs that invest in mortgages, are subject to interest rate risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REITs investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REITs investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable-rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REITs investments in such loans gradually will align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of these investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than investments in fixed-rate obligations.
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K. Illiquid Securities . The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Certain illiquid securities may require pricing at fair value as determined in good faith under the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Fund may be subject to significant delays in disposing of illiquid securities, and transactions in illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. The term illiquid securities for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities. Restricted securities, i.e., securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may be illiquid. However, some restricted securities (such as securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and certain commercial paper) may be treated as liquid, although they may be less liquid than registered securities traded on established secondary markets.
L. Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified and, as a result, may have greater volatility than other diversified funds. Because a non-diversified fund may invest a larger percentage of its assets in securities of a single company than diversified funds, the performance of that company can have a substantial impact on the Funds share price. The Fund will be subject to substantially more investment risk and potential for volatility than a diversified fund because the poor performance of an individual security in the Funds portfolio will have a greater negative impact on the Funds performance than if the Funds assets were diversified among a larger number of portfolio securities. The Fund intends to maintain the required level of diversification so as to qualify as a regulated investment company for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code), to avoid liability for federal income tax to the extent that its earnings are distributed to shareholders. Compliance with diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code could limit the investment flexibility of the Fund.
M. Futures Contracts . The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts to hedge against changes in prices. The Fund may utilize Treasury futures to hedge against interest rate risk and inflation risk.
The Fund will not engage in futures transactions for speculative purposes. The Fund may also write call options and purchase put options on futures contracts as a hedge to attempt to protect securities in its portfolio against decreases in value. When the Fund writes a call option on a futures contract, it is undertaking the obligation of selling a futures contract at a fixed price at any time during a specified period if the option is exercised. Conversely, as purchaser of a put option on a futures contract, the Fund is entitled (but not obligated) to sell a futures contract at the fixed price during the life of the option.
When the Fund purchases futures contracts, an amount of cash and cash equivalents equal to the underlying commodity value of the futures contracts (less any related margin deposits) will be segregated on the books and records of the Fund to collateralize the position and thereby insure that the use of such futures contract is unleveraged. When the Fund sells futures contracts or related option contracts, it will either own or have the right to receive
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the underlying future or security, or will make deposits to collateralize the position as discussed above. When the Fund uses futures and options on futures as hedging devices, there is a risk that the prices of the securities subject to the futures contracts may not correlate perfectly with the prices of the securities in the Funds portfolio. This may cause the futures contract and any related options to react differently than the portfolio securities to market changes. In addition, the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations about the direction or extent of market factors such as stock price movements. In these events, the Fund may lose money on the futures contract or option. It is not certain that a secondary market for positions in futures contracts or for options will exist at all times. Although the Adviser will consider liquidity before entering into these transactions, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or otherwise will exist for any particular futures contract or option at any particular time. The Funds ability to establish and close out futures and options positions depends on this secondary market. This Fund is being operated by an investment adviser that has claimed an exemption from registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore the investment adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under that Act. This claim of exemption from registration as a commodity pool operator is pursuant to Rule 4.5 promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act. Specifically, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 4.5(b)(1), the Fund will limit its use of commodity futures contracts and commodity options contracts to no more than (i) five percent (5%) of the Funds liquidation value being committed as aggregate initial premium or margin for such contracts or (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of the Funds liquidation value in aggregate net notional value of commodity futures, commodity options and swaps positions.
A. Fundamental . The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (Fundamental), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the prospectus and this SAI, the term majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices which may be changed by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or regulatory policy are considered non-fundamental (Non-Fundamental).
1. Borrowing Money . The Fund will not borrow money, except (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Funds total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.
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2. Senior Securities . The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Funds engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or its staff.
3. Underwriting . The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
4. Real Estate . The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other investment companies backed by real estate (e.g., REITS) or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business, including publicly traded partnerships).
5. Commodities . The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, including interest in exchange traded grantor trusts, or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.
6. Loans . The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except (a) by loaning portfolio securities, (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements, or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly offered debt securities. For purposes of this limitation, the term loans shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.
7. Concentration . Each Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry (other than investment companies). This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.
With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on the Funds investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within ninety days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.
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B. Non-Fundamental . The following limitations have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are Non-Fundamental (see Investment Limitations - Fundamental above).
1. Pledging . The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in Fundamental limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.
2. Margin Purchases . The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on margin. This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques.
3. Illiquid Securities . The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid or restricted at the time of purchase.
4. Loans of Portfolio Securities . The Fund will not make loans of portfolio securities.
INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUBADVISER
The Adviser is SMI Advisory Services, LLC, 11135 Baker Hollow Rd., Columbus, IN 47201. The Adviser is a joint venture between Omnium Investment Company, LLC, and Marathon Partners, LLC. Omnium Investment Company was formed in 2005 and is managed by Anthony Ayers and Eric Collier. Marathon Partners was formed in 2005 by Austin Pryor, Mark Biller and the other senior personnel of Sound Mind Investing, a Christian non-denominational financial newsletter. Austin Pryor is the majority owner of Sound Mind Investing, LLC, and Mark Biller serves as Executive Editor of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter and online services. The Sound Mind Investing newsletter was first published in 1990. The newsletter provides investment recommendations to thousands of subscribers using a variety of investment strategies, including the fund upgrading strategy used to manage the Fund.
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Under the terms of the investment advisory agreement with respect to the Fund (the Advisory Agreement), the Adviser is responsible for managing the Funds investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee based on the Funds average daily net assets as follows:
Fund Assets |
SMI Dynamic
Allocation Fund |
|||
$1 - $100 million |
1.00 | % | ||
$100,000,001 - $250 million |
1.00 | % | ||
$250,000,001 - $500 million |
0.90 | % | ||
Over $500 million |
0.80 | % |
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse certain Fund operating expenses, but only to the extent necessary so that net operating expenses, (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenses which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, dividend expense on short sales, 12b-1 fees, and acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 1.45% of the Funds average daily net assets. The contractual arrangement for the Fund is in effect through February 28, 2014. Each waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the particular reimbursement or expense was incurred; provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the applicable expense limitation.
A discussion of the factors that the Board of Trustees considered in approving the Funds Advisory Agreement will be included in the Funds Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal period ended April 30, 2013.
The Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Advisor under such agreement shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder. The Adviser retains the right to use the name Sound Mind Investing in connection with another investment company or business enterprise with which the Adviser is or may become associated. The Funds right to use the name Sound Mind Investing automatically ceases 90 days after termination of the Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on 90 days written notice.
The Adviser, not the Fund, may pay certain financial institutions (which may include banks, broker-dealers and other industry professionals) a fee for providing distribution related services and/or for performing certain administrative servicing functions for Fund shareholders to the extent these institutions are allowed to do so by applicable statute, rule or regulation. These financial institutions may charge their customers fees for offering these services to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authorities, and the overall return to those shareholders availing themselves of the bank services will be lower than to those shareholders who do not.
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The Fund may from time to time purchase securities issued by financial institutions that provide such services; however, in selecting investments for the Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.
About The Subadviser
The Adviser has entered into a Subadvisory Agreement with Scout Investments, Inc., through its Reams Asset Management division (the Subadviser). The Subadviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UMB Financial. The Subadviser is located at 227 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana, 47202. The Adviser compensates the Subadviser for subadvisory services to the Fund at an annual rate of 0.20% of the Funds fixed income average daily net assets allocated to the Subadviser. The Subadviser is compensated by the Adviser for its advisory services at an annual rate of 0.01% of the average daily net assets of the cash and cash equivalents portion of the portfolio allocated to them for the Fund. The Subadviser provides continuous advice and recommendations concerning the Funds direct fixed income investments and cash investments. The Subadviser is responsible for selecting the broker-dealers who execute the fixed income portfolio transactions. In addition to providing investment subadvisory services to the Fund, Reams serves as investment advisor to pension and profit-sharing plans and other institutional investors and serves as subadviser to other open end mutual funds. As of January 31, 2013, the Subadviser had approximately $ 23.6 billion of assets under management.
About the Portfolio Managers
The Advisers investment team is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Eric Collier, Anthony Ayers and Mark Biller (each an Advisory Portfolio Manager, or collectively, the Advisory Portfolio Managers) comprise the Advisers investment team.
The Subadvisers fixed income portfolio management team is jointly responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds fixed income portfolio, subject to the oversight of Mark Egan. Mark Egan, Thomas Fink, Todd Thompson, and Steven Vincent (each a Subadvisory Portfolio Manager, or collectively, the Subadvisory Portfolio Managers and together with the Advisory Portfolio Managers, the Portfolio Managers) comprise the Subadvisers investment team.
Management of Other Accounts . The Advisory Portfolio Managers exclusively manage the SMI Funds. The table below identifies, for each Subadvisory Portfolio Manager, the number of accounts managed (excluding the SMI Funds) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies; other pooled investment vehicles; and other accounts. To the extent that the advisory fees with respect to any of these accounts are based on account performance, this information is also reflected below. Asset amounts are approximate as of October 31, 2012.
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Portfolio Manager |
Total Accounts by Type |
Total Assets By Account Type |
Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee |
Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee |
||||
Mark Egan, Thomas Fink, Todd Thompson, Steven Vincent (Scout Investments, Reams Asset Management division.) |
Registered Investment Companies 5 Pooled Investment Vehicles 1 Retail Accounts 94 |
Registered Investment Companies $804.8 million Pooled Investment Vehicles $113.1 million Retail Accounts $11,229 million |
Registered Investment Companies 0 Pooled Investment Vehicles 0 Retail Accounts 2 |
Registered Investment Companies $0 Pooled Investment Vehicles $0 Retail Accounts $188.3 million |
Compensation. The Advisory Portfolio Managers do not receive a salary or other compensation from the Adviser, but share in the Advisers profits based upon their indirect respective ownership of the Adviser. Mr. Biller shares in any profits of the Adviser indirectly through his ownership of Marathon Partners, LLC, while Mr. Collier and Mr. Ayers indirectly share in any profits of the Adviser through their ownership of Omnium Investment Company, LLC. The Adviser is a joint venture between Marathon Partners and Omnium Investment Company.
The Advisory Portfolio Managers receive compensation from other sources, as described below. For his duties as Executive Editor of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter, Mr. Biller receives a fixed annual salary.
Mr. Collier and Mr. Ayers each receive a salary from Omnium Management Company, the managing company for Omnium Capital, LLC. Omnium Capital is the parent company of the co-owner of the Adviser, Omnium Investment Company. In addition, as part owners of Omnium Capital, they share in its net profits, which are allocated based upon each persons ownership interest.
In his role as Executive Editor of the Sound Mind Investing Newsletter, Mr. Biller recommends Upgrading and Dynamic Allocation investment strategies that are similar to the strategies used to manage a significant portion of the Funds assets. The Funds underlying investments may change frequently, because its portfolio is monitored daily, while the Newsletter is only published monthly. This means that Mr. Billers recommendations to newsletter subscribers and his purchases and sales on behalf of the Fund with respect to the portion managed using the fund upgrading strategy may not be the same. The Fund may invest in certain mutual funds before the recommendations to invest in those funds are disseminated to newsletter subscribers.
The Subadvisory Portfolio Managers use the same proprietary investment methodology for the Fund as they use for their other clients. This means that the Subadvisory Portfolio Managers will make the investment strategies used to manage the Fund available to other clients. As a result, there may be circumstances under which the Fund and other clients of the Subadviser may compete in purchasing available investments and, to the extent that the demand exceeds the
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supply, may result in driving the prices of such investments up, resulting in higher costs to the Fund. There also may be circumstances under which the Subadvisory Portfolio Managers recommend the purchase or sale of various securities to other clients and do not purchase or sell the same investments for the Fund, or purchase or sell a security for the Fund and do not include such securities in recommendations provided to other clients. This is because the Subadvisers portfolio recommendations among clients differ, based on each clients investment policy guidelines and/or prevailing market conditions at the time such recommendation is made.
Each Portfolio Manager may engage in portfolio management activities for his own personal account(s) and/or the accounts of family members for no compensation.
The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is R. Jeffrey Young, who is an interested person of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees does not have a Trustee, who is not an interested person of the Trust (Independent Trustee), as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, designated as a lead Independent Trustee. The Board of Trustees has considered the overall leadership structure of the Trust and has established committees designed to facilitate the governance of the Trust by the Trustees generally and the Boards role with respect to risk oversight specifically. The Trusts committees are responsible for certain aspects of risk oversight relating to financial statements, the valuation of the Trusts assets, and compliance matters. The Board of Trustees also has frequent interaction with the service providers and Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust with respect to risk oversight matters. The Trusts Chief Compliance Officer (the CCO) reports directly to the Board generally with respect to the CCOs role in managing the compliance risks of the Trust. The CCO may also report directly to a particular committee of the Board depending on the subject matter. The Trusts principal financial officer reports to the Audit Committee of the Board on all financial matters affecting the Trust, including risks associated with financial reporting. Through the committee structure, the Trustees also interact with other officers and service providers of the Trust to monitor risks related to the Trusts operations. The Trust has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate based on the size of the Trust, the Board of Trustees current responsibilities, each Trustees ability to participate in the oversight of the Trust and committee transparency.
The Trustees are experienced businesspersons who meet throughout the year to oversee the Trusts activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund and review performance. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
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The following table provides information regarding each of the Independent Trustees.
Name, Address*, (Age), Position with Trust**, Term of Position with Trust |
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships |
|
Dr. Merwyn R. Vanderlind, 76, Independent Trustee, August 2008 to present. | Retired consultant to Battelle Memorial Institute (International Science and Technology Research Enterprise) on business investments. | |
Ira Cohen, 53 Independent Trustee, June 2010 to present. |
Independent financial services consultant (Feb. 2005 - present). |
* | The address for each trustee and officer is 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208. |
** | As of the date of this SAI, the Trust consists of 15 series. |
The following table provides information regarding the Trustee who is considered an interested person of the Trust, as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Based on the experience of the Trustee, the Trust concluded that the individual described below should serve as a Trustee.
Name, Address*, (Age), Position with Trust**, Term of Position with Trust |
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships |
|
R. Jeffrey Young, 48, Trustee and Chairman, June 2010 to present. |
Trustee, Valued Advisers Trust since June 2010; Senior Vice President, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. since January 2010; Chief Executive Officer, Huntington Funds since February 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer of Dreman Contrarian Funds since March 2011; Trustee, Valued Advisers Trust, August 2008 to January 2010; Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Professional Planning Consultants 2007 to 2010; Co-Founder of Kinwood Group, LLC July 2007 to March 2008. |
* | The address for each trustee and officer is 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208. |
** | As of the date of this SAI, the Trust consists of 15 series. |
The Trusts committees are responsible for certain aspects of risk oversight relating to financial statements, the valuation of the Trusts assets, and compliance and governance matters. The Board of Trustees currently has established three standing committees: the Audit Committee; the Pricing Committee; and the Governance and Nominating Committee.
The Trusts Audit Committee consists of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Funds accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Funds financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Funds independent auditors and the full Board of Trustees. During the year, the Audit Committee met four times.
The Pricing Committee of the Board of Trustees is responsible for reviewing and approving the Advisers fair valuation determinations, if any. The members of the Pricing Committee are all of the Trustees, except that any one member of the Pricing Committee constitutes a quorum for purposes of reviewing and approving a fair value. During the year, the Pricing Committee did not meet.
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The Governance and Nominating Committee consists of the Independent Trustees and oversees general Trust governance-related matters. The Governance and Nominating Committees purposes, duties and powers are set forth in its written charter, which is included in Exhibit C the charter also describes the process by which shareholders of the Trust may make nominations. During the past year, the Governance and Nominating Committee did not meet.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, no one factor was decisive in the original selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (1) the individuals business and professional experience and accomplishments; (2) the individuals ability to work effectively with the other members of the Board; and (3) how the individuals skills, experience and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board. In respect of each Trustee, the individuals substantial professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Trust, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a Trustee of the Trust. In addition to the information provided above, below is a summary of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee and the reason why he was selected to serve as Trustee:
Dr. Merwyn R. Vanderlind Dr. Vanderlind has over 41 years of business experience, including as a consultant on business investments. He previously served in various executive management positions with an international science and technology research enterprise. Dr. Vanderlind was selected to serve as Trustee of the Trust based primarily on his considerable knowledge of operational, management and corporate governance issues.
Ira Cohen Mr. Cohen has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including in an executive management role. He was selected to serve as Trustee of the Trust based primarily on his comprehensive understanding of the Trusts operations and investments.
R. Jeffrey Young Mr. Young has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including as an officer and trustee of other mutual funds. He also has extensive experience in an executive management role with two different mutual fund servicing companies, including the Trusts administrator. Mr. Young was selected to serve as Trustee of the Trust based primarily on his extensive knowledge of mutual fund operations, including the regulatory framework under which the Trust must operate.
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The following table provides information regarding the Officers of the Trust:
Name, Address*, (Age), Position with Trust,** Term of Position with Trust |
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships |
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R. Jeffrey Young, 48, Principal Executive Officer and President, February 2010 to present. | Trustee, Valued Advisers Trust since June 2010; Senior Vice President, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. since January 2010; Chief Executive Officer, Huntington Funds since February 2010; President and Chief Executive Officer of Dreman Contrarian Funds since March 2011; Trustee, Valued Advisers Trust, August 2008 to January 2010; Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Professional Planning Consultants 2007 to 2010; Co-Founder of Kinwood Group, LLC July 2007 to March 2008. | |
John C. Swhear, 51, Chief Compliance Officer, AML Officer and Vice President, August 2008 to present. | Vice President of Legal Administration and Compliance for Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, since April 2007; Chief Compliance Officer of Unified Financial Securities, Inc., the Trusts distributor, since May 2007; Interim President of the Unified Series Trust since March 2012, and Senior Vice President from May 2007 to March 2012; Secretary of Huntington Funds from April 2010 to February 2012; President and Chief Executive Officer of Dreman Contrarian Funds from March 2010 to March 2011, and Vice President and Acting Chief Executive Officer, 2007 to March 2010. | |
Carol J. Highsmith, 48, Vice President, August 2008 to present. | Employed in various positions with Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, since November of 1994; currently Vice President of Legal Administration. | |
Matthew J. Miller, 36, Vice President, December 2011 to present. | Employed in various positions with Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, since July of 1998; currently Vice President of Relationship Management; Vice President of Huntington Funds since February 2010. | |
Robert W. Silva, 46, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, January 2013 to present | Vice President, Fund Administration for Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, since September 2010; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Unified Series Trust since June 2011; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Dreman Contrarian Funds since March 2011; Treasurer of Huntington Funds since November 2010; Senior Vice President of Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. from September 2007 to September 2010. | |
Heather Bonds, 37, Secretary, September 2012 to present | Employed in various positions with Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, since January of 2004; currently Certified Paralegal and Section Manager 2. |
* | The address for each trustee and officer is 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208. |
** | As of the date of this SAI, the Trust consists of 15 series. |
The table below shows for each Trustee, the amount of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Funds of the Trust, as of December 31, 2012 and stated as one of the following ranges: A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000.
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Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in the Funds |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in all Registered Investment Companies Overseen by the Trustees in Family of Investment Companies |
||
Non-Interested Trustees |
||||
Dr. Merwyn R. Vanderlind |
A | A | ||
Ira Cohen |
A | A | ||
Interested Trustee |
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R. Jeffrey Young |
A | A |
Compensation . Set forth below are estimates of the annual compensation to be paid to the Trustees by the Fund on an individual basis and by the Trust on an aggregate basis. Trustees fees and expenses are Trust expenses and the Fund incurs its pro rata share of expenses based on the number of existing series in the Trust. As a result, the amount paid by the Fund will increase or decrease as series are added or removed from the Trust.
Independent Trustees |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Funds |
Pension
or
Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses |
Estimated
Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total
Compensation from Trust* |
||||||||||||
Dr. Merwyn R. Vanderlind |
$ | 1,706 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 29,000 | ||||||||
Ira Cohen |
$ | 1,706 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 29,000 |
* | As of the date of this SAI, the Trust consists of 15 series. Amounts given are estimates for the Funds initial fiscal period ended October 31, 2013. |
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of such control. As a controlling shareholder, each of these persons could control the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Funds fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.
The Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI and therefore the Fund does not have any shareholders who beneficially own of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund
The Fund may sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. The Funds portfolio turnover rate is the percentage of its portfolio that is bought and sold to exchange for other securities and is expressed as a percentage of its total assets. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
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ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
Customer identification and verification is part of the Funds overall obligation to prevent money laundering under federal law. The Trust has, on behalf of the Fund, adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or financing of terrorist activities (the AML Compliance Program). The Trust has delegated the responsibility to implement the AML Compliance Program to the Funds transfer agent, Huntington Asset Services, Inc., subject to oversight by the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer and, ultimately, by the Board of Trustees.
When you open an account with the Fund, the Funds transfer agent will request that you provide your name, physical address, date of birth, Social Security number or tax identification number. You may also be asked for other information that, in the transfer agents discretion, will allow the Fund to verify your identity. Entities are also required to provide additional documentation. This information will be verified to ensure the identity of all of persons opening an account with the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order, (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account activities, or (iii) involuntarily redeem your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of the Funds transfer agent, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund, or in cases where the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser is responsible for the Funds portfolio decisions and the placing of the Funds portfolio transactions. The Adviser may delegate this responsibility to the Subadviser. In executing transactions and selecting brokers or dealers for the Fund, the Adviser will seek to obtain the best overall terms available for the Fund. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Adviser shall consider such factors as it deems relevant, including the ability of the broker or dealer to settle the trade promptly and accurately, the financial condition of the broker or dealer, the Advisers past experience with similar type trades, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis, and other factors that may be unique to a particular order. Recognizing the value of these judgmental factors, the Adviser may select brokers who charge brokerage commission that is higher than the lowest commission that might otherwise be available for any given trade. The sale of Fund shares may not be considered when determining the firms that are to execute brokerage transactions for the Fund. The Adviser will not use soft dollar commissions or rebates by brokerage firms of commissions generated by securities transactions of the Fund executed through those firms to pay expenses of the Adviser.
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CODES OF ETHICS
The Trust, the Adviser, the Subadviser, and the Funds Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics (the Codes) pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, and the Advisers and the Subadvisers Code of Ethics also conform to Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The personnel subject to the Codes are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. You may obtain copies of the Codes, free of charge, by calling Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863. You may also obtain copies of the Trusts Code from documents filed with SEC and available on the SECs web site at www.sec.gov.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Fund is required to include a schedule of portfolio holdings in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, which is sent to shareholders within 60 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters and which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on Form N-CSR. The Fund also is required to file a schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund must provide a copy of the complete schedule of portfolio holdings as filed with the SEC to any shareholder of the Fund, upon request, free of charge. This policy is applied uniformly to all shareholders of the Fund without regard to the type of requesting shareholder (i.e., regardless of whether the shareholder is an individual or institutional investor).
The Fund releases portfolio holdings to third party servicing agents on a daily basis in order for those parties to perform their duties on behalf of the Fund. These third party servicing agents include the Adviser, Distributor, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent, Administrator and Custodian. The Fund also may disclose portfolio holdings, as needed, to auditors, legal counsel, proxy voting services (if applicable), printers, pricing services, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisers or sub-advisers. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel or prospective advisers at any time. This information is disclosed to all such third parties under conditions of confidentiality. Conditions of confidentiality include (i) confidentiality clauses in written agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custodial relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential.
Additionally, the Fund has ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings to Morningstar, Inc., Lipper, Inc., Bloomberg, Standard & Poors, Thompson Financial and Vickers-Stock (Rating Agencies) in order for those organizations to assign a rating or ranking to the Fund. In these instances portfolio holdings will be supplied within approximately 25 days after the end of the month. The Rating Agencies may make the Funds top portfolio holdings available on their websites and may make the Funds complete portfolio holdings available to their subscribers for a fee. Neither the Fund, the Adviser, nor any of their affiliates receive any portion of this fee. Information released to Rating Agencies is not released under conditions of
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confidentiality nor is it subject to prohibitions on trading based on the information. The Fund also may post its complete portfolio holdings to its website, if applicable, within approximately 25 days after the end of the month. The information will remain posted on the website until replaced by the information for the succeeding month. If the Fund does not have a website or the website is for some reason inoperable, the information will be supplied no more frequently than quarterly and on a delayed basis.
From time to time, employees of the Adviser also may provide oral or written information (portfolio commentary) about the Fund, including, but not limited to, how the Funds investments are divided among various sectors, industries, countries, investment styles and capitalization sizes, and among stocks, bonds, currencies and cash, security types, bond maturities, bond coupons and bond credit quality ratings. This portfolio commentary may also include information on how these various weightings and factors contributed to Fund performance. Employees of the Adviser may also provide oral or written information (statistical information) about various financial characteristics of the Fund or its underlying portfolio securities including, but not limited to, alpha, beta, R-squared, coefficient of determination, duration, maturity, information ratio, sharpe ratio, earnings growth, payout ratio, price/book value, projected earnings growth, return on equity, standard deviation, tracking error, weighted average quality, market capitalization, percent debt to equity, price to cash flow, dividend yield or growth, default rate, portfolio turnover, and risk and style characteristics. This portfolio commentary and statistical information about the Fund may be based on the Funds portfolio as of the most recent quarter-end or the end of some other interim period, such as month-end. The portfolio commentary and statistical information may be provided to various persons, including members of the press, brokers and other financial intermediaries that sell shares of the Fund, shareholders in the Fund, persons considering investing in the Fund or representatives of such shareholders or potential shareholders, such as fiduciaries of a 401(k) plan or a trust and their advisor. The nature and content of the information provided to each of these persons may differ.
The Adviser may manage products sponsored by companies, and provides services for individuals, other than the Trust, including institutional investors and high net worth persons. In many cases, these other products and service offerings are managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus have similar portfolio holdings. The sponsors of these other products or owners of separate accounts that are managed by the Adviser or Subadviser may disclose or have access to the portfolio holdings of their products and separate accounts at different times than the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings.
Except as described above, the Fund is prohibited from entering into any arrangements with any person to make available information about the Funds portfolio holdings without the prior authorization of the Chief Compliance Officer and the specific approval of the Board. The Adviser must submit any proposed arrangement pursuant to which the Adviser intends to disclose the Funds portfolio holdings to the Board, which will review such arrangement to determine whether the arrangement is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. Additionally, the Adviser, and any affiliated persons of the Adviser, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Funds portfolio holdings. Finally, the Fund will not disclose portfolio holdings as described above to third parties that the Fund knows will use the information for personal securities transactions.
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The Trust maintains written policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of its portfolio holdings to ensure that such disclosure is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Funds shareholders. The Board reviews these policies and procedures on an annual basis. Compliance will be periodically assessed by the Board in connection with a report from the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer. There may be instances where the interests of the Trusts shareholders respecting the disclosure of information about portfolio holdings may conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of the Adviser, any principal underwriter for the Trust or an affiliated person of the Trust (including such affiliated persons investment adviser or principal underwriter). In such situations, the conflict must be disclosed to the Board.
The Trust and the Adviser each have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in shareholders best interests. As a brief summary, the Trusts policy delegates responsibility regarding proxy voting to the Adviser, subject to the Advisers proxy voting policy and the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser votes the Funds proxies in accordance with its proxy voting policy, subject to the provisions of the Trusts policy regarding conflicts of interests. The Trusts Proxy Voting Policy and Procedure is attached as Exhibit A. The Advisers Proxy Voting Policy and Procedure is attached as Exhibit B.
The Trusts policy provides that, if a conflict of interest between the Adviser or its affiliates and the Fund arises with respect to any proxy, the Adviser must fully disclose the conflict to the Board of Trustees and vote the proxy in accordance with the Boards instructions. The Board shall make the proxy voting decision that in its judgment, after reviewing the recommendation of the Adviser, is most consistent with the Advisers proxy voting policies and in the best interests of Fund shareholders.
You may also obtain a copy of the Trusts and the Advisers proxy voting policy by calling Shareholder Services at (877) 764-3863 to request a copy, or by writing to Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Funds transfer agent, at 2960 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. A copy of the policies will be mailed to you within three days of receipt of your request. You also may obtain a copy from Fund documents filed with the SEC, which are available on the SECs web site at www.sec.gov. A copy of the votes cast by the Fund with respect to portfolio securities for each year ended June 30th will be filed by the Fund with the SEC on Form N-PX. The Funds proxy voting records will be available to shareholders free of charge upon request by calling or writing the Fund as described above or from the SECs web site.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the shares of the Fund is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the Trust, its custodian, and transfer agent are open for business and on any other day on which there is sufficient trading in the Funds securities to materially affect the net asset value. The Trust is open for business on every day on which the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading. The NYSE is closed on
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Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For a description of the methods used to determine the net asset value (share price), see Determination of Net Asset Value in the Prospectus.
Equity securities generally are valued by using market quotations furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange traded security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Options traded on major exchanges are valued at the last quoted sales price on their primary exchange or, if there is no sale on the applicable exchange on such day, then the last quoted bid price as of the close of such exchange will be used. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued at a fair value as determined by the Adviser in good faith according to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees annually approves the pricing services used by the fund accounting agent. The fund accounting agent maintains a pricing review committee which consults with an Independent Trustee who is a member of the Pricing Committee as fair valuation issues arise. Fair valued securities held by the Fund (if any) are reviewed by the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis.
Fixed income securities are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser or Subadviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. A pricing service utilizes electronic data processing techniques based on yield spreads relating to securities with similar characteristics to determine prices for normal institutional-size trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or bid prices. If the Adviser or Subadviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the securities, when prices are not readily available from a pricing service or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser or Subadviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees. Short-term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.
The Funds net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares in the Fund outstanding at such time.
The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the amount being redeemed is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Funds net asset value,
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pursuant to a Rule 18f-1 plan filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Funds net asset value in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses, such as the payment of brokerage commissions, on the sale or other disposition of the securities received from the Fund.
STATUS AND TAXATION OF THE FUND
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion reflects applicable federal income tax laws of the U.S. as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. income, estate or gift tax, or foreign, state or local tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a special tax status such as a financial institution, real estate investment trust, insurance company, regulated investment company (RIC), individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or non-U.S. investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes shares of the Fund are held by U.S. shareholders and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
a citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents); |
|
a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
|
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
|
a trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. shareholders have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
A Non-U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. shareholder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally depends upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A prospective shareholder who is a partner of a partnership holding Fund shares should consult its tax advisers with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of its Fund shares.
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Taxation as a RIC. The Fund intends to qualify and remain qualified as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code). The Fund will qualify as a RIC if, among other things, it meets the source-of-income and the asset-diversification requirements. With respect to the source-of-income requirement, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, 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 and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such shares, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A qualified publicly traded partnership is generally defined as a publicly traded partnership under Internal Revenue Code section 7704. However, for these purposes, a qualified publicly traded partnership does not include a publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its income is described in (i) above. Income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership) or trust is qualifying income to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust which would be qualifying income if realized by the Fund in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust.
If a RIC fails this 90% source-of-income test it is no longer subject to a 35% penalty as long as such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Instead, the amount of the penalty for non-compliance is the amount by which the non-qualifying income exceeds one-ninth of the qualifying gross income.
With respect to the asset-diversification requirement, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of the Funds total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Funds total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Funds total assets is invested in the securities other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs of (a) one issuer, (b) two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
If a RIC fails this asset-diversification test, such RIC, in addition to other cure provisions previously permitted, has a 6-month period to correct any failure without incurring a penalty if such failure is de minimis, meaning that the failure does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the RICs assets, or $10 million. Such cure right is similar to that previously and currently permitted for a REIT.
Similarly, if a RIC fails this asset-diversification test and the failure is not de minimis, a RIC can cure failure if: (a) the RIC files with the Treasury Department a description of each asset that causes the RIC to fail the diversification tests; (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect; and (c) the failure is cured within six months (or such other period
35
specified by the Treasury). In such cases, a tax is imposed on the RIC equal to the greater of: (s) $50,000 or (b) an amount determined by multiplying the highest rate of tax (currently 35%) by the amount of net income generated during the period of diversification test failure by the assets that caused the RIC to fail the diversification test.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its shareholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of the sum of (i) its investment company taxable income as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses and certain net foreign exchange gains as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (ii) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain deductions attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed, the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, any ordinary income or capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain.
The Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on the portion of its undistributed ordinary income with respect to each calendar year and undistributed capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to the one-year period ending on October 31 in that calendar year. To avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of (i) 98% of the Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (ii) 98.2% of the Funds capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31) and (iii) any income realized, but not distributed, and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax in preceding years. The Fund generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal market conditions, does not expect to be subject to this excise tax.
The Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which it does not receive cash. For example, if the Fund holds debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with payment in kind interest or, in certain cases, with increasing interest rates or that are issued with warrants), the Fund must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by the Fund in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in the Funds investment company taxable income (discussed above) for the year of accrual, the Fund may be required to make a distribution to its shareholders to satisfy the distribution requirement, even though it will not have received an amount of cash that corresponds with the income earned.
Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. Beginning in 2011, a RIC is permitted to carry forward net capital losses indefinitely and may allow losses to retain their original character (as short or as long-term). These capital loss carryforwards may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains of the Fund, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.
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Except as set forth in Failure to Qualify as a RIC, the remainder of this discussion assumes that the Fund will qualify as a RIC for each taxable year.
Failure to Qualify as a RIC. If the Fund is unable to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement or otherwise fails to qualify as a RIC in any year, it will be subject to corporate level income tax on all of its income and gain, regardless of whether or not such income was distributed. Distributions to the Funds shareholders of such income and gain will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, the Funds distributions, to the extent derived from the Funds current or accumulated earnings and profits, would constitute ordinary dividends, which would generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction available to corporate shareholders, and non-corporate shareholders would generally be able to treat such distributions as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced rates of U.S. federal income taxation in taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, provided in each case that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
Distributions in excess of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders tax basis in their Fund shares, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. To qualify as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the source-of-income, the asset diversification, and the annual distribution requirements for that year and dispose of any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. Subject to a limited exception applicable to RICs that qualified as such under the Internal Revenue Code for at least one year prior to disqualification and that requalify as a RIC no later than the second year following the non-qualifying year, the Fund would be subject to tax on any unrealized built-in gains in the assets held by it during the period in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC that are recognized within the subsequent 10 years, unless the Fund made a special election to pay corporate-level tax on such built-in gain at the time of its requalification as a RIC.
Taxation for U.S. Shareholders. Distributions paid to U.S. shareholders by the Fund from its investment company taxable income (which is, generally, the Funds ordinary income plus net realized short-term capital gains in excess of net realized long-term capital losses) are generally taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Funds earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Such distributions (if designated by the Fund) may qualify (i) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent that the Funds income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations, excluding distributions from tax-exempt organizations, exempt farmers cooperatives or real estate investment trusts or (ii) in the case of individual shareholders for taxable years beginning on or prior to December 31, 2012, as qualified dividend income eligible to be taxed at reduced rates under Section 1(h)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code (which provides for a maximum 15% rate) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and provided in each case certain holding period and other requirements are met. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations ( e.g ., generally, foreign corporations incorporated in a
37
possession of the United States or in certain countries with a qualified comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States, or the stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A qualified foreign corporation generally excludes any foreign corporation, which for the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year, is a passive foreign investment company. Distributions made to a U.S. shareholder from an excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses (capital gain dividends), including capital gain dividends credited to such shareholder but retained by the Fund, are taxable to such shareholder as long-term capital gain if they have been properly designated by the Fund, regardless of the length of time such shareholder owned the shares of the Fund. The maximum tax rate on capital gain dividends received by individuals is generally 15% for such gain realized before January 1, 2013. Distributions in excess of the Funds earnings and profits will be treated by the U.S. shareholder, first, as a tax-free return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. shareholders shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to the U.S. shareholder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). Under current law, the maximum 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income will cease to apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012; beginning in 2013, the maximum rate on long-term capital gains is scheduled to revert to 20%, and all ordinary dividends (including amounts treated as qualified dividends under the law currently in effect) would be taxed as ordinary income. The Fund is not required to provide written notice designating the amount of any qualified dividend income or capital gain dividends and other distributions. The Form 1099 will instead serve this notice purpose.
As a RIC, the Fund will be subject to the AMT, but any items that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be apportioned between the Fund and the shareholders and this may affect the shareholders AMT liabilities. The Fund intends in general to apportion these items in the same proportion that dividends paid to each shareholder bear to the Funds taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction.
For purpose of determining (i) whether the annual distribution requirement is satisfied for any year and (ii) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If the Fund makes such an election, the U.S. shareholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by the U.S. shareholders on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.
The Fund intends to distribute all realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If, however, the Fund were to retain any net capital gain, the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the federal income tax paid by the Fund on the undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent
38
the credit exceeds such liabilities. If such an event occurs, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally be increased by the difference between the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholders gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholders.
Sales and other dispositions of the shares of the Fund generally are taxable events. U.S. shareholders should consult their own tax adviser with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in the shares of the Fund is properly treated as a sale or exchange for federal income tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will generally result in capital gain or loss to the shareholder equal to the difference between the amount realized and his adjusted tax basis in the shares sold or exchanged, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by such shareholder with respect to such shares. A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are acquired within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to ordinary income, currently a maximum of 35%, while long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.
As of January 1, 2012, federal law requires that mutual fund companies report their shareholders cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the Internal Revenue Service on the Funds shareholders Consolidated Form 1099s when covered securities are sold. Covered securities are any regulated investment company and/or dividend reinvestment plan shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012.
The Fund has chosen Average Cost as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Fund will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Funds standing tax lot identification method is the method under which covered shares will be reported on your Consolidated Form 1099 if you do not select a specific tax lot identification method. You may choose a method different than the Funds standing method and will be able to do so at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of covered shares. Please refer to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service regulations or consult your tax advisor with regard to your personal circumstances.
For those securities defined as covered under current Internal Revenue Service cost basis tax reporting regulations, the Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered. The Fund and its service
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providers do not provide tax advice. You should consult independent sources, which may include a tax professional, with respect to any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method.
Current law provides that for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their net investment income, which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.
Commodities. In August, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) suspended the issuance of private letter rulings that authorizing favorable tax treatment for funds that invest indirectly in commodities or derivatives based upon commodities through Controlled Foreign Corporation and Commodity-Linked Notes. The IRS has previously issued a number of private letter rulings to funds in this area, concluding that such investments generate qualifying income for RIC qualification purposes. It is unclear how long this suspension will last. The IRS has not indicated that any previously issued rulings in this area will be affected by this suspension. This suspension of guidance by the IRS suggests that the tax treatment of such investments is now subject to some uncertainty.
Options, Futures, Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, Hedges, Straddles and Other Transactions. In general, option premiums received by the Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized (i) when the option contract expires, (ii) the option is exercised by the holder, or (iii) the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by the Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Funds basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the Fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss that may arise in respect of any termination of the Funds obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option will be short-term gain or loss, depending on whether the premium income received by the Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.
Certain covered call writing activities of the Fund may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules of Section 1092 of the Internal Revenue Code, requiring that losses be deferred and holding periods be tolled on offsetting positions in options and stocks deemed to constitute substantially similar or related property. Options on single stocks that are not deep in the money may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are in the money although not deep in the money will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause
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gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or fail to qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.
The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by the Fund as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the Fund on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, equity indices and debt securities) will be governed by section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 1256 Contracts). Gains or losses on Section 1256 Contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (60/40), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, Section 1256 Contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Internal Revenue Code) are marked to market with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable.
In addition to the special rules described above in respect of futures and options transactions, the Funds transactions in other derivative instruments (e.g., forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as any of its other hedging, short sale or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (e.g., notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Funds securities. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance may be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid the Fund-level tax. The Fund will monitor its transactions, will make appropriate tax elections and will make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules.
Certain of the Funds investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Funds transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between the Funds book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If there is a difference between the Funds book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund may be required to distribute amounts in excess of its book income or a portion of Fund distributions may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. If the Funds book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if any) of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Funds remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipients basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the
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Funds book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Original Issue Discount, Pay-In-Kind Securities, Market Discount and Commodity-Linked Notes. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (OID) is treated as interest income and is included in the Funds taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security.
Some debt obligations (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligations issued with OID, its revised issue price) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt obligation having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the accrued market discount on such debt obligation. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Funds income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Funds income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. In the case of higher-risk securities, the amount of market discount may be unclear. See Higher-Risk Securities.
Some debt obligations (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price), or OID in the case of certain types of debt obligations. The Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income (as ordinary income) over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt obligations having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
In addition, payment-in-kind securities will, and commodity-linked notes may, give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of securities, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by
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liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions.
Higher-Risk Securities. To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. In limited circumstances, it may also not be clear whether the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, and if so, what amount of market discount the Fund should recognize. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if they invest in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that the Fund distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.
Exchange-Traded Notes and Privately Issued Notes. The Fund may invest in ETNs, which are debt securities of an issuer that are listed and traded on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market. Privately issued notes are similar to ETNs except that they are not listed and traded on U.S. stock exchanges or otherwise traded in the over-the-counter market. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of ETNs and privately issued note is uncertain in many respects. The IRS has issued very limited guidance. Most ETN prospectuses, PPMs, and SAIs decline to address issues applicable to a RICs investment in an ETN in light of the uncertainty.
Although ETNs and privately issued notes are in form indebtedness, they are generally not treated as debt for tax purposes because the return on such a note does not have a clear interest component that is based primarily upon the time value of money. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, in most cases the issuer of the ETN or privately issued note and the investors agree to treat all such notes, except certain currency ETNs, as prepaid executory contracts (such as a forward contract) with respect to the relevant index. If such a note were treated in this manner, investors would recognize gain or loss upon the sale, redemption, or maturity of their note in an amount equal to the difference between the amount they receive at such time and their tax basis in the note. Investors generally agree to treat such gain or loss as capital gain or loss, except with respect to those notes for which investors agree to treat such gain or loss as ordinary. Investors in instruments characterized as prepaid forward contracts typically, although not invariably, take the position that they are not required to accrue any income other than stated coupons, if any.
One key question is whether the income generated by an ETN or privately issued notes is good income for purposes of the RIC qualification tests. There is some uncertainty on this subject. The general approach in this regard is to look to the underlying benchmark or strategy. Certain benchmarks or strategies are similar to investments that produce good income and thus the thinking is that the ETNs or privately issued notes would produce good income. On the other hand, other benchmarks or strategies are similar to investments that do not produce good income and thus such ETNs or privately issued notes would not produce good income. Note, however, that there is no guidance on this subject.
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Issuer Deductibility of Interest. A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund may not be deductible to (and thus, may affect the cash flow of) the issuer. If a portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations is not deductible, that portion will be treated as a dividend for purposes of the corporate dividends-received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.
Interest paid on debt obligations owned by the Fund, if any, that are considered for U.S. tax purposes to be payable in the equity of the issuer or a related party will not be deductible to the issuer, possibly affecting the cash flow of the issuer.
Certain Investments in REITs and REMICs. To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund may invest in REITs. The Funds investments in REIT equity securities may result in the Funds receipt of cash in excess of the REITs earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities may also require the Fund to accrue and to distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would not have continued to hold. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.
The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests of real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (TMPs). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Funds income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Internal Revenue Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as the Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, should the Fund invest in such interests, it may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.
In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) to entities subject to tax on unrelated business income (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is
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allocated excess inclusion income and otherwise might not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, to file such a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax (discussed below).
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt shareholder could recognize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 514(b). Furthermore, a tax-exempt shareholder may recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Funds investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) that invest in regulated investment companies that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT (as defined in section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code) that realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in the Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in the Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders, at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholders distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholders interest in the Fund. The Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. A passive foreign investment company (PFIC) is any foreign corporation: (i) 75% or more of the gross income of which for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active business and certain income received from related persons.
Equity investments by the Fund in certain PFICs could potentially subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax or other charge (including interest charges) on the distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax
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cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, if the Fund is in a position to and elects to treat a PFIC as a qualified electing fund (i.e., make a QEF election), the Fund will be required to include its share of the PFIC s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC. Alternatively, the Fund may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its PFIC holdings to the market as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Funds taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Funds total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.
Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.
Foreign Currency Transactions. The Funds transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses will generally reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.
Foreign Taxation. Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. The Fund does not expect to be eligible to pass through to shareholders a credit or deduction for such taxes.
Foreign Shareholders. Capital Gain Dividends are generally not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax. Absent a specific statutory exemption, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid by the Fund to a shareholder that is not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code (such shareholder, a foreign shareholder) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding.
Under U.S. federal tax law, dividends paid on shares beneficially held by a person who is a foreign person within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, are, in general, subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% of the gross dividend, which may, in some cases, be reduced by an applicable tax treaty. However, if a beneficial holder who is a
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foreign person has a permanent establishment in the United States, and the shares held by such beneficial holder are effectively connected with such permanent establishment and, in addition, the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates. Distributions of long-term net realized capital gains will not be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.
Effective January 1, 2014, the Fund will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2015) redemption proceeds made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the Fund to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign shareholder generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests (USRPIs) apply to the foreign shareholders sale of shares of the Fund or to the Capital Gain Dividend the foreign shareholder received (as described below).
Special rules would apply if the Fund was either a U.S. real property holding corporation (USRPHC) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition thereof. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporations USPRIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other assets. USRPIs are generally defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or former USRPHC.
If the Fund was a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the exceptions referred to above, any distributions by the Fund to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable to gains realized by the Fund on the disposition of USRPIs or to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier regulated investment company or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands generally would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a foreign shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the foreign shareholders current and past ownership of the Fund. On and after January 1, 2012, this look-through USRPI treatment for distributions by the Fund, if it were either a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of the exceptions referred to above, to foreign shareholders applies only to those distributions that, in turn, are attributable to distributions received by a Fund from a lower-tier REIT, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.
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In addition, if the Fund was a USRPHC or former USRPHC, it could be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, in which case such foreign shareholder generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.
Whether or not the Fund is characterized as a USRPHC will depend upon the nature and mix of the Funds assets. The Fund does not expect to be a USRPHC. Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Fund.
If a beneficial holder of the Funds shares who is a foreign shareholder has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the beneficial holders conduct of that trade or business, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
If a beneficial holder of the Funds shares who is a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by that beneficial holder in the United States.
To qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-US status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). Foreign shareholders in the Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard. A beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a foreign shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal tax on income referred to above.
Backup Withholding. The Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid after December 31, 2012, unless Congress enacts tax legislation providing otherwise.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholders U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Funds shares 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 regulated
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investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayers treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Financial Assets. Certain individuals (and, if provided in future guidance, certain domestic entities) must disclose annually their interests in specified foreign financial assets on IRS Form 8938, which must be attached to their U.S. federal income tax returns for taxable years beginning after March 18, 2010. The IRS has not yet released a copy of the Form 8938 and has suspended the requirement to attach Form 8938 for any taxable year for which an income tax return is filed before the release of Form 8938. Following Form 8938s release, individuals will be required to attach to their next income tax return required to be filed with the IRS a Form 8938 for each taxable year for which the filing of Form 8938 was suspended. Until the IRS provides more details regarding this reporting requirement, including in Form 8938 itself and related Treasury regulations, it remains unclear under what circumstances, if any, a shareholders (indirect) interest in the Funds specified foreign financial assets, if any, will be required to be reported on this Form 8938.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements. Rules enacted in March 2010 require the reporting to the IRS of direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts and foreign entities by U.S. persons. Failure to provide this required information can result in a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (withholdable payments) made after December 31, 2012. Specifically, withholdable payments subject to this 30% withholding tax include payments of U.S.-source dividends and interest made on or after January 1, 2014, and payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposal of property that can produce U.S.-source dividends or interest made on or after January 1, 2015.
The IRS has issued only very preliminary guidance with respect to these new rules; their scope remains unclear and potentially subject to material change. Very generally, it is possible that distributions made by the Fund after the dates noted above (or such later dates as may be provided in future guidance) to a shareholder, including a distribution in redemption of shares and a distribution of income or gains otherwise exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to non-U.S. shareholders described above (e.g., Capital Gain Dividends, Short-Term Capital Gain Dividends and interest-related dividends, as described above) will be subject to the new 30% withholding requirement. Payments to a foreign shareholder that is a foreign financial institution will generally be subject to withholding, unless such shareholder enters into a timely agreement with the IRS. Payments to shareholders that are U.S. persons or foreign individuals will generally not be subject to withholding, so long as such shareholders provide the Fund with such certifications or other documentation, including, to the extent required, with regard to such shareholders direct and indirect owners, as the Fund requires to comply with the new rules. Persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary regarding the application of the new reporting and withholding regime to their investments in the Fund.
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Shareholders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding this new reporting and withholding regime, in light of their particular circumstances.
Shares Purchased through Tax-Qualified Plans. Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans, and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal income, estate or gift taxes, or foreign, state, local taxes or other taxes.
Huntington National Bank, 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, is Custodian of the Funds investments. The Custodian acts as the Funds depository, safekeeps portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Funds request and maintains records in connection with its duties. The custodians parent company, Huntington Bancshares, Inc., is also the parent company of Huntington Asset Services, Inc. (Huntington), the Trusts transfer agent, fund accountant and administrator, and of Unified Financial Securities, Inc., the Funds distributor (the Distributor).
For its custodial services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee from the Fund based on the market value of the assets under custody. The monthly fee is equal to an annual rate of 0.0075% of the first $100 million of market value; 0.0050% of market value in excess of $100 million. The Custodian also receives various transaction-based fees. The fees paid to the Custodian by the Fund are subject to a $350 monthly minimum fee per account.
Huntington Asset Services, Inc., 2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, acts as the Funds transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, fund accountant, and administrator. Huntington is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntington Banchsares, the parent company of the Distributor. The officers of the Trust also are officers and/or employees of Huntington.
Huntington maintains the records of each shareholders account, answers shareholders inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Funds shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other transfer agent and shareholder service functions. For its services as a transfer agent, Huntington receives a monthly fee from the Fund of $1.16 per direct shareholder account and $0.83 per NSCC networked shareholder account (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $1,500).
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In addition, Huntington provides the Fund with fund accounting services, which includes certain monthly reports, record keeping and other management-related services. For its services as fund accountant, Huntington receives a monthly fee from the Fund equal to an annual rate of 0.025% of the Funds average daily net assets up to $100 million; 0.020% of the Funds average daily net assets from $100 million to $250 million; and 0.010% of the Funds average daily net assets over $250 million (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $2,083).
Huntington also provides the Fund with administrative services, including all regulatory reporting and necessary office equipment, personnel and facilities. For these services, Huntington receives a monthly fee from the Fund equal to an annual rate of 0.055% of the Funds average daily net assets up to $100 million; 0.050% of the Funds average daily net assets from $100 million to $250 million; 0.025% of the Funds average daily net assets from $250 million to $300 million; and 0.010% of the Funds average daily net assets over $300 million per year (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $2,500). Huntington also receives a compliance program services fee of $900 per month from the Fund.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The firm of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115 has been selected as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013. Cohen will perform an annual audit of the Funds financial statements and will provide financial, tax and accounting consulting services as requested, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
LEGAL COUNSEL
The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., a member firm of The 1940 Act Law Group TM , 11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Ste. 310, Leawood, KS 66211, serves as legal counsel for the Trust and Fund.
Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (the Distributor), 2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, is the exclusive agent for distribution of shares of the Fund. Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of the Distributor. As a result, such persons are affiliates of the Distributor.
The Distributor is obligated to sell the shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis.
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The Fund recently commenced operations and, as a result, has no financial statements. You can receive free copies of reports (once available), request other information and discuss your questions about the Fund by contacting the Trust directly at:
Huntington Asset Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 6110
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110
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EXHIBIT A
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURE
The Valued Advisers Trust (the Trust) is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act). The Trust offers multiple series (each a Fund and, collectively, the Funds). Consistent with its fiduciary duties and pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act (the Proxy Rule), the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board) has adopted this proxy voting policy on behalf of the Trust (the Policy) to reflect its commitment to ensure that proxies are voted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Funds shareholders.
Delegation of Proxy Voting Authority to Fund Advisers
The Board believes that the investment advisor of the Fund (each an Advisor and, collectively, the Advisors), as the entity that selects the individual securities that comprise its Funds portfolio, is the most knowledgeable and best-suited to make decisions on how to vote proxies of portfolio companies held by that Fund. The Trust shall therefore defer to, and rely on, the Advisor of the Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund.
The Trust hereby designates the Advisor of the Fund as the entity responsible for exercising proxy voting authority with regard to securities held in the Funds investment portfolio. Consistent with its duties under this Policy, each Advisor shall monitor and review corporate transactions of corporations in which the Fund has invested, obtain all information sufficient to allow an informed vote on all proxy solicitations, ensure that all proxy votes are cast in a timely fashion, and maintain all records required to be maintained by the Fund under the Proxy Rule and the 1940 Act. Each Advisor shall perform these duties in accordance with the Advisors proxy voting policy, a copy of which shall be presented to this Board for its review. Each Advisor shall promptly provide to the Board updates to its proxy voting policy as they are adopted and implemented.
Conflict of Interest Transactions
In some instances, an Advisor may be asked to cast a proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of the Funds shareholders, and those of the Advisor or an affiliated person of the Adviser. In such case, the Advisor is instructed to abstain from making a voting decision and to forward all necessary proxy voting materials to the Trust to enable the Board to make a voting decision. When the Board is required to make a proxy voting decision, only the Trustees without a conflict of interest with regard to the security in question or the matter to be voted upon shall be permitted to participate in the decision of how the Funds vote will be cast. In the event that the Board is required to vote a proxy because an Advisor has a conflict of interest with respect to the proxy, the Board will vote such proxy in accordance with the Advisors proxy voting policy, to the extent consistent with the shareholders best interests, as determined by the Board in its discretion. The Board shall notify the Advisor of its final decision on the matter and the Advisor shall vote in accordance with the Boards decision.
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Availability of Proxy Voting Policy and Records Available to Fund Shareholders
If the Fund has a website, the Fund may post a copy of its Advisors proxy voting policy and this Policy on such website. A copy of such policies and of the Funds proxy voting record shall also be made available, without charge, upon request of any shareholder of the Fund, by calling the applicable Funds toll-free telephone number as printed in the Funds prospectus. The Trusts administrator shall reply to any Fund shareholder request within three business days of receipt of the request, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.
Each Advisor shall provide a complete voting record, as required by the Proxy Rule, for each series of the Trust for which it acts as adviser, to the Trusts administrator within 15 days following the end of each calendar quarter. The Trusts administrator will file a report based on such record on Form N-PX on an annual basis with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than August 31st of each year.
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EXHIBIT B
SMI Advisory Services, LLC
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
A. | Policy |
Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised. When SMI-AS has discretion to vote the proxies of its clients, it will vote those proxies in the best interest of its clients and in accordance with these policies and procedures.
B. | Proxy Voting Procedures |
All proxies received by SMI-AS will be sent to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). The CCO will:
Keep a record of each proxy received.
Forward the proxy to a portfolio manager.
Determine which accounts managed by SMI-AS holds the security to which the proxy relates.
Provide a portfolio manager with a list of accounts that hold the security and the date by which SMI-AS must vote the proxy in order to allow enough time for the completed proxy to be returned to the issuer prior to the vote taking place.
Absent material conflicts (see Section IV), the Portfolio Manager & CCO will determine how SMI-AS should vote the proxy. The CCO is responsible for completing the proxy and mailing the proxy in a timely and appropriate manner.
SMI-AS may retain a third party to assist it in coordinating and voting proxies with respect to client securities. If so, the Compliance Officer shall monitor the third party to assure that all proxies are being properly voted and appropriate records are being retained.
C. | Voting Guidelines |
In the absence of specific voting guidelines from a client, SMI-AS will vote proxies in the best interest of each particular client, which may result in different voting results for proxies for the same issuer. SMI-AS believes that voting proxies in accordance with the following guidelines is in the best interest of its client.
Generally, SMI-AS will vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping proposals, including election of directors (where no corporate governance issues are implicated), selection of auditors, and increases in or reclassification of common stock.
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Generally, SMI-AS will vote against proposals that make it more difficult to replace members of the issuers board of directors, including proposals to stagger the board, cause management to be overrepresented on the board, introduce cumulative voting, introduce unequal voting rights, and create supermajority voting.
For other proposals, SMI-AS shall determine whether a proposal is in the best interest of its clients and may take into account the following factors, among others:
Whether the proposal was recommended by management and SMI-AS opinion of management;
Whether the proposal acts to entrench existing management; and
Whether the proposal fairly compensates management for past and future performance.
SMI-AS reserves the right to add to these factors as it deems necessary in order to ensure that further categories of proposals are covered and that the general principles in determining how to vote all proxies are fully stated.
D. | Conflicts of Interest |
The CCO will identify any conflicts that exist between the interests of SMI-AS and its clients. This examination will include a review of the relationship of SMI-AS and its affiliates with the issuer of each security [and any of the issuers affiliates] to determine if the issuer is a client of SMI-AS or an affiliate of SMI-AS or has some other relationship with SMI-AS or a client of SMI-AS.
If a material conflict exists, SMI-AS will determine whether voting in accordance with the voting guidelines and factors described above is in the best interest of the client. SMI-AS will also determine whether it is appropriate to disclose the conflict to the affected clients and, except in the case of clients that are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), give the clients the opportunity to vote their proxies themselves. In the case of ERISA clients, if the Investment Management Agreement reserves to the ERISA client the authority to vote proxies when SMI-AS determines it has a material conflict that affects its best judgment as an ERISA fiduciary, SMI-AS will give the ERISA client the opportunity to vote the proxies themselves.
E. | Disclosure |
SMI-AS will disclose in its Form ADV Part II that clients may contact the Compliance Officer, via e-mail or telephone at (812) 376-7320 Ext. #2, in order to obtain information on how SMI-AS voted such clients proxies, and to request a copy of these policies and procedures. If a client requests this information, the Compliance Officer will prepare a written responses to the client that lists, with respect to each voted proxy that the client has inquired about, (1) the name of the issuer; (2) the proposal voted upon and (3) how SMI-AS voted the clients proxy.
A concise summary of these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures will be included in SMI-AS Form ADV Part II, and will be updated whenever these policies and procedures are updated. The CCO will arrange for a copy of this summary to be sent to all existing clients, either as a separate mailing or along with a periodic account statement or other correspondence sent to clients.
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F. | Record Keeping |
The CCO will maintain files relating to SMI-AS proxy voting procedures. Records will be maintained and preserved for five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on a record, with records for the first two years kept in the offices of SMI-AS. Records of the following will be included in the files:
Copies of these proxy voting policies and procedures and any amendments thereto.
A copy of each proxy statement that SMI-AS receives provided however that SMI-AS may rely on obtaining a copy of proxy statements from the SECs EDGAR system for those proxy statements that are so available. SMI-AS may also choose to have a third party retain a copy of the proxy statements, provided that third party undertakes to provide a copy of the proxy statement promptly upon request.
A record of each vote that SMI-AS casts. SMI-AS may also rely on a third party to retain a copy of the votes cast, provided that third party undertakes to provide a copy of the record promptly upon request.
A copy of any document SMI-AS created that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies, or that memorializes that decision.
A copy of each written client request for information on how SMI-AS voted such clients proxies, and a copy of any written response to any (written and oral) client request for information on how SMI-AS voted its proxy.
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EXHIBIT C
Governance and Nominating Committee Charter
Valued Advisers Trust
Governance and Nominating Committee Membership
1. | The Governance and Nominating Committee of Valued Advisers Trust (Trust) shall be composed entirely of Independent Trustees. |
Board Nominations and Functions
1. The Committee shall make nominations for Trustee membership on the Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees. The Committee shall evaluate candidates qualifications for Board membership and their independence from the investment advisers to the Trusts series portfolios and the Trusts other principal service providers. Persons selected as Independent Trustees must not be interested person as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor shall Independent Trustee have any affiliations or associations that shall preclude them from voting as an Independent Trustee on matters involving approvals and continuations of Rule 12b-1 Plans, Investment Advisory Agreements and such other standards as the Committee shall deem appropriate. The Committee shall also consider the effect of any relationships beyond those delineated in the 1940 Act that might impair independence, e.g., business, financial or family relationships with managers or service providers. See Appendix A for Procedures with Respect to Nominees to the Board.
2. The Committee shall periodically review Board governance procedures and shall recommend any appropriate changes to the full Board of Trustees.
3. The Committee shall periodically review the composition of the Board of Trustees to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different backgrounds or skill sets from those already on the Board.
4. The Committee shall periodically review trustee compensation and shall recommend any appropriate changes to the Independent Trustees as a group.
Committee Nominations and Functions
1. The Committee shall make nominations for membership on all committees and shall review committee assignments at least annually.
2. The Committee shall review, as necessary, the responsibilities of any committees of the Board, whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees of the Board, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. The Committee shall make recommendations for any such action to the full Board.
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Other Powers and Responsibilities
1. | The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Trust. |
2. | The Committee shall review this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the full Board of Trustees |
APPENDIX A TO THE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST
PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES TO THE BOARD
Identification of Candidates. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees exists or is anticipated, and such vacancy is to be filled by an Independent Trustee, the Governance and Nominating Committee shall identify candidates by obtaining referrals from such sources as it may deem appropriate, which may include current Trustees, management of the Trust, counsel and other advisors to the Trustees, and shareholders of the Trust who submit recommendations in accordance with these procedures. In no event shall the Governance and Nominating Committee consider as a candidate to fill any such vacancy an individual recommended by any investment adviser of any series portfolio of the Trust, unless the Governance and Nominating Committee has invited management to make such a recommendation.
Shareholder Candidates. The Governance and Nominating Committee shall, when identifying candidates for the position of Independent Trustee, consider any such candidate recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation contains: (i) sufficient background information concerning the candidate, including evidence the candidate is willing to serve as an Independent Trustee if selected for the position; and (ii) is received in a sufficiently timely manner as determined by the Governance and Nominating Committee in its discretion. Shareholders shall be directed to address any such recommendations in writing to the attention of the Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust. The Secretary shall retain copies of any shareholder recommendations which meet the foregoing requirements for a period of not more than 12 months following receipt. The Secretary shall have no obligation to acknowledge receipt of any shareholder recommendations.
Evaluation of Candidates. In evaluating a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees, including any candidate recommended by shareholders of the Trust, the Governance and Nominating Committee shall consider the following: (i) the candidates knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the candidate as a director or senior officer of public companies; (iii) the candidates educational background; (iv) the candidates reputation for high ethical standards and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the candidate, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Boards existing mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications; (vi) the candidates perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the candidates ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the candidates ability to qualify as an
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Independent Trustee and any other actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the candidate and the Trust; and (viii) such other factors as the Governance and Nominating Committee determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies. Prior to making a final recommendation to the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee shall conduct personal interviews with those candidates it concludes are the most qualified candidates.
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PART C
FORM N-1A
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28. Exhibits .
(a)(1) | Certificate of Trust - Incorporated by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed June 16, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(a)(2) | Agreement and Declaration of Trust Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(a)(3) | Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. | |
(b)(1) | Bylaws Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(b)(2) | Amendment, dated September 22, 2009, to Bylaws Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 filed March 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(c) | Certificates for shares are not issued. Provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust define the rights of holders of shares of the Trust Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(1) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Golub Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 filed March 10, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(2) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and TEAM Financial Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 filed December 9, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(3) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Long Short Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(4) | Investment Subadvisory Agreement between Long Short Advisors, LLC and Independence Capital Asset Partners, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(5) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Geier Asset Management, Inc Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(6) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 filed April 18, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(7) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Longview Capital Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 filed June 6, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). |
(d)(8) | (i) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Cloud Capital, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(ii) Amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Cloud Capital, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 filed September 28, 2012 (File No.811-22208). | ||
(d)(9) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Kovitz Investment Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed November 10, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(10) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Granite Investment Advisors, Inc Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(11) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Todd Veredus Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(12) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and BRC Investment Management LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(d)(13) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Mitchell Capital Management Co. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. | |
(d)(14) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and Dreman Value Management, LLC To be filed. | |
(d)(15) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC, with respect to the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund Filed herewith. | |
(d)(16) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC, with respect to the Sound Mind Investing Fund To be filed. | |
(d)(17) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC, with respect to the Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund To be filed. | |
(d)(18) | Investment Subadvisory Agreement between SMI Advisory Services, LLC and Reams Asset Management Filed herewith. | |
(e) | Form of Distribution Agreement between the Trust and Unified Financial Securities, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 filed July 6, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(f) | Not applicable. | |
(g)(1) | Custody Agreement between the Trust and Huntington National Bank Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). |
(g)(2) | Amended Appendix B to the Custody Agreement between the Trust and Huntington National Bank Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. | |
(g)(3) | Amended Appendix D to the Custody Agreement between the Trust and Huntington National Bank Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(g)(4) | Custody Agreement between the Trust and Citibank, N.A. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(g)(5) | Custody Agreement between the Trust and FOLIO fn Investments, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(1) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Unified Fund Services, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(2) | Amended Exhibit A to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Trust and Unified Fund Services, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(3) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Geier Asset Management, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(4) | Form of Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 filed April 18, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(5) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Longview Capital Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 filed June 6, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(6) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Cloud Capital, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(7) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Kovitz Investment Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 filed November 22, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(8) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Granite Investment Advisors, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(9) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Todd Veredus Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(10) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and BRC Investment Management LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). |
(h)(11) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Mitchell Capital Management Co. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. | |
(h)(12) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and Dreman Value Management, LLC To be filed. | |
(h)(13) | Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and SMI Advisory Services, LLC Filed herewith. | |
(h)(14) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Long Short Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(15) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Golub Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed May 30, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(16) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and TEAM Financial Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 filed February 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(17) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Geier Asset Management, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed May 30, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(18) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 filed September 28, 2012 (File No.811-22208). | |
(h)(19) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Longview Capital Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 filed December 13, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(20) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Cloud Capital, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 filed September 28, 2012 (File No.811-22208). | |
(h)(21) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Kovitz Investment Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed November 10, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(22) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Granite Investment Advisors, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(23) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Todd Veredus Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(h)(24) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and BRC Investment Management LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). |
(h)(25) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Mitchell Capital Management Co. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. | |
(h)(26) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and Dreman Value Management, LLC To be filed. | |
(h)(27) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC Filed herewith. | |
(i)(1) | Opinion and Consent of Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, Legal Counsel, with respect to Golub Group Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 filed March 10, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(2) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to TEAM Asset Strategy Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 filed November 22, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(3) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to LS Opportunity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(4) |
Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Geier Strategic Total Return Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). |
|
(i)(5) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 filed July 11, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(6) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the TEAM Asset Strategy Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 filed February 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(7) | Opinion and consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Longview Global Allocation Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 filed June 6, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(8) | Opinion and consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Small Cap Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(9) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Golub Group Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed May 30, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(10) | Opinion and consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Green Owl Intrinsic Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed November 10, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). |
(i)(11) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the LS Opportunity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 Filed September 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(12) | Opinion and consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Granite Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(13) | Opinion and consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the TVAM International Intrinsic Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(14) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Geier Strategic Total Return Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 filed February 29, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(15) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Longview Global Allocation Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 filed September 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(16) | Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund and the Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 filed September 28, 2012 (File No.811-22208). | |
(i)(17) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(i)(18) |
Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Mitchell Capital All-Cap Growth Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. |
|
(i)(19) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund To be filed. | |
(i)(20) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel, with respect to the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund Filed herewith. | |
(i)(21) | Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc., Legal Counsel with respect to the Sound Mind Investing Fund and the Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund To be filed. | |
(j)(1) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to Golub Group Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed May 30, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(2) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to TEAM Asset Strategy Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 filed February 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). |
(j)(3) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to LS Opportunity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 83 filed September 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(4) | Consent of Ashland Partners & Company, LLP, with respect to Golub Group Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 filed May 30, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(5) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Geier Strategic Total Return Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 filed February 29, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(6) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 filed July 11, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(7) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Longview Global Allocation Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 82 filed September 28, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(8) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 filed September 28, 2012 (File No.811-22208). | |
(j)(9) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Green Owl Intrinsic Value Fund To be filed. | |
(j)(10) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Granite Value Fund To be filed. | |
(j)(11) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the TVAM International Intrinsic Value Fund To be filed. | |
(j)(12) | Consent of Ashland Partners & Company, LLP, with respect to the Granite Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(13) | Consent of Ashland Partners & Company, LLP, with respect to the TVAM International Intrinsic Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(14) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(15) | Consent of Ashland Partners & Company, LLP, with respect to the BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(j)(16) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Mitchell Capital All-Cap Growth Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. |
(j)(17) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund To be filed. | |
(j)(18) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund Filed herewith. | |
(j)(19) | Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants, with respect to the Sound Mind Funds To be filed. | |
(k) | Not applicable. | |
(l) | Initial Capital Agreement Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(1) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Golub Group Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 filed March 10, 2009 (file No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(2) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for TEAM Asset Strategy Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 filed September 24, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(3) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Geier Strategic Total Return Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(4) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 filed October 26, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(5) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Longview Global Allocation Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 filed June 6, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(6) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Small Cap Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(7) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Granite Value Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 filed December 20, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(8) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(m)(9) | Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund To be filed. | |
(n)(1) | Rule 18f-3 Plan for Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Small Cap Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(n)(2) | Rule 18f-3 Plan for TEAM Asset Strategy Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 filed September 22, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). |
(n)(3) | Rule 18f-3 Plan for Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 80 filed July 11, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(n)(4) | Rule 18f-3 Plan for BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(n)(5) | Rule 18f-3 Plan for Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund To be filed. | |
(o) | Reserved. | |
(p)(1) | Code of Ethics for the Trust Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(2) | Code of Ethics for Golub Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 filed March 10, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(3) | Code of Ethics for TEAM Financial Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 filed September 24, 2009 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(4) | Code of Ethics for Long Short Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(5) | Code of Ethics for Independence Capital Asset Partners, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 filed June 29, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(6) | Code of Ethics for Unified Financial Securities, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(7) | Code of Ethics for Geier Asset Management, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 filed December 16, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(8) | Code of Ethics for Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 filed April 18, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(9) | Code of Ethics for Longview Capital Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 filed June 6, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(10) | Code of Ethics for Cloud Capital, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 filed June 23, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(11) | Code of Ethics for Kovitz Investment Group, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 53 filed November 10, 2011 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(12) | Code of Ethics for Granite Investment Advisors, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 filed December 13, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(13) | Code of Ethics for Todd Veredus Asset Management, LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 filed January 6, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(14) | Code of Ethics for BRC Investment Management LLC Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 filed December 20, 2012 (File No. 811-22208). | |
(p)(15) | Code of Ethics for Mitchell Capital Management Co. Incorporated by reference to Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 filed February 1, 2013. |
(p)(16) |
Code of Ethics for Dreman Value Management, LLC To be filed. | |
(p)(17) |
Code of Ethics for SMI Advisory Services, LLC Filed herewith. | |
(p)(18) |
Code of Ethics for Reams Asset Management Filed herewith. | |
(q) |
Powers of Attorney Incorporated by reference to Registrants Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed October 6, 2008; Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 filed March 16, 2010; and Registrants Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 filed June 18, 2010 (File No. 811-22208). |
ITEM 29. | Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant . |
No person is controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.
ITEM 30. | Indemnification . |
Reference is made to the Registrants Declaration of Trust, which is filed herewith. The following is a summary of certain indemnification provisions therein.
A person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Trustees as a director, trustee, partner, officer, employee or agent of a corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture or other enterprise shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as such may be amended from time to time, the Registrants Bylaws and other applicable law. In case any shareholder or former shareholder of the Registrant shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a shareholder of the Registrant or any series or class of the Registrant and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or general successor) shall be entitled, out of the assets belonging to the applicable series (or allocable to the applicable class), to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability in accordance with the Registrants Bylaws and applicable law.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defenses of any action, suite or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to 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 issue.
ITEM 31. | Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser . |
See the Trusts various prospectuses and the statements of additional information for the activities and affiliations of the officers and directors of the investment advisers of the Registrant (the Advisers). Except as so provided, to the knowledge of Registrant, none of the directors or executive officers of the Advisers is or has been at any time during the past two fiscal years engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature. The Advisers currently serve as investment advisers to other institutional and individual clients.
ITEM 32. | Principal Underwriters . |
(a) | Unified Financial Securities, Inc. also serves as a principal underwriter for the following investment companies: American Pension Investors Trust, Appleton Funds, Bruce Fund, Inc., Dreman Contrarian Funds, H C Capital Trust, Huntington Funds, and Unified Series Trust. |
(b) | The directors and officers of Unified Financial Securities, Inc. are as follows: |
Name |
Title |
Position with Trust |
||
Daniel B. Benhase* |
Director | None | ||
Anna Maria Spurgin** |
President | None | ||
John C. Swhear** |
Chief Compliance Officer | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Edward J. Kane* |
Vice President | None | ||
A. Dawn Story* |
Vice President | None | ||
Varanont O. Ruchira** |
Assistant Vice President | None | ||
Karyn E. Cunningham** Richard A. Cheap* Larry D. Case* |
Controller Secretary Assistant Secretary |
None None None |
* | The principal business address of these individuals is 41 S. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 |
** | The principal business address of these individuals is 2960 N. Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208 |
(c) | Not Applicable. |
ITEM 33. | Location Of Accounts And Records . |
The accounts, books or other documents of the Registrant required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are kept in several locations:
(a) | Huntington National Bank, 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (records relating to its functions as custodian for Golub Group Equity Fund, TEAM Asset Strategy Fund, Geier Strategic Total Return Fund, Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund, Longview Global Allocation Fund, Green Owl Intrinsic Value Fund, Granite Value Fund, TVAM International Intrinsic Value Fund, BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund, Mitchell Capital All-Cap Growth Fund, and Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund). |
(b) | Citibank, N.A., 388 Grenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 (records relating to its functions as custodian for LS Opportunity Fund). |
(c) |
IndexEdge Investment Consulting, LLC, 650 Poydras Street, Suite 1400, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to IndexEdge ® Long-Term Portfolio Fund terminated fund on December 9, 2009). |
(d) | Golub Group, LLC, 1850 Gateway Drive, Suite 600, San Mateo, CA 94404 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to Golub Group Equity Fund). |
(e) | TEAM Financial Asset Management, LLC, 800 Corporate Circle, Suite 106, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to TEAM Asset Strategy Fund). |
(f) | Long Short Advisors, LLC, 1818 Market Street, Suite 3323, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to LS Opportunity Fund). |
(g) | Independence Capital Asset Partners, LLC, 1400 16th Street, Suite 520, Denver, Colorado 80202 (records relating to its function as investment sub-adviser to LS Opportunity Fund). |
(h) | Unified Financial Securities, Inc., 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 (records relating to its function as distributor to the Fund). |
(i) | Huntington Asset Services, Inc., 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 (records relating to its function as transfer agent, fund accountant, and administrator for the Fund). |
(j) | Geier Asset Management, Inc., 2205 Warwick Way, Suite 200, Marriottsville, Maryland 21104 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Geier Strategic Total Return Fund). |
(k) | Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC, One Buckhead Plaza, 3060 Peachtree Rd. NW, Suite 1080, Atlanta, Georgia 30342 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Angel Oak Multi-Strategy Income Fund). |
(l) | Longview Capital Management, LLC, 2 Mill Road, Suite 105, Wilmington, Delaware 19806 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Longview Global Allocation Fund). |
(m) | Cloud Capital, LLC, 5514 South Yale, Suite 606, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Small Cap Fund). |
(n) |
FOLIO fn Investments, Inc., 8180 Greensboro Drive, 8 th Floor, McLean, Virginia 22102 (records relating to its function as custodian for Cloud Capital Strategic Large Cap Fund, Cloud Capital Strategic Mid Cap Fund, and Cloud Capital Strategic Small Cap Fund). |
(o) |
Kovitz Investment Group, LLC, 115 S. LaSalle Street, 27 th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Green Owl Intrinsic Value Fund). |
(p) | Granite Investment Advisors, Inc., 11 S. Main St., Suite 501, Concord, New Hampshire 03302 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Granite Value Fund). |
(q) |
Todd Veredus Asset Management, LLC, 101 South 5 th Street, Louisville, KY 40202 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to TVAM International Intrinsic Value Fund). |
(r) | BRC Investment Management LLC, 8400 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 1401, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to BRC Large Cap Focus Equity Fund). |
(s) | Michel Capital Management Co., 11460 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Suite 410, Leawood, Kansas 66211 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Mitchell Capital All-Cap Growth Fund). |
(t) | Dreman Value Management, LLC, Harborside Financial Center, Plaza 10, Suite 800, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund). |
(u) | SMI Advisory Services, LLC, 11135 Baker Hollow Road, Columbus, Indiana 47201 (records relating to its function as investment adviser to the Sound Mind Funds). |
(v) | Reams Asset Management, a division of Scout Investment Advisors, Inc., 227 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana 47202 (records relating to its function as subadviser to the Sound Mind Funds. |
ITEM 34. | Management Services . |
Not Applicable.
ITEM 35. | Undertakings . |
Not Applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrants Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Indianapolis, and State of Indiana on this 19th day of February, 2013.
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST |
||
By: |
* |
|
R. Jeffrey Young, President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
* |
February 19, 2013 | |||
Dr. Merwyn Vanderlind, Trustee |
Date | |||
* |
February 19, 2013 | |||
Ira Cohen, Trustee |
Date | |||
* |
February 19, 2013 | |||
R. Jeffrey Young, President and Trustee |
Date | |||
/s/ Robert W. Silva |
February 19, 2013 | |||
Robert W. Silva, Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
Date |
* By: |
/s/ Carol J. Highsmith |
February 19, 2013 | ||||
Carol J. Highsmith, Vice President, Attorney in Fact |
Date |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
(FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940)
EXHIBIT NO. UNDER PART C OF FORM N-1A |
NAME OF EXHIBIT |
|
(d)(15) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
(d)(18) |
Investment Subadvisory Agreement between SMI Advisory Services, LLC and Reams Asset Management | |
(h)(13) |
Mutual Fund Services Agreement among the Trust, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. and SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
(h)(27) |
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust and SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
(i)(20) |
Opinion and Consent of the Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc. | |
(j)(18) |
Consent of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., Independent Public Accountants | |
(p)(17) |
Code of Ethics for SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
(p)(18) |
Code of Ethics for Reams Asset Management |
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
TO: | SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
11135 W. Baker Hollow Rd. | ||
Columbus, IN 47201 |
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
Valued Advisers Trust (the Trust), herewith confirms our agreement with you.
The Trust has been organized to engage in the business of a registered open-end investment company. The Trust currently offers several series of shares to investors, one of which is the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (the Fund).
You have been selected to act as the investment adviser of the Fund and to provide certain other services, as more fully set forth below, and you are willing to act as such investment adviser and to perform such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Accordingly, the Trust agrees with you as set forth below.
1. | ADVISORY SERVICES |
You will regularly provide the Fund with such investment advice as you in your discretion deem advisable and will furnish a continuous investment program for the Fund consistent with the Funds investment objectives and policies as set forth in its then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. You will determine the securities to be purchased for the Fund, the portfolio securities to be held or sold by the Fund and the portion of the Funds assets to be held uninvested, subject always to the Funds investment objectives, policies and restrictions, as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect, and subject further to such policies and instructions as the Board of Trustees for the Trust (the Board) may from time to time establish. You will advise and assist the officers of the Trust in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of the Board and committees of the Board regarding the conduct of the business of the Fund. You also will be responsible for voting proxies with respect to securities held by the Fund and reporting the Funds proxy voting record to the Funds administrator in the form required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or its staff on Form N-PX.
You may delegate any or all of the responsibilities, rights or duties described in this Agreement, with respect to all or a portion of the Fund, to one or more sub-advisers who shall enter into agreements with you; provided that each sub-adviser and your agreement with such sub-adviser are approved by the Board including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of you, the sub-adviser or of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (unless exempted by an applicable order of the SEC or its staff issued under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act)) by a vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Any such delegation shall not relieve you from any liability hereunder.
2. | ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES |
You will pay the compensation and expenses of any persons rendering any services to the Fund who are officers, directors, equity owners or employees of your company, and will make available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such of your employees as may duly be elected officers or trustees of the Trust, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law. The compensation and expenses of any officers, trustees and employees of the Trust who are not officers, directors, equity owners or employees of your company will be paid by the Fund. You will pay all expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the organization of the Fund and the costs of obtaining the initial registration of Fund shares with the SEC pursuant to a post-effective amendment to the Trusts registration under the 1940 Act. You also will bear any expenses incurred in connection with voting proxies with respect to securities held in the Funds portfolio.
The Fund will be responsible for the payment of all expenses of the Fund, including fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokerage fees and commissions; its allocable share of the fees and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and legal counsel to the independent Trustees, fees and expenses of the Trusts independent public accountants; expenses of registering Fund shares under federal and state securities laws; insurance expenses; taxes or governmental fees; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); fees and expenses of the custodian, transfer agent, shareholder services agent, dividend disbursing agent, plan agent, administrator, accounting and pricing services agent and distributor of the Fund; expenses, including clerical expenses, of issue, sale, redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund; the fees and expenses of officers and trustees of the Trust who are not affiliated with you (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust); the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; the cost of printing or preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information for delivery to the Funds shareholders; the cost of printing or preparing stock certificates or any other documents, statements or reports to shareholders; expenses of shareholders meetings and proxy solicitations; such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including any Legal Action (defined below) to which the Trust may be a party or to which it may otherwise be subject and indemnification for the Trusts officers and Trustees with respect thereto; or any other expense not specifically described above incurred in the performance of the Funds obligations. All other expenses not assumed by you and incurred by the Fund in connection with its operations will be borne by the Fund. The Fund will also pay expenses which it is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
You may obtain reimbursement from the Fund, at such time or times as you may determine in your sole discretion, for any of the expenses advanced by you, which the Fund is obligated to pay, and such reimbursement shall not be considered to be part of your compensation pursuant to this Agreement.
In the event that the Fund is subject to an examination, inquiry or administrative action by the SEC staff or other federal or state regulator or self-regulatory organization, or if the Fund becomes the subject of any complaint, lawsuit or subpoena by any regulator, shareholder of the Fund or other party (collectively, Legal Action), you agree that any expense or cost incurred as a result of the Legal Action (including settlement costs) and not paid by the Fund as required above shall be paid directly by you. Expenses may include, but are not limited to, legal expenses; out-of-pocket expenses and normal hourly fees of the Trusts administrator, fund accountant, transfer agent, distributor, or auditor; standard fees related to meetings of the Board; out-of-pocket expenses and normal hourly fees of the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer; and any
2
other expenses incurred as reasonably necessary, as determined by the Board, in order to respond to or comply with any Legal Action. If not paid by the Fund as required above, you agree to pay or reimburse such expenses promptly upon receipt of an invoice outlining each expense. This provision shall not apply to the extent that such Legal Action is brought as a result of the negligence, willful misfeasance or fraud of another service provider to the Fund as determined by the Board in its reasonable discretion. This provision shall survive termination of this Agreement.
3. | COMPENSATION OF THE ADVISER |
For all of the services to be rendered and payments to be made as provided in this Agreement, as of the last business day of each month, the Fund will pay you a fee at the annual rate set forth below of the average value of the Funds daily net assets:
Fund Assets |
Management Fee | |||
$1 - $250 million |
1.00 | % | ||
$250,000,001 to $500 million |
0.90 | % | ||
Over $500 million |
0.80 | % |
The average value of the daily net assets of the Fund shall be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Trusts Declaration of Trust or a resolution of the Board, if required. If, pursuant to such provisions, the determination of net asset value of the Fund is suspended for any particular business day, then for the purposes of this paragraph, the value of the net assets of the Fund as last determined shall be deemed to be the value of the net assets as of the close of the business day, or as of such other time as the value of the Funds net assets may lawfully be determined, on that day. If the determination of the net asset value of the Fund has been suspended for a period including such month, your compensation payable at the end of such month shall be computed on the basis of the value of the net assets of the Fund as last determined (whether during or prior to such month).
You agree that the Board of Trustees may suspend the payment of the advisory fee set forth above if you fail to follow directions of the Board as communicated to you in writing on behalf of the Board by its officers or legal counsel or the Trusts administrator, and that such suspension may continue until such time as you reasonably comply with such directions.
4. | EXECUTION OF PURCHASE AND SALE ORDERS |
In connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund, it is understood that you (and/or any sub-advisers retained pursuant to paragraph 1 above (collectively for this purpose referred to as you)) will arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the Fund with brokers or dealers selected by you, subject to review of this selection by the Board from time to time. You will be responsible for providing trade tickets on a timely basis to Huntington Asset Services, Inc., the Trusts administrator, following the execution of trade orders. You agree to comply with the Trusts Valuation Policies and Procedures, as adopted by the Board and amended from time to time, in determining the fair value of securities held in the Funds portfolio as required by the Valuation Procedures from time to time.
You will be responsible for the negotiation and the allocation of principal trades and portfolio brokerage. In the selection of brokers or dealers and placing of orders, you are
3
directed at all times to seek for the Fund the best qualitative execution, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer.
You should generally seek favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. In seeking best qualitative execution, you are authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and the other accounts over which you exercise investment discretion to the extent permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and applicable SEC guidance. You are authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such eligible brokerage and research services a commission for executing a Fund portfolio transaction which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction; provided that you determine that the research or brokerage service meets the statutory definition, that the eligible product or service actually provides lawful and appropriate assistance in the performance of your investment decision-making responsibilities; and that the amount of commissions paid by the Fund is reasonable in light of the value of products or services received. The determination may be viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or your overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to accounts over which you exercise investment discretion. The Board shall periodically review the commissions paid by the Fund to determine if the commissions paid over representative periods of time were reasonable.
You may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers that promote or sell the Funds shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Board that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the brokers execution and not on its sales efforts.
Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, and other applicable law, you, any of your affiliates or any affiliate of your affiliates may retain compensation in connection with effecting the Funds portfolio transactions, including transactions effected through others. If any occasion should arise in which you give any advice to clients of yours concerning shares of the Fund, you will act solely as investment adviser for such client and not in any way on behalf of the Fund. Your services to the Fund pursuant to this Agreement are not to be deemed to be exclusive and it is understood that you may render investment advice, management and other services to others, including other registered investment companies.
5. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF ADVISER |
You may rely on information reasonably believed by you to be accurate and reliable. Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, neither you nor your shareholders, members, officers, directors, employees, agents, control persons or affiliates of any thereof shall be subject to any liability for, or any damages, expenses or losses incurred by the Trust in connection with, any error of judgment, mistake of law, any act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under, or payments made pursuant to, this Agreement or any other matter to which this Agreement relates, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence on the part of any such persons in the performance of your duties under this Agreement, or by reason of reckless disregard by any of such persons of your obligations and duties under this Agreement.
Any person, even though also a director, officer, employee, member, shareholder or agent of you, who may be or become an officer, director, Trustee, employee or agent of the
4
Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Trust or acting on any business of the Trust (other than services or business in connection with your duties hereunder), to be rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust and not as a director, officer, employee, member, shareholder or agent of you, or one under your control or direction, even though paid by you.
6. | DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT |
This Agreement shall take effect on the date that the Fund commences investment operations, and shall remain in force for a period of two (2) years from such date, and from year to year thereafter, subject to annual approval by: (i) the Board; or (ii) a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act); provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of you or the Trust, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval.
If the shareholders of the Fund fail to approve this Agreement in the manner set forth above, upon request of the Board, you will continue to serve or act in such capacity for the Fund for the period of time pending required approval of this Agreement, of a new agreement with you or a different adviser or other definitive action; provided that the compensation to be paid by the Fund to you for your services to and payments on behalf of the Fund will be equal to the lesser of your actual costs incurred in furnishing such services and payments or the amount you would have received under this Agreement for furnishing such services and payments.
This Agreement may, on 60 days written notice, be terminated with respect to the Fund, at any time without the payment of any penalty, by the Board, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by you. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act).
This provision shall survive termination of the Agreement.
7. | FUND CLOSING |
You hereby acknowledge that if you: (i) advise the Board that you no longer wish to continue managing the Fund, or (ii) become financially unable or refuse to fulfill any of your obligations under any agreement with the Fund, including any expense limitation agreement, the Board may determine to redeem all outstanding shares of the Fund and to cease operations of the Fund. In the event that your actions result in the closing of the Fund, you agree as follows:
(A) | you will provide at least 90 days advance notice to the Trusts Board of Trustees in the event that you no longer wish to continue managing the Fund; |
(B) | you will execute the Trusts standard Plan of Liquidation in the form approved by the Board of Trustees from time to time; |
(C) | any expense limitation agreement in place between you and the Fund shall remain in full force and effect through the date that the Fund is closed. You agree to promptly pay the amount of any outstanding adviser receivable that you owe to the Fund upon demand by the Board; |
(D) |
you (and not Fund shareholders) shall bear all reasonable costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the closing. Closing costs include, but may not be |
5
limited to, fees and expenses of the Trustees and legal counsel, custodial costs, Fund operating costs incurred during the termination period, insurance costs, administrative fees and expenses incurred in connection with filing final notices or reports to the SEC and/or other regulatory agencies on behalf of the Fund, and fees charged by the Funds independent public accountants; and |
(E) | to the extent that you fail to pay any amount owed to the Fund under this Agreement, you agree that the Board may deduct such amount from the redemption proceeds payable to any Fund account held in your name or in the name of any of your officers, directors, managers or affiliates. |
This provision shall survive termination of the Agreement.
8. | USE OF NAME |
The Trust and you acknowledge that all rights to the term Sound Mind Investing belongs to you, and that the Trust is being granted a limited license to use such term in its Fund name or in any class name. In the event you cease to be the adviser to the Fund, the Trusts right to the use of the name term Sound Mind Investing shall automatically cease on the 90 th day following the termination of this Agreement. The right to the name may also be withdrawn by you during the term of this Agreement upon 90 days written notice by you to the Trust. Nothing contained herein shall impair or diminish in any respect, your right to use the term Sound Mind Investing belongs in the name of, or in connection with, any other business enterprises with which you are or may become associated. There is no charge to the Trust for the right to use this name.
9. | AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT |
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of you or of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (if required under interpretations of the 1940 Act by the SEC or its staff) by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the series to which the amendment relates.
10. | LIMITATION OF LIABILITY TO TRUST PROPERTY |
The term Trustees means and refers to the Trusts trustees from time to time serving under the Trusts Declaration of Trust as the same may be amended from time to time. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property of the Trust, as provided in the Trusts Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees and shareholders of the Fund and signed by officers of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees and shareholders nor such execution and delivery by such officers shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust as provided in its Declaration of Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware.
6
11. | SEVERABILITY |
In the event any provision of this Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remainder of this Agreement, which shall continue to be in force.
12. | QUESTIONS OF INTERPRETATION |
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms majority of the outstanding voting securities, control, assignment and interested person shall have their respective meanings as defined in the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.
(c) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United States courts or in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by the SEC or its staff. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation, order or interpretation of the SEC or its staff, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, order or interpretation.
13. | NOTICES |
Any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed postage paid to the other party at such address as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed that the address of the Trust is 2960 N. Meridian Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208, and your address for this purpose shall be 11135 Baker Hollow Rd., Columbus, IN 47201.
14. | COUNTERPARTS |
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
15. | BINDING EFFECT |
Each of the undersigned expressly warrants and represents that he has the full power and authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of the party indicated, and that his signature will operate to bind the party indicated to the foregoing terms.
16. | CAPTIONS |
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
7
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of acceptance below and return it to the Trust, whereupon this letter shall become a binding contract effective as of the date set forth above.
Approved and Dated as of January 15, 2013.
Yours very truly, | ||
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST |
||
By: |
/s/ R. Jeffrey Young |
|
R. Jeffrey Young, President and |
||
Chief Executive Officer |
ACCEPTANCE
The foregoing Agreement is hereby accepted.
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Fred Beerwart | |
Name: Fred Beerwart |
||
Title: Chief Compliance Officer |
8
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 15th day of January, 2013, by and between Reams Asset Management, a division of Scout Investment Advisors, Inc., with its principal place of business at 227 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201, (the Sub-Advisor ), and SMI Advisory Services, LLC, an Indiana limited liability company located at 11135 West Baker Hollow Road, Columbus, IN 47201 (the Advisor ).
WHEREAS , Valued Advisers Trust, a Delaware statutory trust located at 2960 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46208 (the Trust ), is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act ); and
WHEREAS , each series of the Trust specified in Schedule A hereto (each, a Fund and collectively, the Funds ) has separate assets and liabilities; and
WHEREAS , the Advisor and the Sub-Advisor are each engaged in the business of rendering investment advice; and
WHEREAS , the Advisor and Sub-Advisor are each registered as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act ); and
WHEREAS , the Trust on behalf of the Funds has retained the Advisor to render investment management services to each Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (each an Investment Advisory Agreement ) approved by the Board of Trustees (the Board ); and
WHEREAS , each Investment Advisory Agreement allows the Advisor to delegate certain of its responsibilities under the Investment Advisory Agreement to others; and
WHEREAS , the Advisor seeks to delegate certain of its responsibilities under the Investment Advisory Agreements to the Sub-Advisor pursuant to this Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (the Agreement ).
NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH : That it is agreed among the parties hereto as follows:
1. | APPOINTMENT OF SUB-ADVISOR. |
(a) | Acceptance . The Sub-Advisor is hereby appointed and the Sub-Advisor hereby accepts the appointment, on the terms herein set forth and for the compensation herein provided, to act as investment adviser to that portion of each Funds portfolio designated by the Advisor (the Portfolio ). |
(b) | Independent Contractor . The Sub-Advisor shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or be deemed an agent of the Funds. |
(c) | Sub-Advisors Representations . The Sub-Advisor represents, warrants and agrees that it has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. None of the execution, delivery or performance by the Sub-Advisor will violate any non-competition or other contract to which the Sub-Advisor is a party, or require any authorization, consent or approval of any third party. |
The Sub-Advisor represents, warrants and agrees that it is registered as an adviser under the Advisers Act. The Sub-Advisor will promptly notify the Advisor of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Sub-Advisor from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act or otherwise.
The Sub-Advisor has adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and, if it has not already done so, will provide the Advisor and the Trust with a copy of such code of ethics. On at least an annual basis, the Sub-Advisor will comply with the reporting requirements of Rule 17j-1, which may include (i) certifying to the Advisor that the Sub-Advisor and its access persons have complied with the Sub-Advisors code of ethics with respect to the Portfolio, and (ii) identifying any material violations of the code of ethics which have occurred with respect to the Portfolio. Upon reasonable notice from and the reasonable request of the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall permit the Advisor, its employees and its agent to examine the reports required to be made to the Trust or the Advisor by the Sub-Advisor pursuant to Rule 17j-1 and all other records related to the Sub-Advisors code of ethics that are relevant to the Funds and this Agreement.
The Sub-Advisor has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures, as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, which are reasonably designed to prevent violations of federal securities laws by the Sub-Advisor, its employees, officers, and agents. Upon reasonable notice from, and the reasonable request of, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Advisor with access to the records relating to such policies and procedures as they relate to the Portfolio. The Sub-Advisor will also provide, at the reasonable request of the Advisor, periodic certifications, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Advisor, attesting to such matters relating to such written policies and procedures as may be reasonable in order for the Advisor to satisfy its obligations to the Funds.
(d) |
The Advisors Representations . The Advisor represents, warrants and agrees that it has all requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations |
2
under this Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
The Advisor further represents, warrants and agrees that it has the authority to appoint the Sub-Advisor to perform the duties under the terms of this Agreement.
The Advisor further represents and warrants that it has received a copy of Part II of the Sub-Advisors Form ADV.
The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with each Funds most current prospectus and statement of additional information contained in the Trusts registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (collectively, the Prospectus ) and the Trusts Code of Ethics and instructions, policies and directions of the Trustees pertaining to the Advisor and the Funds, as currently in effect. The Advisor shall promptly furnish to the Sub-Advisor copies of all material amendments or supplements to the foregoing documents.
The Advisor will provide timely information to the Sub-Advisor regarding such matters as inflows to and outflows from each Fund and the cash requirements of, and cash available for investment in, each Fund.
The Advisor will timely provide the Sub-Advisor with copies of monthly accounting statements for each Fund, including, if available, separate monthly accounting statements for the Portfolio, and such other information as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order for the Sub-Advisor to perform its responsibilities hereunder.
(e) | Plenary authority of the Board of Trustees. The Sub-Advisor and Advisor both acknowledge that each Fund is a mutual fund that operates as a series of the Trust under the authority of the Trusts Board of Trustees (the Board of Trustees). |
2. | PROVISION OF INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY SERVICES. |
Within the framework of the fundamental policies, investment objectives, and investment restrictions of each Fund as set forth in its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (Investment Guidelines), and subject to the supervision and review of the Advisor and the Board of Trustees, the Sub-Advisor shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility for the making of all investment decisions for the Portfolio, including purchase, retention and disposition of securities, in accordance with the Investment Guidelines.
With respect to the Sound Mind Investing Fund, as of the date of this Agreement approximately 40% of the Funds investable assets will be allocated to the Portfolio, and on each business day during the term of this Agreement the same percentage of the net cash derived from purchases, or required for redemptions, of Fund shares will normally be added to or withdrawn from the Portfolio; provided,
3
however, that, with prior notice to the Sub-Advisor of not less than 3 business days, the Advisor has the right at any time to reallocate the portion of the Funds assets allocated to the Portfolio pursuant to this Agreement if the Advisor deems such reallocation appropriate.
For the purpose of complying with Rule 10f-3(a)(6)(ii), Rule 12d3-1(c)(3)(ii), Rule 17a-10(a)(2) and Rule 17e-1(d)(2) under the 1940 Act, the Sub-Advisor hereby agrees with respect to each Fund that: (i) with respect to transactions in securities or other assets for the Fund, it will not consult with any other sub-advisor to the Fund, or with any sub-advisor that is principal underwriter for the Fund or an affiliated person of such principal underwriter; (ii) with respect to transactions in securities or other assets for the Fund, it will not consult with any sub-advisor to a separate series of the Trust for which the Advisor serves as investment advisor (each an SMI Fund), or with any sub-advisor to an SMI Fund that is a principal underwriter to such SMI Fund or an affiliated person of such principal underwriter; and (iii) its responsibility in providing investment advisory services to the Fund shall be limited solely to that portion of the Funds portfolio designated by the Advisor. The Advisor will provide the Sub-Advisor with current information as to the identity of all such other sub-advisors to the Fund or to any other SMI Fund, and any such affiliated persons.
The Sub-Advisor will, at its own expense:
(a) | advise the Advisor in connection with investment policy decisions to be made by it regarding the Portfolio and, upon request, furnish the Advisor with research, economic and statistical data in connection with the Portfolios investments and investment policies for the Portfolio; |
(b) | submit such reports and information as the Advisor or a Fund may reasonably request to assist Huntington National Bank, the Funds custodian (the Custodian), and Huntington Asset Services, administrator and fund accounting agent, in their determination of the market value of securities held in the Portfolio; |
(c) | place orders for purchases and sales of portfolio investments for the Portfolio; |
(d) | give instructions to the Custodian concerning the delivery of securities and transfer of cash for the Portfolio; |
(e) | maintain and preserve the records relating to its activities hereunder required by applicable law to be maintained and preserved by the Sub-Advisor, and the Sub-Advisor hereby agrees that all records which it maintains for the Funds are the property of the Funds and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Funds copies of any such records upon a Funds request; |
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(f) | as soon as practicable after the close of business each day but no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time the following business day, provide the Custodian with copies of trade tickets for each transaction effected for the Portfolio, and provide copies to the Advisor upon request, and promptly forward to the Custodian copies of all brokerage or dealer confirmations; |
(g) | as soon as practicable (with 5 business days as the guideline) following the end of each calendar month or calendar quarter, provide the Advisor with written statements showing all transactions effected for the Portfolio during the month or quarter (as applicable), a summary listing all investments held in the Portfolio as of the last day of the month or calendar quarter (as applicable), and such other information relating to the Portfolio as the Advisor may reasonably request in connection with any accounting services that the Advisor or its agents provide for the Funds. Advisor acknowledges that Sub-Advisor and Custodian or the Funds accounting agent may use different pricing vendors, which may result in valuation discrepancies; |
(h) | absent specific written instructions to the contrary provided to it by the Advisor, and subject to its receipt of all necessary voting materials, vote all proxies with respect to investments of the Portfolio in accordance with the Sub-Advisors proxy voting policy as most recently provided to the Advisor. The Sub-Advisor shall use its good faith judgment in a manner which it reasonably believes best serves the interests of each Funds shareholders to vote or abstain from voting all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in the Portfolio. The Sub-Advisors obligations in the previous sentence are contingent upon its timely receipt of such proxy solicitation materials, which the Advisor shall cause to be forwarded to the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor further agrees that it will provide the Board of Trustees, as the Board may reasonably request, with a written report of the proxies voted during the most recent 12-month period or such other period as the Board may designate, in a format that shall comply with the 1940 Act. Upon reasonable request, the Sub-Advisor shall provide the Advisor with all proxy voting records relating to the Portfolio, including but not limited to those required by SEC Form N-PX. Upon request of the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor will also provide an annual certification, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Advisor, attesting to the accuracy and completeness of such proxy voting records; |
(i) | inform the Advisor and the Board of Trustees of material changes in the Sub-Advisors corporate ownership, management team, investment strategy or tactics or key personnel who manage or service the Portfolio; |
(j) | furnish to the Board of Trustees such information as may reasonably be necessary in order for such Trustees to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments hereto for the purpose of casting a vote pursuant to Section 7 hereof; |
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(k) | notify the Advisor of any material changes in its equity ownership within a reasonable time prior to such changes; and |
(l) | with respect to its activities under this Agreement, provide reasonable assistance to the Trust in connection with the Trusts compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)thereunder, and Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act. Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to, (i) certifying periodically, upon the reasonable request of the Trust, that the Sub-Advisor is in compliance with all applicable federal securities laws, as required by Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the 1940 Act, and Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; (ii) facilitating and cooperating with required third-party audits arranged by the Trust to evaluate the effectiveness of the Sub-Advisors compliance controls; and (iii) providing the Trusts chief compliance officer with direct access to the Sub-Advisors compliance personnel; (iv) providing the Trusts Board of Trustees and chief compliance officer with such periodic reports as may be requested; and (v) promptly providing special reports to the Trusts chief compliance officer in the event of compliance problems. |
3. | ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES. |
Each party to this Agreement shall bear the costs and expenses of performing its obligations hereunder. In this regard, the Advisor specifically agrees that each Fund is responsible for the payment of:
(a) | brokerage commissions for transactions in the portfolio investments of the Portfolio and similar fees and charges for the acquisition, disposition, lending or borrowing of such portfolio investments; |
(b) | Custodians fees and expenses; |
(c) | all taxes, including issuance and transfer taxes, and reserves for taxes payable by the Fund to federal, state or other government agencies; and |
(d) | interest payable on any Fund borrowings. |
The Sub-Advisor specifically agrees that with respect to the operation of each Fund, the Sub-Advisor shall be responsible for (i) providing the personnel, office space and equipment reasonably necessary for the performance of the Sub-Advisors duties under this Agreement, and (ii) the costs of any special Board of Trustees meetings or shareholder meetings convened for the primary benefit of the Sub-Advisor, including any expenses of a proxy solicitation required in order to continue this Agreement due to a change in control of the Sub-Advisor. Nothing in this Agreement shall alter the allocation of expenses and costs agreed upon between the Funds and the Advisor in the Investment Advisory Agreement or any other agreement to which they are parties.
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4. | SUB-ADVISORY FEES. |
For all of the services rendered with respect to the Portfolio as herein provided, the Advisor shall pay to the Sub-Advisor a fee (for the payment of which the Funds shall have no obligation or liability), based on the Current Net Assets of the Portfolio (as defined below), as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be accrued daily and payable quarterly, as soon as practicable after the last day of each calendar quarter. In the case of termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund during any calendar month, the fee accrued to, but excluding, the date of termination shall be paid promptly following such termination. For purposes of computing the amount of advisory fee accrued for any day, Current Net Assets shall mean the Portfolios net assets as of the most recent preceding day for which the Funds net assets were computed.
5. | PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS. |
In connection with the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Portfolio, the Sub-Advisor is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute purchase and sale transactions for the Portfolio and to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the best available price and most favorable execution with respect to all such purchases and sales of portfolio securities for said Portfolio. The Sub-Advisor shall maintain records adequate to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section. Subject to the policies as the Board of Trustees may determine and consistent with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Sub-Advisor shall have the right to follow a policy of selecting brokers who furnish brokerage and research services to the Funds or to the Sub-Advisor, and who charge a higher commission rate to the Funds than may result when allocating brokerage solely on the basis of seeking the most favorable price and execution. The Sub-Advisor shall determine in good faith that such higher cost was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided and shall make reasonable reports regarding such determination and description of the products and services obtained if so requested by the Advisor or the Board of Trustees.
The Advisor authorizes and empowers the Sub-Advisor to direct the Custodian to open and maintain brokerage accounts for securities and other property, including financial and commodity futures and commodities and options thereon (all such accounts hereinafter called brokerage accounts) for and in the name of each Fund and to execute for each Fund as its agent and attorney-in-fact standard customer agreements with such broker or brokers as the Sub-Advisor shall select as provided above. The Sub-Advisor may, using such of the securities and other property in the Portfolio as the Sub-Advisor deems necessary or desirable, direct the Custodian to deposit for each Fund original and maintenance brokerage and margin deposits and otherwise direct payments of cash, cash equivalents and securities and other property into such brokerage accounts and to such brokers as the Sub-Advisor deems desirable or appropriate. The Sub-Advisor shall cause all securities and other property purchased or sold with respect to the Portfolio to be settled at the place of business of the Custodian or as the Custodian shall direct. All securities and other property of the Portfolio shall remain in the direct or indirect custody of the Custodian. The Sub-Advisor shall notify the Custodian as soon as practicable of the necessary information to enable the Custodian to effect such settlements.
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The Sub-Advisor further shall have the authority to instruct the Custodian (i) to pay cash for securities and other property delivered to the Custodian for the account of the Portfolio, (ii) to deliver securities and other property against payment for the account of the Portfolio, and (iii) to transfer assets and funds to such brokerage accounts as the Sub-Advisor may designate, all consistent with the powers, authorities and limitations set forth herein. The Sub-Advisor shall not have authority to cause the Custodian to deliver securities and other property, or pay cash to the Sub-Advisor except as expressly provided herein.
6. | LIABILITY; STANDARD OF CARE. |
The Sub-Advisor, its affiliates, agents, directors and employees, shall be indemnified by the Advisor against all liabilities, losses or claims (including reasonable expenses arising out of defending such liabilities, losses or claims):
(a) arising from a Funds or the Advisors directions to the Sub-Advisor or Custodian, or brokers, dealers or others with respect to the making, retention or sale of any investment or reinvestment hereunder; or
(b) arising from the acts or omissions of the Advisor, the Custodian or a Fund, their respective affiliates, agents or employees;
except for any such liability or loss which is due to the negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith of the Sub-Advisor, its affiliates, agents, directors and employees, or the Sub-Advisors reckless disregard of its duties and obligations hereunder. The Sub-Advisor shall also be without liability hereunder for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and without negligence. In the absence of willful misconduct, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of the obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the Sub-Advisor, the Sub-Advisor shall not be subject to liability to the Trust, a Fund, any shareholder of a Fund, or the Advisor for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security by the Portfolio. Notwithstanding the foregoing, U.S. federal and certain state securities laws impose liabilities under certain circumstances on persons who have acted in good faith and, therefore, nothing in this Agreement shall in any way constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Trust, a Fund, any shareholder of a Fund, or the Advisor may have under any such U.S. federal or state securities laws.
The Sub-Advisor shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the discharge of its duties under this Agreement; shall comply with the Investment Guidelines of each Fund, as well as any compliance policies and procedures established by the Board of Trustees with respect to the Funds; in connection with the performance of this Agreement, shall act at all times in the best interests of each Fund; and shall discharge its duties with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of a similar enterprise.
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The Sub-Advisor shall not be deemed by virtue of this Agreement to have made any representation or warranty that any level of investment performance or level of investment results will be achieved.
8. | TERM AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT; NO ASSIGNMENT |
(a) This Agreement shall go into effect with respect to each Fund as of the later of (i) the time the Fund commences operations pursuant to an effective amendment to the Trusts Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) the date provided on the first page of this Agreement; provided it has also been approved by (A) the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement nor interested persons thereof (the Independent Trustees), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (B) unless exempted pursuant to an applicable order by the Securities and Exchange Commission, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund at the time of such effectiveness. This Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to each Fund for two years from the date of effectiveness, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided. Following the initial term, this Agreement shall continue in effect for additional periods not exceeding one (l) year so long as such continuation is approved at least annually by (i) the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, at an in-person 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. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms majority of the outstanding voting securities and interested persons shall have the meanings as set forth in the 1940 Act;
(b) This Agreement may be terminated by the Trust on behalf of a Fund at any time without payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees, by the Advisor, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund without the payment of any penalties, upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Sub-Advisor, and by the Sub-Advisor upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Fund and the Advisor. In the event of a termination, the Sub-Advisor shall cooperate in the orderly transfer of the Funds affairs and, at the request of the Board of Trustees or the Advisor, transfer any and all books and records of the Fund maintained by the Sub-Advisor on behalf of the Fund;
(c) Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Advisor and the Trust, this Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of any transfer or assignment thereof, as defined in the 1940 Act; and
(d) This Agreement will also terminate with respect to a Fund in the event that the Funds Investment Advisory Agreement is terminated.
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9. | SERVICES NOT EXCLUSIVE. |
The services of the Sub-Advisor to the Funds are not intended to be exclusive and it shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby. It is specifically understood that directors, officers and employees of the Sub-Advisor and of its subsidiaries and affiliates may continue to engage in providing portfolio management services and advice to other investment advisory clients.
10. | AGGREGATION OF ORDERS. |
Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the combination of orders for the sale or purchase of securities for the Portfolio with those for other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor or its affiliates. When a security proposed to be purchased or sold for the Portfolio is also to be purchased or sold for other accounts managed by the Sub-Advisor at the same time, the Sub-Advisor may aggregate such orders and shall allocate such purchases or sales on a pro-rata, rotating or other equitable basis so as to avoid any one account being systematically preferred over any other account.
11. | NO BORROWING. |
The Sub-Advisor agrees that neither it nor any of its officers or employees shall borrow from a Fund or pledge or use a Funds assets in connection with any borrowing not directly for the Funds benefit. For this purpose, failure to pay any amount due and payable to a Fund for a period of more than thirty (30) days shall constitute a borrowing.
12. | AMENDMENT. |
No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by all parties.
13. | NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION. |
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Sub-Advisor hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, trustees, shareholders, officers, and employees (1) to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Funds (a) all records and other information relative to each Funds prior, present, or potential shareholders (and clients of said shareholders) and (b) any Nonpublic Personal Information, as defined under Section 248.3(t) of Regulation S-P (Regulation S-P), promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the G-L-B Act), and (2) except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, or as otherwise permitted by Regulation S-P or the G-L-B Act, and if in compliance therewith, the privacy policies adopted by the Trust and communicated in writing to the Sub-Advisor. Such written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Trust and may not be withheld where the Sub-Advisor may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt or other proceedings for failure to comply after being requested to divulge such information by duly constituted
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authorities. The Advisor acknowledges and understands that all books and records of the Sub-Advisor are subject to inspection and copying by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
14. | ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE. |
The Sub-Advisor acknowledges that, in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended, the USA PATRIOT Act, and any implementing regulations thereunder (together, AML Laws), the Trust has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Policy, a current copy of which has been provided to the Sub-Advisor. The Sub-Advisor agrees to comply with the Trusts Anti-Money Laundering Policy and the AML Laws, as the same may apply to the Sub-Advisor, now and in the future. The Sub-Advisor further agrees to provide to the Trust and/or the Funds administrator such reports, certifications and contractual assurances as may be reasonably requested by the Trust. The Trust may disclose information regarding the Sub-Advisor to governmental and/or regulatory or self-regulatory authorities to the extent required by applicable law or regulation and may file reports with such authorities as may be required by applicable law or regulation.
15. | INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR |
The Sub-Advisor shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor, and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided and authorized to do so herein or in a separate writing, have no authority to act for or represent the Advisor, the Trust or a Fund in any way, or in any way be deemed an agent of the Advisor, the Trust or a Fund.
16. | NOTICES. |
Notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing, shall be deemed to be effectively delivered when actually received, and may be delivered by US mail (first class, postage prepaid), by facsimile transmission, by hand or by commercial overnight delivery service, addressed as follows:
ADVISOR: | SMI Advisory Services, LLC | |
11135 West Baker Hollow Road | ||
Columbus, IN 47201 | ||
Attn: Fred Beerwart | ||
Phone: 812-376-7320 | ||
Fax: 800-910-3651 |
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SUB-ADVISOR: | Reams Asset Management | |
227 Washington Street | ||
Columbus, IN 47202 | ||
Attn: David B. McKinney | ||
Phone: 812.372.6606 | ||
Fax:812.376.3137 |
FUND: | Valued Advisers Trust | |
c/o Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | ||
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300 | ||
Indianapolis, IN 46208 | ||
Attn: Vice President Legal, Compliance & Risk | ||
Phone: 317.917.7030 | ||
Fax: 877.298.5086 | ||
with a copy to counsel: | ||
THE LAW OFFICES OF JOHN H. LIVELY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | ||
11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Suite 310 | ||
Leawood, KS 66211 | ||
Attn: John H. Lively, Esq. | ||
Phone: 913.660.0778 | ||
Fax: 913.660.9157 |
17. | GOVERNING LAW. |
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any federal law, regulation or rule, including the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
18. | ASSIGNMENT. |
This Agreement may not be assigned by any party, either in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of each other party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day first set forth above.
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Fred Beerwart | |
Name: | Fred Beerwart | |
Title: | Chief Compliance Officer | |
REAMS ASSET MANAGEMENT, A DIVISION OF SCOUT INVESTMENT ADVISORS, INC. |
||
By: | /s/ David B. McKinney | |
Name: | David B. McKinney | |
Title: | President |
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SCHEDULE A
FEES
Name of Fund |
Annual Fee Rate |
|
Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund | 0.20 % of average Current Net Assets of the Portfolio allocated to Fixed Income. | |
SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund | 0.20 % of average Current Net Assets of the Portfolio allocated to individual Fixed Income securities (this excludes bond funds). | |
0.01% of average Current Net Assets of the Portfolio allocated to Cash and Cash equivalents, when the Sub-Advisor is instructed to manage these assets. |
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MUTUAL FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT
Fund Accounting Services
Fund Administration Services
Transfer Agency Services
by and among
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST,
HUNTINGTON ASSET SERVICES, INC.
and
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC
January 15, 2013
Exhibit A Portfolio Listing
Exhibit B General Description of Fund Accounting Services
Exhibit C General Description of Fund Administration Services
Exhibit D General Description of Transfer Agency Services
Exhibit E Fees and Expenses
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MUTUAL FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of January 15, 2013 (Effective Date), by and among Valued Advisers Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), Huntington Asset Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (HASI) and SMI Advisory Services, LLC an Indiana limited liability company (Adviser). Adviser is a party to this agreement solely for purposes of evidencing Advisers agreement to the term of this Agreement, and the fees payable under the Agreement, as described in Sections 6 and 10, and in Exhibit E.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain HASI to provide certain transfer agent, fund accounting, administration, and anti-money laundering services (the Services) with respect to certain series of the Trust, as listed on Exhibit A (the Funds) and HASI is willing to furnish such Services; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser serves as investment adviser to the Funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Appointment .
The Trust hereby appoints HASI as transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator, dividend disbursing agent and anti-money laundering agent for the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement (Agreement), and HASI hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The services and duties of HASI shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against HASI hereunder.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of HASI .
HASI hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by HASI in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of HASI, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;
(c) It has, and will continue to have, access to the facilities, personnel and equipment required to fully perform its duties and obligations hereunder; and
(d) It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted. There is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
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Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Trust .
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to HASI, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
(a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
(c) It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted. There is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
Section 4. Delivery of Documents and Other Materials .
(a) The Trust will promptly furnish to HASI such copies, properly certified or authenticated, of contracts, documents and other related information that HASI may request or require to properly discharge its duties. Such documents may include, but are not limited to, resolutions of the Board authorizing the appointment of HASI to provide certain transfer agency, fund accounting, administration and dividend disbursing services to the Trust and the Funds and approving this Agreement; and such other agreements and documents relating to the Trust and the Funds not easily accessible through a public website.
(b) The Trust shall cause to be turned over to HASI copies of all records of, and supporting documentation relating to, its accounts (including account applications and related documents, records of dividend distributions, NAV calculations, tax reports and returns, and receivables and payables) for all Funds and matters relating to the Services hereunder, together with such other records relating to such Funds and matters as may be helpful or necessary to HASIs delivery of Services hereunder. The Trust also shall cause to be delivered to HASI reconciliations (as of the date HASI begins providing Services hereunder) of each Funds outstanding shares, securities and cash held by each Fund, checking accounts, outstanding redemption checks and related accounts, tax payments and backup withholding accounts, and any other demand deposit accounts or other property held or owned by a Fund. The parties acknowledge that HASI will rely on these reconciliations (and other balances provided by HASIs predecessor) as opening balances for the performance of its Services. On an ongoing basis, the Trust, through the Adviser or sub-adviser to a Fund, shall cause to be turned over to HASI all trade tickets and other documents evidencing transactions made on behalf of the Funds as and when made.
Section 5. Services Provided by HASI .
(a) HASI will provide the following Services subject to the direction and supervision of the Trusts Board, and in compliance with the objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Trusts currently effective Registration Statement, Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, applicable laws and regulations, and all resolutions and policies implemented by the Board, and further subject to HASIs policies and procedures as in effect from time to time:
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(i) Fund Accounting Services , as described on Exhibit B to this Agreement.
(ii) Fund Administration Services , as described on Exhibit C to this Agreement.
(iii) Transfer Agency Services , as described on Exhibit D to this Agreement.
(b) HASI shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. HASI agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by HASI relating to the services to be performed by HASI hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Trust or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
Section 6. Fees, Expenses, Expense Reimbursement.
(a) Fee Schedule. The Trust will pay all fees, expenses, charges and obligations incurred from time to time in relation to the Services in accordance with the terms of Exhibit E, and as may be agreed to from time to time by the parties, together with any other amounts payable to HASI under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, HASI will not be responsible for the fees or expenses of, and the Funds will reimburse HASI for any advances or payments made by HASI for the benefit of the Funds incident to the proper performance of the Services to, any investment adviser, custodian, non-discretionary subcontractor, intermediary or any other person listed or described in Exhibit E.
(b) Taxes. HASI shall not be liable for any taxes, assessments or governmental charges that may be levied or assessed on any basis whatsoever in connection with the Trust or any shareholder, excluding taxes, if any, assessed against HASI related to its income or assets. The foregoing clause is subject to any more detailed provisions related to sales, use, excise, value-added, gross receipts, services, consumption and other similar transaction taxes related to the Services or this Agreement set forth in Exhibit E (if any).
(c) Invoices. Invoices will be payable within thirty (30) days of the date of the invoice. If the Trust or Adviser disputes an invoice, it shall nevertheless pay on or before the date that payment is due such portion of the invoice as is not subject to a bona fide dispute. Without prejudice to HASIs other rights, HASI reserves the right to charge interest on overdue amounts (except to the extent the amount is subject to a bona fide dispute) from the due date until actual payment at an annual rate equal to the sum of the overnight Fed Funds rate as in effect from time to time plus 2 percentage points.
Section 7. Proprietary and Confidential Information .
(a) HASI agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trusts prior, present or potential shareholders, and to not use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of HASIs responsibilities, rights and duties hereunder. HASI may seek a waiver of such confidentiality provisions by furnishing reasonable prior notice to the Trust and obtaining approval in writing from the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. Waivers of confidentiality are not necessary (and are deemed given) for use of such information for any purpose in the course of performance of HASIs responsibilities, duties and rights hereunder, when HASI may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, with respect to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) levies, subpoenas and similar actions, and with respect to any request by the Trust.
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(b) HASI may, from time to time, maintain or otherwise possess consumer report information in connection with the provision of Services under this agreement, and HASI may, from time to time, dispose of such consumer report information in connection with the provision of Services under this Agreement. To the extent that HASI disposes of consumer report information, HASI shall properly dispose of the information by taking reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information in connection with its disposal, in accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-P. The term consumer report information, as used in this paragraph, shall have the same meaning as in Rule 30 under Regulation S-P.
Section 8. Scope of Responsibility .
(a) Responsibility for Losses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) HASI will not be liable to the Trust for any damages or losses save for those resulting from the willful default, fraud or negligence of HASI as a result of the performance or non-performance by HASI of its obligations and duties hereunder, and (ii) HASI shall not be liable to the Trust for any damages or losses caused by the performance or non-performance of any service provider selected by HASI with reasonable care; and (iii) HASIs liability will be subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement.
(b) | Limitations on Liability. |
(i) | HASI is responsible for the performance of only those duties as are expressly set forth herein and in the Exhibits. HASI will have no implied duties or obligations. Each Party shall mitigate damages for which the other party may become responsible hereunder. |
(ii) | HASI shall have no responsibility to review, confirm or otherwise assume any duty with respect to the accurateness or completeness of any instruction or any other information it receives from the Funds, and shall be without liability for any loss or damage suffered by a Fund or any of the Funds customers as a result of HASIs reasonable reliance on and utilization of any such instruction or other such information. For the avoidance of doubt, HASI shall not be liable and shall be indemnified by the Trust for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in reliance on any instruction believed by it in good faith to have been authorized by an authorized person. |
(iii) | HASI shall have no responsibility and shall be without liability for any loss or damage caused by the failure of the Trust to provide HASI with any information. |
(iv) | HASI is not responsible for the acts, omissions, defaults or insolvency of any third party including, but not limited to, any investment advisers, custodians, intermediaries or non-discretionary subcontractors. |
(v) | HASI shall have no responsibility for the management of the investments or any other assets of the Trust or its customers, and HASI shall have no obligation to review, monitor or otherwise ensure compliance by the Fund with the policies, restrictions, guidelines or disclosures applicable to the Fund or any other term or condition of the original documents, operating documents, policies and procedures or prospectus. Further, HASI shall have no liability to the Trust for any loss or damage suffered by the Trust as a result of any breach of the investment policies, objectives, guidelines or restrictions applicable to the Trust or any misstatement or omission in the prospectus. |
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(vi) | The Trust acknowledges that the reporting obligations of HASI do not constitute a duty to monitor compliance by the Fund, and HASI shall not be liable for ensuring compliance by the Fund, with any legislation or regulations or exemptions from legislation or regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Fund. |
(vii) | The Trust acknowledges that HASI does not provide valuations with respect to the Funds securities, products or services, does not verify any valuations provided to it by the Fund or any other person, and does not verify the existence of any assets in connection with Funds securities, products or services but instead relies exclusively on information about valuations and the existence of assets provided to it by the Fund or another third party, and HASI shall have no responsibility and shall be without liability for any loss or damage arising with respect to valuation or verification of assets. |
(viii) | HASI will not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage arising from the misuse or sharing of online access by any authorized person of the Trust who has been issued a User ID by HASI. |
(ix) | EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, HASI HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, MADE TO THE TRUST OR ANY OTHER PERSON, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING QUALITY, SUITABILITY OR OTHERWISE (IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OF TRADE), OF ANY SERVICES OR ANY GOODS PROVIDED INCIDENTAL TO SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. HASI DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. |
(x) | Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the cumulative liability of HASI to the Trust for all losses, claims, suits, controversies, breaches or damages for any cause whatsoever (including but not limited to those arising out of or related to this Agreement), and regardless of the form of action or legal theory, shall not exceed the total amount of compensation paid to HASI under this Agreement during the twelve (12) months immediately before the date on which the alleged damages were claimed to have been incurred. |
(c) | MUTUAL EXCLUSION OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. |
EXCEPT FOR ANY LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AGREED BY THE PARTIES RELATED TO AN UNEXCUSED TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, BUSINESS, REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT THE RELEVANT LOSS WAS FORESEEABLE, OR THE PARTY WAS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE OR THAT SUCH LOSS WAS IN CONTEMPLATION OF THE OTHER PARTY.
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Section 9. Indemnity .
(a) Indemnity by the Trust. The Trust will indemnify HASI, its affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees and representatives (each, an Indemnitee) for, and will defend and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, all losses, costs, damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) incurred by HASI or such person in any action or proceeding between HASI and the Trust or between HASI and any third party arising from or in connection with the performance of this Agreement (each referred to as a Loss), imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against HASI in connection with or arising out of the following:
(i) | This Agreement, except any Loss resulting from the willful default, fraud or negligence of HASI, in each case in connection with the Services; |
(ii) | Any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus or offering document of a Fund or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any prospectus or offering document or necessary to make the statements in any prospectus or offering document not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished in writing to the Fund by HASI specifically for use in the prospectus or offering document; |
(iii) | Any act or omission of a Fund whose instruction or data, including records, reports and other information, including but not limited to information with respect to valuation and verification of assets, HASI must rely upon in performing its duties hereunder, or as a result of acting upon any instructions reasonably believed by HASI to have been duly authorized by a Fund or an authorized person of a Fund; |
(b) Notification, Participation, and Indemnitor Consent. Upon the assertion of a claim for which the Trust may be required to indemnify any Indemnitee, the Indemnitee must promptly notify the Trust of such assertion, and will keep the Trust advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The Trust will have the option to participate with the Indemnitee in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Trust may be required to indemnify it except with the Trusts prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; in the event the Indemnitee has not secured such consent the Trust will have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee.
Section 10. Term .
(a) | Term. This Agreement will begin on the Effective Date and have an initial term of three (3) years from the Effective Date (the Initial Term) and will thereafter continue in effect indefinitely unless it is terminated pursuant to clause 10(b). |
(b) | Termination. Subject to clause 10(c): |
(i) | Either party may terminate this Agreement with or without cause, but only after the expiration of the Initial Term, by giving the other party 90 days written notice. |
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(ii) | Either party may terminate this Agreement with cause on at least thirty (30) days written notice to the other party if the other party has materially breached any of its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that (i) the termination notice will describe the breach; (ii) no such termination will be effective if the breach is cured within thirty days notice; and (iii) subject to applicable law, no such thirty (30) day notice period shall be required in the event the other party is insolvent or has submitted a voluntary petition for administration. |
(iii) | This Agreement may be further terminated by either party immediately in the event of: |
A. | the winding up of or the appointment of an examiner or receiver or liquidator to the other party or on the happening of a like event whether at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise; or |
B. | the other party no longer being permitted or able to perform its obligations under this Agreement pursuant to applicable law or regulation. |
(iv) | This Agreement may be terminated by HASI immediately based on HASIs reasonable opinion that the Trust has violated any law to which the Trust is subject. |
(c) | Termination-related Obligations. Related to termination of this Agreement: |
(i) | If the Trust has terminated this Agreement without cause during the Initial Term, the Trust will pay HASI as liquidated damages for such default, an amount equal to the balance that would be due HASI for its services under this Agreement during the Initial Term (Liquidated Damages). Such Liquidated Damages will not be required in the event that the Trusts Board of Trustees determines to liquidate a Fund. In the event that the Trust is, in part or in whole, liquidated, dissolved, merged into a third party, acquired by a third party, or involved in any other transaction that materially reduces the assets and/or accounts serviced by HASI pursuant to this Agreement, the Liquidated Damages provision set forth above will apply, and will be adjusted ratably if any of the events described above is partial. Any Liquidated Damages amount payable to HASI will be payable on or before the date of the event that triggers the payment obligation. Inasmuch as a default by the Trust will cause substantial damages to HASI and because of the difficulty of estimating the damages that will result, the parties agree that the Liquidated Damages is a reasonable forecast of probable actual loss to HASI and that this sum is agreed to as Liquidated Damages and not as a penalty. |
(ii) | Upon termination, HASI will, at the expense and direction of the Trust, transfer to the Trust or any successor service provider(s) to the Trust copies of all client records, subject to the payment by the Trust of unpaid and undisputed amounts due to HASI hereunder, including any Liquidated Damages. If by the termination date the Trust has not given instructions to deliver the client records, HASI will keep the Trust records until the Trust provides instructions to deliver the client records, provided that HASI will be entitled to charge the Trust then-standard fees for maintaining the client records. HASI will provide no other services to or for the benefit of the Trust or any successor service provider unless specifically agreed in writing by HASI. |
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Section 11. Notices .
(a) Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given and effective when delivered in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other):
(i) | If to the Trust, to: |
Valued Advisers Trust
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
Attention: President
(ii) | If to HASI, to: |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc.
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
Attention: President
(iii) | If to the Adviser, to: |
SMI Advisory Services, LLC
11135 Baker Hollow Road
Columbus, Indiana 46201
Attention: President
(b) Notice also shall be deemed given and effective upon receipt by any party or other person at the preceding address (or such other address as a party may specify by notice to the other) if sent by regular mail, private messenger, courier service, telex, facsimile, or otherwise, if such notice bears on its first page in 14 point (or larger) bold type the heading Notice Pursuant to Mutual Fund Services Agreement.
Section 12. Assignment.
No party may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the others prior written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that HASI may make such assignment or transfer to a branch, subsidiary or affiliate.
Section 13. Arbitration .
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any claim or controversy arising out of or in any manner relating to this Agreement, or breach hereof, which cannot be resolved between the parties themselves, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (the AAA) in Indianapolis, Indiana in accordance with its rules applicable to commercial disputes. The arbitration shall be conducted under the then-current rules of the AAA.
Section 14. Waiver .
The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.
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Section 15. Force Majeure.
HASI shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of God, earthquake, fires, floods, failure or fluctuations in electrical power, wars, acts of terrorism, acts of civil or military authorities, governmental actions, nonperformance by a third party or any similar cause beyond the reasonable control of HASI, failures or fluctuations in telecommunications or other equipment, nor shall any such failure or delay give the Trust the right to terminate this Agreement.
Section 16. Amendments .
This Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time by mutual written agreement between the parties. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, discharged or terminated verbally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, discharge or termination is sought.
Section 17. Severability .
If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any applicable law, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect (as will that provision under any other law).
Section 18. Headings.
Titles to clauses of this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will be disregarded in construing the language contained in this Agreement.
Section 19. Counterparts .
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 20. No Strict Construction.
The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
Section 21. Entire Agreement; Governing Law .
This Agreement, the Exhibits hereto and any subsequent amendments of the foregoing embody the entire understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted according to the internal laws of the State of Indiana, without reference to conflict of law principles.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Mutual Fund Services Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST
By: |
/s/ Matthew J. Miller | Date 2-5-2013 | ||||
Print Name: |
Matthew J. Miller | |||||
Title: |
Vice President |
HUNTINGTON ASSET SERVICES, INC.
By: |
/s/ Stacey Havens | Date 2-5-2013 | ||||
Print Name: |
Stacey Havens | |||||
Title: |
Vice President Relationship Management |
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC (solely for the purposes
of Sections 6 and 10)
By: |
/s/ Eric S. Collier | Date 2-5-2013 | ||||
Print Name: |
Eric S. Collier | |||||
Title: |
Portfolio Manager |
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EXHIBIT A
to
Mutual Fund Services Agreement
List of Portfolios
Sound Mind Investing Fund
Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund
SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund
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EXHIBIT B
To
Mutual Fund Services Agreement
General Description of Fund Accounting Services
Subject to the direction and control of the Trusts Board of Trustees and utilizing information provided by the Trust and its agents, the Fund Accountant will provide the following accounting services to the Trust and/or to each of the Funds listed on Exhibit A:
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Maintain portfolio records on a trade date + 1 basis using security trade information communicated by the Funds investment adviser. |
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For each valuation date, obtain prices from a pricing source approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and apply those prices to the portfolio positions. |
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Account for dividends, interest and corporate actions received by the Fund. |
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Transmit a copy of the portfolio valuation to the Funds investment adviser daily. |
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Reconcile cash of the Fund with the Funds custodian. |
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Reconcile portfolio holdings of the Fund with the Funds custodian. |
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Reconcile capital stock of the Fund with the Funds transfer agent. |
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Assist the Funds administrator in the preparation of the Fund expense projections and establishment of daily accruals. |
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Process and record payments for Fund expenses upon receipt of written authorization. |
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Account for Fund share purchases, sales, exchanges, transfers, dividend reinvestments, and other Fund share activity as reported by the Funds transfer agent on a timely basis. |
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Determine net investment income for the Fund as of each valuation date. Account for periodic distributions of earnings to shareholders and maintain undistributed net investment income balances as of each valuation date. |
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Maintain the books and records and accounting controls for the Funds assets. |
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Determine the net asset value of the Fund according to the accounting policies and procedures set forth in the Funds current prospectus. |
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For each day the market is open calculate per share net asset value, per share net earnings, and other per share amounts reflective of the Fund operations for each class of shares of the Fund. |
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Communicate the daily net asset value and per share distributions to the Funds investment adviser, transfer agent, and (once the Fund meets eligibility requirements) transmit to NASDAQ and to such other entities as directed by the Trust. |
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Produce transaction data, financial reports, and such other periodic and special reports as the Board, auditors or regulators may reasonably request. |
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Maintain tax lot detail for the Funds investment portfolio. |
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Calculate taxable gain/loss on a security sale using the tax lot relief method specified by the Funds investment adviser. |
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In conjunction with the Funds administrator, provide the necessary reports and information deemed necessary to calculate the annual dividend and capital gains distribution in accordance with the policies and procedures detailed in the Funds prospectus. |
The duties of the Fund Accountant shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Accountant hereunder. These services do not include correcting, verifying or addressing any prior actions or inactions by any Fund or by any prior service provider.
Additionally, the Trustees of the Trust shall cause the officers, adviser, distributor, legal counsel, independent accountants, custodian, fund administrator and transfer agent for the Funds to cooperate with the Accountant and to provide the Accountant, upon request, with such information, documents and advice relating to the Trust and/or the Funds as is within the possession or knowledge of such persons, in order to enable the Accountant to perform its duties.
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EXHIBIT C
to
Mutual Fund Services Agreement
General Description of Fund Administration Services
Subject to the direction and control of the Trusts Board of Trustees and utilizing information provided by the Trust and its agents, the Administrator will provide the following administrative services to the Trust and/or to each of the Funds listed on Exhibit A:
I. Financial and Tax Reporting
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HASI will prepare agreed upon management reports and Board of Trustees materials such as unaudited financial statements, distribution summaries, and deviations of mark-to-market valuation and the amortized cost for money market funds. |
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HASI will calculate and report Fund performance to outside services as directed by Trust management. |
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HASI will Compile data for and prepare, with respect to the Funds, timely notices to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) required pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the 1940 Act and Semi-Annual Reports on Form N-SAR . |
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HASI will compile data for and prepare, with respect to the Funds, Form N-Q required pursuant to Rule 30b-1-5 under the 1940 Act. |
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HASI will prepare the financial statements for the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports required pursuant to Section 30(e) under the 1940 Act, subject to the review and approval of the Trust and the Trusts independent accountants. |
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HASI will provide financial and Fund performance information for inclusion in the Registration Statement for the Trust (on Form N-1A or any replacement therefore) and any amendments thereto, subject to the review of Trust counsel. |
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HASI will estimate organizational costs and expenses and monitor against actual disbursements for new Funds or share classes of Funds. |
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HASI will coordinate the printing of the Funds Semi-Annual and Annual Reports to Shareholders and prospectus. |
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HASI will coordinate the preparation and filing of all required Fund filings with the SEC. |
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HASI will provide financial information for Fund proxy statements. |
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HASI will assist in the preparation (for execution by the Trust) and filing of all federal income and excise tax returns and state income tax returns (and such other required tax filings as may be agreed to by the parties) other than those required to be made by the Trusts custodian or transfer agent, subject to the review and approval of the Trust and the Trusts independent accountants. |
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HASI will assist in compiling exhibits and disclosures for Form N-CSR as requested by the adviser, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. |
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HASI will assist with the coordination, communications and data collection with regard to yearly audits by independent accountants. |
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HASI will determine and periodically monitor each Funds income and expense accruals and cause all appropriate expenses to be paid from Fund assets on proper authorization from the Trust. |
II. Compliance
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HASI will develop a Compliance Program consistent with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, providing support to the Chief Compliance Officer(s) (CCOs) of the Trust and associated investment adviser(s) and sub-adviser(s), if applicable. HASI will provide quarterly certifications of compliance with the policies and procedures performed on behalf of the Trust. Certifications include, but are not limited to, Rule 38a-1, anti-money laundering, identity theft, quarterly portfolio compliance, market timing and late trading. |
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HASI will provide Sarbanes-Oxley certifying officers for Funds of the Trust, upon request. |
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HASI will provide automated daily or monthly post trade compliance monitoring to determine whether the Funds trade in compliance with the federal securities laws, as well as restrictions and limitations outlined in their respective prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. This service includes system set up, monitoring, and violations reporting to the CCOs. |
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On an annual basis during the term of this Agreement, HASI will provide to the Trusts CCO a written compliance report outlining the review and analysis of HASIs compliance program and material changes to its policies and procedures. |
III. Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Governance
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HASI will obtain Tax Identification Number (TIN), CUSIP number and NASDAQ symbol for new Funds or share classes of Funds. |
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HASI will coordinate Fund name changes, liquidations or mergers with the CUSIP Bureau and NASDAQ, when applicable. |
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HASI will collect data and provide to the Adviser/Trust for regulatory inquiries and examinations. |
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HASI will prepare, coordinate and file with the SEC the registration statements for the Trust, including any prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and all amendments and supplements thereto, subject to review of Trust counsel. |
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HASI will prepare and maintain the Trusts governing documents and any amendments thereto, including the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-laws, and minutes of Board and Committee meetings. |
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HASI will coordinate proxy solicitation process with designated proxy vendors; and file proxy materials. |
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HASI will coordinate the layout and printing of prospectuses and other publicly disseminated reports. |
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HASI will prepare, coordinate and disseminate materials for all Board and Committee meetings, including agenda, Board books, either electronic or otherwise, resolutions and supplemental materials. |
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HASI will coordinate and disseminate Board written consents; monitor and record the receipt of Trustee votes; communicate results to the appropriate parties. |
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HASI will attend and draft minutes for scheduled Disclosure Controls Procedures (DCP) meetings. |
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HASI will maintain Board compliance calendar; ensure the appropriate Trust, advisory and service provider agreement renewals are presented to the Board timely. |
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HASI will assist Trust counsel with the facilitation of the investment management agreement renewal process, including peer group comparison reports (the fees for which are allocated to the Trust). |
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HASI will manage production schedules for Board meetings and regulatory filings. |
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HASI will maintain Board meeting follow-up lists; coordinate status report meetings and track completion statuses. |
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HASI will update and disseminate list of authorized signers to the appropriate service providers. |
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HASI will coordinate execution and retention of approved Trust agreements. |
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HASI will prepare and coordinate the application for the Trusts Fidelity Bond and Errors & Omissions insurance coverage; provide the Board with the insurance companys annual proposal; and file the Fidelity Bond with the SEC, including amendments thereto. |
The Administrator can provide additional services to the Trust, Adviser and/or each of the Funds listed on Exhibit A upon request. These services are considered out-of-scope and can be provided at an additional cost, which would be negotiated before the services are rendered. These duties include:
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Preparing and filing with the SEC exemptive relief orders, subject to the review of Trust counsel. |
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Drafting proxy materials. |
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Preparing ad-hoc industry reports using proprietary software. |
The duties of the Administrator shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Administrator hereunder. These services do not include correcting, verifying or addressing any prior actions or inactions by any Fund or by any prior service provider.
Additionally, the Trustees of the Trust shall cause the officers, adviser, distributor, legal counsel, independent accountants, custodian, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Funds to cooperate with the Administrator and to provide the Administrator, upon request, with such information, documents and advice relating to the Trust and/or the Funds as is within the possession or knowledge of such persons, in order to enable the Administrator to perform its duties.
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EXHIBIT D
to
Mutual Fund Services Agreement
General Description of Transfer Agency Services
Subject to the direction and control of the Trusts Board of Trustees and utilizing information provided by the Trust and its agents, the Transfer Agent will provide the following transfer agency services to the Trust and/or to each of the Funds listed on Exhibit A:
I. General Services
Huntington shall provide the following transfer agency services to the Trust and/or to each of the Funds listed on Exhibit A:
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HASI will provide a recordkeeping system that supports front-end load, back-end load (CDSC), no-load and redemption fee funds. |
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HASI will provide asset allocation functionality including rebalancing of shareholder accounts. |
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HASI will establish and maintain shareholder accounts and records, including, but not limited to, address, dividend option, taxpayer identification numbers and wire instructions. |
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HASI will process shareholder transactions (purchase, redemption and exchange orders), received in good form and in accordance with the Funds prospectus. |
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HASI will process transfers of shares, received in good form, in accordance with shareholder instructions. |
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HASI will execute transactions directly with broker-dealers, investment advisers and other institutions acting on behalf of investors as authorized by the Trusts distributor. |
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HASI will calculate amounts due under 12b-1 and/or service plans and provide reports. |
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HASI will issue confirmations in compliance with Rule 10b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). |
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HASI will issue monthly, quarterly or annual shareholder account statements as agreed upon with the Trust. |
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HASI will file IRS forms 1099, 5498, and 1042-S with shareholders and/or the IRS, and file IRS forms 1042 and 945 with the IRS. The 1042 and 945 filings are made by HASI on behalf of the Trust only if HASI has the authority and means to access the Trusts or a Funds bank accounts to facilitate the required payments to the IRS. |
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HASI will perform such services as are required to comply with Rules 17a-24 and 17Ad-17 of the 1934 Act (the Lost Shareholder Rules). |
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HASI will record the issuance of shares and maintain pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) of the 1934 Act a record of the total number of shares of each Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and the number of shares issued and outstanding. |
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HASI will process and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Trust for each Fund, after deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder instructions. |
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HASI will provide access to NSCCs Fund/SERV and Networking. Additional functionality may be available and supported as an optional service. |
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HASI will provide a Blue Sky system that will enable the Trust to monitor the total number of shares of each Fund sold in each state. In addition, the Trust or its agent, including HASI, shall identify to HASI in writing those transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from the Blue Sky reporting for each state. The responsibility of HASI for each Funds Blue Sky state registration status is solely limited to the initial compliance by the Trust for each Fund and the reporting of such transactions to the Trust or its agent. |
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HASI will answer correspondence from shareholders, broker-dealers, and others relating to the Funds and such other correspondence as may from time to time be mutually agreed upon. |
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HASI will establish procedures and controls designed to mitigate risk to the Trust which are compliant with applicable SEC regulations. HASI reserves the right to implement policies not governed by SEC regulation or the Funds prospectus. |
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HASI will provide automated market timing monitoring and analysis, as well as data collection pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act. This support includes system set up, monitoring, violations reporting to the CCOs, interfacing with third party intermediaries, and account restriction for market timing policy violations. |
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HASI will prepare and mail checks, place wire transfers of credit income and capital gain payments to shareholders. The Trust will advise in advance of the declaration of any dividend or distribution by a Fund and the record and payable date thereof. HASI will, on or before the payment date of any such dividend or distribution, notify a Funds custodian of the estimated amount required to pay any portion of such dividend or distribution payable in cash, and on or before the payment date of such distribution, the Trust will instruct its custodian to make available to HASI sufficient funds for the cash amount to be paid out. If a shareholder is entitled to receive additional shares by virtue of any such distribution or dividend, appropriate credits will be made to each shareholders account. A shareholder will receive a confirmation from HASI indicating the number of shares credited to his/her account. |
II. Anti-Money Laundering and Customer Identification Program Services
The following is a general description of the HASI AML Program services HASI shall provide to the Funds and the Trust:
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Customer Identification . HASI will verify shareholder identity upon opening new accounts, consistent with the HASI AML Program, and perform such other checks and verifications as are specified in HASIs Customer Identification Program (which is a component of the HASI AML Program). |
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Purchase Transactions . HASI will reject and return to sender any and all checks, deposits, and other deliveries of cash or property that do not comply with the HASI AML Program, subject to the provisions of any additional agreement between the Fund and HASI regarding special liability checks and other remittances. |
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Monitoring and Reporting . HASI will monitor shareholder transactions and identify and report suspicious activities that are required to be so identified and reported, including suspicious activity reports or Form 8300 reports, and provide other reports of shareholder activity to the SEC, the U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and other appropriate authorities, in each case consistent with the HASI AML Program. |
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Frozen Accounts . HASI will place holds on transactions in shareholder accounts or freeze assets in shareholder accounts as provided for in the HASI AML Program. |
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Maintenance of Records . HASI will maintain all records or other documentation related to shareholder accounts and transactions therein that are required to be prepared and maintained pursuant to the HASI AML Program, and make the same available for inspection by (1) the Funds CCO, (2) any auditor of the Funds, (3) regulatory or law enforcement authorities, and (4) those other persons specified in the HASI AML Program. |
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Other Services . HASI will apply all other policies and procedures of the HASI AML Program to the Funds and/or the Trust. |
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Maintenance of the HASI AML Program . HASI will maintain and modify the HASI AML Program from time to time to ensure that it remains reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the applicable AML laws. Upon request by the Trust, HASI shall make available its compliance personnel to the Trust and the Trusts counsel to discuss amendments to the HASI AML Program that the Trust or its counsel believes are necessary to keep such program in compliance with applicable AML laws. Changes to HASIs AML Program or special procedures may be implemented, at HASIs sole discretion, for an additional fee to be agreed upon. |
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Annual Certification . On an annual basis during the term of this Agreement, HASI will certify to the Trusts Board that it has implemented the HASI AML Program and that it will continue to perform the specific requirements of the HASI AML Program in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. |
The duties of the Transfer Agent shall be confined to those expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Transfer Agent hereunder. These services do not include correcting, verifying or addressing any prior actions or inactions by any Fund or by any prior service provider.
Additionally, the Trustees of the Trust shall cause the officers, adviser, distributor, legal counsel, independent accountants, custodian, fund accountant and administrator for the Funds to cooperate with the Transfer Agent and to provide the Transfer Agent, upon request, with such information, documents and advice relating to the Trust and/or the Funds as is within the possession or knowledge of such persons, in order to enable the Transfer Agent to perform its duties.
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EXHIBIT E
to
Mutual Fund Services Agreement
Fees and Expenses
TRANSFER AGENCY FEE SCHEDULE
Additional services not contemplated in this schedule will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 21 |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 22 |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 23 |
III | Other Services (continued) |
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AD-HOC Report Generation |
- $100 per report | |
Dissemination of NAV Information to Third-Party Recipients, e.g., NASDAQ, Morningstar, Lipper, Broker Dealers |
- $50 per month for each recipient in excess of three | |
Systems Programming or Custom Data Extractions: |
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- Management / Officers |
- $250 per hour | |
- Programmers |
- $200 per hour | |
- Third Party Vendor |
- Quoted As Needed |
IV | Repricing Charges |
For incorrect or untimely information provided by an Advisor or its Agent, Unified will charge $500.00 per day for each day that a portfolio is repriced. Unified reserves the right to charge $50 per occurrence for each information change where repricing is not required, but additional work processes must be performed or repeated, e.g., incorrect/late trade ticket. |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 24 |
FUND ADMINISTRATION FEE SCHEDULE
Additional services not contemplated in this schedule will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
I | New Fund Start-Up/Existing Fund Conversion Fee |
New fund establishment Electronic conversion |
- Pass through of out-of-pocket expenses - Quoted based on business requirements |
II | Base Fees (as defined in the General Description of Fund Administration Services)[1] |
Base Fees are the greater of the Annual Minimum or Annual Basis Point Fees as follows:
Annual Minimum Fees:
Complex Minimum Additional Share Class (of existing portfolio) |
- Number of Funds multiplied by $30,000 - $7,500 |
Annual Basis Point Fees:
0.055% for the first $100 million in average net assets per share class; |
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0.050% from $100 million to $250 million in average net assets per share class; |
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0.025% from $250 million to $300 million in average net assets per share class; 0.010% over $300 million in average net assets per share class |
III | Other Services |
Blue Sky Filings |
- Pass Through plus $50 per filing | |||
[1] Base Fees do not include out-of-pocket expenses which include but are not limited to: fulfillment services, form design and printing, statement and confirmation production, paper and envelope design and printing, postage and handling, shipping, bank fees, NSCC charges, record storage, telephone charges, DST FanMail, and regulatory filing fees and all other expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust and its individual portfolios. Additional services and/or fees not contemplated in this schedule will be negotiated on a per occurrence basis.
[2] Annual minimum fees are subject to a cost of living adjustment of 3% per year of the prior years annual minimum fee. |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 25 |
COMPLIANCE SUPPORT FEE SCHEDULE |
Additional services not contemplated in this schedule will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. |
I New Fund Start-Up/Existing Fund Conversion Fee |
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New fund establishment
Electronic conversion |
- Pass through of out-of-pocket expenses
- Quoted based on business requirements |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 26 |
INTERNET SERVICES FEE SCHEDULE |
Additional services not contemplated in this schedule will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
MODEL WEBSITE |
I Setup and Maintenance |
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Setup and Branding of Standard Pages Annual Site Maintenance [2] Site Hosting Addition of supplemental materials |
- $3,500 - $1,000 - $100 per month - $100 per update |
[2] | Annual Maintenance includes quarterly updates of performance and holdings as well as the annual report, semi-annual report, prospectus and applications. |
SHAREHOLDER ACCESS |
I Setup and Maintenance |
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Setup and Branding of Standard Pages [1] Annual Site Maintenance |
- $3,500 - $2,500 |
[1] | Standard pages are branded to include the name of the Fund Family and the Fund logo. Design and layout of the standard pages are subject to change. |
II Base Fees |
Number of Shareholder Accounts |
Monthly Rate w/o Trading |
Monthly Rate with Trading |
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0 5,000 |
$500 | $1000 | ||
5,001 7,500 |
$1000 | $1500 | ||
7,501 and up |
$1500 plus $0.15 per account over 7,500 |
$2000 plus $0.25 per account over 7,500 |
Optional Charges | ||
Electronic statements set-up Electronic statement creation, delivery and tracking Electronic delivery and tracking of material Institutional/Broker-Dealer My Account system |
- $2,500 plus $1.00 per enrollment - $0.50 per statement, minimum $250 per cycle - $500 per instance, plus $0.50 per electronic delivery - Base fees plus $200 per month |
Huntington Asset Services, Inc. | SMI Advisory Services, LLC- 27 |
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into effective as of January 15, 2013 by and between Valued Advisers Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), on behalf of one or more of its series portfolios as set forth on Schedule A , (each a Fund), and SMI Advisory Services, LLC (the Adviser), an Indiana limited liability company.
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the Certificate of Trust (Trust Instrument), dated June 13, 2008, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), as an open-end management investment company of the series type; and
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, and the Adviser have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated January 15, 2013 (Advisory Agreement), pursuant to which the Adviser provides investment advisory services to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to limit the expenses of the Fund, and, therefore, have entered into this Agreement, in order to maintain the Funds expense ratios within the Operating Expense Limit, as defined below;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | EXPENSE LIMITATION . |
(a) | Applicable Expense Limit . To the extent that the aggregate expenses of every character, including but not limited to investment advisory fees of the Adviser (but excluding (i) interest, (ii) taxes, (iii) brokerage commissions, (iv) other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (v) other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Funds business, (vi) dividend expense on short sales, and (vii) expenses incurred under a plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act), incurred by the Fund in any fiscal year (Fund Operating Expenses), that exceed the Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section 1(b) below, such excess amount (the Excess Amount) shall be the liability of the Adviser. In determining the Fund Operating Expenses, expenses that the Fund would have incurred but did not actually pay because of expense offset or brokerage/service arrangements shall be added to the aggregate expenses so as not to benefit the Adviser. Additionally, fees reimbursed to the Fund relating to brokerage/services arrangements shall not be taken into account in determining the Fund Operating Expenses so as to benefit the Adviser. Finally, the Operating Expense Limit described in this Agreement excludes any acquired fund fees and expenses as that term is described in the prospectus of the Fund. |
(b) | Operating Expense Limit . The Funds maximum operating expense limits (each an Operating Expense Limit) in any year shall be that percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated by this reference. |
(c) |
Method of Computation . To determine the Advisers liability with respect to the Excess Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses for the Fund shall be annualized as of |
1 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses for any month exceeds the Operating Expense Limit of the Fund, the Adviser shall first waive or reduce its investment advisory fee for such month by an amount sufficient to reduce the annualized Fund Operating Expenses to an amount no higher than the Operating Expense Limit. If the amount of the waived or reduced investment advisory fee for any such month is insufficient to pay the Excess Amount, the Adviser shall also remit to the Fund an amount that, together with the waived or reduced investment advisory fee, is sufficient to pay such Excess Amount. |
(d) | Year-End Adjustment . If necessary, on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year, an adjustment payment shall be made by the appropriate party in order that the amount of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund with respect to the previous fiscal year shall equal the Excess Amount. |
2. | REIMBURSEMENT OF FEE WAIVERS AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS . |
(a) | Reimbursement . If in any year in which the Advisory Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate Fund Operating Expenses of such Fund for the fiscal year are less than the Operating Expense Limit for that year, the Adviser may be entitled to reimbursement by such Fund, in whole or in part as provided below, of the fees or expenses waived or reduced by the Adviser and other payments remitted by the Adviser to such Fund pursuant to Section 1 hereof. The total amount of reimbursement to which the Adviser may be entitled (Reimbursement Amount) shall equal, at any time, the sum of all fees previously waived or reduced by the Adviser (including fees waived or reduced with respect to the Funds predecessor fund, if applicable) and all other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund pursuant to Section 1 hereof, during any of the previous three (3) fiscal years, less any reimbursement previously paid by such Fund to the Adviser pursuant to this Section 2, with respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments. The Reimbursement Amount shall not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest accruable on the Reimbursement Amount. |
(b) | Method of Computation . To determine a Funds accrual, if any, to reimburse the Adviser for the Reimbursement Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses of the Fund shall be annualized as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of the Fund for any month are less than the Operating Expense Limit of such Fund, such Fund, shall accrue into its net asset value an amount payable to the Adviser sufficient to increase the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of that Fund to an amount no greater than the Operating Expense Limit of that Fund, provided that such amount paid to the Adviser will in no event exceed the total Reimbursement Amount. For accounting purposes, when the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of a Fund are below the Operating Expense Limit, a liability will be accrued daily for these amounts. |
(c) | Year-End Adjustment . If necessary, on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year, an adjustment payment shall be made by the appropriate party in order that the actual Fund Operating Expenses of a Fund for the prior fiscal year (including any reimbursement payments hereunder with respect to such fiscal year) do not exceed the Operating Expense Limit. |
(d) | Limitation of Liability . The Adviser shall look only to the assets of the Fund for which it waived or reduced fees or, in the case of the Manager, remitted payments for reimbursement under this Agreement and for payment of any claim hereunder, and neither the Funds, nor any of the Trusts directors, officers, employees, agents, or shareholders, whether past, present or future shall be personally liable therefor. |
2 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
3. | TERM, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT . |
This Agreement with respect to the Fund shall continue in effect until the expiration date set forth on Schedule A (the Expiration Date). With regard to the Operating Expense Limits, the Trusts Board of Trustees and the Adviser may terminate or modify this Agreement prior to the Expiration Date only by mutual written consent. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement; provided, however, that the obligation of the Trust to reimburse the Adviser with respect to a Fund shall survive the termination of this Agreement unless the Trust and the Adviser agree otherwise.
4. | MISCELLANEOUS . |
(a) | Captions . The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. |
(b) | Interpretation . Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or the Fund to take any action contrary to the Trusts Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trusts Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust or the Fund. |
(c) | Definitions . Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act. |
Signature Page to Follow
3 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
VALUED ADVISERS TRUST | ||
/s/ R. Jeffrey Young | ||
Signature | ||
CEO | ||
Title | ||
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES, LLC | ||
/s/ Fred Beerwart | ||
Signature | ||
Chief Compliance Officer | ||
Title |
4 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
Schedule A
to the
Expense Limitation Agreement
between
Valued Advisers Trust (the Trust)
and
SMI Advisory Services, LLC (the Adviser)
Dated as of January 15, 2013
Fund |
Operating
Expense Limit |
Effective
Date |
Expiration
Date |
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Sound Mind Investing Fund | 1.50% | * |
February
28, 2014 |
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Sound Mind Investing Balanced Fund | 1.15% | * |
February
28, 2014 |
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SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund | 1.45% | * |
February
28, 2014 |
* | The Effective Date of the Operating Expense Limit for each Fund shall be the date on which the registration statement containing the Funds prospectus and statement of additional information is declared effective. |
A-1 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
John H. Lively | ||
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The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc.
A member firm of The 1940 Act Law Group TM 11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Suite 310 |
|
Leawood, KS 66211 | ||
Phone: 913.660.0778 Fax: 913.660.9157 | ||
john.lively@1940actlawgroup.com |
February 20, 2013
Valued Advisers Trust
2960 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46208
RE: Opinion of Counsel regarding the Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (File Nos. 333-151672 and 811-22208)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Valued Advisers Trust (the Trust), a statutory trust organized under the laws of the state of Delaware and registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end series management investment company.
This opinion relates to the Trusts Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the Registration Statement) and is given in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of a post-effective amendment under the Securities Act and an amendment under the 1940 Act (collectively, the Amendment), each to the Registration Statement. The Amendment relates to the registration of an indefinite number of shares of beneficial interest (collectively, the Shares), with no par value per share, of the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (the Fund), a new series portfolio of the Trust. We understand that the Amendment will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and that our opinion is required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have examined, among other things, copies of the Trusts Certificate of Trust, Agreement and Declaration of Trust, applicable resolutions of the Board of Trustees, and originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other documents, records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion. We have also examined the prospectus and statement of additional information for the Fund, substantially in the form in which they are to be filed in the Amendment (collectively, the Prospectus).
As to any facts or questions of fact material to the opinions set forth below, we have relied exclusively upon the aforesaid documents and upon representations and declarations of the officers or other representatives of the Trust. We have made no independent investigation whatsoever as to such factual matters.
The Prospectus provides for issuance of the Shares from time to time at the net asset value thereof, plus any applicable sales charge. In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that upon sale of the Shares, the Trust will receive the net asset value thereof.
Valued Advisers Trust
February 20, 2013
We have also assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:
(a) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination are genuine; and all documents and public records reviewed are accurate and complete; and
(b) all representations, warranties, certifications and statements with respect to matters of fact and other factual information (i) made by public officers; or (ii) made by officers or representatives of the Trust are accurate, true, correct and complete in all material respects.
The Delaware Statutory Trust Act provides that shareholders of the Trust shall be entitled to the same limitation on personal liability as is extended under the Delaware General Corporation Law to stockholders of private corporations for profit. There is a remote possibility, however, that, under certain circumstances, shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust may be held personally liable for that trusts obligations to the extent that the courts of another state which does not recognize such limited liability were to apply the laws of such state to a controversy involving such obligations. The Declaration of Trust provides that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any shareholder, or to call upon any shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the shareholder may at any time agree to pay. Therefore, the risk of any shareholder incurring financial loss beyond his investment due to shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which a Fund is unable to meet its obligations and the express limitation of shareholder liabilities is determined not to be effective.
Based on our review of the foregoing and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter:
1. The Shares to be offered for sale pursuant to the Prospectus are duly and validly authorized by all necessary actions on the part of the Trust; and
2. The Shares, when issued and sold by the Trust for consideration pursuant to and in the manner contemplated by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trusts Registration Statement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, subject to compliance with the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, and the applicable state laws regulating the sale of securities
We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal law of the United States of America and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and the judicial interpretations thereof.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm under the caption Legal Counsel in the Statement of Additional Information for the Fund, which is included in the Registration Statement.
/s/ John H. Lively
On behalf of The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc.
|
Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. 1350 Euclid Ave., Suite 800 Cleveland, OH 44115-1877 |
216.649.1700 216.579.0111 fax |
||
www.cohenfund.com |
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
As independent registered public accountants for The Sound Mind Investing Dynamic Allocation Fund, a series of the Valued Advisers Trust, we hereby consent to all references to our firm included in or made a part of the Statement of Additional Information in the Post-Effective Amendment to the Valued Advisers Trust Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd.
Cleveland, Ohio
February 19, 2013
Registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board |
|
SMI ADVISORY SERVICES
AMENDED AND RESTATED CODE OF ETHICS
(Adopted Effective January 1, 2011)
1.1 | Overview |
This Code of Ethics is based on the principle that every Supervised Person (defined below) of SMI Advisory Services (SMI) is to place the interests of the clients of SMI before his or her own personal interests at all times. Each Supervised Person is to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest with SMI in all personal securities transactions. Each Supervised Person of SMI is to comply with the provisions of this Code of Ethics in all his or her personal securities transactions.
Questions concerning this Code of Ethics should be directed to SMIs Chief Compliance Officer.
1.2 | Definitions |
1. | Access Person means: |
Any Person who, in connection with his/her regular functions or duties, is regularly in a position to obtain nonpublic information regarding the purchase or sale of securities for, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of, any SMI Client.
2. | Advisory Person means: |
a. | Any Portfolio Manager of any Client account; and |
b. | Any Supervised Person of SMI who, in connection with his/her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or executes the purchase or sale of a security for a Client. |
A person does not become an Access Person simply by (i) normally assisting in the preparation of public reports, or receiving public reports, but not receiving information about current recommendations or trading; or (ii) infrequently or inadvertently obtaining knowledge of current recommendations or trading activity. All Advisory Persons are also Access Persons. However, not all Access Persons are Advisory Persons.
3. | Automatic Investment Plan means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An automatic investment plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan. |
4. | Beneficial Ownership has the same meaning as set forth in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder. For purposes of this policy, Beneficial Ownership includes, but is not limited to, securities held by members of a persons immediate family sharing the same household and securities over which a person has discretionary authority outside of his ordinary course of business. |
5. | CCO means SMIs Chief Compliance Officer. |
6. | Client means any person or entity for which SMI acts as an investment adviser pursuant to a written agreement for such services. |
7. | Control has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). In summary, control means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company. |
8. | Covered Security has the same meaning as set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and specifically includes Funds and Affiliated Funds (defined below). |
9. | Excluded Securities include: |
a. | Direct obligations of the United States government; |
b. | Bankers acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; |
c. | Purchases of SMIFX or SMILX via AIP; |
d. | Equities (individual stocks or indexes) and equity derivatives; |
e. | Commodities. |
10. | Fund means any separate series of any registered management investment company, and includes exchange traded funds (ETFs). An Affiliated Fund means any separate series of any registered management investment company which is a SMI Client, and specifically includes each series of the Unified Series Trust managed by SMI. |
11. | Limited Offering , also known as a Private Placement Offering means an offering that is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. |
12. | Purchase or sale of a security includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security. A security is being considered for purchase or sale when a recommendation to purchase or sell a security has been made and communicated and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation. Serious consideration includes the act of writing a trade ticket and entering an order with a broker. |
13. |
Supervised Person has the same meaning as set forth in Section 202(a)(25) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. In summary, a Supervised Person is any |
officer, director, partner, or employee of an Adviser, and any other person who provides advice on behalf of an Adviser and is subject to the Advisers supervision and control. |
1.3 | Standards of Conduct |
SMI believes all its Supervised Persons have a duty of utmost good faith to act solely in the best interests of the Firms clients. SMI believes this fiduciary duty compels all its Supervised Persons to act with the utmost integrity in all dealings. This fiduciary duty is the core principle underlying this Code of Ethics, and represents SMIs core expectations related to any activities of all its Supervised Persons.
Personal Conduct
1. | Acceptance of Gifts |
Supervised Persons may not accept in any calendar year gifts with a value of more than $100 from any person (donor) that does business with or on behalf of SMI. This restriction does not apply to gifts in the form of an occasional meal, a ticket to a sporting event, theater or comparable entertainment, or an invitation to golf or to participate in similar sporting activities for such person and his/her guests so long as (1) such gifts are neither so frequent nor so extensive as to raise any question of impropriety and (2) such gifts are not preconditioned on the donor obtaining or maintaining a specified level of business with SMI.
2. | Service as Director for an Outside Company |
Advisory Persons may not serve on the Board of Directors of a publicly traded company without the express prior written approval of the CCO. Such approval shall be based upon an express finding by the CCO that such service shall not be likely to result in a conflict of interest with SMI and the person.
3. | Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and Limited Offerings |
Access Persons must obtain the express prior written approval of the CCO before directly or indirectly acquiring Beneficial Ownership in any Covered Security in an initial public offering or in a Limited Offering, including private placement offerings. Such approval shall be based upon an express finding by the CCO that such purchase shall not be likely to result in a conflict of interest between SMI and the Access Person .
1.4 | Personal Securities Trading Policy |
A. | Personal Securities Transactions Requiring Pre-Clearance |
Except as permitted in Subsection B, below, Access Persons may not execute a personal securities transaction in any Covered Security, unless the purchase is made via AIP or unless the Access Person obtains the prior express written permission of the CCO or his designee and aggregates the personal transaction with the Clients transaction. Once approved, the pre-clearance authorization is effective for two trading days. Failure to execute the transaction will void the pre-clearance approval, and a new approval must be obtained prior to execute the transaction.
B. | Personal Securities Transactions Exempt From Pre-Clearance |
The following types of personal securities transactions do not require pre-clearance from the CCO:
a. | Purchases or sales of Excluded Securities as defined in Section 1.2 of this policy; |
b. | Purchases or sales involving not more than than 5,000 shares of a Covered Security included in the Standard & Poors 500 Index; |
c. | Purchases or sales of option contracts on less than 5,000 shares of a Covered Security included in the Standard & Poors 500 Index; |
d. | Purchases or sales of Covered Securities effected in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control; |
e. | Purchases or sales of Covered Securities by an Access Person that are not normally eligible for purchase or sale by any SMI Client; |
f. | Purchases or sales of Covered Securities that are non-volitional on the part of either the Client or the Access Person ; |
g. | Purchases of Covered Securities that are part of an automatic investment plan; |
h. | Purchases of ETFs, unless the ETF is managed by SMI; and |
i. | Purchases of Covered Securities effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its Securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, or sales of such rights; and |
Any personal securities transaction in a Covered Security that does not fall within one of the exemptions enumerated above must have the express prior approval of the CCO before being executed.
1.5 | Reporting Requirements |
1. | Quarterly Transaction Reports |
Not later than 30 calendar days following the end of each calendar quarter, Access Persons must submit to the CCO a report listing all personal securities transactions executed by the Access Person during the previous calendar quarter, whether such transactions did or did not require pre-clearance. Copies of brokerage statements which contain the same information noted below will be viewed as an acceptable form of reporting, so long as the CCO is in receipt of such brokerage statements within 30 calendar days following the end of the calendar quarter. If an Access Person effected no transactions during the applicable quarter, he/she shall file a report so indicating.
Information to be included on the quarterly transaction report is as follows:
(a) | Trade Date |
(b) | Security Name |
(c) | Ticker Symbol, CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date (as applicable) |
(d) | Number of Shares or Par |
(e) | Type of Transaction (Purchase, Sale or Other) |
(f) | Price |
(g) | Principal Amount |
(h) | Broker Name |
(i) | Account Number |
(j) | Date of Report |
The following transactions are not required to be reported:
(a) | Transactions in Excluded Securities; |
(b) | Transactions effected through an Automatic Investment Plan so long as the investment allocation was determined in advance of the actual trade; and |
(c) | Transactions that duplicate information contained in brokerage trade confirmations or account statements received by the CCO no later than 30 days following the applicable calendar quarter. |
2. | Initial & Annual Holdings Reports |
All Access Persons are required to provide a report of all personal securities holdings (other than holdings of Excluded Securities) to the CCO within 10 calendar days of becoming an Access Person. All Access Persons are further required to provide a report of all personal securities holdings (other than holdings of Excluded Securities) to the CCO not later than 45 calendar days after each calendar year end. Copies of brokerage statements which contain the same information noted below will be viewed as an acceptable form of reporting. The report is to be current as of a date not more than 45 calendar days prior to submission of the report and must contain the following information:
(a) | Security Name |
(b) | Ticker Symbol or CUSIP number |
(c) | Number of Shares or Par |
(d) | Principal Amount |
(e) | Broker or Bank Name |
(f) | Date of the Report |
3. | Disclaimer of Ownership |
A report may contain a statement that it shall not be construed as an admission by the person making the report that he has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the reported security.
4. | Submission of Duplicate Periodic Statements |
Each Access Person must provide duplicate copies of periodic statements of brokerage accounts to the CCO or his designee.
1.6 | Record Keeping Requirements |
The CCO or his/her authorized designee will keep the applicable records regarding this Code of Ethics for the number of years as required in the Advisers Act and the 1940 Act.
1.7 | Certifications |
A. | Annual Certification |
Each Supervised Person will certify annually that:
1. | He or she has read and understands the Code of Ethics and recognizes that he or she is subject to its provisions; and |
2. | He or she has complied with the applicable provisions of the Code of Ethics and has reported all personal securities transactions required to be reported under Section 1.5 A of the Code. |
3. | If an Access Person , he/she has provided a list of the title, number of shares and principal amount of all securities in which he/she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership no later than ten days after he/she became an access person and annually thereafter within 45 days of year-end; and |
4. | If an Access Person , he/she has provided the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person. |
1.8 | Reporting of Violations |
SMI takes the potential for conflicts of interest caused by personal investing very seriously. Accordingly, persons that become aware or a violation of the Code are required to promptly report such violation to the CCO. Any person who seeks to retaliate against a person who reports a Code violation shall be subject to sanctions.
1.9 | Sanctions |
SMI management may impose sanctions it deems appropriate upon any person who violates the Code of Ethics. In addition, SMI management may impose sanctions it deems appropriate upon any person who has engaged in a course of conduct that, although in technical compliance with the Code of Ethics, is part of a plan or scheme to evade the provisions of the Code of Ethics. Sanctions may include a letter of censure, suspension of employment, termination of employment, fines, and disgorgement of profits from prohibited or restricted transactions.
2.0 | Review and Supervisory Reporting |
A. | Review Procedures |
1. | The CCO shall review such reports, including the initial holdings reports, the annual holdings reports and the quarterly transaction reports, to detect conflicts of interest and abusive practices. |
2. | SMI management shall review the operation of this Code of Ethics at least once a year. |
B. | Reporting Procedures |
1. | The CCO shall promptly report to SMIs Principal Executive Officer: (a) any transactions that appear to be violations of the prohibitions contained in this Code; (b) any apparent violations of the reporting requirements contained in this Code; and (c) any procedures or sanction imposed in response to a violation of this Code, including but not limited to a letter of censure, suspension or termination of the employment of the violator, or the unwinding of the transaction and disgorgement of the profits. |
2. | At least once a year, the CCO shall prepare a written report to SMIs Principal Executive Officer. Such report shall: (a) summarize existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in either codes policies or procedures during the past year; (b) describe any issues arising under the Code since the last report, including but not limited to information about material violations and sanctions imposed in response to material violations; (d) furnish an evaluation of current compliance procedures and a report on any recommended changes in existing restrictions, policies or procedures based upon the CCOs experience, evolving industry practices, or developments in applicable laws or regulations; and (e) certify that SMI has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code of Ethics. |
Scout Code of Ethics-Personal Trading Annex
Scout Funds
Scout Investments
Reams Asset Management Division
Scout Distributors
July 2012
This Scout Code of Ethics-Personal Trading Annex (Policy) is meant to supplement the Fiduciary Services Code of Ethics. Scout Investments (SI), including its Reams Asset Management Division (Reams), Scout Distributors (SDL) (together referred to as Scout) and the Scout Funds have adopted this Policy with the objective of supplementing the Fiduciary Services Code Ethics and addressing potential conflicts of interest with regard to employee trading consistent with Scout and the Scout Funds fiduciary standard of ethics as well as applicable law and regulation. Together, the Fiduciary Services Code of Ethics and Scout Code of Ethics-Personal Trading Annex are hereby referred to as the Code of Ethics and are intended to constitute Scout and the Scout Funds written code of ethics as required by Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Scouts written code of ethics required Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Scope of Policy
This Policy applies to all Supervised Persons . A Supervised Persons means any Scout partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing functions similar to any of those persons), or employee, or any other persons who provide advice on behalf of Scout and who are subject to Scouts supervision and control.
In addition, certain Supervised Persons have additional responsibilities relating to their personal security trading. These employees are referred to as Access Persons . An Access Person includes any: (i) Supervised Person that has access to nonpublic information regarding any Clients purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Scout Fund (or other Reportable Fund); (ii) Supervised Person that is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; or (iii) officer, director or partner of Scout or the Scout Funds.
All Access Persons (except for Independent Trustees as described below) are further classified into one of the five following categories at the discretion of Scouts Chief Compliance Officer using the following general definitions:
Board Access Person means any Access Person that is a Scout director and in connection with his or her regular duties: (i) is not involved in making securities recommendations to Clients; and (ii) does not normally have access to nonpublic information regarding Clients purchase or sale of securities or nonpublic information regarding Client portfolio holdings.
Scout Investment Access Person means any Scout Access Person that in connection his or her regular duties: (i) makes or participates in making recommendations or placing orders for the purchase or sale of securities for any Client; or (ii) is a member of the SI Investment Committee.
Reams Investment Access Person means any associate of Reams that is an Access Person and a portfolio manager.
Reams General Access Person means any associate of Reams that is an Access Person and that is not a portfolio manager.
Scout General Access Person means any other Access Person not mentioned above.
Access Persons of the Scout Funds
All of the Scout Funds directors, officers and general partners are considered, for purposes of the Code of Ethics, Acc e s s Pers on s . However, Independent Trustees are not subject to the sections relating to Limits on Trading, Reporting Requirements for Scout Access Persons or Review of Scout Access Person Reports unless the Independent Trustee knows, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duty as an Independent Trustee should have known, that during the 15 day period immediately before or after an Independent Trustees transaction in a Covered Security the Scout Funds purchased or sold the Covered Security, or that the Scout Funds or SI considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security. In such case, the Independent Trustee will be responsible for submitting a Quarterly Transaction Report as described below.
Limits on Trading
All Access Persons are subject to certain pre-clearance requirements and/or designated restrictions relating to transactions in Covered Securities (as defined under the Section Definitions.) Except for those transactions listed below, all Access Persons must obtain pre- clearance for all purchase or sales in Covered Securities. Scout may authorize or deny any pre- clearance request based upon the obligations contained in this Policy and the overall Code of Ethics.
Pre-clearance requests must be submitted via an electronic system (Compliance 11 database) or, in limited circumstances (e.g. Limited Offerings or in the event of a system malfunction) through a form as directed by the Chief Compliance Officer. If the request is approved, the authorization is valid for up to forty-eight (48) hours or in the case of a Limited Offering as directed by SIs Chief Compliance Officer. Any personal trade subject to these pre-clearance requirements that is placed as a limit order must also be placed as a day order. The following purchases or sales in Covered Securities are exempt from the above pre-clearance requirements:
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Purchases or sales by a Board Access Person that does not involve a Limited Offering; |
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Purchases or sales in an account which an Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control; |
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Purchase or sales of securities which are non-voluntary on the part of the Access Person, including mergers, recapitalizations or similar transactions; |
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Purchases or sales pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan ; |
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Purchases that are part of an issuers automatic dividend reinvestment plan; |
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Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from the issuer, and sales of such rights are so acquired; |
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Purchases or sales in exchange traded funds; or |
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Purchases or sales in open-end investment company shares (including purchases or sales of the Scout Funds). |
Access Persons desiring to invest in a Limited Offering must consult with and receive written prior authorization from SIs Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer will consider certain factors, including without limitation, applicable federal securities laws, the likelihood of a Client buying the Limited Offering, whether the Limited Offering is appropriate for a Client or any circumstances surrounding the Access Persons opportunity to acquire the Limited Offering.
Restricted Trades
Scout prohibits the following purchases or sales of a Covered Security in which a Scout General Access Person or Scout Investment Access Person has Beneficial Ownership:
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The sale of a Covered Security on the Restricted List within thirty (30) days of purchase at a price greater than any purchase within the thirty (30) day period, provided the Scout General Access Person or Scout Investment Access Person may still sell the Security and disgorge any difference in the sale and purchase price. |
In addition, Scout prohibits the following purchases or sales of a Covered Security in which a Scout Investment Access Person has Beneficial Ownership:
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The purchase or sale of a Covered Security on the Restricted List, unless: (i) the issuer of the Security has a market capitalization greater than $2.5 billion; and (ii) the proposed transaction involves less than $50,000 of the issuers Securities. Trades on sequential business days are aggregated in calculating the $50,000 limit. |
A Covered Security will be placed on the Restricted List if the Covered Security is held in an SI Client discretionary account, provided that the Restricted List will not include shares of an Investment Company.
Scout also prohibits the following purchases or sales of a Covered Security in which a Reams General Access Person or a Reams Investment Access Person has beneficial ownership:
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The purchase or sale of a Covered Security on the same day in which the General Reams Access Person knows that a Client Account has a pending buy or sell order in that same Covered Security. |
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The sale of a Covered Security of a type permitted to be held by a Fixed Income Client (Reams Permitted Client Security) within sixty (60) days of purchase at a price greater than any purchase within the sixty (60) day period, provided the Reams General Access Person or Reams Investment Access Person may still sell the Security and disgorge any difference in the sale and purchase price. |
In addition, Scout prohibits following purchases or sales of a Covered Security in which a Reams Investment Access Person has beneficial ownership:
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The purchase or sale of a Covered Security that is a Reams Permitted Client Security if the Reams Investment Access Person is aware that a Client account has either executed a trade within seven (7) days or intends to execute a trade within seven (7) days, unless the Reams Investment Access Person: (i) places the same transaction type as the Clients transaction, (e.g., buy or sell); (ii) places the order after the execution of the Clients transaction; and (iii) receives a price that is not better than the price received by the Client. |
The Chief Compliance Officer may waive any of the above limitations for any Access Person provided the circumstances relating to the sale were not foreseen by the Access Person at the time of the purchase or the limitations on the transaction will otherwise cause great hardship to the Access Person. The Chief Compliance Officer must maintain a record of any exemptions made pursuant to this paragraph.
Prohibited Trades
All Supervised Persons are prohibited from trading based upon material non-public information, in accordance with Scout Policy on Insider Trading. All Supervised Persons are subject to blackout restrictions pertaining to transactions in a Covered Security that he or she has Beneficial Ownership. A Blackout List will be maintained by a designated Compliance Officer and a Covered Security will be placed on the Blackout List if the Compliance Officer, in consultation with the Chief Compliance Officer and/or other appropriate personnel, determine that a Supervised Person has Material Non-Public Information (as defined in Scouts Policy on Insider Trading.) Access Persons are prohibited from purchasing or selling a Covered Security on the Blackout List.
Re po r t i n g Re qu ir e me n ts f o r A c c e s s P e r s on s
Access Persons
Except as described below, all Access Persons are required to:
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File a B r o k e r a g e Acc oun ts Re po r t no later than 10 days after being designated as an Access Person. |
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File an I n i t i a l H o l d i n g s Re po r t no later than 10 days after being designated as an Access Person. |
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File an An nua l H o l d i n g s R e po r t by January 30 th each year for the previous twelve months beginning January 1 st and ending December 31 st . |
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File a Q ua r te r l y T r an s a c t i o n s R epo r t no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. |
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Notify each firm that maintains a brokerage account for them, or a Family Member, of their association with Scout and the requirement to receive duplicate copies of confirmations and periodic statements. |
Brokerage Accounts Report
Every Access Person must submit a Brokerage Accounts Report no later than 10 days after the individual is designated as an Access Person. Each Access Person must disclose in this record each brokerage account in which they have any Beneficial Ownership (including the broker firms name and the account number.) The statement also must include the brokerage account(s) for any Family Member of the Access Person. It is the responsibility of each Access Person to notify each firm through which they or a Family Member maintains an account of their affiliation with Scout. This record must be updated if new outside brokerage accounts are opened or closed at any time after the initial record is submitted and confirmed.
Upon submission of this statement a designated Compliance Officer will send a request to receive duplicate confirmation and periodic statements. It is the Access Persons responsibility to ensure that the Compliance Departments request is honored.
Initial Holdings Report
Every Access Person must submit an Initial Holdings Report no later 10 days after the individual is designated as an Access Person. Information contained in the report must be current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date the individual becomes an Access Person. The Initial Holdings Report must contain the following information for each C o v e r e d Se c u ri t y in which the Access Person or Family Member has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:
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The title and type of each Covered Security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount; |
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The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Scout Access Person maintained an account in which any Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Scout Access Person; |
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The date the report is submitted by the Scout Access Person . |
Quarterly Transaction Reports
Every Access Person must submit a Quarterly Transaction Report, no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter with the following information for transactions in any Covered Security in which the Access Person or Family Member has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:
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The date of each transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, the number of shares, and the principal amount; |
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The nature of the transaction that is, a purchase, sale or other type of acquisition or disposition; |
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The price at which the transaction was effected; |
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The name of each broker, dealer, bank, or other financial institution maintaining a brokerage or other account for the Scout Access Person or Family Member and the account number assigned to it; and |
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The date the report is submitted. |
The Access Person will not have to submit a Quarterly Transaction Report if duplicate trade confirmations or accounts statements are received by Scout within 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter and contain the necessary information listed above. The Access Person will be responsible for confirming that the duplicate confirmations or account statements meets these requirements within 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter.
Annual Holdings Report
Every Access Person must submit an Annual Holdings Report by January 30 th of each year. Information contained in the report must be current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date the Access Person submits the report.
The Initial Holdings Report and Annual Holdings Report must contain the following information for each Covered Security in which the Access Person or Family Member has any direct or indirect Beneficial Ownership:
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The title and type of each Covered Security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount; |
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The name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Scout Access Person maintained an account in which any Securities were held for the direct or indirect benefit of the Scout Access Person; and |
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The date the report is submitted by the Access Person . |
Reporting Exemptions
Access Persons are not required to report:
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Accounts or Securities held in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct influence or control (e.g., third-party fully discretionary managed account); and |
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Transactions effected pursuant to an Automatic Investment Plan. |
Review of Access Person Reports
A designated Compliance Officer within the Fiduciary Services Compliance Group will assess Access Person trading activities and compare these activities to trading activity with certain accounts managed by SI, Reams, UMB Bank, n.a. or other affiliates of Scout as appropriate. Any violations of the Code of Ethics shall be reported promptly to the Scout Chief Compliance Officer. Factors that will be considered in assessing whether personal trading activity include one or more of the following, but not necessarily be limited to:
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The nature of the Access Persons role relative to Client accounts; |
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The Access Persons access to nonpublic information regarding Client holdings; |
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The timing of the Access Persons receipt of information that contributes to that person being an Access Person (e.g., knowledge of trade activity before or shortly after trade placed by a Client account reflects different risk profile than receipt of a recommended list once a quarter); |
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Impact of SI, UMB Bank, n.a. or other affiliates of Scout trading volume in a particular security in comparison to market trading volume; |
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Proximity of the Access Person trade in relation to a Client trade and whether the trade took place before or after the trade within the Client account; |
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Potential that an Access Persons trading activity represents conduct prohibited by a Reportable Fund; |
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Patterns of trading activity within the Access Persons account, and within a Client account if the Access Person has a vital role supporting the investment decisions in the Clients account. |
Certifications
Each Supervised Person will be provided a copy of the Code of Ethics and must certify in writing no later than 30 days after receipt that they have received the Code Ethics, read and understand the Code of Ethics and agree to comply with the applicable terms of the Code of Ethics. Scout
will provide any amendments to the Code of Ethics and will require all Supervised Persons to certify in writing that they have received, read and understand the amendments. Each year the Chief Compliance Officer or compliance officer designated by the Chief Compliance Officer will conduct an annual meeting with all Supervised Persons to review the Code of Ethics and will require all Supervised Persons to annually certify that they have read, understood and complied with the Code of Ethics, that they have made all of the reports required by the Code of Ethics and have not engaged in any prohibited conduct.
Reporting Violations
All Supervised Persons are required to promptly report any actual, apparent or suspected violations of the Policy to the Chief Compliance Officer. If the Chief Compliance Officer or another compliance officer is not available the individual should report the violation to their immediate supervisor who is then responsible for reporting it to the Chief Compliance Officer. All reports will be treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law and investigated promptly.
Reporting to SI Board of Directors and Scout Funds Board of Trustees
At least annually, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Scout Funds and the Chief Compliance Officer of SI shall provide to the Scout Funds board of trustees, and the Scout Funds board of trustees must consider, a written report that: (i) describe any issues arising under the Code of Ethics or procedures since the last report to the board of trustees, including but not limited to, information about material violations of the Code of Ethics and sanctions imposed in response to the material violation; (ii) identify any recommended change to existing restrictions or procedures based upon the experience under the Code of Ethics, evolving industry practices and developments in applicable laws and regulations; and (iii) certifies that SI and the Scout Funds (as applicable) have adopted policies and procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating the Code of Ethics.
Amendments to the Code of Ethics
The board of directors of SI and the board of trustees of the Scout Funds, including a majority of Independent Trustees of the Scout Funds, must approve any material amendment to the Code of Ethics no later than six months following the amendment.
Sanctions
Upon discovering a violation of this Policy, Scout and or UMB Financial Corporation may impose such sanctions as it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, a letter of censure, fine, suspension or termination of the violators employment. For more information, please see the attached Exhibit A.
Records
Scout and the Scout Funds will be responsible for maintaining the following records:
1. | A copy of the Code of Ethics; |
2. | A record of each Access Person; |
3. | A record of any violation of the Code of Ethics and of any actions taken as a result of the violation; |
4. | A copy of each written acknowledgement as described in the Section entitled Certifications; |
5. | A copy of each report made by an Access Person as required under the Code of Ethics, including any information provided in lieu of reports in the form of duplicate trade confirmations or account statements; |
6. | A record of any decisions, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of securities in a Limited Offering by an Access Person; and |
7. | A copy of each written report made to the Scout Funds board of trustees as described in the Section entitled Reporting to SI Board of Directors and Scout Funds. |
A complete description of Scout and the Scout Funds recordkeeping responsibility under this Code of Ethics is contained in the Books and Records Policy.
Definitions
Automatic Investment Plan means a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes a dividend reinvestment plan.
Beneficial Ownership shall be interpreted in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Client means an investment client of SI.
Control or Controlled shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Covered Security means a security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act, except that it does not include: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers acceptances, bank certificate of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and (iii) shares issued by money-market funds; (iv) shares issued by open-end registered investment companies other than a Scout Fund or other Reportable Fund; (v) shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end investment companies, none of which are Scout Funds or other Reportable Funds.
Family Member means any individual who is a member of a Supervised Persons immediate family who lives in the Supervised Persons household.
Fixed Income Client means any Client of SI that is managed by a portfolio manager within the Reams Asset Management division.
Independent Trustee means a Scout Fund trustee who is not an interested person of the Scout Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Initial Public Offering means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Investment Company means a company registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including but not limited to, open-end mutual funds, close-end mutual funds, and unit investment trusts, but does not include a money market mutual fund.
Limited Offering means an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) thereof, or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 adopted thereunder.
Purchase or sale of a Covered Security means the purchase or sale of a Covered Security, including the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security, in which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership.
Reportable Fund means any Investment Company for which SI acts as investment adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(20) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any Investment Company whose investment adviser or principal underwriter Controls Scout, is Controlled by Scout or is under common Control with Scout.
Security or Securities means a security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
APPENDIX A SCHEDULE OF POTENTIAL PENALTIES
First Violation |
First Penalty |
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Reports not returned in timely manner |
Report to Senior Management. Financial penalty of $25 per quarter |
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Accepting gifts that violate Provisions of the Code |
Surrender difference between value of gift and $100 |
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Failure to advise Compliance of broker, dealer or bank security accounts |
Financial penalty of $25 per quarter | |
Failure to pre-clear trade prior to execution | Financial penalty of $50 per quarter | |
Blackout Restriction Violation |
Financial penalty of $100 and disgorgement of profit made |
For each additional violation occurring during a rolling 12-month period, the financial penalties mentioned above will increase by One-Hundred Percent (100%) for each occurrence.
For example, on a Failure to Preclear Violation:
1 st Quarter with violation(s) |
$ | 50 | ||
2 nd Quarter with violation(s) |
$ | 100 | ||
3 rd Quarter with violation(s) |
$ | 200 |
Violations of the Code of Ethics (including but not limited to those listed above) may also include, but are not limited to, termination of employment, suspension, imposition of a fine, and/or disgorgement of profit. The SI or UMB Financial Corporation Chief Compliance Officer may determine that no action be taken as a result of a violation or issue warning letters depending upon circumstances of each violation.