As filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2016
Registration No.333-148723
Registration No.811-22172
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. (155) | [X] | ||
and/or | |||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | [X] | ||
Amendment No. (156) | [X] |
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205,
Richmond, VA 23235
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(804) 267-7400
(Registrants Telephone Number)
The Corporation
Trust Co.
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange St., Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With Copy
to:
John H. Lively
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
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this filing .
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[X] | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b); | |
[ ] | on pursuant to paragraph (b); | |
[ ] | 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.
Title of
Securities Being Registered: shares of beneficial interest.
Investor Class
(CLFFX)
Institutional Class (CLIFX)
PROSPECTUS
February 8, 2016
This prospectus describes the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, a series of shares offered by World Funds Trust. A series fund offers you a choice of investments, with each series having its own investment objective and a separate portfolio. The Fund is authorized to offer two classes of shares, both of which are offered by this prospectus.
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities, nor has the Commission determined that this Prospectus is complete or accurate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||
Summary Section | 1 | ||
Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks, and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings | 8 | ||
General Information | 13 | ||
Shareholder Information | 14 | ||
How to Buy and Sell Shares | 16 | ||
Other Important Investment Information | 21 | ||
Financial Highlights | 26 | ||
Appendix - Advisers Prior Performance | 29 | ||
How to Get More Information | 32 |
Summary Section |
Investment Objective |
The Clifford Capital Partners Funds (the Fund) investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
The following table describes the expenses and fees that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly | Investor Class | Institutional Class | ||||||
from your investment) | ||||||||
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of the | 2.00% | None | ||||||
amount redeemed on shares after | ||||||||
holding them for 60 days or less) | ||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||
Management Fees | 0.90% | 0.90% | ||||||
Distribution and Service 12b-1 Fees | 0.20% | 0.00% | ||||||
Other Expenses | 0.00% | 0.00% | ||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.10% | 0.90% |
1
Expense Example
The following
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% annual return each year and that the Funds operating
expenses remain the same each year. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years | ||||||
Investor Class | $112 | $350 | $606 | $1,340 | |||||
Institutional Class | $92 | $287 | $498 | $1,108 |
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 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 fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Predecessor Funds (as defined below under Performance History) portfolio turnover rate was 54.61% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund |
To achieve its investment objective, the Clifford Capital Partners Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies of any size that the Funds investment adviser, Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (the Adviser), believes are trading at a discount to what they are worth at the time of purchase and have the potential for capital appreciation with acceptable downside risks. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks.
The Adviser expects to predominantly invest in securities that trade on U.S. stock exchanges, potentially including other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) sponsored by companies based in foreign countries or emerging markets if the Adviser has found compelling opportunities. ADRs are dollar-denominated depositary receipts that, typically, are issued by a United States bank or trust company and represent the deposit with that bank or trust company of a security of a foreign issuer. Generally, ADRs are designed for trading on U.S. securities exchanges or other markets.
In identifying securities to be held by the Fund, the Adviser will utilize an overall portfolio construction methodology guided by its C-Quad Philosophy TM :
2
|
Core
investments in companies the Adviser believes are high-quality and possess durable
competitive advantages (business qualities that allow a company to earn higher returns
than its peers)
,
which will represent 50-75% of the Funds portfolio
|
|
Contrarian
opportunistic investments in companies with higher expected returns but
lower business quality than Core companies. These holdings may represent 0-50% of
the Funds portfolio
|
|
Cash
the Fund may hold cash if the Adviser determines that it is a better option than
current investment opportunities. Cash may represent 0-25% of the Funds portfolio
|
|
Clifford
the foundational reminder of a family member that gave the Adviser its
start. Clifford represents the disciplined process by which the Adviser selects
investments for the Fund
|
The Adviser uses a disciplined bottom-up selection process to attempt to identify equity securities of companies that appear to be selling at a discount to the Advisers assessment of their potential value. Such a bottom-up security selection process may include an evaluation of a companys potential value using analysis techniques such as: normalized price multiples (including price to earnings, price to book value, and price to cash flow); estimated private market value; liquidation analysis; discounted cash flow analysis; and dividend discount models.
The Fund will normally hold between 25 and 35 securities. The Adviser believes that maintaining a relatively small number of portfolio holdings allows each security to have a meaningful impact on the portfolios results. The number of securities held by the Fund may occasionally differ from this range at times such as when the portfolio manager is accumulating new positions, phasing out and exiting positions, or responding to exceptional market conditions.
The Adviser typically performs an additional review for any stock that declines 20% from its original purchase, or a stock that has declined by 20% over any 30-day period. The Adviser may reduce or sell a Funds investment in a particular security if, in the opinion of the Adviser, a securitys fundamentals change substantially, its price appreciation leads to overvaluation in relation to the Advisers estimates of future earnings and cash flow growth, there are better opportunities with another security, or for other reasons.
3
The Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund |
Risks of Investing in Common Stocks. Overall stock market risks may affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Funds investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.
Risks of Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Securities. Investing in the securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies generally involves substantially greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies.
Risks of Large-Cap Securities. Prices of securities of larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the Funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller capitalizations.
Risks of Other Investment Companies / Exchange Traded Funds. The Fund will incur higher and duplicative expenses when it invests in mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies. There is also the risk that the Fund may suffer losses due to the investment practices of the underlying funds. When the Fund invests in an underlying mutual fund or ETF, the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of securities comprising the underlying fund or index on which the ETF or index mutual fund is based and the value of the Funds investments will fluctuate in response to the performance and risks of the underlying investments or index. In addition to the brokerage costs associated with the Funds purchase and sale of the underlying funds, ETFs and mutual funds incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. As a result, the Funds shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of the ETFs and mutual funds, in addition to Fund expenses. 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 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) the market price of an ETFs shares may be above or below its 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; (iv) trading of an ETFs shares may be halted if the listing exchanges officials deem such action appropriate; and (v) underlying ETF shares may be de-listed from the exchange or the activation of market-wide circuit breakers (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) temporarily stops stock trading.
Risks of Foreign Securities. There may be less information about foreign companies in the form of reports and ratings than about U.S. issuers. Foreign issuers may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Foreign markets may not be as developed or efficient as those in the United States, and there is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed issuers than in the United States. Investments in foreign securities also subject the Fund to risks associated with fluctuations in currency values.
Risks of Emerging Markets Securities. To the extent that the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging markets, the foreign securities risk may be heightened.
Focused Investment Risk. The Fund is a focused fund and generally holds stocks of between only 25 and 35 companies. Focused funds may invest a larger portion of their assets in the securities of a single issuer compared to a more diversified fund. Focusing investments in a small number of companies may subject the Fund to greater share price volatility and therefore a greater risk of loss because a single securitys increase or decrease in value may have a greater impact on the Funds value and total return. Economic,
4
political or regulatory developments may have a greater impact on the value of the Funds portfolio than would be the case if the portfolio were diversified among more issuers, and events affecting a small number of companies may have a significant and potentially adverse impact on the performance of the Fund. In addition, investors may buy or sell substantial amounts of Fund shares in response to factors affecting or expected to affect a small number of companies, resulting in extreme inflows and outflows of cash into or out of the Fund. To the extent such inflows or outflows of cash cause the Funds cash position or cash requirements to exceed normal levels, management of the Funds portfolio may be negatively affected.
Management Style Risk. Because the Fund invests primarily in value stocks (stocks that the Adviser believes are undervalued), the Funds performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of stock funds that focus on other types of stock strategies (e.g., growth stocks), or that have a broader investment style.
Limited History of Operations. The Fund was recently formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences.
Limited Adviser Experience. The portfolio manager of the Fund does not have prior experience managing a registered investment company and that lack of experience may raise the risk associated with an investment in the Fund.
Performance History |
On February 8, 2016, the Fund was reorganized from a series of Cottonwood Mutual Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (the Predecessor Fund), to a series of the World Funds Trust (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust (the Reorganization).
The bar chart and table on the following page provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Predecessor Funds performance from year to year and by showing how the Funds average annual returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Predecessor Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.theworldfundstrust.com or by calling toll-free 800-673-0550.
The following bar chart shows the Predecessor Funds annual returns for Investor Class shares of the Predecessor Fund as of December 31, 2015. The performance of the Predecessor Funds Institutional Class shares would differ from the Investor Class shares returns shown in the bar chart because the expenses of the Classes differ.
5
During the period shown, the highest quarterly return was 3.28% (quarter ended 12/31/2015) and the lowest quarterly return was -9.88% (quarter ended 9/30/2015).
Average Annual Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2015 |
The table below shows how average annual total returns of the Predecessor Funds classes compared to those of the Funds benchmark. The table also presents the impact of taxes on the Funds Investor Class shares. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investors tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns for the Institutional Class shares will differ from those of the Investor Class shares as the expenses of the Classes differ.
Return Before Taxes | One Year |
Since
Inception (1/31/2014)* |
||||
Investor Class | -10.22 | % | 4.16% | |||
Institutional Class | -10.04 | % | 4.31% | |||
Return After Taxes Investor Class | One Year |
Since
Inception (1/31/2014)* |
||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions | -11.12 | % | 3.25% | |||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -5.78 | % | 2.79% | |||
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 1.38 | % | 9.32% | |||
Russell 3000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)** | -4.13 | % | 5.67% |
* The Predecessor Fund commenced operations
on January 31, 2014. The Fund has the same investment objective, strategies and
policies as the Predecessor Fund.
** The Trust has designated the Russell 3000®
Value Index as the Funds primary benchmark index as it is more representative
of the Funds investment objective and strategy. Prior to the Reorganization,
the Fund had designated the S&P 500® Index as its primary benchmark index.
Management |
Investment Adviser.
Clifford Capital
Partners, LLC.
Portfolio Manager.
Ryan P. Batchelor,
CFA, CPA, has managed the Fund since January 2014.
6
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts offered by the Fund are shown below. The Fund may waive minimums for purchases or exchanges through employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Investor Class | |||||
Initial | Additional | ||||
Regular Account | $2,500 | $100 | |||
Automatic Investment Plan | $2,500 | $100 | |||
IRA Account | $2,500 | $100 | |||
Institutional Class | |||||
Initial | Additional | ||||
Regular Account | $100,000 | $1,000 | |||
Automatic Investment Plan | $100,000 | $100 | |||
IRA Account | $100,000 | $100 |
Investors may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any business day through a financial intermediary, by mail (Clifford Capital Partners Fund, c/o Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235), by wire, or by telephone at 1-800-673-0550. Purchases and redemptions by telephone are only permitted if you previously established this option on your account.
Tax Information |
The Funds distributions may be subject to federal income tax and may 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. In such a tax-deferred account, your tax liability is generally not incurred until you withdraw assets from such an account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries |
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediarys web site for more information.
7
Investment Objective, Principal Investment Strategies, Related Risks, and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings |
Investment Objective |
The Clifford Capital Partners Funds investment objective is long-term capital appreciation. The Funds investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval, although the Fund will provide 60 days advance notice of any such change.
The Investment Selection Process Used by the Fund |
To achieve its investment objective, the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (the Fund) invests primarily in equity securities of companies of any size that the Funds investment adviser, Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (the Adviser), believes are trading at a discount to what they are worth at the time of purchase and have the potential for capital appreciation with acceptable downside risks. The Adviser believes investing in securities trading at a discount may enhance the investments potential upside when the Advisers investment thesis is proven correct and may dampen the potential loss when the investment thesis is disproven. The Fund invests primarily in common stocks.
The Adviser expects to predominantly invest in securities that trade on U.S. stock exchanges, potentially including other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) sponsored by companies based in foreign countries or emerging markets if the Adviser has found compelling opportunities. ADRs are dollar-denominated depositary receipts that, typically, are issued by a United States bank or trust company and represent the deposit with that bank or trust company of a security of a foreign issuer. Generally, ADRs are designed for trading on U.S. securities exchanges or other markets.
The Adviser believes most of its investment opportunities arise because of short-term oriented investor behavior, which differs from the Advisers research conclusions and its long-term investment philosophy. Common behaviors leading to these opportunities include but are not limited to: overreactions to short-term results; economic worries leading to low expectations or panic selling; fear of increased competition; focus on one underperforming business line overshadowing other solid segments; frustration with slower growth rates as a business or its industry matures; worries that meaningful changes being undertaken by a company will be ineffective or take too long; fear that cyclical issues affecting a firm or its industry have become permanent.
In identifying securities to be held by the Fund, the Adviser will utilize an overall portfolio construction methodology guided by its C-Quad Philosophy TM :
8
|
Core
investments in companies the Adviser believes are high-quality and possess durable
competitive advantages (business qualities that allow a company to earn high returns
that its peers), which will represent 50-75% of the Funds portfolio
|
|
Contrarian
opportunistic investments in companies with higher expected returns but lower
business quality than Core companies. These holdings may represent 0-50% of the
Funds portfolio
|
|
Cash
the Fund may hold cash if the Adviser determines that it is a better option than
current investment opportunities. Cash may represent 0-25% of the Funds portfolio
|
|
Clifford
foundational reminder of a family member that gave the Adviser its start. Clifford
represents the disciplined process by which the Adviser selects investments for
the Fund
|
CORE STOCKS. The Adviser defines Core stocks as high-quality companies with sustainable competitive advantages (business qualifies that allow them to earn higher returns that competitors) and long-term records of strong returns on capital. These firms tend to have stable and predictable cash flows as well as steady growth in the intrinsic value of their stock. The Adviser has identified roughly 135 Core businesses (the Core List) from which it selects its Core investments. Prior to adding a security to the Core List, a company must pass the Advisers 10 Indicators of a Core Business quantitative and qualitative review, summarized below:
1. | Consistently high returns on equity over the last 10 years | |
2. | Consistently high returns on assets over the last 10 years | |
3. | Upward-trending net income | |
4. | Manageable debt loads | |
5. | Necessary and valuable products or services | |
6. | Good employee relations (subjective determination based on Advisers research of management/employee relations) | |
7. | Pricing power | |
8. | Low capital intensity (i.e., low capital expenditures relative to revenues) | |
9. | History of share repurchases and a declining share count | |
10. | History of upward-trending book value and share price |
The Adviser regularly reviews the Core List, searching for stocks that may potentially be trading at a discount to the Advisers estimates of fair value. Prior to adding a Core Stock to the Funds portfolio, the investment must be deemed to have an expected annual rate of return of at least 8% more than current rates of inflation and have an estimated total return that is at least three times greater than the potential loss, based on the Advisers research. The Adviser intends to hold its Core positions for the long-term.
CONTRARIAN STOCKS. The Adviser defines Contrarian stocks as opportunistic investments in businesses that do not meet the high requirements of a Core company. Contrarian investments are deemed by the Adviser to have high potential returns with acceptable downside risks. These investments may be considered traditional value stocks with low price multiples, and low near-term investor and analyst expectations. In screening for Contrarian positions, the Adviser uses a variety of methods to identify potential investment opportunities, including:
1. | Quantitative stock screens | |
2. | Researching firms with weak recent or longer-term stock-price performance | |
3. | Searching for companies and industries that are out of favor with investment analysts | |
4. | Researching new firms to expand the Advisers knowledge base | |
5. | The Advisers personal network of investment professionals | |
6. | Publications from like-minded contrarian investors |
9
Prior to adding a Contrarian Stock to the Funds portfolio the investment must have an estimated total return of at least 33%, and the potential return must be at least three times greater than the potential loss, based on the Advisers research. The Adviser intends to hold a Contrarian position until it reaches its estimated fair value.
CASH. The Adviser may utilize cash as the default position for portfolio capital when it does not find compelling investment ideas and individual portfolio holdings may be as large as the Adviser intends them to be. In those circumstances, the Adviser considers cash to be a prudent option to take advantage of future investment opportunities, which may be better than todays.
CLIFFORD. Clifford refers to the late Clifford Pierson, a family member of one of the Advisers founders, whose prudent financial management and hard work inspired the formation of the Adviser. While this element of the C-Quad Philosophy TM is not a tangible part of the investment strategy, it represents an inspirational reminder to the Adviser in adhering to its disciplined investment strategy and its value of treating client assets in a prudent manner and with care. Given the importance of this discipline to its investment philosophy, the Adviser believes the reminder of Clifford is intertwined with its investment strategy and the values represented by Clifford are firmly embedded in the Advisers culture.
The Adviser uses a disciplined bottom-up selection process to attempt to identify equity securities of companies that
appear to be selling at a discount relative to the Advisers assessment of
their potential value. Such a bottom-up security selection process may
include an evaluation of a companys potential value using analysis techniques
such as: normalized price multiples (including price to earnings, price to book
value, and price to cash flow); estimated private market value; liquidation analysis;
discounted cash flow analysis; and dividend discount models.
The Fund will normally
hold between 25 and 35 securities. The Adviser believes that maintaining a relatively
small number of portfolio holdings allows each security to have a meaningful impact
on the portfolios results. The number of securities held by the Fund may occasionally
differ from this range at times such as when the portfolio manager is accumulating
new positions, phasing out and existing positions, or responding to exceptional
market conditions.
The Adviser typically performs an additional review for any stock that declines 20% from its original purchase, or a stock that has declined by 20% over any 30-day period. The Adviser may reduce or sell a Funds investments in a particular security if, in the opinion of the Adviser, a securitys fundamentals change substantially, its price appreciation leads to overvaluation in relation to the Advisers estimates of future earnings and cash flow growth, there are better opportunities with another security, or for other reasons.
Temporary Defensive Positions
When the Adviser believes market, economic or political conditions are unfavorable
for investors, the Fund may hold, as a temporary, defensive strategy, all or a portion
of its assets in cash or cash-equivalents like money market funds, certificates
of deposit, short-term debt obligations, and repurchase agreements. Under these
circumstances, the Fund may not participate in stock market advances or declines
to the same extent it would had it remained more fully invested in common stocks.
To the extent the Fund engages in a temporary, defensive strategy, the Fund may
not achieve its investment objective. If the Fund invests in shares of a money market
fund, shareholders of the Fund generally will be subject to duplicative management
and other fees and expenses.
10
The Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund |
Risks of Investing in Common Stocks. The Fund invests in common stocks, which subjects the Fund and its shareholders to the risks associated with common stock investing. These risks include the financial risk of selecting individual companies that do not perform as anticipated, the risk that the stock markets in which the Fund invests may experience periods of turbulence and instability, and the general risk that domestic and global economies may go through periods of decline and cyclical change. Many factors affect the performance of each company that the Fund invests in, including the strength of the companys management or the demand for its products or services. You should be aware that a companys share price may decline as a result of poor decisions made by management or lower demand for the companys products or services. In addition, a companys share price may also decline if its earnings or revenues fall short of expectations.
There are overall stock market risks that may also affect the value of the Fund. Over time, the stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when stock prices decline generally. The value of the Funds investments may increase or decrease more than the stock markets in general.
Risks of Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Securities. Investing in the securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies generally involves substantially greater risk than investing in larger, more established companies. This greater risk is, in part, attributable to the fact that the securities of these companies usually have more limited marketability and, therefore, may be more volatile than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Because these companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies, it may be more difficult to buy or sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Another risk factor is that these companies often have limited product lines, markets, or financial resources and may lack management depth. Additionally, these companies are typically subject to greater changes in earnings and business prospects than are larger, more established companies. These companies may not be well-known to the investing public, may not be followed by the financial press or industry analysts, and may not have institutional ownership. These factors affect the Advisers access to information about the companies and the stability of the markets for the companies securities. These companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments; the risk exists that the companies will not succeed; and the prices of the companies shares could dramatically decline in value. Therefore, an investment in the Fund may involve a substantially greater degree of risk than an investment in other mutual funds that seek capital growth by investing in more established, larger companies.
Risks of Large-Cap Securities. Companies with large market capitalizations go in and out of favor based on various market and economic conditions. Prices of securities of larger companies tend to be less volatile than companies with smaller market capitalizations. In exchange for this potentially lower risk, the Funds value may not rise as much as the value of funds that emphasize companies with smaller market capitalizations.
Risks of Other Investment Companies / Exchange Traded Funds. The Fund will incur higher and duplicative expenses when it invests in mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies. There is also the risk that the Fund may suffer losses due to the investment practices of the underlying funds. When the Fund invests in an underlying mutual fund or ETF, the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of securities comprising the underlying fund or index on which the ETF or index mutual fund is based and the value of the Funds investments will fluctuate in response to the performance and risks of the underlying investments or index. In addition to the brokerage costs associated with the Funds purchase and sale of the underlying securities, ETFs and mutual funds incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. As a result, the Funds shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of the ETFs and mutual funds, in addition to Fund expenses. 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 to risks generally associated with investments in investment company securities, ETFs
11
are subject to the following risks that do not apply to traditional mutual funds: (i) the market price of an ETFs shares may be above or below its 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; (iv) trading of an ETFs shares may be halted if the listing exchanges officials deem such action appropriate; and (v) underlying ETF shares may be de-listed from the exchange or the activation of market-wide circuit breakers (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) temporarily stops stock trading.
The Investment Company Act of 1940 imposes conditions on funds which invest in other funds. Except as permitted by applicable rules and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff, the Fund and its affiliated persons may not purchase or otherwise acquire more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another fund. Because of this restriction, the Fund may have to forego certain investment opportunities.
Risks of Foreign Securities. There may be less information about foreign companies in the form of reports and ratings than about U.S. issuers. Foreign issuers may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Foreign markets may not be as developed or efficient as those in the United States, and there is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed issuers than in the United States. Investments in foreign securities also subject the Fund to risks associated with fluctuations in currency values.
Risks of Emerging Markets Securities. To the extent the Fund invests in issuers located in emerging markets, the foreign securities risk may be heightened. Due to political changes, changes in taxation, or currency controls that could adversely affect investments located in emerging market countries, investments of this nature may be more volatile than investments made in the markets of more developed foreign countries with more mature economies.
Focused Investment Risk. The Fund is a focused fund and generally holds stocks of between only 25 and 35 companies. Focused funds may invest a larger portion of their assets in the securities of a single issuer compared to a more diversified fund. Focusing investments in a small number of companies may subject the Fund to greater share price volatility and therefore a greater risk of loss because a single securitys increase or decrease in value may have a greater impact on the Funds value and total return. Economic, political or regulatory developments may have a greater impact on the value of the Funds portfolio than would be the case if the portfolio were diversified among more issuers, and events affecting a small number of companies may have a significant and potentially adverse impact on the performance of the Fund. In addition, investors may buy or sell substantial amounts of Fund shares in response to factors affecting or expected to affect a small number of companies, resulting in extreme inflows and outflows of cash into or out of the Fund. To the extent such inflows or outflows of cash cause the Funds cash position or cash requirements to exceed normal levels, management of the Funds portfolio may be negatively affected.
Management Style Risk. Different types of securities tend to shift into and out of favor with stock market investors depending on market and economic conditions. Because the Fund invests primarily in value stocks (stocks that the Adviser believes are undervalued), the Funds performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of stock funds that focus on other types of stock strategies ( e.g. , growth stocks), or that have a broader investment style.
Limited History of Operations. The Fund was recently formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences.
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Limited Adviser Experience. The portfolio manager of the Fund does not have prior experience managing a registered investment company and that lack of experience may raise the risk associated with an investment in the Fund.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
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 (SAI).
General Information |
Management |
The Investment Adviser
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (the Adviser) is the investment adviser of the Fund and has responsibility for the management of the Funds affairs, under the supervision of the Trusts Board of Trustees. The Adviser is a registered investment adviser. The Adviser was organized in 2010 as a Illinois limited liability company and its address is 40 Shuman Blvd., Suite 256, Naperville, Illinois 60563. The Adviser is owned by Mr. Batchelor (48%), Wayne G. Pierson, CFA, CPA (48%), David W. Passey (2%) and Heather Bryce (2%). As of December 31, 2015, the Adviser had approximately $30.8 million in assets under management.
The Adviser manages the investment portfolio of the Fund, subject to policies adopted by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, at its own expense and without reimbursement from the Trust, furnishes office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and executive personnel necessary for managing the assets of the Fund. Under this Agreement the Adviser pays the operating expenses of the Fund excluding fees payable under the Advisory Agreement, brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, interest expense, interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, the costs of acquired fund fees and expenses, 12b-1 fees, shareholder service fees, and extraordinary expenses. For its services the Adviser receives an investment management fee equal to 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. [For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Adviser received an aggregate fee of 0.90% for investment advisory services performed, expressed as a percentage of average net assets of the Predecessor Fund.]
A discussion regarding the basis of the Board of Trustees approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser will be available in the Funds semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2016.
Portfolio Managers Bio:
Ryan P. Batchelor, CFA, CPA
The Fund is managed by Ryan P. Batchelor, CFA, CPA. Mr. Batchelor has managed the Fund since its inception. Ryan Batchelor is principal, co-founder and portfolio manager at the Adviser. Prior to founding the Adviser in April 2010, he served as a senior equity analyst at Wells Capital Management from March 2007 until March 2010 where he was a generalist, scouring all sectors of the market but also had specific responsibility for the financial services sector.
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Before joining Wells Capital Management, Mr. Batchelor was an equity strategist and analyst with Morningstar, Inc. where he served as specialty finance analyst and team leader. He initiated the five page InternationalInvestor section in the firms flagship StockInvestor monthly stock investment newsletter and implemented department-wide improvements to Morningstars foreign coverage universe. Ryan was quoted in local and national media, including The Wall Street Journal, Barrons, The Economist, Financial Times, USA Today , and US News & World Report. He also made live television appearances on CNBC and Bloomberg TV, as well as radio spots on NPR, Bloomberg Radio and local stations. Mr. Batchelor graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University - Hawaii in 1999 with a B.S. in Accounting and received his MBA in Finance from the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University in 2004. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant professional designations.
The Funds SAI provides information about the portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio managers ownership of Fund shares.
Shareholder Information |
Pricing of Fund Shares |
The Funds share price, called the NAV per share, is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day that the NYSE is open (the Valuation Time). As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund has been informed that the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. NAV per share is computed by adding the total value of the Funds investments and other assets attributable to the Funds Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, subtracting any liabilities attributable to the applicable class and then dividing by the total number of the applicable classes shares outstanding. Due to the fact that different expenses may be charged against shares of different classes of the Fund, the NAV of the different classes may vary.
Shares of the Fund are bought or exchanged at the public offering price per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form. The public offering price of the Funds Shares is equal to the NAV plus the applicable front-end sales charge, if any. Shares of the Fund held by you are sold or exchanged at the NAV per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form, less any applicable deferred sales charge. Any request received in proper form before the Valuation Time, will be processed the same business day. Any request received in proper form after the Valuation Time, will be processed the next business day.
The Funds securities are valued at current market prices. Investments in securities traded on national securities exchanges or included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last reported sale price. Other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sales are reported on a given date are valued at the last reported bid price. Debt securities are valued by appraising them at prices supplied by a pricing agent approved by the Trust, which prices may reflect broker-dealer supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Short-term debt securities (less than 60 days to maturity) are valued at their fair market value using amortized cost. Other assets for which market prices are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures set by the Board. Generally, trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before the scheduled close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing the NAV is determined as of such times.
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The Trust has a policy that contemplates the use of fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund when market prices are unavailable as well as under special circumstances, such as: (i) if the primary market for a portfolio security suspends or limits trading or price movements of the security; and (ii) when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the security. Since most of the Funds investments are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, it is anticipated that the use of fair value pricing will be limited.
When the Trust uses fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund, securities will not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Board believes accurately reflects fair value. Any method used will be approved by the Board and results will be monitored to evaluate accuracy. The Trusts policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Funds NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing. However, fair values determined pursuant to the Trusts procedures may not accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing.
Share Class Alternatives. The Fund offers investors two different classes of shares through this prospectus. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and fees and may have different share prices and minimum investment requirements. When you buy shares be sure to specify the class of shares in which you choose to invest. Because each share class has a different combination of sales charges, expenses and other features, you should consult your financial adviser to determine which class best meets your financial objectives.
Customer Identification Program |
Federal regulations require that the Trust obtain certain personal information about you when opening a new account. As a result, the Trust must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:
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Name; | |
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Date of birth (for individuals); | |
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Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and | |
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Social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number. |
You may also be asked for a copy of your drivers license, passport, or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.
After an account is opened, the Trust may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Trust also may close your account or take other appropriate action if it is unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time.
If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed.
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How to Buy and Sell Shares |
The price you pay for a share of the Fund is the net asset value next determined upon receipt by the Fund (or its appropriately designated agent) or your financial intermediary (such as fund supermarkets or through brokers or dealers who are authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund (collectively, Financial Intermediaries). The Fund will be deemed to have received your purchase or redemption order when it (i.e., the Fund) or the Financial Intermediary receives the order. Such Financial Intermediaries are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Funds behalf.
You may purchase shares of the Fund through Financial Intermediaries and directly from the Fund (or its agent). Financial Intermediaries may charge transaction fees or set different minimum investment amounts. Financial Intermediaries may also have policies and procedures that are different from those contained in this prospectus. Investors should consult their Financial Intermediary regarding its procedures for purchasing and selling shares of the Fund as the policies and procedures may be different. Certain Financial Intermediaries may have agreements with the Fund that allow them to enter confirmed purchase and redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers. Under this arrangement, the Financial Intermediary must send your payment to the Fund by the time the Fund prices its shares on the following business day. The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that a Financial Intermediary carries out its obligations. You should look to the Financial Intermediary through whom you wish to invest for specific instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund.
Minimum Investments.
The Trust may waive the minimum initial investment requirement for purchases made by trustees, officers and employees of the Trust. The Trust may also waive the minimum investment requirement for purchases by its affiliated entities and certain related advisory accounts and retirement accounts (such as IRAs). The Trust may also change or waive policies concerning minimum investment amounts at any time. The Trust retains the right to refuse to accept an order.
Investor Class | ||||
Initial | Additional | |||
Regular Account | $2,500 | $100 | ||
Automatic Investment Plan | $2,500 | $100* | ||
IRA Account | $2,500 | $100 |
* An Automatic Investment Plan requires a $100 minimum automatic monthly or quarterly investment.
Institutional Class | ||||
Initial | Additional | |||
Regular Account | $100,000 | $1,000 | ||
Automatic Investment Plan | $100,000 | $100* |
Types of Account Ownership.
You can establish the following types of accounts by completing a Shareholder Account Application:
| Individual or Joint Ownership. Individual accounts are owned by one person. Joint accounts have two or more owners. | |
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A Gift
or Transfer to Minor
(UGMA or UTMA). A UGMA/UTMA account is a custodial
account managed for the benefit of a minor. To open an UGMA or UTMA account, you
must include the minors
social security number on the application.
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Trust
. An established trust can open an account. The names of each trustee, the name
of the trust and the date of the trust agreement must be included on the application.
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Business
Accounts.
Corporation and partnerships may also open an account. The application
must be signed by an authorized officer of the corporation or a general partner
of a partnership.
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| IRA Accounts. See Types of Tax-Deferred Accounts. |
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Types of Tax-Deferred Accounts.
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Traditional
IRA.
An individual retirement account. Your contribution may or may not be deductible
depending on your circumstances. Assets can grow tax-deferred and distributions
are taxable as income.
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Roth IRA.
An IRA with non-deductible contributions, tax-free growth of assets, and tax-free
distributions for qualified distributions.
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Spousal
IRA.
An IRA funded by a working spouse in the name of a non-earning spouse.
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SEP-IRA.
An individual retirement account funded by employer contributions. Your assets
grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxable as income.
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Keogh or
Profit Sharing Plans.
These plans allow corporations, partnerships and individuals
who are self-employed to make tax-deductible contributions of up to $35,000 for each
person covered by the plans.
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403(b)
Plans.
An arrangement that allows employers of charitable or educational organizations
to make voluntary salary reduction contributions to a tax-deferred account.
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401(k)
Plans.
Allows employees of corporations of all sizes to contribute a percentage
of their wages on a tax-deferred basis. These accounts need to be established by
the trustee of the plan.
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Purchases by Mail. For initial purchases, the account application, which accompanies this prospectus, should be completed, signed and mailed to Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (the Transfer Agent), the Funds transfer and dividend disbursing agent, at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 together with your check payable to the Fund. When you buy shares, be sure to specify the class of shares in which you choose to invest. For subsequent purchases, include with your check the tear-off stub from a prior purchase confirmation or otherwise identify the name(s) of the registered owner(s) and social security number(s).
Purchases by Wire. You may purchase shares by requesting your bank to transmit payment by wire directly to the Transfer Agent. To invest by wire, please call the Fund at (800) 673-0550 or the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077 to advise the Fund of your investment and to receive further instructions. Your bank may charge you a fee for this service. Once you have arranged to purchase shares by wire, please complete and mail the account application promptly to the Transfer Agent. This account application is required to complete the Funds records. You will not have access to your shares until the purchase order is completed in good form, which includes the receipt of completed account information by the Transfer Agent. Once your account is opened, you may make additional investments using the wire procedure described above. Be sure to include your name and account number in the wire instructions you provide your bank.
Purchases by Telephone. You may also purchase shares by telephone, by contacting the Fund at (800) 673-0550 or the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077.
How to Sell Shares. You may redeem your shares of the Fund at any time and in any amount by contacting your Financial Intermediary or by contacting the Fund by mail or telephone. For your protection, the Transfer Agent will not redeem your shares until it has received all information and documents necessary for your request to be considered in proper order. The Transfer Agent will promptly notify you if your redemption request is not in proper order. The Transfer Agent cannot accept redemption requests which specify a particular date for redemption or which specify any special conditions.
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The Funds procedure is to redeem shares at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent or authorized Financial Intermediary receives the redemption request in proper order. Payment of redemption proceeds will be made promptly, but no later than the seventh day following the receipt of the request in proper order. The Fund may suspend the right to redeem shares for any period during which the NYSE is closed or the SEC determines that there is an emergency. In such circumstances you may withdraw your redemption request or permit your request to be held for processing after the suspension is terminated.
Delivery of the proceeds of a redemption of shares purchased and paid for by check shortly before the receipt of the redemption request may be delayed until the Fund determines that the Transfer Agent has completed collection of the purchase check, which may take up to 15 days. Also, payment of the proceeds of a redemption request for an account for which purchases were made by wire may be delayed until the Fund receives a completed account application for the account to permit the Fund to verify the identity of the person redeeming the shares and to eliminate the need for backup withholding.
Note that the Fund will assess a 2.00% redemption fee of Investor Class Shares of the Fund redeemed within 60 days of purchase as a percentage of amount redeemed. See Frequent Purchases and Redemptions below.
Redemption By Mail. To redeem shares by mail, send a written request for redemption, signed by the registered owner(s) exactly as the account is registered, to: Clifford Capital Partners Fund, Attn: Redemptions, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235. Certain written requests to redeem shares may require signature guarantees. For example, signature guarantees may be required if you sell a large number of shares, if your address of record on the account application has been changed within the last 30 days, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Signature guarantees are used to help protect you and the Fund. You can obtain a signature guarantee from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a Notary Public. Please call the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077 to learn if a signature guarantee is needed or to make sure that it is completed appropriately in order to avoid any processing delays. There is no charge to shareholders for redemptions by mail.
Redemption By Telephone. You may redeem your shares by telephone provided that you requested this service on your initial account application. If you request this service at a later date, you must send a written request along with a signature guarantee to the Transfer Agent. Once your telephone authorization is in effect, you may redeem shares by calling the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077. There is no charge to shareholders for redemptions by telephone. If it should become difficult to reach the Transfer Agent by telephone during periods when market or economic conditions lead to an unusually large volume of telephone requests, a shareholder may send a redemption request by overnight mail to the Transfer Agent at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235.
Redemption by Wire. If you request that your redemption proceeds be wired to you, please call your bank for instructions prior to writing or calling the Transfer Agent. Be sure to include your name, Fund name, Fund account number, your account number at your bank and wire information from your bank in your request to redeem by wire. There is no charge to shareholders for redemptions by wire.
Redemption in Kind. The Fund does not intend, under normal circumstances, to redeem its shares by payment in kind. It is possible, however, that conditions may arise in the future which would, in the opinion of the Trustees, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in cash. In such a
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case, the Trustees may authorize payment to be made in readily marketable portfolio securities of a Fund. Securities delivered in payment of redemptions would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the Funds net asset value per share. Shareholders receiving them may incur brokerage costs when these securities are sold and will be subject to market risk until such securities are sold. An irrevocable election has been filed under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act, wherein the Fund must pay redemptions in cash, rather than in kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any 90-day period, the lesser of (a) $250,000 or (b) 1% of the Funds net asset value at the beginning of such period. Redemption requests in excess of this limit may be satisfied in cash or in kind at the Funds election.
Signature Guarantees. To help protect you and the Fund from fraud, signature guarantees are required for: (1) all redemptions ordered by mail if you require that the check be made payable to another person or that the check be mailed to an address other than the one indicated on the account registration; (2) all requests to transfer the registration of shares to another owner; and (3) all authorizations to establish or change telephone redemption service, other than through your initial account application. Signature guarantees may be required for certain other reasons. For example, a signature guarantee may be required if you sell a large number of shares or if your address of record on the account has been changed within the last thirty (30) days.
In the case of redemption by mail, signature guarantees must appear on either: (1) the written request for redemption; or (2) a separate instrument of assignment (usually referred to as a stock power) specifying the total number of shares being redeemed. The Trust may waive these requirements in certain instances.
An original signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine so that you are protected from unauthorized account transactions. Notarization is not an acceptable substitute. Acceptable guarantors only include participants in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP2000). Participants in STAMP2000 may include financial institutions such as banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker-dealers and member firms of a national securities exchange.
Proper Form. Your order to buy shares is in proper form when your completed and signed account application and check or wire payment is received by the Transfer Agent. Your written request to sell or exchange shares is in proper form when written instructions signed by all registered owners, with a signature guarantee if necessary, is received by the Fund.
Automatic Investment Plan. Existing shareholders, who wish to make regular monthly investments in amounts of $100 or more, may do so through the Automatic Investment Plan. Under the Automatic Investment Plan, your designated bank or other financial institution debits a pre-authorized amount from your account on or about the 15 th day of each month and applies the amount to the purchase of Fund shares. To use this service, you must authorize the transfer of funds by completing the Automatic Investment Plan section of the account application and sending a blank voided check.
Exchange Privilege. To the extent that the Adviser manages other funds in the Trust, you may exchange all or a portion of your shares in the Fund for shares of the same class of certain other funds of the Trust managed by the Adviser having different investment objectives, provided that the shares of the fund you are exchanging into are registered for sale in your state of residence. Your account may be charged $10 for a telephone exchange. An exchange is treated as a redemption and purchase and may result in realization of a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You will not pay a deferred sales charge on an exchange from the Fund. However, if you exchange shares of another mutual fund that is
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not advised by the Adviser for shares of the Fund, you may pay a deferred sales charge on the sale of those fund shares, as applicable. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser does not manage any other funds in the Trust.
Frequent purchases and redemptions (Frequent Trading) (as discussed below)can adversely impact Fund performance and shareholders. Therefore, the Trust reserves the right to temporarily or permanently modify or terminate the Exchange Privilege. The Trust also reserves the right to refuse exchange requests by any person or group if, in the Trusts judgment, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected. The Trust further reserves the right to restrict or refuse an exchange request if the Trust has received or anticipates simultaneous orders affecting significant portions of the Funds assets or detects a pattern of exchange requests that coincides with a market timing strategy. Although the Trust will attempt to give you prior notice when reasonable to do so, the Trust may modify or terminate the Exchange Privilege at any time.
Transferring Shares. If you wish to transfer shares to another owner, send a written request to the Transfer Agent at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235. Your request should include: (i) the name of the Fund and existing account registration; (ii) signature(s) of the registered owner(s); (iii) the new account registration, address, taxpayer identification number and how dividends and capital gains are to be distributed; (iv) any stock certificates which have been issued for the shares being transferred; (v) signature guarantees (See Signature Guarantees); and (vi) any additional documents which are required for transfer by corporations, administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, etc. If you have any questions about transferring shares, call the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077.
Account Statements and Shareholder Reports. Each time you purchase, redeem or transfer shares of the Fund, you will receive a written confirmation. You will also receive a year-end statement of your account if any dividends or capital gains have been distributed, and an annual and a semi-annual report.
Shareholder Communications. The Fund may eliminate duplicate mailings of portfolio materials to shareholders who reside at the same address, unless instructed to the contrary. Investors may request that the Fund send these documents to each shareholder individually by calling the Fund at (800) 673-0550.
General. The Fund will not be responsible for any losses from unauthorized transactions (such as purchases, sales or exchanges) if it follows reasonable security procedures designed to verify the identity of the investor. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
Other Important Investment Information |
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes |
Dividends and Capital Gains Distributions. All income dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you indicate otherwise on the account application or in writing.
Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually for the Fund. The Fund intends to distribute annually any net capital gains.
There are no sales charges or transaction fees for reinvested dividends and all shares will be purchased at NAV. Shareholders will be subject to tax on all dividends and distributions whether paid to them in cash or reinvested in shares. If the investment in shares is made within an IRA, all dividends and capital gain distributions must be reinvested.
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Unless you are investing through a tax deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, it is not to your advantage to buy shares of the Fund shortly before the next distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as buying a dividend. To avoid buying a dividend, check the Funds distribution schedule before you invest.
Taxes. In general, Fund distributions are taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gains. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares of the Fund or receive them in cash. Any long-term capital gains the Fund distributes are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. Other Fund distributions (including distributions attributable to short-term capital gains of the Fund) will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except that distributions that are designated as qualified dividend income will be taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains. Every January, you will receive a Form 1099 that shows the tax status of distributions you received for the previous year. Distributions declared in December but paid in January are taxable as if they were paid in December. The one major exception to these tax principles is that distributions on, and sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-deferred retirement account) will not be currently taxable.
When you sell shares of the Fund, you may have a capital gain or loss. For tax purposes, an exchange of your shares of the Fund for shares of a different fund of the Trust is the same as a sale. The individual tax rate on any gain from the sale or exchange of your shares depends on how long you have held your shares.
Fund distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your shares will generally be subject to state and local income tax. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax. You should consult with your tax adviser about the federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences of your investment in the Fund.
By law, the Fund must withhold 28% of your taxable distributions and proceeds if you do not provide your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) or fail to certify that your TIN is correct and that you are a U.S. person, or if the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) has notified you that you are subject to backup withholding and instructs the Fund to do so.
Cost Basis Reporting. 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 the 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 Fund has chosen average cost as its standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders. 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 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.
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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.
The Trust |
The Fund is a series of the Trust, an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 9, 2007. The Trustees supervise the operations of the Fund according to applicable state and federal law, and the Trustees are responsible for the overall management of the Funds business affairs.
Shareholder Service Fees |
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan for the Investor Class shares. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund may compensate Financial Intermediaries that provide services for shareholders of the Fund. The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the annual rate of 0.20% (for Investor Class shares) of the average daily net assets of the Funds Shares for activities relating to these services. Such activities may include the provision of sub-accounting, recordkeeping and/or administrative services, responding to customer inquiries, and providing information on customer investments. Because the shareholder services fees are paid out of the Funds assets on an on-going basis, these fees, over time, will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The Plan, while primarily intended to compensate for shareholder services expenses, was adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and it therefore may be used to pay for certain expenditures related to financing distribution-related activities of the Fund.
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions |
Frequent purchases and redemptions (Frequent Trading) of shares of the Fund may present a number of risks to other shareholders of the Fund. These risks may include, among other things, dilution in the value of shares of the Fund held by long-term shareholders, interference with the efficient management by the Adviser of the Funds portfolio holdings, and increased brokerage and administration costs. Due to the potential of an overall adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions affecting the sale price of portfolio securities, the Fund could face untimely losses as a result of having to sell portfolio securities prematurely to meet redemptions. Current shareholders of the Fund may face unfavorable impacts as portfolio securities concentrated in certain sectors may be more volatile than investments across broader ranges of industries as sector-specific market or economic developments may make it more difficult to sell a significant amount of shares at favorable prices to meet redemptions. Frequent Trading may also increase portfolio turnover, which may result in increased capital gains taxes for shareholders of the Fund. These capital gains could include short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
The Fund will assess a 2.00% redemption fee of Investor Class Shares of the Fund redeemed within 60 days of purchase as a percentage of amount redeemed. The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of long-term shareholders. The first in-first out (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you purchase shares on different days, the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies. The fee does not apply to Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and the Automatic Investment Plan or shares redeemed through the Systematic Withdrawal Program. The Fund reserves the right to change the terms and amount of this fee upon at least a 60-day notice to shareholders.
23
The Trustees have adopted a policy that is intended to identify and discourage Frequent Trading by shareholders of the Fund under which the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer and Transfer Agent will monitor Frequent Trading through the use of various surveillance techniques. Under these policies and procedures, shareholders may not engage in more than four round-trips (a purchase and sale or an exchange in and then out of a Fund) within a rolling twelve month period. Shareholders exceeding four round-trips will be investigated by the Fund and possibly restricted from making additional investments in the Fund. The intent of the policies and procedures is not to inhibit legitimate strategies, such as asset allocation, dollar cost averaging or similar activities that may nonetheless result in Frequent Trading of Fund shares. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange or purchase of Fund shares with or without prior notice to the account holder. In the event the foregoing purchase and redemption patterns occur, it shall be the policy of the Trust that the shareholders account and any other account with the Fund under the same taxpayer identification number shall be precluded from investing in the Fund (including investment that are part of an exchange transaction) for such time period as the Trust deems appropriate based on the facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, the dollar amount involved and whether the Investor has been precluded from investing in the Fund before); provided that such time period shall be at least 30 calendar days after the last redemption transaction. The above policies shall not apply if the Trust determines that a purchase and redemption pattern is not a Frequent Trading pattern or is the result of inadvertent trading errors .
These policies and procedures will be applied uniformly to all shareholders and the Fund will not accommodate market timers.
The policies also apply to any account, whether an individual account or accounts with Financial Intermediaries such as investment advisers, broker dealers or retirement plan administrators, commonly called omnibus accounts, where the intermediary holds Fund shares for a number of its customers in one account. Omnibus account arrangements permit multiple investors to aggregate their respective share ownership positions and purchase, redeem and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the particular shareholder(s) being known to the Fund. Accordingly, the ability of the Fund to monitor and detect Frequent Trading activity through omnibus accounts is very limited and there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify shareholders who may be engaging in Frequent Trading through omnibus accounts or to curtail such trading. However, the Fund will establish information sharing agreements with intermediaries as required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, and otherwise use reasonable efforts to work with intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in underlying accounts.
If the Fund identifies that excessive short-term trading is taking place in a participant-directed employee benefit plan accounts, the Fund or its Adviser or Transfer Agent will contact the plan administrator, sponsor or trustee to request that action be taken to restrict such activity. However, the ability to do so may be constrained by regulatory restrictions or plan policies. In such circumstances, it is generally not the policy of the Fund to close the account of an entire plan due to the activity of a limited number of participants. However, the Fund will take such actions as deemed appropriate in light of all the facts and circumstances.
The Funds policies provide for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of current policies and surveillance tools, and the Trustees reserves the right to modify these or adopt additional policies and restrictions in the future. Shareholders should be aware, however, that any surveillance techniques currently employed by the Fund or other techniques that may be adopted in the future, may not be effective, particularly where the trading takes place through certain types of omnibus accounts. As noted above, if the Fund is unable to detect and deter trading abuses, the Funds performance, and its long term shareholders, may be harmed. In addition, shareholders may be harmed by the extra costs and portfolio management inefficiencies that result from Frequent Trading, even when the trading is not for abusive purposes.
24
Distribution Arrangements |
The Fund is offered through financial supermarkets, investment advisers and consultants, financial planners, brokers, dealers and other investment professionals, and directly through the Distributor. Investment professionals who offer shares may request fees from their individual clients. If you invest through a third party, the policies and fees may be different than those described in this prospectus. For example, third parties may charge transaction fees or set different minimum investment amounts. If you purchase your shares through a broker-dealer, the broker-dealer firm is entitled to receive a percentage of the sales charge you pay in order to purchase Fund shares.
25
Financial Highlights |
The Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor Fund and, therefore, the financial information presented below is for the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Funds shareholders approved the reorganization into the Fund on January 13, 2016. The reorganization subsequently took place on February 8, 2016.
The following table is intended to help you better understand the financial performance of the Fund since its inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Total return represents the rate you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information has been audited by Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Funds financial statements, is included in the Funds annual report to shareholders. The annual report is available from the Fund upon request without charge.
26
Year Ended | Period Ended | (a) | |||||
12/31/2015 | 12/31/2014 | ||||||
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Period | $ | 11.83 | $ | 10.00 | |||
Income (Loss) From Investment Operations: | |||||||
Net Investment Income * |
0.14 | 0.13 | |||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments |
(1.33) | 1.92 | |||||
Total from Investment Operations |
(1.19) | 2.05 | |||||
Distributions from: | |||||||
Net Investment Income |
(0.12) | (0.09) | |||||
Net Realized Gain |
(0.12) | (0.13) | |||||
Total from Distributions |
(0.24) | (0.22) | |||||
Net Asset Value, at End of Period | $ | 10.40 | $ | 11.83 | |||
Total Return** | (10.04)% | 20.51% | (c) | ||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | |||||||
Net Assets at End of Period (Thousands) |
$ | 3,033 | $ | 2,894 | |||
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets |
0.90% | 0.90% | (b) | ||||
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets |
1.20% | 1.30% | (b) | ||||
Portfolio Turnover |
54.61% | 31.91% | (c) |
(a) | The Fund commenced investment operations on January 31, 2014. |
(b) | Annualized |
(c) | Not Annualized |
* | Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of average shares method. |
** | Total Return in the above table represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund assuming reinvestment of all Fund distributions. |
27
(a) | The Fund commenced investment operations on January 31, 2014. |
(b) | Annualized |
(c) | Not Annualized |
* | Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of average shares method. |
** | Total Return in the above table represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund assuming reinvestment of all Fund distributions. |
28
APPENDIX
Advisers Prior Performance |
The data below is provided to illustrate the past performance of Clifford Capital Partners, LLC, the Funds adviser, in managing all substantially similar equity accounts as measured against market indices, and does not represent the performance of the Fund, nor should it be considered a substitute for the Funds performance. You should not consider this performance data as a prediction or an indication of future performance of the Fund or the performance that one might achieve by investing in the Fund.
The Clifford Capital Institutional Portfolio (the Composite) represents all fully discretionary private advisory accounts that are managed in accordance with the Clifford Capital Institutional Portfolio investment strategy. The Fund is also managed in a manner that is substantially similar to the manner in which these discretionary private advisory accounts are managed. The investment objectives, strategies, and policies of the Fund are substantially similar to the discretionary private advisory accounts included in the Composite. The Composite began on August 1, 2010, the first full month the Adviser began managing accounts.
The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds like the Fund. The SEC standard method for calculation of performance information for mutual funds was not utilized to calculate the performance of the Composite. The performance information shown below is not representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund. The discretionary private advisory accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the discretionary private advisory accounts in the Composite were subject to the same federal securities tax laws as the Fund. In addition, the discretionary private advisory accounts are not subject to the same adverse effects of cash inflows and outflows of investor money that a public mutual fund such as the Fund may be subject to, and accordingly the performance of these accounts may be higher than for a public mutual fund managed under the same investment strategy. Composite Net-of-Fees performance results are net of all fees, expenses, and, if applicable, sales loads or placement fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the net of fees Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular account. The use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.
The operating expenses incurred by the discretionary private advisory accounts in the Composite differ from the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund, with some higher and some lower. The Adviser believes that the net effect of these differences would not have been material to its prior performance results.
29
The Advisers Clifford Capital Institutional
Portfolio Composite
( August 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015 ) |
The following data illustrates the past performance of the Adviser in managing all substantially similar discretionary private advisory accounts and does not represent the performance of the Fund.
Total Return | Total Return | ||||||||||
(net of investment | (gross of investment | Russell 3000® Value | |||||||||
Year | management fees) | management fees) | Total Return Index | ||||||||
Aug. 1
Dec 31.,
2010 |
14.32% | 14.57% | 14.35% | ||||||||
2011 | 4.20% | 5.18% | -0.10% | ||||||||
2012 | 20.15% | 21.29% | 17.55% | ||||||||
2013 | 33.22% | 34.46% | 32.69% | ||||||||
2014 | 17.49% | 18.63% | 12.70% | ||||||||
2015 | -10.52% | -10.08% | -4.13% |
Composite Average Annual Returns ( as of December 31, 2015 )
Total Return | Total Return | ||||||||||
(net of investment | (gross of investment | Russell 3000® Value | |||||||||
Time Period | management fees) | management fees) | Total Return Index | ||||||||
One year | (10.52%) | (10.08) % | (4.13)% | ||||||||
Three years | 11.89% | 12.78% | 12.77% | ||||||||
Five years | 11.90% | 10.98% | |||||||||
Since Inception
(8/1/2010 12/31/2015) |
13.70% | 14.65% | 12.85% |
30
31
How to Get More Information |
Where To Go For Information |
For shareholder inquiries, please call (800) 628-4077.
The Statement of Additional Information is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), contains additional and more detailed information about the Fund, and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the Funds annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during its last fiscal year. There are four ways to get a copy of these documents.
1. | Call or write for one, and a copy will be sent without charge. |
Clifford Capital Partners Fund | |
c/o Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. | |
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205 | |
Richmond, Virginia 23235 | |
(800) 628-4077 | |
2. |
Call or write
the Public Reference Section of SEC and ask them to mail you a copy. The SEC charges a fee for
this service. You can also review and copy information about the Fund in person
at the SEC Public Reference
Room in Washington D.C.
|
Public Reference Section of the SEC | |
Washington D.C. 20549-1520 | |
1-202-551-8090 | |
Reports and
other information regarding the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs
Internet site free of charge 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 Commissions Public Reference Section, Washington D.C. 20549-0102.
|
|
3. | Go to the SECs website (www.sec.gov) and download a text-only version. |
4. |
Copies of
these documents may also be obtained free of charge by visiting the Funds
website at
www.cliffordcapfunds.com
or by visiting
www.theworldfundstrust.com
. You may also e-mail the Fund at
mail@ccofva.com
.
|
No dealer, salesman, or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this Prospectus, and, if given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Funds or the Adviser. This Prospectus does not constitute an offering in any state in which such offering may not lawfully be made.
32
The Advisers Contact Information is: |
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC
40 Shuman Blvd., Suite 256
Naperville, Illinois 60563
(312) 554-5005
SEC file number 811-22172
Clifford
Capital Partners Fund
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205
Richmond, Virginia
23235
(800) 673-0550
Investor Class
(CLFFX)
Institutional Class (CLIFX)
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
February 8, 2016
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (the Fund) dated February 8, 2016. The SAI is incorporated by reference into the Funds prospectus. This SAI incorporates by reference the Predecessor Funds (as defined below) Annual Report for the period ended December 31, 2015. A free copy of the Prospectus and Annual Report can be obtained by writing to World Funds Trust (the Trust), 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, or by calling (800) 628-4077.
Pursuant to a reorganization that took place on February 8, 2016, the Fund is a successor by merger from a series of the Cottonwood Mutual Funds (the Predecessor Fund).
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND | 3 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS | 3 |
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS | 5 |
MANAGEMENT | 6 |
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION | 14 |
PRICING AND PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES | 29 |
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND | 30 |
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS | 30 |
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS | 36 |
PROXY VOTING POLICIES | 38 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 39 |
EXHIBIT A | 40 |
EXHIBIT B | 42 |
EXHIBIT C | 46 |
2
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND |
General . World Funds Trust (the Trust) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 9, 2007. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and commonly known as a mutual fund. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (funds) of shares of beneficial interest (shares). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund, and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing, insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses; and (ii) pro rata share of the funds other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an investment adviser to a fund may be obligated through an investment advisory, expense limitation, or fee waiver agreement to assume, waive, reimburse, or otherwise assume responsibility for certain of the funds operating expenses any such arrangements for a fund are described in that funds prospectus and statement of additional information.
Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate Statements of Additional Information.
The Fund. This SAI relates to the prospectus for the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (the Fund), and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus. This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Funds prospectus. No investment in shares should be made without reading the prospectus. The Fund is a separate investment portfolio or series of the Trust.
Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to issue two classes of shares: Investor Class shares charging a 0.20% 12b-1 fee and Institutional Class shares imposing no 12b-1 fee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS |
The Funds investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the prospectus. This section contains a discussion of some of the investments the Fund may make and some of the techniques it may use.
Portfolio Turnover. Average annual portfolio turnover rate is the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio securities owned during the year, excluding from both the numerator and the denominator all securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. A higher portfolio turnover rate involves greater transaction expenses to the Fund and may result in the realization of net capital gains, which would be taxable to shareholders when distributed. The Funds Adviser makes purchases and sales for the Funds portfolio whenever necessary, in the Advisers opinion, to meet the Funds objective. During the Funds most recent fiscal period, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 54.61% of the average value of its portfolio.
3
Equity Securities . The Fund may invest in equity securities such as common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, rights and warrants. Common stocks, the most familiar type, represent an equity (ownership) interest in a corporation. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed by the issuer to its shareholders. Although equity securities have a history of long term growth in value, their prices fluctuate based on changes in a companys financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities . The portfolio of the Fund may contain illiquid securities. Illiquid securities generally include securities which cannot be disposed of promptly and in the ordinary course of business without taking a reduced price. Securities may be illiquid due to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or lack of a ready market. The following securities are considered to be illiquid: repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, nonpublicly offered securities and restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities where the resale of which is subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions, in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933 or pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under such Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense, and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time such security may be sold under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than the price it could have obtained when it decided to sell. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
With respect to Rule 144A securities, these restricted securities are treated as exempt from the 15% limit on illiquid securities, provided that a dealer or institutional trading market in such securities exists. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser determines the liquidity of restricted securities and, through reports from the Adviser, the Board of Trustees will monitor trading activity in restricted securities. If institutional trading in restricted securities were to decline, the liquidity of a Fund could be adversely affected.
U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are high-quality debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. Not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of, or guaranteed by the United States Treasury. For example, securities issued by the Farm Credit Banks or by the Federal National Mortgage Association are supported by the instrumentalitys right to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances. Moreover, securities issued by other agencies or instrumentalities are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them.
Borrowing. At this time, the Fund does not expect to engage in borrowing. The Fund may engage in borrowing in the future and, to the extent it does so, the Fund will be permitted to borrow money up to one-third of the value of its total assets. Borrowing is a speculative technique that increases both investment opportunity and a Funds ability to achieve greater diversification. However, it also increases investment risk. Because the Funds investments will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowed funds may be fixed, during times of borrowing, the Funds net asset value may tend to increase more when its investments increase in value, and decrease more when its investments decrease in value. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market interest rates and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on the borrowed funds. Also, during times of borrowing under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.
Currently, subject to modification to conform to the 1940 Act as interpreted or modified from time to time, the Fund is permitted, consistent with the 1940 Act, to borrow, and pledge its shares to secure such borrowing, provided, that immediately thereafter there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all
4
borrowings by the Fund from a bank. If borrowings exceed this 300% asset coverage requirement by reason of a decline in net assets of the Fund, the Fund will reduce its borrowings within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 300% asset coverage requirement. The 1940 Act also permits a Fund to borrow for temporary purposes only in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time when the loan is made. A loan shall be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed. To the extent outstanding borrowings of a Fund exceed 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund, the Fund will not make additional purchases of securities the foregoing shall not be construed to prevent the Fund from settling portfolio transactions or satisfying shareholder redemptions orders. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) has indicated, however, that certain types of transactions, which could be deemed borrowings (such as firm commitment agreements and reverse repurchase agreements), are permissible if a Fund covers the agreements by establishing and maintaining segregated accounts.
Financial Services Industry Obligations. The Fund may invest in each of the following obligations of the financial services industry:
(1) Certificate of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank or a savings and loan association to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from fourteen days to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate.
(2) Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution or a savings and loan association for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate.
(3) Bankers Acceptances. Bankers acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer, which instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements fully collateralized by obligations issued by the U.S. government or agencies of the U.S. government (U.S. Government Obligations). A repurchase agreement is a short term investment in which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires ownership of a U.S. Government Obligation (which may be of any maturity) and the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a future time at a set price, thereby determining the yield during the purchasers holding period (usually not more than 7 days from the date of purchase). Any repurchase transaction in which the Fund engages will require full collateralization of the sellers obligation during the entire term of the repurchase agreement. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of the seller, a Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses in value. However, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with the custodian, other banks with assets of $1 billion or more and registered securities dealers determined by the Adviser to be creditworthy. The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of the banks and securities dealers with which a Fund engages in repurchase transactions. The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
Cash Investments. Under normal market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in cash. When the Adviser believes market, economic or political conditions are unfavorable for investors, the Adviser may invest up to 100% of the Funds net assets in cash, cash equivalents or other short-term investments. Unfavorable market or economic conditions may include excessive volatility or a prolonged general decline in the securities markets, or the U.S. economy. The Adviser also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS |
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
5
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, 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 may not borrow money except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and
as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time
to time.
|
|
2. |
Senior Securities.
The Fund may not issue any senior security to others, except as permitted under
the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction,
from time to time.
|
|
3. |
Underwriting.
The Fund may not underwrite securities issued by others except to the extent the
Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws, in connection
with the disposition of portfolio securities.
|
|
4. |
Real Estate.
The Fund may not purchase or sell real estate except as permitted under the 1940
Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction,
from time to time.
|
|
5. |
Commodities.
The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodity futures contracts,
except as permitted by the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory
authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.
|
|
6. |
Loans. The
Fund may not make loans to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as
interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to
time.
|
|
7. |
Concentration.
The Fund may not invest more than 25% of the value of its net assets in any one
industry or group of industries (except that securities of the U.S. government,
its agencies and instrumentalities are not subject to these limitations).
|
Additionally, as a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund shall be a diversified company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities from time to time.
With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its 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. With respect to Funds policy on concentration, the Fund will use the Standard Industrial Classification Codes list that is maintained by the SEC to classify the Funds holdings by industry.
MANAGEMENT |
THE INVESTMENT ADVISER |
The Adviser is Clifford Capital Partners, LLC, located at 40 Shuman Blvd., Suite 256, Naperville, Illinois 60563. The Adviser was organized in 2010 as an Illinois limited liability company. The Adviser is owned by Ryan P. Batchelor, CFA, CPA (48%), Wayne G. Pierson, CFA, CPA (48%), David W. Passey (2%), and Heather Bryce (2%). The Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser.
Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, at its own expense and without reimbursement from the Trust, furnishes office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and executive personnel necessary for managing the assets of the Fund. Under this Agreement the Adviser pays the operating expenses of the Fund excluding fees payable under the Advisory Agreement, brokerage fees
6
and commissions, taxes, fees pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan, shareholder services fees, interest expense, the costs of acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses. For its services the Adviser receives an investment management fee equal to 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Fund (and deducted proportionately from each class of Shares).
On February 8, 2016, the Predecessor Fund was reorganized into a new series of the Trust (the Fund). Prior to the reorganization the Adviser was the investment adviser to the Predecessor Fund and received payments for each of the years set forth below.
The following table describes the advisory fees earned to the Adviser by the Predecessor Fund for the period indicated.
Fiscal Year Ended | Advisory Fees Earned |
December 31, 2014 1 | $15,040 |
December 31, 2015 | $35,057 |
1 For the period January 31, 2014 (the Funds inception date) through December 31, 2014.
The Adviser retains the right to use the name Clifford or any derivative thereof in connection with another investment company or business enterprise with which the Adviser is or may become associated. The Trusts right to use the name Clifford or any derivative thereof automatically ceases ninety days after termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on ninety days written notice.
The Adviser may make payments to banks or other financial institutions that provide shareholder services and administer shareholder accounts. If a bank or other financial institution were prohibited from continuing to perform all or a part of such services, management of the Fund believes that there would be no material impact on the Fund or its shareholders. 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 financial institutions services will be lower than to those shareholders who do not. 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.
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGER |
The table below provides information regarding other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager of the Fund as of December 31, 2015.
Ryan P. Batchelor
Account Type |
Number of
Accounts by Account 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 |
Registered Investment Companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other Pooled Investment Companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other Accounts | 37 | $27,657,204 | 0 | 0 |
7
Mr. Batchelor is compensated through his equity ownership in the Adviser. He does not receive separate compensation for his service as portfolio manager. As an equity member of the Adviser, the portfolio manager receives compensation in the form of distributions and profits from the Adviser.
The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in the Fund as of December 31, 2015.
Name of
Portfolio
Manager |
Dollar Range
of Equity Securities
in the Fund |
Ryan P. Batchelor | $10,001 - $50,000 |
Potential conflicts of interest may arise because the Portfolio Manager uses the same proprietary investment methodology for the Fund as for other clients. This means that the Portfolio Manager 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 Adviser may compete in purchasing available investments and, to the extent that the demand exceeds the 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 Portfolio Manager recommends the purchase or sale of various investments to other clients and do not purchase or sell the same investments for the Fund, or purchases or sells an investment for the Fund and does not include such investment in recommendations provided to other clients. This is because the Advisers portfolio recommendations among clients differ based on each clients investment policy guidelines and/or prevailing market conditions at the time such recommendation is made. The Portfolio Manager is charged with preventing positions in portfolios from being both long and short at the same time. The Portfolio Manager uses a combination of proprietary software and third-party risk management software to monitor and ensure that positions are consistent across all portfolios.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS |
The Trust is governed by the Board of Trustees (the Board), which is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. 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. The names, addresses and ages of the trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal occupations during the past five years, are listed below.
Each Trustee was nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees based on their particular experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills. Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. David J. Urban has been a Professor of Education since 1989. His strategic planning, organizational and leadership skills help the Board set long-term goals. Ms. Mary Lou H. Ivey has over 10 years of business experience as a practicing tax accountant and, as such, brings tax, budgeting and financial reporting skills to the Board. Mr. Theo H. Pitt has experience as an investor, including his role as trustee of several other investment companies and business experience as Senior Partner of a financial consulting company, as a partner of a real estate partnership and as an Account Administrator for a money management firm. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustees qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The Chairman of the Board is Ms. Ivey, who is not an interested person of the Trust, within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Trust does not have a lead independent trustee. The Trust also has an independent Audit Committee that allows the Board to access the expertise necessary of oversee the Trust, identify risks, recognize shareholder concerns and needs and highlight opportunities. The Audit Committee is able to focus Board time and attention to matters of interest to shareholders and, through its
8
private sessions with the Trusts auditor, Chief Compliance Officer and legal counsel, stay fully informed regarding management decisions.
Mutual funds face a number of risks, including investment risk, compliance risk and valuation risk. The Board oversees management of the Funds risks directly and through its officers. While day-to-day risk management responsibilities rest with the each Funds Chief Compliance Officer, investment advisers and other service providers, the Board monitors and tracks risk by: (1) receiving and reviewing quarterly reports related to the performance and operations of the Funds; (2) reviewing and approving, as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust, including the Trusts valuation policies and transaction procedures; (3) periodically meeting with the portfolio manager to review investment strategies, techniques and related risks; (4) meeting with representatives of key service providers, including the Funds investment advisers, administrator, distributor, transfer agent and the independent registered public accounting firm, to discuss the activities of the Funds; (5) engaging the services of the Chief Compliance Officer of the each Fund to monitor and test the compliance procedures of the Trust and its service providers; (6) receiving and reviewing reports from the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm regarding the Funds financial condition and the Trusts internal controls; and (7) receiving and reviewing an annual written report prepared by the Chief Compliance Officer reviewing the adequacy of the Trusts compliance policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Board has concluded that its general oversight of the investment advisers and other service providers as implemented through the reporting and monitoring process outlined above allows the Board to effectively administer its risk oversight function.
Each Trustee was nominated to serve on the Board of Trustees based on their particular experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills. The characteristics that have led the Board to conclude that each of the Trustees should continue to serve as a Trustee of the Trust are discussed above.
Following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their principal occupation over the last five years.
NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES
NAME,
ADDRESS AND AGE |
POSITION(S)
HELD WITH THE TRUST |
TERM
OF
OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME SERVED |
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS |
NUMBER
OF FUNDS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE |
David J. Urban
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 60 |
Trustee |
Indefinite,
Since June 2010 |
Dean, Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University since July 2013; Virginia Commonwealth University, Professor of Marketing from 1989 to 2013. | 15 | None |
Mary Lou H.
Ivey 8730 Stony |
Trustee |
Indefinite,
Since June 2010 |
Accountant, Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C., accounting firm, since 2008. | 15 | None |
9
NAME,
ADDRESS AND AGE |
POSITION(S)
HELD WITH THE TRUST |
TERM
OF
OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME SERVED |
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS |
NUMBER
OF FUNDS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE |
Point Pkwy
Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 57 |
|||||
Theo H. Pitt, Jr.
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 79 |
Trustee |
Indefinite;
Since August 2013 |
Senior Partner, Community Financial Institutions Consulting (bank consulting) 1997 to present. | 15 | Independent Trustee of Gardner Lewis Investment Trust for the two series of that trust; Leeward Investment Trust for the two series of that trust; Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust for the one series of that trust; and Starboard Investment Trust for the 28 series of that trust; (all registered investment companies). |
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES
NAME,
ADDRESS AND AGE |
POSITION(S) HELD
WITH THE TRUST |
TERM
OF
OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME SERVED |
PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S) DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS |
NUMBER
OF FUNDS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE |
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS |
John Pasco III
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 |
President
and
Principal Executive Officer |
Indefinite,
Since June 2010 |
President, Treasurer and Director of Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (CFS), the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent, Disbursing Agent, and | N/A | N/A |
10
Age: 70 | Accounting Services Agent since 1993; and President and Director of First Dominion Capital Corp. (FDCC), the Trusts underwriter. Mr. Pasco is a certified public accountant. | ||||
Karen M. Shupe
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 51 |
Treasurer and
Principal Financial Officer |
Indefinite,
Since June 2008 |
Managing Director of Fund Operations, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2003 to present. | N/A | N/A |
David Bogaert
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 52 |
Vice
President |
Indefinite,
Since November 2013 |
Managing Director of Business Development, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., October 2013 present; Senior Vice President of Business Development and other positions for Huntington Asset Services, Inc. from 1986 to 2013. | N/A | N/A |
Ann T.
MacDonald 8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 61 |
Assistant
Treasurer |
Indefinite,
Since November 2015 |
Director, Fund Administration and Fund Accounting, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2003 present. | N/A | N/A |
John H. Lively
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 47 |
Secretary |
Indefinite,
Since November 2013 |
Attorney, The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc. (law firm), March 2010 to present: Attorney, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP (law firm), March 2007 to February 2010. | N/A | N/A |
Cynthia D.
Baughman 8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 47 |
Assistant
Secretary |
Indefinite,
Since November 2013 |
Attorney, The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc. (law firm), July 2011 to present; Associate, Investment Law Group, LLP (law firm) (May 2009 June 2011); Associate, Dechert, LLP (law firm) (Oct. 1999 Feb. 2009). | N/A | N/A |
Holly B.
Giangiulio 8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 53 |
Assistant
Secretary |
Indefinite,
Since May 2015 |
Managing Director, Corporate Operations, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., January 2015 to present, Corporate Accounting and HR Manager from 2010 to 2015. | N/A | N/A |
Julian G.
Winters
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 47 |
Chief
Compliance Officer. |
Indefinite,
Since August 2013. |
Managing Member of Watermark Solutions, LLC (investment compliance and consulting) since March 2007. | N/A | N/A |
11
Trustee Committees
The Board oversees the Trust and certain aspects of the services provide by that the Adviser and the Funds other service providers. Each trustee will hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Each officer of the Trust serves at the pleasure of the Board and for a term of one year or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
The Trust has a standing Audit Committee of the Board composed of Mr. Urban, Ms. Ivey and Mr. Pitt. The functions of the Audit Committee are to meet with the Trusts independent auditors to review the scope and findings of the annual audit, discuss the Trusts accounting policies, discuss any recommendations of the independent auditors with respect to the Trusts management practices, review the impact of changes in accounting standards on the Trusts financial statements, recommend to the Board the selection of independent registered public accounting firm, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Audit Committee by the Board. For the Trusts most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Audit Committee met 7 times.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of Mr. Urban, Ms. Ivey and Mr. Pitt. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees purposes, duties and powers are set forth in its written charter, which is described in Exhibit C the charter also describes the process by which shareholders of the Trust may make nominations. For the Trusts most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Committee met once.
The Valuation Committee is comprised of Mr. Urban, Ms. Ivey and Mr. Pitt. The Valuation Committee meets as needed in the event that the Funds hold any securities that are subject to valuation and it reviews the fair valuation of such securities on an as needed basis. For the Trusts most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Committee did not meet.
The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee is comprised of Mr. Urban, Ms. Ivey and Mr. Pitt. The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee receives, investigates, and makes recommendations as to the appropriate remedial action in connection with any report of evidence of a material violation of the securities laws or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Trust, its officers, Trustees, or agents. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Committee did not meet.
Trustee Compensation . Each Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust may receive compensation for their services to the Trust. All Trustees are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings. Each Trustee will receive an annual retainer of $18,000.
12
Name of
Person / Position |
Aggregate
Compensation From Fund |
Pension
or Retirement
Benefits Accrued As Part of Funds Expenses |
Estimated
Annual
Benefits upon Retirement |
Total
Compensation From
Fund and Fund Complex Paid To Trustees (*) (1) |
David J. Urban,
Trustee Mary Lou H. Ivey, Trustee Theo H. Pitt, Jr., Trustee |
$0
$0 $0 |
$0
$0 $0 |
$0
$0 $0 |
$18,000
$18,000 $18,000 |
(1) The Fund Complex consists of the Trust, which is comprised of the fifteen Funds.
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares . 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, 2015, 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.
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 | ||
David J. Urban | A | A |
Mary Lou H. Ivey | A | A |
Theo H. Pitt, Jr. | A | A |
13
Sales Loads. No front-end or deferred sales charges are applied to purchase of Fund shares by current or former trustees, officers, employees or agents of the Trust, the Adviser or the principal underwriter and by the members of their immediate families.
Policies Concerning Personal Investment Activities. The Fund, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that permit investment personnel, subject to their particular code of ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, for their own account.
The Codes of Ethics are on file with, and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D. C. In addition, the Codes of Ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov .
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION |
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 investment advisory agreement with the Adviser.
As of December 31, 2015, the following persons were considered to be either a control person or principal shareholder of the Predecessor Fund.
Investor Class
Name and Address | Number of Shares / % of Class | Type of Ownership |
Wayne G. Pierson
13425 SW Juanita Pl Beaverton, OR 97008 |
2,599/21.99% | Record |
Shelly F and
Joyce K Greenhaus
JTWOS 15 Hallock Pl Armork, NY 10504 |
2,111/17.87% | Record |
Debra Brock
IRA
975 S Royal Palm Rd Apache Jct, AZ 85119 |
1,729/14.64% | Record |
Nancy J. Bright
N63 W23347 Main St Sussex, WI 53089 |
1,198/10.14% | Record |
Bryan H and
Erin M
Vancronkwhite JTWROS W126N6291 Parkway Dr Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 |
851/7.20% | Record |
Mila Ranovic
IRA SEP
2823 Fairgrove Lane Salt Lake City, UT 84120 |
815/6.90% | Record |
Heather D.
Pierson Bryce
1431 Larsen Lane Naperville, IL 60563 |
715/6.06% | Record |
14
Institutional Class
Name and Address | Number of Shares / % of Class | Type of Ownership |
1
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Attn: Mutual Funds 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA 94105 |
111,651/38.30% | Record |
Heather Ramanlal
42-137 Old Kalanianaole Rd Kailua, HI 96734 |
29,707/10.19% | Record |
Kivalu Ramanlal
42-137 Old Kalanianaole Rd Kailua, HI 96734 |
29,658/10.17% | Record |
Mitchell T. Houghton Trad IRA
2451 Whitehall Ct. Aurora, IL 60504 |
19,101/6.55% | Record |
The Pierson Family Trust
Hailton, MT 59840 |
17,703/6.07% | Record |
Ronald M Durant IRA
1064 Maunawili Rd |
14,788/5.07% | Record |
1 |
The Funds
shares are sold through channels including broker-dealer intermediaries that may
establish single, omnibus
accounts with the Funds transfer agent. The beneficial owners of these shares,
however, are the individual
investors who maintain accounts within these broker-dealer intermediaries.
|
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE |
Subject to policies established by the Board, the Adviser is responsible for the Funds portfolio decisions and the placing of the Funds portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution for the Fund, 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. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. The Adviser may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions. However, the Adviser 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 Funds Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the brokers execution and not on its sales efforts.
The Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is specifically authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion and to pay such brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would charge if the Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Advisers overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.
15
Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Adviser in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Adviser, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Adviser of performing its duties to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement. Due to research services provided by brokers, the Fund may direct trades to certain brokers.
There were no directed trades in exchange for research services during the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.
When the Fund and another of the Advisers clients seek to purchase or sell the same security at or about the same time, the Adviser may execute the transaction on a combined (blocked) basis. Blocked transactions can produce better execution for the Fund because of the increased volume of the transaction. If the entire blocked order is not filled, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires or it may have to pay a higher price for the security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell or as high a price for any particular portfolio security if the other client desires to sell the same portfolio security at the same time. In the event that the entire blocked order is not filled, the purchase or sale will normally be allocated on a pro rata basis. The allocation may be adjusted by the Adviser, taking into account such factors as the size of the individual orders and transaction costs, when the Adviser believes an adjustment is reasonable.
The following table sets forth the brokerage commissions paid by the Predecessor Fund on its portfolio brokerage transactions during the periods shown:
Fiscal
Year End
|
Brokerage Commissions |
December 31, 2014* | $1,147.24 |
December 31, 2015 | $1,797.60 |
* For the period January 31, 2014 (inception date of the Fund) through December 31, 2014.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES |
The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on April 9, 2007. The Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest in the Trust and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares into one or more series of shares. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust further authorizes the trustees to classify or reclassify any series of shares into one or more classes. The Trusts shares of beneficial interest have no par value.
16
The Trust is authorized to issue two classes of shares: Investor Class Shares imposing no front-end or deferred sales charges and imposing a 0.20% 12b-1 fee and a 2.00% redemption fee; and Institutional Class Shares imposing no front-end, deferred sales charges, 12b-1 fees or redemption fees.
Shares have no preemptive rights and only such conversion or exchange rights as the Board may grant in its discretion. When issued for payment as described in the applicable prospectus, shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or an individual fund, shareholders of a fund are entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to the particular fund, and a proportionate distribution, based upon the relative asset values of the respective fund, of any general assets of the Trust not belonging to any particular fund which are available for distribution.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held, and a proportionate fractional vote for each fractional share held, and will vote in the aggregate and not by class, except as otherwise expressly required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted on affects only the interests of shareholders of a particular class. Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate of the Trusts outstanding shares may elect all of the trustees, irrespective of the votes of other shareholders.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each fund affected by the matter. A particular fund is deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each fund in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the fund. Under the Rule, the approval of an investment management agreement or any change in an investment objective, if fundamental, or in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a fund only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such fund. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of trustees may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series or class.
The Trust does not presently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Upon the written request of shareholders owning at least 25% of the Trusts shares, the Trust will call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more trustees and other certain matters. To the extent required by law, the Trust will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.
The Board has full power and authority, in its sole discretion, and without obtaining shareholder approval, to divide or combine the shares of any class or series thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued shares or any class or series thereof into one or more classes or series of shares, and to take such other action with respect to the Trusts shares as the Board may deem desirable. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the trustees, without shareholder approval, to cause the Trust to merge or to consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization in order to change the form of organization and/or domicile of the Trust or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, in dissolution of the Trust, or any series or class thereof. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust by the trustees without shareholder approval. However, the exercise of such authority by the Board without shareholder approval may be subject to certain restrictions or limitations under the 1940 Act.
17
CODES OF ETHICS |
The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, Distributor and Administrator have each adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (access persons). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The personnel subject to the Codes are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements, or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION |
If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company (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) 98.2% of the Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (ii) 98% 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 it paid no federal income tax in preceding years. The Funds generally intend to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal market conditions, do 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.
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To the extent that a Fund has capital loss carryforwards from prior tax years, those carryforwards will reduce the net capital gains that can support the Funds distribution of Capital Gain Dividends. If the Fund uses net capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (pre-2011 losses), those carryforwards will not reduce the Funds current earnings and profits, as losses incurred in later years will. As a result, if that Fund then makes distributions of capital gains recognized during the current year in excess of net capital gains (as reduced by carryforwards), the portion of the excess equal to pre-2011 losses factoring into net capital gain will be taxable as an ordinary dividend distribution, even though that distributed excess amount would not have been subject to tax if retained by the Fund. 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). For net capital losses recognized prior to such date, such losses are permitted to be carried forward up to 8 years and are characterized as short-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. 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, 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 nonqualifying 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, 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 20% rate) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, and provided in each case certain holding
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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 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. 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).
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 Forms 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 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 advisor 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 the
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shareholders 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, while long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.
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 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 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.
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 advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.
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
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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 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
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in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the 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 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
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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 it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it 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.
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.
Tax-Exempt Shareholders. A tax-exempt shareholder could recognize unrelated business taxable income (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 the Fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) or equity interests in a taxable mortgage pool (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
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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 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.
Effective for taxable years of a regulated investment company beginning before January 1, 2012, a regulated investment company is not required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that does not provide a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within a foreign country that has inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to
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those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders (interest-related dividends), and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than (a) distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (b) distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses to the extent such distributions are properly reported by the regulated investment company (short-term capital gain dividends). If the Fund invests in an underlying fund that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to foreign persons.
The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. These exemptions from withholding will not be available to foreign shareholders of Funds that do not currently report their dividends as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends.
In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to shareholders. Foreign persons should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.
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 were 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 were 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 the Fund from a lower-tier REIT, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.
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In addition, if the Fund were 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 Fund 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 Fund 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.
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 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
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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.
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.
FATCA. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (FFI) or a non-financial foreign entity (NFFE) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by a Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA
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.
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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 advisors regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal income, estate or gift taxes, or foreign, state, local taxes or other taxes.
PRICING AND PURCHASE OF FUND SHARES |
PRICING OF FUND SHARES |
General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rule 2a-4 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.
Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET if a securitys primary exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Agents . Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, market prices for most securities held by the Fund are provided daily by third-party independent pricing agents that are approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The valuations provided by third-party independent pricing agents are reviewed daily by the Administrator.
PURCHASES AND SALES THROUGH BROKER DEALERS |
The Fund may be purchased through broker dealers and other intermediaries. The Fund has authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries 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 broker or, if applicable, a brokers authorized designee, received the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Funds net asset value next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the brokers authorized designee.
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REDEMPTIONS IN KIND |
The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the redemption amount is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Funds net asset value, pursuant to an election under Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act 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.
ADDITIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS |
CUSTODIAN |
Fifth Third Bank. (the Custodian), 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, serves as the custodian of the Funds assets. The Custodian has entered into a foreign sub-custody arrangement with The Bank of New York, as the approved foreign custody manager (the Delegate) to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of the Funds assets outside of the United States of America. The Delegate shall place and maintain the Funds assets with an eligible foreign custodian; provided that, the Delegate shall be required to determine that the Funds assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market.
FUND SERVICES |
ADMINISTRATOR, FUND ACCOUNTANT AND TRANSFER AGENT |
Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (CFS) 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 serves as the Funds administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent.
In its capacity as administrator, CFS supervises all aspects of the operations of the Fund except those performed by the Adviser. CFS will provide certain administrative services and facilities for the Fund, including preparing and maintaining certain books, records, and monitoring compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements. CFS, as administrative agent for the Fund, will provide shareholder, recordkeeping, administrative and blue-sky filing services.
As transfer agent, CFS provides certain shareholder and other services to the Fund, including furnishing account and transaction information and maintaining shareholder account records. CFS will be responsible for processing orders and payments for share purchases. CFS will mail proxy materials (and receive and tabulate proxies), shareholder reports, confirmation forms for purchases and redemptions and prospectuses to shareholders. CFS will disburse income dividends and capital distributions and prepare and file appropriate tax-related information concerning dividends and distributions to shareholders.
CFS also provides accounting services to the Fund. CFS will be responsible for accounting relating to the Fund and its investment transactions; maintaining certain books and records of the Fund; determining daily the net asset value per share of the Fund; and preparing security position, transaction and cash
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position reports. CFS also monitors periodic distributions of gains or losses on portfolio sales and maintains a daily listing of portfolio holdings. CFS is responsible for providing expenses accrued and payment reporting services, tax-related financial information to the Trust, and for monitoring compliance with the regulatory requirements relating to maintaining accounting records.
CFS receives, for administrative services, an asset-based fee based computed daily and paid monthly on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for transfer agency services, per account fees computed daily and paid monthly, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for fund accounting services, an asset-based fee, computed daily and paid monthly on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Prior to the reorganization, Cortland Fund Services, LLC, 225 W. Washington Street, 21 st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606, acted as Administrator to the Predecessor Fund. For the period January 31, 2014 (the Funds inception date) through December 31, 2014, the Adviser paid the Administrator $27,500 for administrative services. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Adviser paid the Administrator $25,000 for administrative services.
Prior to the reorganization, Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC. (MSS), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147, acted as the Predecessor Funds sub-transfer agent. For the period January 31, 2014 (the Funds inception date) through December 31, 2014, the Adviser paid MSS $15,752 for transfer agent and accounting services. For fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, the Adviser paid MSS $20,934 for transfer agent and accounting services.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
The firm of Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016. The independent registered public accounting firm performs an annual audit of the Funds financial statements and provides financial, tax and accounting consulting services as requested.
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, Suite 310, Leawood, KS 66211, serves as legal counsel for the Trust and Fund.
DISTRIBUTOR |
First Dominion Capital Corp. (FDCC or the Distributor), located at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the Distribution Agreement). The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor serves as the Funds principal underwriter and acts as exclusive agent for the Fund in selling its shares to the public on a best efforts basis and then only in respect to orders placed that is, the Distributor is under no obligations to sell any specific number of shares
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FDCC is registered as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The offering of the Funds shares is continuous. The Distributor may receive Distribution 12b-1 and Service Fees from the Fund, as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI.
Prior to the reorganization, Rafferty Capital Markets, LLC (the Distributor), located at 1010 Franklin Avenue, Suite 300A, Garden City, NY 11530, served as the principal underwriter and distributor of the Predecessor Funds shares.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND SALES |
Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares of the Fund directly from the Distributor. You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions (authorized institutions) that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures. Your institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your authorized institution. The offering price per share is equal to the NAV next determined after the Fund or authorized institution receives your purchase order, plus any applicable sales charge.
Your authorized institution is responsible for transmitting all subscription and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. Certain authorized institutions have agreements with the Fund that allow them to enter confirmed purchase or redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers. Under this arrangement, the authorized institution must send your payment to the Fund by the time it prices its shares on the following day. If your authorized institution fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses.
The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order and to suspend the offering of shares. Under certain circumstances the Trust or the Adviser may waive the minimum initial investment for purchases by officers, trustees, and employees of the Trust and its affiliated entities and for certain related advisory accounts and retirement accounts (such as IRAs). The Fund may also change or waive policies concerning minimum investment amounts at any time.
Exchanging Shares. If you request the exchange of the total value of your account from one fund to another, we will reinvest any declared but unpaid income dividends and capital gain distributions in the new fund at its net asset value. Backup withholding and information reporting may apply. Information regarding the possible tax consequences of an exchange appears in the tax section in this SAI.
If a substantial number of shareholders sell their shares of the Fund under the exchange privilege, within a short period, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it would otherwise have held, thus incurring additional transactional costs. Increased use of the exchange privilege may also result in periodic large inflows of money. If this occurs, it is the Funds general policy to initially invest in short-term, interest-bearing money market instruments.
However, if the Adviser believes that attractive investment opportunities (consistent with the Funds investment objective and policies) exist immediately, then it will invest such money in portfolio securities in as orderly a manner as is possible.
The proceeds from the sale of shares of the Fund may not be available until the third business day following the sale. The fund you are seeking to exchange into may also delay issuing shares until that
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third business day. The sale of Fund shares to complete an exchange will be effected at net asset value of the Fund next computed after your request for exchange is received in proper form.
Eligible Benefit Plans. An eligible benefit plan is an arrangement available to the employees of an employer (or two or more affiliated employers) having not less than 10 employees at the plans inception, or such an employer on behalf of employees of a trust or plan for such employees, their spouses and their children under the age of 21 or a trust or plan for such employees, which provides for purchases through periodic payroll deductions or otherwise. There must be at least 5 initial participants with accounts investing or invested in Fund shares and/or certain other funds.
The initial purchase by the eligible benefit plan and prior purchases by or for the benefit of the initial participants of the plan must aggregate not less than $2,500 and subsequent purchases must be at least $50 per account and must aggregate at least $250. Purchases by the eligible benefit plan must be made pursuant to a single order paid for by a single check or federal funds wire and may not be made more often than monthly. A separate account will be established for each employee, spouse or child for which purchases are made. The requirements for initiating or continuing purchases pursuant to an eligible benefit plan may be modified and the offering to such plans may be terminated at any time without prior notice.
Selling Shares. You may sell your shares by giving instructions to the Transfer Agent by mail or by telephone. The Fund will use reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and, if the procedures are followed, will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone transactions.
The Funds procedure is to redeem shares at the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives the redemption request in proper order, less any applicable deferred sales charge on purchases held for less than one year and for which no sales charge was paid at the time of purchase. Payment will be made promptly, but no later than the seventh day following the receipt of the redemption request in proper order. The Board may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment during any period when (a) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC or such exchange is closed for other than weekends and holidays, (b) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension, or (c) an emergency, as defined by rules of the SEC, exists during which time the sale of Fund shares or valuation of securities held by the Fund are not reasonably practicable.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES |
As described briefly in the applicable prospectus, the Fund offers the following shareholder services:
Regular Account. The regular account allows for voluntary investments to be made at any time. Available to individuals, custodians, corporations, trusts, estates, corporate retirement plans and others, investors are free to make additions and withdrawals to or from their account as often as they wish. Simply use the account application provided with the prospectus to open your account.
Telephone Transactions. A shareholder may redeem shares or transfer into another fund by telephone if this service is requested at the time the shareholder completes the initial account application. If it is not elected at that time, it may be elected at a later date by making a request in writing to the Transfer Agent and having the signature on the request guaranteed. The Fund employs reasonable procedures designed to confirm the authenticity of instructions communicated by telephone and, if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. As a result of this policy, a shareholder authorizing telephone redemption or transfer bears the risk of loss which may result from unauthorized or
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fraudulent transactions which the Fund believes to be genuine. When requesting a telephone redemption or transfer, the shareholder will be asked to respond to certain questions designed to confirm he shareholders identity as the shareholder of record. Cooperation with these procedures helps to protect the account and the Fund from unauthorized transactions.
Automatic Investment Plan. Any shareholder may utilize this feature, which provides for automatic monthly investments into your account. Upon your request, the Transfer Agent will withdraw a fixed amount each month from a checking or savings account for investment into the Fund. This does not require a commitment for a fixed period of time. A shareholder may change the monthly investment, skip a month or discontinue the Automatic Investment Plan as desired by notifying the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077.
Retirement Plans. Fund shares are available for purchase in connection with the following tax-deferred prototype retirement plans:
| Traditional IRA . An individual retirement account. Your contribution may or may not be deductible depending on your circumstances. Assets can grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxable as income. | |
| Roth IRA. An IRA with non-deductible contributions, tax-free growth of assets, and tax-free distributions for qualified distributions. | |
| Spousal IRA . An IRA funded by a working spouse in the name of a non-earning spouse. | |
| SEP-IRA . An individual retirement account funded by employer contributions. Your assets grow tax-deferred and distributions are taxable as income. | |
| Keogh or Profit Sharing Plans . These plans allow corporations, partnerships and individuals who are self-employed to make tax-deductible contributions of up to $35,000 for each person covered by the plans. | |
| 403(b) Plans . An arrangement that allows employers of charitable or educational organizations to make voluntary salary reduction contributions to a tax-deferred account. | |
| 401(k) Plans . Allows employees of corporations of all sizes to contribute a percentage of their wages on a tax-deferred basis. These accounts need to be established by the trustee of the plan. |
For information about eligibility requirements and other matters concerning these plans and to obtain the necessary forms to participate in these plans, please call the Trust at (800) 673-0550. Each plans custodian charges nominal fees in connection with plan establishment and maintenance. These fees are detailed in the plan documents. You may wish to consult with your attorney or other tax adviser for specific advice concerning your tax status and plans.
Exchange Privilege. To the extent that the Adviser manages other funds in the Trust, shareholders may exchange their shares for shares of any other series of the Trust managed by the Adviser, provided the shares of the Fund the shareholder is exchanging into are registered for sale in the shareholders state of residence. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser does not manage any other funds in the Trust. Each account must meet the minimum investment requirements. Also, to make an exchange, an exchange order must comply with the requirements for a redemption or repurchase order and must specify the value or the number of shares to be exchanged. Your exchange will take effect as of the next determination of the Funds NAV per share (usually at the close of business on the same day). The Transfer Agent will charge your account a $10 service fee each time you make such an exchange. The Trust reserves the right to limit the number of exchanges or to otherwise prohibit or restrict shareholders from making exchanges
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at any time, without notice, should the Trust determine that it would be in the best interest of its shareholders to do so. For tax purposes, an exchange constitutes the sale of the shares of the fund from which you are exchanging and the purchase of shares of the fund into which you are exchanging. Consequently, the sale may involve either a capital gain or loss to the shareholder for federal income tax purposes. The exchange privilege is available only in states where it is legally permissible to do so.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN |
The Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act for the Investor Class shares. As required by Rule 12b-1, the Plan (together with the Distribution Agreement) has been approved by the Trustees and separately by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan and the Distribution Agreement.
Potential benefits of the Plan to the Fund include improved shareholder services, savings to the Fund in transfer agency costs, savings to the Fund in other expenses, benefits to the investment process through growth and stability of assets, and maintenance of a financially healthy management organization. The continuation of the Plan must be considered by the Trustees annually.
Under the Plan, the Investor Class shares of the Fund may expend up to 0.20% of the Classs average daily net assets annually to finance any activity related to the servicing of shareholder accounts, provided the Trustees have approved the category of expenses for which payment is being made.
The Plan is a type of plan known as a compensation plan because payments are made for services rendered to the Fund with respect to Fund shares regardless of the level of expenditures made by the Funds distributor. The Trustees will, however, take into account such expenditures for purposes of reviewing operations under the Plan and considering the annual renewal of the Plan. The Plan provides that expenditures may include, without limitation: (a) payments to the Distributor and to securities dealers and others in respect of the sale of shares of the Fund; (b) payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of shares of the Fund or who render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trusts transfer agent, administrator, or custodian, including but not limited to, answering inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, providing personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, providing other shareholder liaison services, responding to shareholder inquiries, providing information on shareholder investments in the Shares of the Fund, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request, arranging for bank wires, assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in the Fund, forwarding communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders, processing purchase, exchange, and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers; (c) formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (d) preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature; (e) preparation, printing and distribution of prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Trust for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Trust; (f) obtaining information and providing explanations to wholesale and retail distributors of contracts regarding Fund investment objectives and policies and other information about the Fund, including the performance of the Fund; (g) obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, deem advisable.
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For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, the Predecessor Fund paid 12b-1 fees relating to the following types of activities:
Activity | Amount | Allocation | ||
Advertising/Marketing | $380 | 100% |
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
This Disclosure of Portfolio Securities Holdings Policy (the Policy) shall govern the disclosure of the portfolio securities holdings of each series (individually and collectively the Fund or Funds) of the World Funds Trust (the Trust). The Trust maintains this Policy to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Fund and the Funds shareholders. The Board reviews these policies and procedures as necessary and compliance will be periodically assessed by the Board in connection with a report from the Trusts Chief Compliance Officer. In addition, the Board has reviewed and approved the provision of portfolio holdings information to entities described below that may be prior to and more frequently than the public disclosure of such information (i.e., non-standard disclosure). The Board has also delegated authority to the officers of the Trust and Adviser to provide such information in certain circumstances (see below).
The Trust is required by the SEC to file its complete portfolio holdings schedule with the SEC on a quarterly basis. This schedule is filed with the Trusts annual and semi-annual reports on Form N-CSR for the second and fourth fiscal quarters and on Form N-Q for the first and third fiscal quarters. The portfolio holdings information provided in these reports is as of the end of the respective quarter. Form N-CSR must be filed with the SEC no later than ten (10) calendar days after the Trust transmits its annual or semi-annual report to its shareholders. Form N-Q must be filed with the SEC no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the end of the applicable quarter.
Additionally, the Trusts service providers which have contracted to provide services to the Trust and its funds, including, for example, the custodian and the fund accountants, and that require portfolio holdings information in order to perform those services, may receive non-standard disclosure. Non-standard disclosure of portfolio holdings information may also be provided to a third-party when the Trust has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. The Trust has the following ongoing arrangements with certain third parties to provide the Funds portfolio holdings information:
1. | to the Trusts auditors within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period or other periods as necessary for use in providing audit opinions and other advice related to financial, regulatory, or tax reporting; | |
2. | to financial printers within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period for the purpose of preparing Trust regulatory filings; and | |
3. | to the Trusts administrator, custodian, transfer agent and accounting services provider on a daily basis in connection with their providing services to the Fund. |
The Trusts service providers may also disclose non-public portfolio holdings information if such disclosure is required by applicable laws, rules or regulations, or by regulatory authorities. Additionally,
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the Adviser may establish ongoing arrangements with certain third parties to provide the Funds portfolio holdings information that the Adviser determines that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipient is subject to a duty of confidentiality. These third parties may include:
1. | financial data processing companies that provide automated data scanning and monitoring services for the Fund; | |
2. | research companies that allow the Adviser to perform attribution analysis for the Fund; and | |
3. | the Advisers proxy voting agent to assess and vote proxies on behalf of the Fund. |
From time to time, employees of the Adviser may express their views orally or in writing on the Funds portfolio securities or may state that the Fund has recently purchased or sold, or continues to own, one or more securities. The securities subject to these views and statements may be ones that were purchased or sold since a Funds most recent quarter-end and therefore may not be reflected on the list of the Funds most recent quarter-end portfolio holdings. These views and statements may be made 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 advisers, and other entities for which the Adviser may determine. The nature and content of the views and statements provided to each of these persons may differ. 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. 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 those described in the preceding paragraph. The nature and content of the information provided to each of these persons may differ.
Additionally, employees of the Adviser may disclose one or more of the portfolio securities of the Fund when purchasing and selling securities through broker-dealers, requesting bids on securities, obtaining price quotations on securities, or in connection with litigation involving the Funds portfolio securities. The Adviser does not enter into formal non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements in connection with these situations; however, the Fund would not continue to conduct business with a person who the Adviser believed was misusing the disclosed information.
The Adviser or its affiliates may manage products sponsored by companies other than itself, including investment companies, offshore funds, and separate accounts and affiliates of the Adviser may provide investment related services, including research services, to other companies, including other investment companies, offshore funds, institutional investors and other entities. In each of these instances, the sponsors of these other companies and the affiliates of the Adviser may receive compensation for their services. In many cases, these other products may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus
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have similar portfolio holdings, and other investment related services provided by the affiliates of the Adviser may involve disclosure of information that is also utilized by the Adviser in managing the Fund. The sponsors of these other products may disclose the portfolio holdings of their products at different times than the Adviser discloses portfolio holdings for the Fund, and affiliates of the Adviser may provide investment related services to its clients at times that are different than the times disclosed to the Fund.
The Trust and the Adviser currently have no other arrangements for the provision of non-standard disclosure to any party or shareholder. Other than the non-standard disclosure discussed above, if a third-party requests specific, current information regarding the Funds portfolio holdings, the Trust will refer the third-party to the latest regulatory filing.
All of the arrangements above are subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the Board to ensure such disclosure is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders. The Trusts CCO is responsible for monitoring the use and disclosure of information relating to Portfolio Securities. Although no material conflicts of interest are believed to exist that could disadvantage the Fund and its shareholders, various safeguards have been implemented to protect the Fund and its shareholders from conflicts of interest, including: the adoption of Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative acts by officers and employees of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor in connection with their personal securities transactions; the adoption by the Adviser and Distributor of insider trading policies and procedures designed to prevent their employees misuse of material non-public information; and the adoption by the Trust of a Code of Ethics for Officers that requires the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Trust to report to the Board any affiliations or other relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest with the Fund. 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, the Advisor or the Distributor. In such situations, the conflict must be disclosed to the Board and the Board will attempt to resolve the situation in a manner that it deems in the best interests of the Fund.
Affiliated persons of the Trust who receive non-standard disclosure are subject to restrictions and limitations on the use and handling of such information, including requirements to maintain the confidentiality of such information, pre-clear securities trades and report securities transactions activity, as applicable. Affiliated persons of the Trust and third party service providers of the Trust receiving such non-standard disclosure will be instructed that such information must be kept confidential and that no trading on such information should be allowed.
Neither the Trust, the Fund, nor the Adviser receives compensation or other consideration in connection with the non-standard disclosure of information about portfolio securities.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES |
The Trust is required to disclose information concerning the Funds proxy voting policies and procedures to shareholders. The Board has delegated to Adviser the responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which have been reviewed by the Board, and which are found in Appendix B. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Trust are included as Exhibit A. Any material changes to the proxy policies and procedures will be submitted to the Board for approval. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ending June 30, will be available (1) without charge, upon request by calling (800) 628-4077; and (2) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov .
38
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
You can receive free copies of reports, request other information and discuss your questions about the Fund by contacting the Fund directly at:
World Funds
Trust
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205
Richmond, Virginia 23235
Telephone:
(800) 673-0550
www.theworldfundstrust.com
The Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor Fund and, therefore, the Funds financial information includes results of the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on January 31, 2014. Shareholders of the Predecessor Fund approved the reorganization into the Fund on January 13, 2016 and received shares of the Fund on February 8, 2016.
The Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 has been filed with the SEC. The financial statements contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI. The financial statements and financial highlights for the Fund included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Funds independent registered public accounting firm, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd., whose report thereon also appears in such Annual Report and is also incorporated herein by reference. No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements in such Annual Report have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
39
Exhibit A
World Funds Trust
PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES |
The World Funds 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 each Fund (each an Adviser and, collectively, the Advisers), 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 Adviser of each Fund to make decisions on how to cast proxy votes on behalf of such Fund.
The Trust hereby designates the Adviser of each 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 Adviser 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 Adviser shall perform these duties in accordance with the Advisers proxy voting policy, a copy of which shall be presented to this Board for its review. Each Adviser 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 Adviser may be asked to cast a proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of a Funds shareholders, and those of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser. In such case, the Adviser 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 Adviser has a conflict of interest with respect to the proxy, the Board will vote such proxy in accordance with the Advisers 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 Adviser of its final decision on the matter and the Adviser shall vote in accordance with the Boards decision.
40
Availability of Proxy Voting Policy and Records Available to Fund Shareholders
If a Fund has a website, the Fund may post a copy of its Advisers proxy voting policy and this Policy on such website. A copy of such policies and of each 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 Adviser 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 30 days following the end of each 12-month period ending June 30. 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 31 st of each year.
Adopted: November 26, 2013
Amended: January 26, 2015
41
Exhibit B
CLIFFORD CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
PROXY
VOTING POLICY
In order to comply with Rule 206(4)-6, as well as revision to Rule 204-2, Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (CCP) hereby adopts the following Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (Policy) relating to the handling of proxy voting on behalf of client accounts.
This Policy is designed to ensure that CCP when requested by its clients, votes all proxies in the best interests of our clients or, with respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (the Fund), its shareholders. Though our client agreement states that we normally vote proxies on behalf of our clients as a matter of course, if a client chooses to retain the right and power to vote his or her own proxies, of course CCP respects that decision.
In voting proxy proposals, we seek to avoid all material conflicts of interest that may arise from time to time. In cases where CCP is aware of a conflict between the interests of a client and the interests of CCP or an affiliated person (e.g., a portfolio company is a client or an affiliate of a client of CCP), CCP will notify the client of such conflict and will vote the clients shares in accordance with the clients instructions. In the event that CCP does not receive instructions from the client within three business days of the notice, CCP may abstain from voting or vote the proxy in what it believes (in its sole discretion) is the clients best interests.
In cases where CCP is aware of conflict between the interest of the Funds shareholders and the interest of CCP or its affiliates, the Funds principal underwriter or an affiliated person of the Fund, then the Proxy Manager may consult with an independent consultant or outside counsel to resolve material conflicts of interest. Possible resolutions of such conflicts may include: (i) voting in accordance with the guidance of an independent consultant or outside counsel; (ii) designating a person or committee to vote that has no knowledge of any relationship between CCP and the issuer, its officers or directors, director candidates, or proxy proponents; (iii) voting in proportion to other shareholders; or (iv) voting in other ways that are consistent with CCPs obligation to vote in its clients best interests.
CCP has appointed Wayne G. Pierson to oversee the proxy-voting program. He may delegate certain administrative functions of the program to another member of the staff, but retains overall responsibility for its undertaking.
I. Specific Procedures
1. | A record of each proxy received shall be maintained. | |
2. | When a proxy notice is received, the first step is to determine which accounts hold the security to which the proxy relates, as well as the number of votes controlled by each account. This information is listed on an Excel spreadsheet (the Data Sheet), along with any other relevant information, such as the date by which votes must be cast. | |
3. | Each proxy received will be carefully considered in order to attempt to determine the choice that will result in the most advantageous position for each client affected. Any research material necessary to make the best possible decision will be gathered and maintained, as appropriate. | |
| The first consideration is whether the proxy is a routine item, a non-routine item or a conflict of interest item. Wayne Pierson is responsible for making this determination. |
42
Routine items may include: |
~ Director elections | ||
~ Selection of independent auditors | ||
~ Increases in or reclassification of common stock | ||
~ Changes to the board of directors | ||
Non-routine items may include: | ||
~ Mergers/reorganizations | ||
~ Amendments to corporate charter or by-laws that might materially affect shareholder rights | ||
~ Shareholder proposals opposed by management | ||
Conflict of Interest items may include: | ||
~ Instances where CCP manages a pension or employee benefit plan for a company soliciting proxies | ||
~ Instances where a client or an affiliated person of CCP may serve on the Board of Directors for a company soliciting proxies | ||
4. | Each proxy is voted according to the decisions made. | |
5. | The decision made with respect to each proxy is recorded on the Data sheet. |
II. Voting Policies
Given that the goal of this policy is to vote each proxy in the best interest of each individual shareholder, it is possible that some proxies could be voted differently for different clients. In general, CCP believes that voting proxies in accordance with the following policies, with respect to such routine items, is in the best interests of our clients:
| We will generally vote for the election of directors (where no corporate governance issues are implicated); | |
| We will generally vote for proposals that strengthen the shared interests of shareholders and management; | |
| We will generally vote for the selection of independent auditors based on management or director recommendation, unless a conflict of interest is perceived; | |
| We will generally vote for proposals that we believe may lead to an increase in shareholder value; | |
| We will generally vote for management recommendations adding or amending indemnification provisions in charter or by-laws; | |
| We will generally vote for proposals that maintain or increase the rights of shareholders. |
We will generally vote against any proposals that we believe will have negative impact on shareholder value or rights.
While all proxies will receive attention and consideration, more detailed research will be conducted for non-routine items and conflict of interest items.
43
III. Disclosure and Recordkeeping
A. Disclosure of How to Obtain Voting Information | |
Rule 206(4)-6
requires CCP to disclose in response to any client request how the client can obtain
information from CCP on how its securities were voted. Clients can obtain information
on how their securities were voted by making a written request to CCP. Upon receiving
a written request from a client, CCP will provide the information requested by the
client within a reasonable amount of time.
|
|
Rule 206(4)-6
also requires CCP to describe its proxy voting policies and procedures to clients,
and upon request, to provide clients with a copy of those policies and procedures.
Upon receiving a written request from a client, CCP will provide a copy of this
policy within a reasonable amount of time. If approved by the client, this policy
and any requested records may be provided electronically.
|
|
B. Recordkeeping | |
CCP shall keep the following records for a period of at least six years, the first two in an easily accessible place: |
(i) | A copy of this Policy; | ||
(ii) | Proxy Statements received regarding client securities; | ||
(iii) | Records of votes cast on behalf of clients; | ||
(iv) | Any documents prepared by CCP that were material to making a decision how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision; | ||
(v) | Records of client requests for proxy voting information, and | ||
(vi) |
With respect
to the Fund, a record of each shareholder request for proxy voting information
and the Funds response, including the date of the request, the name of the shareholder,
and the date of the response.
|
With regard to item (ii), CCP may rely on proxy statements filed on the SEC EDGAR system instead of keeping its own copies. | |
The Fund shall maintain a copy of each of the foregoing records that is related to proxy votes on behalf of the Fund by CCP. These records may be kept as part of CCPs records | |
C. Form N-PX Clifford Capital Partners Fund | |
The Clifford
Capital Partners Fund must file Form N-PX with the Securities and Exchange Commission
to report its proxy voting record for each twelve-month period, ending on June 30
of each year. The report must be submitted not later than August 31 and is made
publically available. The CCO is responsible for ensuring that CCP maintains the
information required to complete form N-PX, as listed below:
|
| The name of the issuer of the portfolio security; | |
| The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security; | |
| The CUSIP number for the portfolio security; | |
| The shareholder meeting date; | |
| A brief identification of the matter voted on; |
44
| Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder; | |
| Whether the fund cast its vote on the matter; | |
| How the fund cast its vote ( e.g ., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and | |
| Whether the fund cast its vote for or against management. |
CCPs CCO is responsible for preparing the Form N-PX and will submit the Form to the Trust upon request. The Trust will submit the Form N-PX to the SEC on behalf of the Fund.
45
Exhibit C
Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee Charter
World Funds Trust
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Membership | |||
1. |
The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee of World Funds Trust (the 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 and 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.
|
||
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. |
Adopted: August 2, 2013
46
APPENDIX A TO THE NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES TO THE BOARD | ||
I. |
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 Nominating and Corporate
Governance 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 Nominating and Corporate Governance 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 Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee has invited management to make such a recommendation.
|
|
II. |
Shareholder
Candidates.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance 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 Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee in its discretion. Shareholders shall be directed to address any such
recommendations in writing to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
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.
|
|
III. |
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 Nominating
and Corporate Governance 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 Independent Trustee and
any other actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the candidate and
the Trust; and (viii) such other factors as the Nominating and Corporate Governance
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 Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall conduct personal
interviews with those candidates it concludes are the most qualified candidates.
|
47
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a)(1) |
Certificate
of Trust of World Funds Trust (formerly, Abacus World Funds Trust) (the Registrant) dated April 9, 2007.
1
|
|
(a)(2) |
Certificate
of Amendment dated January 7, 2008 to the Registrants Certificate of Trust
dated April 9, 2007.
1
|
|
(a)(3) |
Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 9, 2007, as revised June 23,
2008.
2
|
|
(b) |
Registrants By-Laws dated April 9, 2007.
1
|
|
(c) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(d)(1) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Union Street Partners, LLC with respect
to the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
44
|
|
(d)(2) |
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Union Street Partners, LLC and McGinn Investment
Management, Inc. with respect to the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
44
|
|
(d)(3) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
18
|
|
(d)(4) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher &
Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM All-Cap Value Fund.
12
|
|
(d)(5) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher &
Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund.
12
|
|
(d)(6) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services Group,
LLC with respect to the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(d)(7) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and B. Riley Asset Management, a division
of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC with respect to the B. Riley Diversified Equity
Fund.
43
|
|
(d)(8) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador International Fund.
20
|
|
(d)(9) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Core Fund.
40
|
|
(d)(10) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Explorer Fund.
40
|
|
(d)(11) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC
with respect to the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European
Equity Fund).
21
|
|
(d)(12) |
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC and Shikiar
Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly
known as the European Equity Fund).
48
|
|
(d)(13) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC
with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
(d)(14) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC
with respect to the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(d)(15) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Chicago Partners Investment Group,
LLC with respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(d)(16) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with
respect to the Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(d)(17) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clifford Capital Partners, LLC with
respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(d)(18) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with
respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(e)(1) |
Principal
Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the Registrant and First Dominion
Capital Corp.
2
|
|
(e)(2) |
Amended and
Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp.
3
|
|
(e)(3) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated August 2, 2013.
12
|
|
(e)(4) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated October 11, 2013.
14
|
|
(e)(5) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated November 26, 2013.
15
|
|
(e)(6) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated August 15, 2014.
20
|
|
(e)(7) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated August 15, 2014.
21
|
|
(e)(8) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated August 15, 2014.
22
|
|
(e)(9) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated August 15, 2014.
23
|
|
(e)(10) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated September 19, 2014.
25
|
|
(e)(11) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated October 31, 2014.
40
|
|
(e)(12) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated November 10, 2015.
47
|
(e)(13) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated November 10, 2015.
48
|
|
(f) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(g)(1) |
Custody Agreement
dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A.
2
|
|
(g)(2) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated June 15, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
8
|
|
(g)(3) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated June 15, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Perkins Discovery Fund.
15
|
|
(g)(4) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated June 15, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(g)(5) |
Custodian
Agreement dated July 25, 2005 between the Funds prior Registrant and Brown
Brothers Harriman with respect to Toreador International Fund and the Global Strategic
Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
29
|
|
(g)(6) |
Novation Agreement
dated August 15, 2014 for Custodian Services between the Registrant and Brown Brothers
Harriman with respect to Toreador International Fund and the Global Strategic Income
Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
29
|
|
(g)(7) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated August 15, 2014 between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50
Fund.
22
|
|
(g)(8) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated August 15, 2014 between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
23
|
|
(g)(9) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated September 19, 2014 between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(g)(10) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated October 31, 2014 between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(g)(11) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated October 31, 2014 between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(g)(12) |
Custody Agreement
between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf of certain portfolio series.
40
|
|
(g)(13) |
Amended Exhibit
A to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf
of certain portfolio series.
48
|
|
(h)(1) |
Administrative
Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Shareholder
Services, Inc.
3
|
|
(h)(2) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement.
4
|
|
(h)(3) |
Amended and
Restated Administrative Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008, as amended and restated
between the Registrant and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc.
4
|
(h)(4) |
Amended and
Restated Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth
Shareholder Services, Inc.
5
|
|
(h)(5) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Union Street Partners
Value Fund.
5
|
|
(h)(6) |
Fund Services
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf
of the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(7) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Perkins Discovery
Fund.
8
|
|
(h)(8) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(h)(9) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(h)(10) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the B. Riley Diversified
Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(h)(11) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador International
Fund.
20
|
|
(h)(12) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Core Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(13) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Explorer
Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(14) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Global Strategic
Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
21
|
|
(h)(15) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate
Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(h)(16) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate
Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(h)(17) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(h)(18) |
Schedule A
to the Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Shareholder Services, Inc., with respect to the Strategic Latin
America Fund.
26
|
(h)(19) |
Fund Services
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf
of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(h)(20) |
Fund Services
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf
of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(21) |
Transfer Agency
and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the Registrant and Commonwealth
Fund Services, Inc.
3
|
|
(h)(22) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc.
4
|
|
(h)(23) |
Amended and
Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth
Fund Services.
5
|
|
(h)(24) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Union Street
Partners Value Fund.
5
|
|
(h)(25) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Perkins Discovery
Fund.
8
|
|
(h)(26) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(h)(27) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(h)(28) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the B. Riley Diversified
Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(h)(29) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador International
Fund.
20
|
|
(h)(30) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Core
Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(31) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Explorer
Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(32) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Global Strategic
Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
21
|
|
(h)(33) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate
Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(h)(34) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate
Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(h)(35) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
(h)(36) |
Schedule C
to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement, dated October 1, 2008, between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., with respect to the Strategic Latin
America Fund.
26
|
|
(h)(37) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Accounting, Inc.
3
|
|
(h)(38) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc.
4
|
|
(h)(39) |
Amended and
Restated Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Accounting, Inc.
5
|
|
(h)(40) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the Union Street Partners
Value Fund.
5
|
|
(h)(41) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the Perkins Discovery Fund.
8
|
|
(h)(42) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(h)(43) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the B. Riley Diversified
Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(h)(44) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated August 23, 2006 between the prior Funds Registrant
and Brown Brothers Harriman with respect to Toreador International Fund and the
Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
29
|
|
(h)(45) |
Novation Agreement
dated August 15, 2014 for Accounting Services between the Registrant and Brown Brothers
Harriman with respect to Toreador International Fund and the Global Strategic Income
Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
29
|
|
(h)(46) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Core Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(47) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the Toreador Explorer Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(48) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income
50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(h)(49) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
23
|
|
(h)(50) |
Schedule A
to the Accounting Services Agreement, dated August 30, 2008, between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc., with respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(h)(51) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated October 31, 2014 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services,
Inc. with respect to Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
(h)(52) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated November 11, 2015 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services,
Inc. with respect to Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(53) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Union Street Partners, LLC with respect to
the Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
7
|
|
(h)(54) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and McGinn Investment Management, Inc. with respect
to the Class A Shares of the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
6
|
|
(h)(55) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc. with respect
to shares of the Perkins Discovery Fund.
18
|
|
(h)(56) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co.,
LLC with respect to the DGHM Funds.
48
|
|
(h)(57) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC
with respect to the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(58) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and B. Riley Asset Management, a division of B.
Riley Capital Management, LLC with respect to the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(h)(59) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading, LLC with
respect to the Toreador Funds.
40
|
|
(h)(60) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC with respect
to the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
48
|
|
(h)(61) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC with respect
to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(62) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC with respect
to the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(63) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Chicago Partners Investment Group, LLC with
respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(h)(64) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with respect
to the Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(h)(65) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with respect
to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(66) |
Shareholder
Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
3
|
|
(h)(67) |
Revised Schedule
A to the Shareholder Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
4
|
|
(h)(68) |
Amended Schedule
A to the Shareholder Services Plan.
5
|
|
(h)(69) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated August 2, 2013, with respect to DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund
Investor Class Shares.
12
|
|
(h)(70) |
Amended Schedule
A to the Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the REMS International Real Estate
Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(h)(71) |
Administrative
Services Plan with respect to the Retail Class Shares of the Toreador Core Fund.
40
|
(i)(1) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
5
|
|
(i)(2) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
46
|
|
(i)(3) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund.
9
|
|
(i)(4) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund.
37
|
|
(i)(5) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for DGHM Funds.
13
|
|
(i)(6) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for DGHM Funds.
36
|
|
(i)(7) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
45
|
|
(i)(8) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Toreador International Fund and Toreador Core Fund.
40
|
|
(i)(9) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for Toreador International Fund.
28
|
|
(i)(10) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Toreador Core Fund.
32
|
|
(i)(11) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for Toreador Core Fund.
32
|
|
(i)(12) |
Opinion and
Consent of Counsel regarding tax matters for the Toreador Core Fund.
39
|
|
(i)(13) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Toreador Explorer Fund.
30
|
|
(i)(14) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European
Equity Fund).
42
|
|
(i)(15) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for the European Equity Fund.
28
|
|
(i)(16) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(i)(17) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
41
|
|
(i)(18) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(i)(19) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
28
|
|
(i)(20) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(i)(21) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
28
|
|
(i)(22) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund, REMS Real
Estate Income 50/50 Fund and REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
31
|
|
(i)(23) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(i)(24) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(i)(25) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Strategic Latin America Fund.
38
|
|
(i)(26) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(i)(27) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(j)(1) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
46
|
(j)(2) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Perkins Discovery Fund.
37
|
|
(j)(3) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for DGHM Funds.
36
|
|
(j)(4) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund, REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund, and REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
32
|
|
(j)(5) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
41
|
|
(j)(6) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
45
|
|
(j)(7) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Toreador International Fund.
40
|
|
(j)(8) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Toreador Core Fund.
40
|
|
(j)(9) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known
as the European Equity Fund).
42
|
|
(j)(10) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Strategic Latin America Fund.
38
|
|
(j)(11) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(k) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(l) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(m)(1) |
Plans of Distribution
Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated October 1, 2008, with respect to Class A Shares, Class
C Shares and Class P (Platform) Shares.
3
|
|
(m)(2) |
Revised Schedule
A to the Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 dated October 1, 2008, with
respect to Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Class P (Platform) Shares.
4
|
|
(m)(3) |
Amended Schedule
A to the Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1.
26
|
|
(m)(4) |
Fixed Compensation
Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Perkins Discovery Fund.
18
|
|
(m)(5) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 2, 2013, for the Investor Class Shares
and Class C Shares of the DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(m)(6) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 26, 2013, for the Investor Class Shares
of the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
19
|
|
(m)(7) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 15, 2014, for the Investor Class Shares
and Class C Shares of the Toreador International Fund.
20
|
|
(m)(8) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated October 31, 2014, for the Investor Class Shares
of the Toreador Explorer Fund.
40
|
|
(m)(9) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 15, 2014, for the Class A Shares and Class
C Shares of the Global Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity
Fund).
21
|
|
(m)(10) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 15, 2014, for the Platform Class Shares
of the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(m)(11) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 15, 2014, for the Platform Class Shares
of the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
(m)(12) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated May 16, 2014, for the Class A Shares, of the
B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
19
|
|
(m)(13) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated September 19, 2014, for the Investor Class Shares
of the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(m)(14) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated October 31, 2014, for the Class A Shares of the
Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(m)(15) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 11, 2015, for the Investor Class Shares
of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(m)(16) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 11, 2015, for the Class A Shares of
the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(n)(1) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Class A Shares, Class C Shares and Advisor Class
Shares of the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
44
|
|
(n)(2) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class Shares, Investor Class Shares
and Class C Shares of the DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(n)(3) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Class A Shares, Institutional Class Shares and
Investor Class Shares of the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
19
|
|
(n)(4) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class Shares, Class C Shares and
Investor Class Shares of the Toreador International Fund.
20
|
|
(n)(5) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class Shares, and Retail Class
Shares of the Toreador Core Fund.
48
|
|
(n)(6) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class Shares, and Investor Class
Shares of the Toreador Explorer Fund.
40
|
|
(n)(7) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Global
Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
21
|
|
(n)(8) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class and Platform Class Shares
of the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(n)(9) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Institutional Class Shares and Platform Class
Shares of the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(n)(10) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class
Shares of the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(n)(11) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class
Shares of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
47
|
|
(n)(12) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Strategic
Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(o) |
Reserved.
|
|
(p)(1) |
Combined Code
of Ethics for the Registrant, Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC and First Dominion
Capital Corp. (the distributor for the Registrant).
4
|
|
(p)(2) |
Code of Ethics
for Union Street Partners, LLC.
5
|
|
(p)(3) |
Code of Ethics
for McGinn Investment Management, Inc.
20
|
(p)(4) |
Code of Ethics
for Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
8
|
|
(p)(5) |
Code of Ethics
for Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC.
22
|
|
(p)(6) |
Code of Ethics
for B. Riley Asset Management, a division of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC.
15
|
|
(p)(7) |
Code of Ethics
for Toreador Research & Trading, LLC.
27
|
|
(p)(8) |
Code of Ethics
for Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC.
21
|
|
(p)(9) |
Code of Ethics
for Shikiar Asset Management, Inc.
42
|
|
(p)(10) |
Code of Ethics
for Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC.
17
|
|
(p)(11) |
Code of Ethics
for Chicago Partners Investment Group, LLC.
25
|
|
(p)(12) |
Code of Ethics
for Strategic Asset Management, Ltd.
26
|
|
(p)(13) |
Code of Ethics
for Clifford Capital Partners, LLC.
47
|
|
(q) |
Powers of
Attorney.
36
|
|
1. |
Incorporated
herein by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
on July 8, 2008 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
2. |
Incorporated
herein by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
on August 28, 2008 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
3. |
Incorporated
herein by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed
on October 2, 2008 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
4. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
25, 2008 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
5. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
13, 2010 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
6. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
24, 2011 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
7. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
7, 2011 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
8. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
17, 2012 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
9. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
29, 2012 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172)
|
|
10. |
Omitted.
|
|
11. |
Omitted.
|
|
12. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
9, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
13. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
23, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
14. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
26, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
15. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
10, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
16. |
Omitted.
|
|
17. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
30, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
18. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
19. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
1, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
20. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
21. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
22. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
23. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
24. |
Omitted.
|
|
25. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September
19, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
26. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
31, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
27. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
29, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
28. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
28, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
29. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March
31, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
30. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
31. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
30, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
32. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May
8, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
33. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May
21, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
34. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
8, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
35. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
23, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
36. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
37. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
38. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
39. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
6, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
40. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
28, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
41. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September
16, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
42. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September
22, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
43. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
6, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
44. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
20, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
45. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
15, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
46. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
28, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
47. |
Filed herewith.
|
|
48. |
To be filed
by Amendment.
|
Item 29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With Registrant
None.
Item 30. Indemnification
See Article VIII, Section 2 of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the section titled Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Other Agents in the Registrants By-Laws.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
Item 31. Business and other Connections of the Investment Adviser
The list required by this Item 31 as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each of the investment advisers and sub-advisers, and each director, officer or partner of such investment advisers or sub-advisers, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is incorporated herein by reference to Schedules A and D of each investment advisers or sub-advisers Form ADV listed opposite such investment advisers or sub-advisers name below, which is currently on file with the SEC as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Name of Investment Adviser / Sub-Adviser |
Form ADV File No. |
Union Street Partners, LLC |
801-72120 |
McGinn Investment Management, Inc. |
801-40578 |
Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC |
801-62895 |
Perkins Capital Management, Inc. |
801-22888 |
B. Riley Asset Management, a division of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC |
801-78852 |
Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC |
801-61061 |
Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC |
801-60040 |
Shikiar Asset Management, Inc. |
801-44062 |
Toreador Research & Trading, LLC |
801-66461 |
Chicago Partners Investment Group, LLC |
801-69500 |
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. |
801-70903 |
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC |
801-78911 |
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
a) |
First Dominion
Capital Corp. also acts as underwriter to The World Funds, Inc.
|
|
b) |
First Dominion
Capital Corp. The information required by this Item 32(b) with respect to each director,
officer or partner of FDCC is incorporated herein by reference to Schedule A of
Form BD, filed by FDCC with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (File No. 8-33719).
|
|
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) |
Commonwealth
Fund Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235
(records relating to its function as transfer agent to the Funds).
|
|
b) |
Commonwealth
Shareholder Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia
23235 (records relating to its function as administrator to the Funds).
|
|
c) |
First Dominion
Capital Corporation, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235
(records relating to its function as distributor to the Funds).
|
|
d) |
Commonwealth
Fund Accounting, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235
(records relating to its function as fund accounting agent to the Funds).
|
|
e) |
Union Street
Partners LLC, 1421 Prince Street, Suite 400 Alexandria, VA 22314. (records relating
to its function as investment adviser to the Union Street Partners Value Fund).
|
|
f) |
McGinn Investment
Management, Inc., 201 North Union Street, Suite 101, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(records relating to its function as sub-adviser to the Union Street Partners Value
Fund).
|
|
g) |
Perkins Capital
Management, Inc., 730 East Lake Street, Wayzata, MN 55391-1769 (records relating
to its function as investment adviser to the Perkins Discovery Fund).
|
|
h) |
Dalton, Greiner,
Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC, 565 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2101, New York, NY 10017
(records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the DGHM Funds).
|
|
i) |
Real Estate
Management Services Group, LLC, 1100 Fifth Avenue, South, Suite 301, Naples, FL
34102-6407 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the REMS
International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund; REMS Real Estate Income 50/50
Fund and REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund).
|
|
j) |
B. Riley Asset
Management, a division of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, 11100 Santa Monica Blvd.,
Suite 800, Los Angeles, California 90025 (records relating to its function as the
investment adviser to the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund).
|
|
k) |
Toreador Research
& Trading, LLC, 7493 N. Ingram Avenue, Suite 104, Fresno, California 93711
(records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Toreador Funds).
|
|
l) |
Commonwealth
Capital Management, LLC, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235
(records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Global Strategic
Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund)).
|
|
m) |
Shikiar Asset
Management, Inc., 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 18
th
Floor, New York,
New York 10036 (records relating to its function as sub-adviser to the Global Strategic
Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund)).
|
|
n) |
Chicago Partners
Investment Group, LLC, One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4110, Chicago, Illinois 60606
(records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Big 4 OneFund).
|
|
o) |
Strategic
Asset Management, Ltd., Calle Ayacucho No. 277, La Paz, Bolivia (records relating
to its function as the investment adviser to the Strategic Latin America Fund and
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund).
|
|
p) |
Clifford Capital
Partners, LLC, 40 Shuman Boulevard, Suite 256, Napierville, Illinois, 60563 (records
relating to its function as the investment adviser to the Clifford Capital Partners
Fund).
|
Item 34. Management Services
There are no management-related service contracts not discussed in Parts A or B of this Form.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) of the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 to the Registrants Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia on the 8 th day of February, 2016.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date |
*David J. Urban | Trustee | February 8, 2016 |
*Mary Lou H. Ivey | Trustee | February 8, 2016 |
*Theo H. Pitt | Trustee | February 8, 2016 |
/s/ John Pasco, III | President and Principal Executive Officer | February 8, 2016 |
/s/ Karen Shupe | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | February 8, 2016 |
*By: Karen M. Shupe |
*Attorney-in-fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney
EXHIBITS
(d)(17) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clifford Capital Partners, LLC with
respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(e)(12) |
Schedule B
to Amended and Restated Principal Underwriter Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between
the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp, updated November 10, 2015.
|
|
(h)(19) |
Fund Services
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf
of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(i)(26) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(j)(11) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(m)(15) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 11, 2015, for the Investor Class Shares
of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(n)(11) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan with respect to Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class
Shares of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
|
|
(p)(13) |
Code of Ethics
for Clifford Capital Partners, LLC.
|
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
TO: Clifford
Capital Partners, LLC
40 Shuman Blvd., Suite 256
Naperville, Illinois 60563
Dear Sirs:
World Funds Trust (the Trust) herewith confirms our agreement with you.
The Trust has been organized to engage in the business of an open-end management investment company. You have been selected to act as the sole investment adviser of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (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 follows effective upon the date of the execution of this Agreement.
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 objective and policies. 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 objective, 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 may from time to time establish.
2. ALLOCATION OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES
You will pay all operating expenses of the Fund, including the compensation and expenses of any employees of the Fund and of any other persons rendering any services to the Fund; clerical and shareholder service staff salaries; office space and other office expenses; fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company organizations; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; expenses of registering shares under federal and state securities laws, including expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund; insurance expenses; fees and expenses of the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder service agent, plan agent, administrator, sub-administrator, accounting and pricing services agent and underwriter of the Fund; expenses, including clerical expenses, of issue, sale, redemption or repurchase of shares of the Fund; 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 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; advertising, promotion and other expenses incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the sale or distribution of the Funds shares, excluding expenses which the Fund is authorized to pay pursuant to a plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 under Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Act) in the event such a plan is ever adopted; and all other operating expenses not specifically assumed by the Fund.
The Fund will pay all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as (a) interest and (b) dividend expenses on securities sold short), fees and expenses of acquired funds, extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a
party and indemnification of the Trusts Trustees and officers with respect thereto. The Fund will also pay expenses that it is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 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.
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 of 0.90% of the average value of its daily net assets.
The average value of the daily net assets of the Fund shall be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or a resolution of the Board of Trustees, 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).
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 will arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the account with brokers or dealers selected by you, subject to review of this selection by the Board of Trustees from time to time. You will be responsible for the negotiation and the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, you are 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/or the other accounts over which you exercise investment discretion. You are authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such 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 if you determine in good faith that the amount of the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the executing broker or dealer. 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 Fund and you understand and acknowledge that, although the information may be useful to the Fund and you, it is not possible to place a dollar value on such information. The Board of Trustees shall periodically review the commissions paid by the Fund to determine if the commissions paid over representative periods of time were reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund.
2
Consistent with the Rules of Fair Practice of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and subject to seeking best qualitative execution as described above, you may give consideration to sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute Fund portfolio transactions.
Subject to the provisions of the Act, and other applicable law, you, any of your affiliates or any affiliates 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 the shares of the Fund, you will act solely as investment counsel 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. PROXY VOTING
You will vote all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Fund may be invested from time to time. Such proxies will be voted in a manner that you deem, in good faith, to be in the best interest of the Fund and in accordance with your proxy voting policy. You agree to provide a copy of your proxy voting policy, and any amendments thereto, to the Trust prior to the execution of this Agreement.
6. CODE OF ETHICS
You have adopted a written code of ethics complying with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the Act and will provide the Trust with a copy of the code and evidence of its adoption. Within 45 days of the last calendar quarter of each year while this Agreement is in effect, you will provide to the Board of Trustees of the Trust a written report that describes any issues arising under the code of ethics since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and which certifies that you have adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent access persons (as that term is defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating the code.
7. 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 Act or the rules thereunder, neither you nor your directors, officers, employees, shareholders, 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 gross 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, shareholder or agent of you, who may be or become a trustee, officer, employee or agent of the 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, shareholder or agent of you, or one under your control or direction, even though paid by you.
3
8. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall take effect on the date of its execution, and shall remain in force for a period of two (2) years from the date of its execution, and from year to year thereafter, subject to annual approval by: (i) the Board of Trustees; or (ii) a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of you or the Trust, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval.
This Agreement may, on sixty (60) days written notice, be terminated with respect to the Fund, at any time without the payment of any penalty, by the Board of Trustees, 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.
9. USE OF NAME
The Trust and you acknowledge that all rights to the name Clifford Capital, Clifford Capital Partners or any variation thereof belong to you, and that the Trust is being granted a limited license to use such words in its Fund name or in any class name of such Fund. In the event you cease to be the adviser to the Fund, the Trusts right to the use of the name Clifford Capital, Clifford Capital Partners, or any variation thereof shall automatically cease on the ninetieth 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 ninety (90) days written notice by you to the Trust. Nothing contained herein shall impair or diminish in any respect, your right to use the name Clifford Capital, Clifford Capital Partners or any variation thereof 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.
10. 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 you and by the Board of Trustees, 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 Act by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff) by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the series to which the amendment relates.
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY TO TRUST PROPERTY
The term World Funds Trust means and refers to the World Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust and to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust as the same may subsequently thereto have been, or subsequently hereto be, amended. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of Trustees, officers, employees, agents or nominees of the Trust, or any shareholders of any series of the Trust, personally, but bind only the trust property of the Trust (and only the property of the Fund), as provided in the Agreement and 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 (and only the property of the Fund) as provided in its Agreement and Declaration of Trust. A copy of the Certificate of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the State of Delaware.
4
12. 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.
13. 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 and interested person shall have their respective meanings as defined in the Act and rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Act; and the term brokerage and research services shall have the meaning given in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(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 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 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 Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation, order or interpretation of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, order or interpretation.
14. 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 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, and your address for this purpose shall be 40 Shuman Blvd., Suite 256, Naperville, Illinois 60563.
15. CONFIDENTIALITY
You agree to treat all records and other information relating to the Trust and the securities holdings of the Fund as confidential and shall not disclose any such records or information to any other person unless (i) the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved the disclosure or (ii) such disclosure is compelled by law. In addition, you, and your officers, directors and employees 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. You agree that, consistent with your Code of Ethics, neither you nor your officers, directors or employees may engage in personal securities transactions based on nonpublic information about the Funds portfolio holdings.
16. BOOKS AND RECORDS
In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the Act, you agree that all records that you maintain for the Trust are the property of the Trust and you agree to surrender promptly to the Trust such records upon the Trusts request. You further agree to preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the Act all records which you maintain for the Trust that are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the Act.
5
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. CAPTIONS
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of acceptance on the accompanying counterpart of this letter and return such counterpart to the Trust, whereupon this letter shall become a binding contract upon the date thereof.
Yours very truly, | ||||
World Funds Trust | ||||
Dated: November 10, 2015 | By: /s/ John Pasco, III | |||
Print Name: John Pasco, III | ||||
Title: President | ||||
ACCEPTANCE | ||||
The foregoing Agreement is
hereby accepted.
|
||||
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC | ||||
Dated: 11/10/15 | By: /s/ Wayne G. Pierson | |||
Print Name: Wayne G. Pierson | ||||
Title: Principal |
6
Schedule B
Distribution
Fees
For
CLIFFORD CAPITAL PARTNERS FUND
A. | For distribution services, First Dominion Capital Corp. (FDCC) shall be paid monthly at the following annual rates: | |
Annual Basis Point Charge* |
0.01% on average daily net assets of each fund; | |
*Subject to a $12,000 annual minimum fee per fund |
B. | FDCC will charge 100 per piece (up to 10 pages), plus $10 for each additional page for sales literature review. | |
C. | FDCC will maintain qualified FINRA licenses for a monthly fee of $250.00 per individual | |
D. | Out-of-pocket expenses will be passed through as incurred, with no mark-up or set-off. Out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to: |
- FINRA fees | |
- Travel related expenses | |
- NSCC Participation Fees |
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc.
FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT
Accounting
Services
Administration Services
Transfer Agency Services
Between
Commonwealth Fund Services,
Inc.
and
World Funds Trust
Exhibit A
Series Portfolios
Exhibit B Administrative Services
Exhibit C Accounting Services
Exhibit D Transfer Agency Services
Exhibit E Fees and Expenses
FUND SERVICES AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of November 10, 2015, between Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., a corporation organized in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (CFS) and World Funds Trust, a statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Trust).
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 consists of one more series portfolios listed on Exhibit A (the Funds), each of which may consist of one or more classes of shares of beneficial interest; and
WHEREAS, the Trust wishes to retain CFS to provide certain transfer agent, fund accounting, administration, dividend disbursing, anti-money laundering and other general services (the Services) with respect to the Funds and CFS is willing to furnish such Services;
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 CFS 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, and CFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the Services as set forth in this Agreement. The Services of CFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein or as may be agreed to from time to time, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against CFS hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Trust determines that it would be appropriate to engage another service provider (either directly or through CFS) as the sub-transfer agent, sub-fund accountant, sub-administrator, or, sub-dividend disbursing agent, CFS responsibilities with respect to such function shall be confined to overseeing such function any such relationship shall be noted and described in Exhibit E to this Agreement.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of CFS .
CFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust that:
(a) It is a corporation duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia;
(b) It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the Commonwealth of Virginia;
(c) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its By-Laws to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;
(d) All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;
(e) It has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement;
(f) This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of CFS, enforceable against CFS 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 securities parties; and
(g) It is registered as a transfer agent under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Trust .
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to CFS that:
(a) It is a statutory trust duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware;
(b) It is empowered under applicable laws and by its organizational documents to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;
(c) All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;
(d) It is an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act;
(e) This Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust 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
(f) A registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is currently effective and will remain effective, and appropriate state securities laws filings have been made and will continue to be made, with respect to all shares of the Funds and any classes thereof being offered for sale.
Section 4. Trust Reports to CFS Delivery of Documents and Other Materials .
The Trust shall furnish or otherwise make available to CFS such copies of each Funds prospectus, statement of additional information, financial statements, proxy statements, shareholder reports, each current plan of distribution or similar document adopted by the Trust under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each current shareholder services plan or similar document adopted by the Fund, each Funds net asset value per share, declaration, record and payment dates, amounts of any dividends or income, special actions relating to each Funds securities and other information relating to the Trusts business and affairs as CFS may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably require in order to discharge its obligations under this
Agreement. CFS shall maintain such information as required by regulation and as agreed upon between the Trust and CFS. The Trust will complete all necessary prospectus and compliance reports, as well as monitoring the various limitations and restrictions.
Prior to commencement of CFSs responsibilities under this Agreement, if applicable, the Trust shall deliver or cause to be delivered to CFS (i) an accurate list of shareholders of the Trust, showing each shareholders address of record, number of shares owned and whether such shares are represented by outstanding share certificates and (ii) all shareholder records, files, and other materials necessary or appropriate for proper performance of the functions assumed by CFS under this Agreement.
Section 5. Services Provided by CFS .
(a) CFS will provide, or supervise the performance of others, the Services described herein subject to the direction and supervision of the Trusts Board of Trustees (the 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, policies and procedures adopted by the Board, and further subject to CFSs policies and procedures as in effect from time to time. CFS shall be responsible for all necessary office space, equipment, personnel, and facilities necessary for it to perform its obligations under this Agreement. CFS may sub-contract with third parties to perform certain of the Services to be performed by CFS hereunder; provided, however, that CFS shall remain principally responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of such other entities and provided further that CFS shall be responsible for the payment of such third parties unless the Board approves such payment in a separate agreement or otherwise approves passing the costs associated with such third party onto the Funds as an out-of-pocket expense of CFS.
Except with respect to CFSs duties as set forth in this Agreement, and except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Trust assumes all responsibility for ensuring that each Fund complies with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 1940 Act, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and any other laws, rules and regulations, or interpretations thereof, of governmental authorities with jurisdiction over each Fund.
(i) |
Administrative
Services
set forth in Exhibit B.
|
|||
(ii) |
Fund Accounting
Services
set forth in Exhibit C.
|
|||
(iii)
|
Transfer
Agency Services
set forth in Exhibit D.
|
CFS shall be responsible for promptly communicating any conflicts between its policies and procedures in effect from time to time and the resolutions, policies and procedures adopted by the Board.
(b) CFS 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. CFS agrees that all such records
prepared or maintained by CFS relating to the Services to be performed by CFS 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. The Trust and the Trusts authorized representatives shall have access to CFSs records relating to the Services under this Agreement at all times during CFSs normal business hours. Upon the reasonable request of the Trust, copies of any such records shall be provided promptly by CFS to the Trust or the Trusts authorized representatives.
(c) In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of shareholder records of the Trust, CFS will endeavor to notify the Trust and to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Trust as to such inspection. CFS shall abide by the Trusts instructions for granting or denying the inspection; provided however, that CFS may grant the inspection regardless of the Trusts instructions if CFS is advised by counsel to CFS that failure to do so will result in liability to CFS.
Section 6. Compensation and Expenses
(a) Compensation. The Trust agrees to pay CFS as compensation for its services according to the fee schedule set forth in Schedule E hereto. Fees will begin to accrue for each Fund on the later of the date of this Agreement or the date of commencement of operations of the Fund. If fees begin to accrue in the middle of a month or if this Agreement terminates before the end of any month, all fees for the period from that date to the end of that month or from the beginning of that month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion that the period bears to the full month in which the effectiveness or termination occurs. Upon the termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund, the Fund shall pay to CFS such compensation as shall be payable prior to the effective date of termination.
In addition, the Trust shall reimburse CFS from the assets of each Fund certain reasonable expenses incurred by CFS on behalf of each Fund individually in connection with the performance of this Agreement. Such out-of-pocket expenses shall include, but not be limited to: documented fees and costs of obtaining advice of Fund counsel or accountants in connection with its services to each Fund; postage; long distance telephone; special forms required by each Fund; any economy class travel which may be required in the performance of its duties to each Fund; and any other extraordinary expenses it may incur in connection with its services to each Fund, provided that such extraordinary expenses must be approved by the Board prior to any reimbursement.
In connection with the services provided by CFS pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees to reimburse CFS for expenses set forth in Schedule E hereto. In addition, the Trust, on behalf of the applicable Fund, shall reimburse CFS for all reasonable expenses and employee time (at 150% of salary) attributable to any review of the Trusts accounts and records by the Trusts independent accountants or any regulatory body outside of routine and normal periodic reviews.
(b) Taxes. Except as required by applicable law or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, CFS 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 customer, excluding taxes, if any, assessed against CFS related to its income or assets.
(c) Invoices/Billing. All fees and reimbursements are payable in arrears on a monthly basis and the Trust, on behalf of the applicable Fund, agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within five (5) business days following receipt of the respective billing notice. Without prejudice to CFSs other rights, CFS 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. Confidentiality .
CFS agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidentially all records and other information relative to the Trust and its shareholders received by CFS in connection with this Agreement, including any non-public personal information as defined in Regulation S-P, and that it shall not use or disclose any such information except for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that CFS may disclose such information as required by law or in connection with any requested disclosure to a regulatory authority with appropriate jurisdiction after prior notification to the Trust.
The Trust acknowledges that the databases, computer programs, screen formats, report formats, interactive design techniques, and documentation manuals maintained by CFS on databases under the control and ownership of CFS or a third party constitute copyrighted, trade secret, or other proprietary information (collectively, Proprietary Information) of substantial value to CFS or the third party. The Trust agrees to treat all Proprietary Information as proprietary to CFS and further agrees that it shall not divulge any Proprietary Information to any person or organization except as may be provided under this Agreement.
Upon termination of this Agreement, CFS shall return to the Trust all copies of confidential or non-public personal information received from the Trust hereunder, other than materials or information required to be retained by CFS under applicable laws or regulations. CFS hereby agrees to dispose of any consumer report information, as such term is defined in Regulation S-P.
Section 8. Standard of Care / Limitation of Liability .
(a) Responsibility for Losses. CFS shall be under no duty to take any action on behalf of a Fund except as necessary to fulfill its duties and obligations as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by CFS in writing. CFS shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement, but assumes no responsibility for any loss arising out of any act or omission in carrying out its duties hereunder, except a loss resulting from CFS, its employees or its agents willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of CFSs
duties under this Agreement, or by reason of reckless disregard of CFS, its employees or its agents obligations and duties hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitation on CFSs liability shall not apply to the extent any loss or damage results from any fraud committed by CFS or any intentionally bad or malicious acts (that is, acts or breaches undertaken purposefully under circumstances in which the person acting knows or has reason to believe that such act or breach violates such persons obligations under this Agreement or can cause danger or harm) of CFS.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or of any other provision of this Agreement, (i) CFS shall not be liable for losses beyond its control, provided that CFS has acted in accordance with the standard of care set forth above; and (ii) CFS shall not be liable for (A) the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any oral or written instructions provided by the Fund, notice or other instrument which conforms to the applicable requirements of this Agreement, and which CFS reasonably believes to be genuine; or (B) subject to Section 15, delays or errors or loss of data occurring by reason of circumstances beyond CFSs control, including fire, flood, catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication or power supply.
(b)
|
Limitations on Liability. | ||||
(i) |
CFS is responsible
for the performance of only those duties as are expressly set forth herein and in
the Exhibits and Schedules as they may be amended from time to time. CFS will have
no implied duties or obligations. Each party to the Agreement shall mitigate damages
for which the other party may become responsible hereunder.
|
||||
(ii)
|
CFS 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 a Fund, and shall be without liability for any loss or damage suffered
by a Fund or any of a Funds customers as a result of CFSs reasonable
reliance on and utilization of any such instruction or other such information. For
the avoidance of doubt, CFS 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) |
CFS shall
have no responsibility and shall be without liability for any loss or damage caused
by the failure of the Trust to provide CFS with any information.
|
||||
(iv) |
CFS 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) |
CFS shall
have no responsibility for the management of the investments or any other assets
of the Trust or its customers, and CFS shall have no obligation to review, monitor
or otherwise ensure compliance by a 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 registration statement.
Further, CFS 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 registration
statement.
|
||||
(vi)
|
Except as
set forth in the exhibits hereto, the Trust acknowledges that the reporting
obligations of CFS do not constitute a duty to monitor compliance
and CFS shall not be liable for any failure of the Fund to comply with
any laws, regulations or other applicable requirements thereof.
|
||||
(vii)
|
CFS shall
not be liable for the errors of other service providers of the Trust, including
the errors of pricing services (other than to pursue all reasonable claims against
the pricing service based on the pricing services standard contracts entered
into by CFS) and errors in information provided by an investment adviser to a Fund
custodian (including prices and pricing formulas and untimely transmission of trade
information).
|
||||
(viii) |
With respect
to a Fund that does not value its assets in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the
1940 Act (a money market fund), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, CFS shall not be liable to the Trust or any shareholder of the Trust
for (i) any loss to the Trust if a NAV Difference
(defined below)
for which
CFS would otherwise be liable under this Agreement is less than $0.01 per Fund share
or (ii) any loss to a shareholder of the Trust if the NAV Difference for which CFS
would otherwise be liable under this Agreement is less than or equal to 0.005 (1/2
of 1%) or if the loss in the shareholders account with the Trust is less than
or equal to $10. Any loss for which CFS is determined to be liable hereunder shall
be reduced by the amount of gain which inures to shareholders, whether to be collected
by the Trust or not.
|
||||
For purposes
of this Agreement: (i) the NAV Difference shall mean the difference between the
NAV at which a shareholder purchase or redemption should have been effected (Recalculated
NAV) and the NAV at which the purchase or redemption is effected; (ii) NAV
Differences and any CFS or other responsible party liability therefrom are to be
calculated each time a Funds (or classs) NAV is calculated; (iii) in
calculating any NAV Difference for which CFS would otherwise be liable under this
Agreement for a particular NAV error, Fund losses and gains shall be netted; and
(iv) in calculating any NAV Difference for which CFS
|
would otherwise
be liable under this Agreement for a particular NAV error that continues for a period
covering more than one NAV determination, Fund losses and gains for the Funds
fiscal year shall be netted.
|
|||||
(ix)
|
CFS 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 CFS.
|
||||
(x)
|
Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, CFS 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. CFS disclaims any
warranty of title or non-infringement except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
|
(c) Mutual Exclusion of Consequential Damages. Except for any liquidated damages agreed to by the parties to this Agreement 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, or 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.
(d) Limited Recourse. CFS hereby acknowledges that a Funds obligations hereunder with respect to the Fund are binding only on the assets and property belonging to the Fund. The obligations of the parties hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund personally, but shall bind only the property of the Fund. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such officers shall not 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 Funds property.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Fund of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other series portfolios of the Trust and that no series shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 9. Indemnification .
Indemnification by the Funds. Each Fund shall indemnify CFS and hold it harmless from and against any and all losses, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by CFS that result from: (i) any claim, action, suit or proceeding in
connection with CFSs entry into or performance of this Agreement with respect to such Fund; or (ii) any action taken or omission to act committed by CFS in the performance of its obligations hereunder with respect to such Fund; or (iii) any action of CFS upon instructions believed in good faith by it to have been executed by a duly authorized officer or representative of the Trust with respect to such Fund; (iv) the offer or sale of shares of the Funds in violation of federal or state securities laws or regulations requiring that such shares be registered or in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal or any state agency with respect to the offer or sale of such shares; (v) the processing of any checks or wires, including without limitation for deposit into the Trusts demand deposit account maintained by CFS; (vi) the breach of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 3 above; or (vii) any error, omission, inaccuracy or other deficiency of any information provided to CFS by the Trust, or the failure of the Trust to provide or make available any information requested by CFS knowledgeably to perform its functions hereunder; provided, that CFS shall not be entitled to such indemnification in respect of actions or omissions constituting gross negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance in the performance of its duties, or by reckless disregard of such duties, on the part of CFS or its employees, agents or contractors.
The reliance upon, and any subsequent use of or action taken or omitted, by CFS, or its agents or subcontractors on: (i) the materials or any other information, records, documents, data, stock certificates or services, which are received by CFS or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, facsimile, CRT data entry, electronic instructions or other similar means authorized by a Fund, and which have been prepared, maintained or performed by the Trust or any other person or firm on behalf of the Trust; (ii) any instructions or requests of the Trust or any of its officers; (iii) any instructions or opinions of legal counsel with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by CFS under this Agreement which are provided to CFS after consultation with such legal counsel; or (iv) any paper or document, reasonably believed to be genuine, authentic, or signed by the proper person or persons;
(a) Indemnification by CFS. CFS shall indemnify each Fund and hold it harmless from and against any and all losses, damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, incurred by such Fund which result from: (i) CFSs failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement with respect to such Fund; or (ii) CFSs bad faith or willful misfeasance in performing its obligations hereunder with respect to such Fund; or (iii) CFSs gross negligence or misconduct or that of its employees, agents or contractors in connection herewith with respect to such Fund.
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section 9 shall apply, upon the assertion of an indemnification claim, the party seeking the indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The Trust shall have the option to participate with CFS in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or that of CFS. The party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the indemnifying partys written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 10. Term and Termination .
This Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to a Fund from the Effective Date until the End Date, each as set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement (the Initial Term); thereafter, this Agreement shall automatically renew for a period of one year and continue in effect from year to year thereafter (the initial and any subsequent such periods are referred to as Term).
This Agreement may be terminated by either party at any time, without the payment of a penalty upon at least ninety (90) days written notice to other party prior to the end of the then current Term. Any termination shall be effective as of the date specified in the notice or upon such later date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties. Upon notice of termination of this Agreement by either party, CFS shall promptly transfer to the successor administrator the original or copies of all books and records maintained by CFS under this Agreement including, in the case of records maintained on computer systems, copies of such records in machine-readable form, and shall cooperate with, and provide reasonable assistance to, the successor administrator in the establishment of the books and records necessary to carry out the successor administrators responsibilities. If this Agreement is terminated by the Trust, the Trust shall be responsible for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or costs associated with the movement of records and materials to the successor administrator. Additionally, CFS reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated with such termination.
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:
|
|||
World Funds
Trust
|
||||
8730 Stony
Point Parkway, Suite 205
|
||||
Richmond,
Virginia 23235
|
||||
Attention:
President
|
||||
With copy
to:
|
||||
The Law Offices
of John H. Lively
|
||||
A member firm
of The 1940 Act Law Group
TM
|
||||
11300 Tomahawk
Creek Parkway, Suite 310
|
||||
Leawood, Kansas
66211
|
||||
Attention:
John H. Lively
|
(ii) |
If to CFS,
to:
|
|||
Commonwealth
Fund Services, Inc.
|
||||
8730 Stony
Point Parkway, Suite 205
|
||||
Richmond,
Virginia 23235
|
||||
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 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. This Agreement shall insure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction involving a merger or sale of substantially all of the assets of a Fund shall not require the written consent of CFS.
Section 13. Holidays .
Except as required by laws and regulations governing investment companies, nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall require CFS, in any capacity hereunder, to perform any functions or duties on any holiday or other day of special observance on which CFS is closed. Functions or duties normally scheduled to be performed on such days shall be performed on, and as of, the next business day on which both the Trust and CFS are open. CFS will be open for business on days when the Trust is open for business and/or as otherwise set forth in each Funds prospectus(es) and Statement(s) of Additional Information.
Section 14. Waiver .
Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party entitled to the benefit thereof by written instrument executed by such party. No failure of either party hereto to exercise any power or right granted hereunder, or to insist upon strict compliance with any obligation hereunder, and no custom or practice of the parties with regard to the terms of performance hereof, will constitute a waiver of the rights of such party to demand full and exact compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 15. Force Majeure .
In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, acts of war or terrorism, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or other causes reasonably beyond its control,
such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes; provided, however, that this provision shall not imply that CFS is excused from maintaining reasonable business continuity plans to address potential service outages.
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. The compensation stated in Schedule E attached hereto may be adjusted from time to time by the execution of a new schedule signed by the parties thereto.
Section 17. Severability .
If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.
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 and Schedules 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 to be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without reference to choice of law principles thereof, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provision of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control.
Section 22. Services Not Exclusive.
The services of CFS to the Trust are not deemed exclusive, and CFS shall be free to render similar services to others, to the extent that such service does not affect CFSs ability to perform its duties and obligations hereunder.
Section 23. Special or Consequential Damages.
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for special or consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement.
Section 24. Reliance on Trust Instructions and Experts.
CFS may rely upon the written advice of the Trust and upon statements of the Trusts legal counsel, accountants and other person believed by it in good faith to be expert in matters upon which they are consulted, and CFS shall not be liable for any actions taken in good faith upon such statements.
Section 25. Survival.
The obligations of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 21, 23, 24 and this 25 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
* | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Signature Page Follows
* | * | * | * | * | * | * | * |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fund Services Agreement to be signed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
COMMONWEALTH FUND SERVICES, INC. | |||||
By:
|
/s/ Karen Shupe | ||||
Print Name: | Karen Shupe | ||||
Title: Managing Director, Fund Operations | |||||
WORLD FUNDS
TRUST
|
|||||
WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNDS IDENTIFIED ON EXHIBIT A | |||||
By:
|
/s/ John Pasco, III | ||||
Print Name: |
John Pasco,
III
|
||||
Title: President
|
|||||
EXHIBIT A
to
Fund Services Agreement
List of Funds
Fund Name | Effective Date | End Date of Initial Term |
Clifford Capital
Partners Fund
|
February 8,
2016
|
January 31,
2019
|
EXHIBIT B
To
Fund Services Agreement
Administrative Services
1. |
Subject to
the direction and control of the Board of Trustees (the Board) of the
Trust, CFS shall manage all aspects of each Funds operations with respect
to each Fund except those that are the specific responsibility of any other service
provider hired by the Trust, all in such manner and to such extent as may be authorized
by the Board.
|
|
2.
|
Oversee the
performance of administrative and professional services rendered to each Fund by
others, including its custodian, fund accounting agent, transfer agent and dividend
disbursing agent as well as legal, auditing, shareholder servicing and other services
performed for each Fund, including:
|
(a) |
The preparation
and maintenance by each Funds custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing
agent and fund accountant in such form, for such periods and in such locations as
may be required by applicable law, of all documents and records relating to the
operation of each Fund required to be prepared or maintained by the Trust or its
agents pursuant to applicable law.
|
|||
(b)
|
The reconciliation
of account information and balances among each Funds custodian, transfer agent,
dividend disbursing agent and fund accountant.
|
|||
(c)
|
The transmission
of purchase and redemption orders for shares.
|
|||
(d)
|
The performance
of fund accounting, including the accounting services agents calculation of
the net asset value (NAV) of each Funds shares.
|
3. |
For new series
or classes, obtain CUSIP numbers, as necessary, and estimate organizational costs
and expenses and monitor against actual disbursements.
|
|
4.
|
Assist each
Funds investment adviser in monitoring fund holdings for compliance with prospectus
investment restrictions and limitations and assist in preparation of periodic compliance
reports, as applicable.
|
|
5.
|
Prepare and
assist with reports for the Board as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
|
|
6.
|
Prepare quarterly
and annual Code of Ethics forms for: (i) disinterested Board members; and (ii) officers
of the Trust, if any, that are also employees of CFS, including a review of returned
forms against portfolio holdings and reporting to the Board.
|
|
7.
|
Prepare and
mail annual Trustees and Officers questionnaires.
|
8. |
Maintain general
Board calendars and regulatory filings calendars.
|
|
9.
|
As mutually
agreed to by the parties, prepare updates to and maintain copies of the Trusts
trust instrument and by-laws.
|
|
10.
|
Coordinate
with insurance providers, including soliciting bids for Trustees & Officers/Errors
& Omissions insurance and fidelity bond coverage, coordinate the filing of
fidelity bonds with the SEC and make related Board presentations.
|
|
11.
|
Prepare selected
management reports for performance and compliance analyses agreed upon by the Trust
and CFS from time to time.
|
|
12.
|
Advise the
Trust and the Board on matters concerning each Fund and its affairs.
|
|
13.
|
With the assistance
of the counsel to the Trust, the investment adviser, officers of the Trust and other
relevant parties, prepare and disseminate materials for meetings of the Board on
behalf of each Fund, and any committees thereof, including agendas and selected
financial information as agreed upon by the Trust and CFS from time to time; attend
and participate in Board meetings to the extent requested by the Board.
|
|
14.
|
Provide assistance
to each Funds independent public accountants in order to determine income
and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required
to meet regulatory, income and excise tax requirements.
|
|
15.
|
Assist each
Funds independent public accountants with the preparation of each Funds
federal, state and local tax returns. The tax returns will be reviewed by each Funds independent public accountants.
|
|
16.
|
Prepare and
maintain each Funds operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals
to be charged to each Fund in order to calculate its daily NAV.
|
|
17.
|
In consultation
with counsel for the Trust, assist in and oversee the preparation, filing, printing
and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of the following:
|
(a) |
Amendments
to each Funds Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
|
|||
(b)
|
Periodic reports
to each Funds shareholders and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC), including but not limited to annual reports and semi-annual
reports.
|
|||
(c)
|
Notices pursuant
to Rule 24f-2.
|
|||
(d)
|
Proxy materials.
|
|||
(e)
|
Reports to
the SEC on Form N-SAR, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q and Form N-PX.
|
18. |
Coordinate
each Funds annual or SEC audit by:
|
(a) |
Assisting
each Funds independent auditors, or, upon approval of each Fund, any regulatory
body in any requested review of each Funds accounts and records.
|
|||
(b)
|
Providing
appropriate financial schedules (as requested by each Funds independent public
accountants or SEC examiners); and
|
|||
(c)
|
Providing
office facilities as may be required.
|
19. |
Assist the
Trust in the handling of routine regulatory examinations and work closely with the
Trusts legal counsel in response to any non-routine regulatory matters.
|
|
20.
|
After consultation
with counsel for the Trust and the investment adviser, assist the investment adviser
to determine the jurisdictions in which shares of each Fund shall be registered
or qualified for sale; register, or prepare applicable filings with respect to,
the shares with the various state and other securities commissions, provided that
all fees for the registration of shares or for qualifying or continuing the qualification
of each Fund shall be paid by each Fund.
|
|
21.
|
Monitor sales
of shares, ensure that the shares of the Trust are validly issued under the laws
of the State of Delaware and properly and duly registered with the SEC.
|
|
22.
|
Oversee the
calculation of performance data for dissemination to information services covering
the investment company industry, for sales literature of each Fund and other appropriate
purposes.
|
|
23.
|
Prepare, or
cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports, including Fund budgets, expense
reports, pro-forma financial statements, expense and profit/loss projections and
fee waiver/expense reimbursement projections on a periodic basis.
|
|
24.
|
Authorize
the payment of Fund expenses and pay, from Fund assets, all bills of each Fund.
|
|
25.
|
Provide information
typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or
report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies.
|
|
26.
|
Assist each
Fund in the selection of other service providers, such as independent accountants,
law firms and proxy solicitors; and perform such other recordkeeping, reporting
and other tasks as may be specified from time to time in the procedures adopted
by the Board; provided that CFS need not begin performing any such task except upon
65 days notice and pursuant to mutually acceptable compensation agreements.
|
|
27.
|
Provide assistance
to each Fund in the servicing of shareholder accounts, which may include telephone
and written conversations, assistance in redemptions, exchanges,
|
transfers
and opening accounts as may be required from time to time. CFS shall, in addition,
provide such additional administrative non-advisory management services as CFS and
the Trust may from time to time agree.
|
||
28.
|
Assist the
Trusts Chief Compliance Officer with issues regarding the Trusts compliance
program (as approved by the Board in accordance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act)
as reasonably requested.
|
|
29.
|
Perform certain
compliance procedures for the Trust which will include, among other matters, monitoring
compliance with personal trading guidelines by the Trusts Board.
|
|
30.
|
Assist the
Trust with its obligations under Section 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 and Rule 30a-2 under the 1940 Act, including the establishment and maintenance
of internal controls and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that
information prepared or maintained in connection with administration services provided
hereunder is properly recorded, processed, summarized, or reported by CSS or its
affiliates on behalf of the Trust so that it may be included in financial information
certified by the Trusts officers on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q.
|
|
31.
|
Prepare and
file any claims in connection with class actions involving portfolio securities,
handle administrative matters in connection with the litigation or settlement of
such claims, and prepare a report to the Board regarding such matters.
|
|
32.
|
CFS shall
provide such other services and assistance relating to the affairs of each Fund
as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request pursuant to mutually acceptable
compensation agreements.
|
EXHIBIT C
to
Fund Services
Agreement
Accounting Services
1. |
Subject to
the direction and control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board), CFS shall perform all accounting services with respect to each Fund except
those that are the specific responsibility of any other service provider hired by
the Trust, all in such manner and to such extent as may be authorized by the Board.
|
|
2. |
CFS shall
maintain and keep current the following Accounts and Records relating to the business
of the Trust, in such form as may be mutually agreed to between the Trust and CFS
and as may be required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940
Act):
|
(a) |
Cash Receipts
Journal
|
|||
(b)
|
Cash Disbursements
Journal
|
|||
(c)
|
Dividends
Paid and Payable Schedule
|
|||
(d)
|
Purchase and
Sales Journals - Portfolio Securities
|
|||
(e)
|
Subscription
and Redemption Journals
|
|||
(f)
|
Security Ledgers
- Transaction Report and Tax Lot Report
|
|||
(g)
|
Broker Ledger
- Commission Report
|
|||
(h)
|
Daily Expense
Accruals
|
|||
(i)
|
Daily Interest
Accruals
|
|||
(j)
|
Daily Trial
Balance
|
|||
(k)
|
Portfolio
Interest Receivable and Income Journal
|
|||
(l)
|
Listing of
Portfolio Holdings showing cost, market value and percentage of portfolio comprised
of each security.
|
3. |
CFS shall
perform ministerial calculations necessary to calculate the Trusts net asset
value daily, in accordance with the Trusts registration statement and as follows:
|
(a) |
Portfolio
investments for which market quotations are available to CFS by use of an automated
financial service (a Pricing Service) shall be valued based on the closing
prices of the portfolio investment reported by such Pricing Service, except where
the Trust has given or caused to be given specific instructions to utilize a different
value.
|
|||
(b)
|
Notwithstanding
any information obtained from a Pricing Service, all portfolio securities shall
be given such values as the Trust shall direct by instructions from the Trusts
Pricing Committee, including all restricted securities and other securities requiring
valuation not readily ascertainable solely by the use of such a Pricing Service.
|
4. |
CFS will supply
the Transfer Agent with daily NAVs for each portfolio.
|
|
5.
|
It is the
responsibility of CFS to be reconciled to the Custodian. CFS will report any discrepancies
to the Custodian, and shall report any unreconciled items to the Trust.
|
EXHIBIT D
to
Fund Services Agreement
Transfer Agency Services
GENERAL :
1. |
Issuance
and Transfer of Shares
: CFS shall make original issues of Shares of each Fund
and Class thereof in accordance with the Funds Prospectus only upon receipt
of (i) instructions requesting the issuance, (ii) a certified copy of a resolution
of the Board authorizing the issuance, (iii) necessary funds for the payment of
any original issue tax applicable to such Shares, and (iv) an opinion of the Funds counsel as to the legality and validity of the issuance, which opinion may
provide that it is contingent upon the filing by the Fund of an appropriate notice
with the SEC, as required by Section 24 of the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder.
If the opinion described in (iv) above is contingent upon a filing under Section
24 of the 1940 Act, the Fund shall indemnify CFS for any liability arising from
the failure of the Fund to comply with that section or the rules thereunder.
|
|
Transfers
of Shares of each Fund and Class thereof shall be registered on the Shareholder
records maintained by CFS. In registering transfers of Shares, CFS may rely upon
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Virginia or any other statutes
that, in the opinion of CFSs counsel, protect CFS and the Fund from liability
arising from (i) not requiring complete documentation, (ii) registering a transfer
without an adverse claim inquiry, (iii) delaying registration for purposes of such
inquiry or (iv) refusing registration whenever an adverse claim requires such refusal.
As transfer agent, CFS will be responsible for delivery to the transferor and transferee
of such documentation as is required by the Uniform Commercial Code.
|
||
2.
|
Share Certificates
: To the extent the Trust determines for a particular Fund to issue share certificates,
the Trust shall furnish to CFS a supply of blank share certificates of each Fund
and Class thereof and, from time to time, will renew such supply upon CFSs
request. Blank share certificates shall be signed manually or by facsimile signatures
of officers of the Trust authorized to sign by the Organizational Documents of the
Trust and, if required by the Organizational Documents, shall bear the Trusts
seal or a facsimile thereof. Unless otherwise directed by the Trust, CFS may issue
or register share certificates reflecting the manual or facsimile signature of an
officer who has died, resigned or been removed by the Trust.
|
|
New share
certificates shall be issued by CFS upon surrender of outstanding share certificates
in the form deemed by CFS to be properly endorsed for transfer and satisfactory
evidence of compliance with all applicable laws relating to the payment or collection
of taxes. CFS shall forward share certificates in non-negotiable form
by first-class or registered mail, or by whatever means CFS deems equally reliable
and expeditious. CFS shall not mail share certificates in negotiable
form unless requested in writing by the Trust and fully indemnified by the Trust
to CFSs satisfaction.
|
In the event
that the Trust informs CFS that any Fund or Class thereof does not issue share certificates,
CFS shall not issue any such share certificates and the provisions of this Agreement
relating to share certificates shall not be applicable with respect to those Funds
or Classes thereof.
|
||
3.
|
Share Purchases
: Shares shall be issued in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus after
CFS or its agent receives either:
|
(a) |
The following
|
i. |
an instruction
directing investment in a Fund or Class,
|
|||||
ii.
|
a check (other
than a third party check) or a wire or other electronic payment in the amount designated
in the instruction; and
|
|||||
iii.
|
in the case
of an initial purchase, a completed account application;
|
|||||
or
|
(b) |
the information
required for purchases pursuant to a selected dealer agreement, processing organization
agreement, or a similar contract with a financial intermediary.
|
4. |
Eligibility
to Receive Redemptions
: Shares issued in a Fund after receipt of a completed purchase
order shall be eligible to receive distributions of the Fund at the time specified
in the Prospectus pursuant to which the Shares are offered. Shareholder payments
shall be considered Federal Funds no later than on the day indicated below unless
other times are noted in the Prospectus of the applicable Class or Fund:
|
(a) |
for a wire
received, at the time of the receipt of the wire;
|
||
(b)
|
for a check
drawn on a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, on the next Fund business
day following receipt of the check; and
|
||
(c)
|
for a check
drawn on an institution that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, at such
time as CFS is credited with Federal Funds with respect to that check.
|
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED :
1. |
CFS agrees
that in accordance with procedures established from time to time by agreement between
the Trust on behalf of each of the Funds, as applicable, and CFS, CFS will perform
the following services:
|
|
(a) provide
the services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and, as relevant, agent
in connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program) that are
customary for open-end management investment companies including: (A) maintaining
all Shareholder accounts, (B) preparing Shareholder meeting lists, (C) mailing proxies
and related materials to Shareholders, (D) mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses
|
to current
Shareholders, (E) withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts,
(F) preparing and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate
forms required by federal authorities with respect to distributions for Shareholders,
(G) preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of account to Shareholders
for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other confirmable transactions in
Shareholder accounts, (H) preparing and mailing activity statements for Shareholders,
and (I) providing Shareholder account information;
|
||
(b) receive
for acceptance orders for the purchase of Shares and promptly deliver payment and
appropriate documentation therefore to the custodian of the applicable Fund (the
Custodian) or, in the case of Funds operating in a master-feeder or
fund of funds structure, to the transfer agent or interestholder recordkeeper for
the master portfolios in which the Fund invests;
|
||
(c) pursuant
to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number of Shares and hold such Shares
in the appropriate Shareholder account;
|
||
(d) receive
for acceptance redemption requests and deliver the appropriate documentation therefore
to the Custodian or, in the case of Funds operating in a master-feeder structure,
to the transfer agent or interestholder recordkeeper for the master fund in which
the Fund invests;
|
||
(e) as and
when it receives monies paid to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption,
pay the redemption proceeds as required by the Prospectus pursuant to which the
redeemed Shares were offered and as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;
|
||
(f) effect
transfers of Shares upon receipt of appropriate instructions from Shareholders;
|
||
(g) prepare
and transmit to Shareholders (or credit the appropriate Shareholder accounts) payments
for all distributions declared by the Fund with respect to Shares;
|
||
(h) issue
share certificates and replacement share certificates for those share certificates
alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed upon receipt by CFS of indemnification
satisfactory to CFS and protecting CFS and the Fund and, at the option of CFS, issue
replacement certificates in place of mutilated share certificates upon presentation
thereof without requiring indemnification;
|
||
(i) receive
from Shareholders or debit Shareholder accounts for sales commissions, including
contingent deferred, deferred and other sales charges, and service fees (
i.e
., wire redemption charges) and prepare and transmit payments, as appropriate, to
the underwriter for commissions and service fees received;
|
||
(j) track
shareholder accounts by financial intermediary source and otherwise as reasonably
requested by the Fund and provide periodic reporting to the Fund or its administrator
or other agent;
|
(k) maintain
records of account for and provide reports and statements to the Trust and Shareholders
as to the foregoing;
|
||
(l) record
the issuance of Shares of each Fund and maintain pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (1934 Act) a record
of the total number of Shares of the Trust, each Fund and each Class thereof, that
are authorized, based upon data provided to it by the Trust, and are issued and
outstanding and provide the Trust on a regular basis a report of the total number
of Shares that are authorized and the total number of Shares that are issued and
outstanding;
|
||
(m) provide
a system that will enable the Trust to calculate the total number of Shares of each
Fund and Class thereof sold in each State;
|
||
(n) provide
necessary information to the Trust to enable the Trust to monitor and make appropriate
filings with respect to the escheatment laws of the various states and territories
of the United States;
|
||
(o) oversee
the activities of proxy solicitation firms, if requested by the Trust;
|
||
(p) monitor
transactions in each Fund for market timing activity in accordance with the Trusts policies and procedures, which may be amended from time to time; and
|
||
(q) account
for and administer all shareholder account fees as provided in each Funds
Prospectus.
|
2. |
CFS shall
receive and tabulate proxy votes, coordinate the tabulation of proxy and shareholder
meeting votes and perform such other additional services as may be specified from
time to time by the Fund, all pursuant to mutually acceptable compensation and implementation
agreements.
|
|
3.
|
The Trust
or its administrator \or other agent (i) shall identify to CFS in writing those transactions
and assets to be treated as exempt from reporting for each state and territory of
the United States and for each foreign jurisdiction (collectively States)
and (ii) shall monitor the sales activity with respect to Shareholders domiciled
or resident in each State. The responsibility of CFS for the Trusts state
registration status is solely limited to the reporting of transactions to the Trust,
and CFS shall have no obligation, when recording the issuance of Shares, to monitor
the issuance of such Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the issue
or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the sole responsibility of the
Trust or its administrator or other agent.
|
|
4.
|
CFS shall
establish and maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Trust
for the safekeeping, control, preparation and use of share certificates, check forms,
and facsimile signature imprinting devices. CFS shall establish and maintain facilities
and
|
procedures
reasonably acceptable to the Trust for safekeeping of all records maintained by
CFS pursuant to this Agreement.
|
||
5.
|
CFS shall
cooperate with each Funds independent public accountants and shall take reasonable
action to make all necessary information available to the accountants for the performance
of the accountants duties.
|
|
6.
|
Anti-Money
Laundering (AML) Delegation. The Trust has elected to delegate to CFS
certain AML duties under this Agreement and the parties have agreed to such duties
and terms as stated in the attached schedule (Schedule B entitled AML Delegation), which may be changed from time to time subject to mutual written agreement
between the parties. CFS has adopted the necessary policies and procedures, which
are reasonably designed to carry out the AML Delegation, and will provide a copy
of such policies and procedures to the Trust prior to the commencement of this Agreement
and will promptly provide the Trust with any material amendments thereto. CFS will
strictly adhere to its anti-money laundering procedures and controls.
|
AML DELEGATION
1. |
Delegation
. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Trust
hereby delegates to CFS those aspects of the Trusts Anti-Money Laundering
Program (the AML Program) that are set forth in Section 4 below (the
Delegated Duties). The Delegated Duties set forth in Section 4 may be
amended, from time to time, by mutual agreement of the Trust and CFS upon the execution
by such parties of a revised Schedule B bearing a later date than the date hereof.
|
|
(a) CFS agrees
to perform such Delegated Duties, with respect to the Fund shareholders for which
CFS maintains the applicable shareholder information, subject to and in accordance
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
|
||
2.
|
Consent
to Examination
. In connection with the performance by CFS of the Delegated Duties,
CFS understands and acknowledges that the Fund remains responsible for assuring
compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act) and the
laws implementing the USA PATRIOT Act and that the records CFS maintains for the
Fund relating to the AML Program may be subject, from time to time, to examination
and/or inspection by federal regulators in order that the regulators may evaluate
such compliance. CFS hereby consents to such examination and/or inspection and agrees
to cooperate with such federal regulators in connection with their review. For purposes
of such examination and/or inspection, CFS will use its best efforts to make available,
during normal business hours and on reasonable notice, all required records and
information for review by such regulators.
|
|
3.
|
Limitation
on Delegation
. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that in accepting the delegation
hereunder, CFS is agreeing to perform only the Delegated Duties, as may be amended
from time to time, and is not undertaking and shall not be responsible for any other
aspect of the AML Program or for the overall compliance by the Fund with the
|
USA PATRIOT
Act or for any other matters that have not been delegated hereunder. Additionally,
the parties acknowledge and agree that CFS shall only be responsible for performing
the Delegated Duties with respect to the accounts for which CFS maintains the applicable
shareholder information.
|
||
4.
|
Delegated
Duties
.
|
4.1 |
Consistent
with the services provided by CFS and with respect to the applicable shareholder
information maintained by CFS, CFS shall:
|
i. |
Submit all
new account and registration maintenance transactions through the Office of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC) database and such other lists or databases of
trade restricted individuals or entities as may be required from time to time by
applicable regulatory authorities;
|
|||||
ii. |
Submit special
payee checks through OFAC database;
|
|||||
iii. |
Review redemption
transactions that occur within thirty (30) days of account establishment or maintenance;
|
|||||
iv. |
Review wires
sent pursuant to instructions other than those already on file with CFS;
|
|||||
v. |
Review accounts
with small balances followed by large purchases;
|
|||||
vi. |
Review accounts
with frequent activity within a specified date range followed by a large redemption;
|
|||||
vii. |
On a daily
basis, review purchase and redemption activity per tax identification number (TIN) within each Fund to determine if activity for that TIN exceeded the $100,000 threshold on any given day;
|
|||||
viii. |
Compare all
new accounts and registration maintenance through the Known Offenders database and
notify the Trust of any match.
|
|||||
ix. |
Monitor and
track cash equivalents under $10,000 for a rolling twelve-month period and file any
required reports with the IRS and issue the Shareholder notices required by the
IRS;
|
|||||
x. |
Determine
when a suspicious activity report (SAR) should be filed as required
by regulations applicable to mutual funds and prepare and file the SAR. Provide
the Trust with a copy of the SAR within a reasonable time after filing; notify the
Trust if any further communication is received from U.S. Department of the Treasury
or other law enforcement agencies regarding the SAR;
|
xi. |
Compare account
information to any FinCEN request received by the Trust and provided to CFS pursuant
to USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a). Provide the Trust with documents/information necessary
to respond to requests under USA PATRIOT Act Sec. 314(a) within required time frames;
|
|
xii. |
(i) Verify
the identity of any person seeking to open an account with each Fund, (ii) maintain
records of the information used to verify the persons identity in accordance
with applicable regulations, (iii) determine whether the person appears on any lists
of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the Trust
by any government agency, and (iv) perform enhanced due diligence with respect to
any investor that CFS has reason to believe presents high risk factors with regard
to money laundering or terrorist financing, prior to accepting an investment from
such investor; and
|
|
xiii. |
(i) Monitor
for any suspected money laundering activity with respect to correspondent accounts
for foreign financial institutions and private banking accounts and report any such
conduct required by applicable regulations, and (ii) conduct due diligence on private
banking accounts in the event that one or more Funds changes its line of business
in a manner that would involve the establishment or maintenance of such accounts.
|
4.2 |
In the event
that CFS detects activity as a result of the foregoing procedures, CFS shall timely
file any required reports, promptly notify appropriate government agencies and also
immediately notify the Fund, unless prohibited by applicable law.
|
|
4.3 |
Recordkeeping.
CFS shall keep all records relating to the Delegated Duties for an appropriate period
of time and, at a minimum, the period of time required by applicable law or regulation.
CFS will provide the Trust with access to such records upon reasonable request.
|
|
4.4 | AML Reporting to the Fund |
(a) |
On a quarterly
basis, CFS shall provide a report to the Fund on its performance of the AML Delegated
Duties, among other compliance items, which report shall include information regarding
the number of: (i) potential incidents involving cash and cash equivalents or unusual
or suspicious activity, (ii) any required reports or forms that have been filed
on behalf of the Fund, (iii) outstanding customer verification items, (iv) potential
and confirmed matches against the known offender and OFAC databases and (v) potential
and confirmed matches in connection with FinCen requests. Notwithstanding anything
in this Section 4.3(a) to the contrary, CFS reserves the right to amend and update
the form of its AML reporting from time to time to comply with new or amended requirements
of applicable law.
|
||
(b) |
At least annually,
CFS will arrange for independent testing (an audit) of the AML services it provides
to its clients on an organization-wide basis by a
|
qualified
independent auditing firm. CFS will provide the AML compliance officer of the Fund
with the results of the audit and testing, including any material deficiencies or
weaknesses identified and any remedial steps that will be taken or have been taken
by CFS to address such material deficiencies or weaknesses.
|
|||
(c) |
On an annual
basis, CFS will provide the Fund with a written certification that, among other
things, it has implemented its AML Program and has performed the Delegated Duties.
|
|
John H. Lively
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 8, 2016
World Funds Trust
8730 Stony Point Parkway
Suite 205
Richmond, VA 23235
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. 333-148723 and 811-22172)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to World Funds 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 Clifford Capital Partners 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.
World Funds Trust
February
8, 2016
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 Agreement and 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 the Fund is unable to meet their 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:
(a) |
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
|
|
(b)
|
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.
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 Other Fund Service Providers in the Prospectus and 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.
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our report dated February 8, 2016, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Clifford Capital Partners Fund, a series of Cottonwood Mutual Funds (the predecessor fund to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund, a series of World Funds Trust), for the year ended December 31, 2015, and to the references to our firm under the headings Financial Highlights and Other Fund Service Providers in the Prospectus and Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Statements in the Statement of Additional Information.
Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd.
Cleveland, Ohio
February 8, 2016
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
WHEREAS , the World Funds Trust (the Trust) a statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware, engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and
WHEREAS , the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (the Shares), in separate series representing the interests in separate funds of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS , the Trust offers a series of such Shares representing interests in the Clifford Capital Partners Fund (the Fund) of the Trust; and
WHEREAS , the Trust desires to adopt a Shareholder Services Plan (Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Investor Class Shares of the Fund; and
WHEREAS , the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, including the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the Non-Interested Trustees), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders, have approved this Plan by votes cast at a meeting held in person and called for the purpose of voting hereon and on any agreements related hereto;
NOW, THEREFORE , the Trust hereby adopts this Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, with respect to the Investor Class Shares described herein of the Fund and on the following terms and conditions:
1. Servicing Activities. Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) payments to the Trusts distributor (the Distributor) and to securities dealers and others in respect of the sale of Shares of the Fund;
(b) payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Shares of the Fund or who render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trusts transfer agent, administrator, or custodian, including but not limited to, answering inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, providing personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, providing other shareholder liaison services, responding to shareholder inquiries, providing information on shareholder investments in the Shares of the Fund, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request, arranging for bank wires, assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in the Fund, forwarding communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to shareholders, processing purchase, exchange, and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers;
(c) formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising;
(d) preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature;
(e) preparation, printing and distribution of prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Trust for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Trust;
(f) obtaining information and providing explanations to wholesale and retail distributors of contracts regarding Fund investment objectives and policies and other information about the Fund, including the performance of the Fund;
(g) obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, deem advisable.
The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares of the Fund, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.
2. Maximum Expenditures. (a) The expenditures to be made by the Fund pursuant to this Plan and the basis upon which payment of such expenditures will be made shall be determined by the Trustees of the Trust, but in no event may such expenditures exceed the following:
(1) Investor Class Shares. For the Investor Class Shares of the Fund, the Fund may pay an amount calculated at the rate of up to 0.20% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Investor Class Shares of the Fund for each year or portion thereof included in the period for which the computation is being made, elapsed since the commencement of operations of the Investor Class Shares to the date of such expenditures.
(b) Allocation of Class Expenses. Only distribution expenditures properly attributable to the sale of a particular Class may be used to support the shareholder services fee charged to shareholders of such Class. Expenses attributable to the sale of more than one Class will be allocated at least annually to each Class based upon the ratio that the sales of Shares of each Class bears to the sales of Shares of all applicable Classes.
3. Term and Termination.
(a) This Plan shall become effective with respect to each Class on the date that such Class commences operation.
(b) Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect with respect to each Class of the Fund for one year from the effective date of the Plan for such Class and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both (i) the Trustees of the Trust and (ii) the Non-Interested Trustees, cast at an in-person meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
(c) This Plan may be terminated at any time with respect to a particular Class of the Fund by a vote of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such Class of the respective Fund.
4. Amendments. No material amendment to this Plan shall be made unless: (a) it is approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 3(b) hereof; and (b) if the proposed amendment will increase materially the maximum expenditures permitted by Section 2 hereof with respect to any Class, it is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of such Class.
5. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the Non-Interested Trustees of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such Non-Interested Trustees.
6. Quarterly Reports. The Trusts Distributor or Treasurer shall provide to the Trustees of the Trust and the Trustees shall review quarterly a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
7. Recordkeeping. The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 6 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan. Any such related agreement or such reports for the first two years will be maintained in an easily accessible place.
8. Limitation of Liability. Any obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust. The term World Funds Trust means and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Trusts Declaration of Trust (Declaration of Trust), which may be amended from time to time. This Plan has been authorized by the Trustees (including, the Non-Interested Trustees), acting as such and not individually, and such authorization by such Trustees shall not 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 assets and property of the Trust as provided in the Trusts Declaration of Trust.
This Plan was first authorized with respect to the Investor Class Shares on November 10, 2015.
World Fund Trust
Clifford
Capital Partners Fund
Rule 18f-3
Multiple
Class Plan
WHEREAS, the World Funds Trust (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust, engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act);
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each with its own separate investment portfolio, and the beneficial interest in each such series will be represented by a separate series of shares;
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund series of shares (the Fund), desires to adopt a Multiple Class Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act (the Plan);
WHEREAS, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, employs Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (the Adviser) as its adviser; Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (the Service Provider) as its administrator and as its transfer agent; and First Dominion Capital Corp. (the Distributor) as its principal underwriter in connection with the sale of shares of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board), including a majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust, the Adviser, or the Distributor have found the Plan, as proposed, to be in the best interests of each class of shares individually, the Fund, and the Trust as a whole;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, hereby adopts the Plan, in accordance with Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act on the following terms and conditions:
1. |
Features of
the Classes. The Fund shall offer, at the discretion of the Board, up to two classes
of shares: Investor Class Shares and Institutional Shares. Shares of each class
of the Fund shall represent an equal pro rata interest in the Fund and, generally,
shall have identical voting, dividend, distribution, liquidation, and other rights,
preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations, qualifications, and terms and conditions,
except that: (a) each class shall have a different designation; (b) each class of
shares shall bear any Class Expenses, as defined in Section 3 below; (c) each class
shall have exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to
|
shareholders
that relates solely to its distribution arrangements; and (d) each class shall have
separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests
of one class differs from the interests of any other class. In addition, Investor
Class and Institutional shares of the Fund shall have the features described in
Sections 2, 3, and 4 below.
|
||
2.
|
Distribution
Fee Structure.
|
(a) |
Investor Class Shares
.
Investor Class Shares of the Fund shall be offered at net asset
value (NAV) without the imposition of an initial sale charge as set forth in the
Funds then-current prospectus. Investor Class Shares may be exchanged for
Investor Class Shares of another fund of the Trust managed by the Adviser. Investor
Class Shares pay a Rule 12b-1 Fee of up to 0.20% (annualized) of the average daily
net assets of the Funds Investor Class Shares as described in the Distribution
Plan. Brokers, dealers and other institutions may maintain Investor Class shareholder
accounts and provide personal services to Investor Class shareholders, and the Fund
may pay up to 0.20% (annualized) of the average daily net assets of the Funds
Investor Class Shares as a fee for such shareholders services.
|
|||
(b)
|
Institutional Shares
.
Institutional Shares of the Fund shall be offered at their then-current
NAV without the imposition of an initial sales charge. Institutional Shares may
be exchanged for institutional shares of another fund of the Trust managed by the
Adviser.
|
3. |
Allocation
of Income and Expenses.
|
(a) |
The net asset
value of all outstanding shares representing interests in the Fund shall be computed
on the same days and at the same time. For purposes of computing net asset value,
the gross investment income of the Fund shall be allocated to each class on the
basis of the relative net assets of each class at the beginning of the day, adjusted
for capital share activity for each class as of the prior day as reported by the
Funds transfer agent. Realized and unrealized gains and losses for each class
will be allocated based on relative net assets at the beginning of the day, adjusted
for capital share activity for each class of the prior day, as reported by the Transfer
Agent. To the extent practicable, certain expenses (other than Class Expenses as
defined below, which shall be allocated more specifically), shall be allocated to
each class based on the relative net assets of each class at the beginning of the
day, adjusted for capital share activity for each class as of
|
the prior
day, as reported by the Transfer Agent. Allocated expenses to each class shall be
subtracted from allocated gross income. These expenses include:
|
(1) |
Expenses incurred
by the Trust (for example, fees of trustees, auditors, insurance costs, and legal
counsel) that are not attributable to a particular class of shares of the Fund (Trust
Level Expenses); and
|
|||||
(2)
|
Expenses incurred
by the Fund that are not attributable to any particular class of the Funds
shares (for example, advisory fees, custodial fees, banking charges, organizational
costs, federal and Blue Sky registration fees, or other expenses relating to the
management of the Funds assets) (Fund Expenses).
|
(b) |
Expenses attributable
to a particular class (Class Expenses) shall be limited to:
|
(i) |
payments made
pursuant to a Distribution and/or Service Plan;
|
|||||
(ii)
|
transfer agent
fees attributable to a specific class;
|
|||||
(iii)
|
printing and
postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder
reports, prospectuses and proxies to current shareholders of a specific class;
|
|||||
(iv)
|
the expense
of administrative personnel and services to support the shareholders of a specific
class, including, but not limited to, fees and expenses under an administrative
service agreement;
|
|||||
(v)
|
litigation
or other legal expenses relating solely to one class; and
|
|||||
(vi) |
trustees
fees incurred as a result of issues relating to one class. Expenses in category
(i) above must be allocated to the class for which such expenses are incurred. All
other Class Expenses listed in categories (ii)-(vi) above may be allocated to
a class but only if an officer of the Trust has determined, subject to Board approval
or ratification, which of such categories of expenses will be treated as Class Expenses
consistent with applicable legal principles under the 1940 Act and the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
|
(c) |
Therefore,
expenses of the Fund shall be apportioned to each class of shares depending on the
nature of the expense item. Trust Level Expenses and Fund Expenses shall be allocated
among the classes of shares based on their relative net asset values. Approved Class
Expenses shall be allocated to the particular class to which they are attributable.
In addition, certain expenses may be allocated differently if their method of imposition
changes. Thus, if a Class Expense can no longer be attributed to a class, it shall
|
be charged
to the Fund for allocation among the classes, as determined by the Board. Any additional
Class Expenses not specifically identified above that are subsequently identified
and determined to be properly allocated to one class of shares shall not be so allocated
until approved by the Board in light of the requirements of the 1940 Act and the
Code.
|
4. |
Exchange Privileges.
The Investor Class and Institutional shares of the Fund may be exchanged at their
relative NAVs for:
|
(i) |
shares of
a comparable class of another series of shares offered by the Trust and managed
by the Adviser; or
|
|||
(ii)
|
if the other
series of shares offered by the Trust does not have multiple classes of shares,
the existing shares of such other series of the Trust managed by the Adviser. Purchase
of Fund shares by exchange are subject to the same minimum investment requirements
and other criteria imposed for purchases made in any other manner.
|
5. |
Quarterly
and Annual Report. The trustees shall receive quarterly and annual written reports
concerning all allocated Class Expenses and expenditures under each Distribution
Plan complying with paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of Rule 12b-1. The reports, including the
allocations upon which they are based, shall be subject to the review and approval
of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the
1940 Act), in the exercise of their fiduciary duties.
|
|
6.
|
Waiver or
Reimbursement of Expenses. Expenses may be waived or reimbursed by the Adviser or
any other provider of services to the Fund without the prior approval of the Board.
|
|
7.
|
Effectiveness
of Plan. The Plan shall not take effect until it has been approved by votes of a
majority of both (i) the trustees of the Trust and (ii) those trustees of the Trust
who are not interested persons of the Trust, the Adviser, or the Distributor (as
defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan, cast in person at a meeting (or meetings) called for
the purpose of voting on this Plan.
|
|
8.
|
Material Modifications.
This Plan may not be amended to materially modify its terms unless such amendment
is approved in the manner provided for initial approval in Paragraph 7 hereof.
|
|
9.
|
Limitation
of Liability. The Board of Trustees of the Trust and the shareholders of the Fund
shall not be liable for any obligations of the Fund under this Plan, and any person
in asserting any
|
rights or
claims under this Plan shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund in
settlement of such right or claim and not to such trustees or shareholders.
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted this Multiple Class Plan effective as of November 10, 2015.
Code of Ethics
Effective: March 2015
I. Introduction
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC (hereinafter CCP or the Company) is guided in all actions by high ethical and professional standards. Accordingly, the Company has embraced the SECs adoption of Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Code of Ethics rule, as an opportunity to affirm its duty to its clients.
Pursuant to the SECs adoption of this rule, the Company has adopted this Code of Ethics (the Code) in order to set the standards of conduct to be followed by all persons associated with the Company. The Company has set high standards, the intention of which is to protect client interests at all times and to demonstrate the Companys commitment to its fiduciary duties of honesty, good faith and fair dealing with clients. All officers, directors and employees (associated persons) are subject to this Code and the procedures outlined in it. The policies and guidelines set forth in this Code of Ethics must be strictly adhered to by all associated persons. Severe disciplinary actions, including dismissal, may be imposed for violations of this Code of Ethics.
The Company has several goals in adopting this Code. First, the Company desires to comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing its practice. We believe that compliance with such regulations is a signal to our clients that we exist to serve them, not ourselves, and that we support the efforts of those organizations dedicated to upholding the law.
Next, the management of the Company has set forth guidelines for professional standards, under which all associated persons are to conduct themselves. All associated persons are expected to strictly adhere to these guidelines, as well as the procedures for approval and reporting established in the Code. This will serve to inform and educate associated persons regarding appropriate activities. The Company has instituted, as a deterrent, a policy of disciplinary actions to be taken with respect to any associated person who violates the Code.
Finally, the Company has adopted specific policies and procedures designed to assist in the implementation of the guidelines outlined below. Such policies and procedures will serve to assist in reviewing the effectiveness of the implementation of the Code on an ongoing basis.
CFA Institute Code of Ethics and CFA
Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct
Certain members of the
firm have earned the Chartered Financial Analyst
®
(CFA)
designation. All CFA charterholders must abide by the CFA Institutes
Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, the
firm has voluntarily adopted the CFA Institutes Asset Manager Code of
Professional Conduct which applies to the firm on a global basis. Both the
CFA Code of Ethics and CFA Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct are incorporated
by reference at the end of this document.
II. Definitions
Supervised Person. This term includes directors, officers, partners and employees of the Company, as well as any other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions. The Company may also include in this category temporary workers, consultants, independent contractors and anyone else designated by the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). For purposes of the Code, such outside individuals will generally only be included in the definition of a supervised person if their duties include access to certain types of information, which would put them in a position of sufficient knowledge to necessitate their inclusion under the Code. The CCO shall make the final determination as to which of these are considered supervised persons.
Access Person. An Access Person is a Supervised Person who has access to nonpublic information regarding any clients purchase or sale of securities, is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic. All of the firms directors, officers, and partners are presumed to be access persons.
Associated Person. For purposes of this Code, all Supervised and Access Persons are subject to the provisions of the Code, and are collectively referred to as associated persons.
Advisory Client. Any person to whom or entity to which the Company serves as an investment adviser, renders investment advice or makes any investment decisions for a fee is considered to be a client.
Reportable or Covered Securities. Such securities include stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), notes, debentures and other evidences of indebtedness (including loan participations and assignments), limited partnership interests, investment contracts, and all derivative instruments, such as options and warrants.
Non-Reportable Securities. Specifically exempt from the definition of reportable or covered securities are: treasury securities; bank certificates of deposits, commercial paper, etc.; money market fund shares; shares of open-end mutual funds that are not advised or sub-advised by the Company; and units of a unit investment trust if the UIT is invested exclusively in unaffiliated mutual funds.
III. Guidelines for Professional Standards
|
All associated
persons must at all times reflect the professional standards expected of those engaged
in the investment advisory business, and shall act within the spirit and the letter
of the federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to investment advisers
and the general conduct of business.
|
||
|
All associated
persons are required to report any violation of the Code, by any person, to the
CCO or other appropriate person of the Company immediately. Such reports will be
held in confidence.
|
2
|
Associated
persons must place the interests of Advisory Clients first. All associated persons
must scrupulously avoid serving their own personal interests ahead of the interests
of the Companys Advisory Clients. In addition, associated persons must work
diligently to ensure that all clients are treated fairly. CCPs trading policy
and procedures address this important issue in more detail.
|
||
|
All associated
persons are naturally prohibited from engaging in any practice that defrauds or
misleads any client, or engaging in any manipulative or deceitful practice with
respect to clients or securities.
|
||
| Gifts and Entertainment |
A . |
Gifts and
Entertainment, Related to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund
: A conflict of
interest arises when personnel of a funds investment adviser are presented
with gifts, favors or other forms of consideration from persons doing business or
hoping to do business with the fund. CCPs associated persons are
prohibited
from receiving any gift or participating in entertainment activities provided by
any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of the Clifford Capital
Partners Fund.
|
|
B . |
Gifts and
Entertainment, Other (i.e., not related to the Clifford Capital Fund):
Associated persons must avoid taking inappropriate advantage of their positions.
The receipt of investment opportunities, perquisites or gifts from clients or potential
clients could call into question the exercise of the independent judgment of an
associated person. Associated persons should therefore use caution in these circumstances,
and always consult the CCO when in doubt. Generally gifts valued over $200 are not
permitted to be given or accepted by any associated person.
|
|
No associated
person may serve on the board of directors of any publicly traded company without
prior written permission by the CCO, Investment Committee or other appropriate personnel
based on a determination that the board service would be consistent with the interests
of the Companys clients, the Fund and its shareholders. Service on an investment-related companys Board of Directors is reviewed at least annually. Associated
persons are prohibited from serving on the board of directors of a company that
is a portfolio holding.
|
||
|
Associated
persons must conduct all personal securities transactions in full compliance with
this Code, including both pre-clearance and reporting requirements. Doubtful situations
always should be resolved in favor of Advisory Clients and in cooperation with the
CCO. Technical compliance with the Codes provisions shall not automatically
insulate from scrutiny any securities transactions or actions that could indicate
a violation of the Companys fiduciary duties.
|
||
|
Personal transactions
in securities by associated persons must be accomplished so as to avoid conflicts
of interest on the part of such personnel with the interests of the Companys
clients. Likewise, associated persons must avoid actions or activities that allow
a person to profit or benefit from his or her position with the Adviser at the expense
of clients, or that
|
3
otherwise
bring into question the persons independence or judgment. The Personal Trading
Policies are a part of this Code of Ethics.
|
|||
|
The Company
has adopted Insider Trading Policies which set parameters for the establishment,
maintenance and enforcement of policies and procedures to detect and prevent the
misuse of material non-public information. The Insider Trading Policies are a part
of this Code of Ethics.
|
||
|
Associated
persons are prohibited from accepting compensation for services from outside sources
without the specific permission of the CCO or other qualified individual in the
Company.
|
||
|
When any associated
person faces a conflict or potential conflict between their personal interest and
the interests of clients, they are required to immediately report the conflict to
the CCO for instruction regarding how to proceed.
|
||
|
The recommendations
and actions of the Company are confidential and private matters that are not to
be distributed, discussed or communicated outside the Company, except to broker/dealers
or other bona fide service providers in the ordinary course of business. In addition,
no information obtained during the course of employment regarding particular securities
(including internal reports and recommendations) may be transmitted, distributed,
or communicated to anyone who is not affiliated with the Company, without the prior
written approval of the CCO. In addition, we have adopted a Privacy Policy to prohibit
the transmission, distribution or communication of any information regarding securities
transactions in client accounts or other non-public client information. Violation
of the Privacy Policy is also considered a violation of this Code of Ethics.
|
IV. Insider Trading
The purpose of these policies and procedures (the Insider Trading Policies) is to educate our associated persons regarding insider trading, and to detect and prevent insider trading by any person associated with CCP. The term insider trading is not specifically defined in the securities laws, but generally refers to the use of material, non-public information to trade in securities or the communication of material, non-public information to others.
A. Prohibited Activities
All associated
persons of the Company, including contract, temporary, or part-time personnel, or
any other person associated with the Adviser are prohibited from the following activities:
(a) |
trading or
recommending trading in securities for any account (personal or client) while in
possession of material, non-public information about the issuer of the securities;
or
|
||
(b) |
communicating
material, non-public information about the issuer of any securities to any other
person.
|
4
The activities
described above are not only violations of these Insider Trading Policies, but also
may be violations of applicable law.
|
B. Reporting of Material, Non-Public
Information
Any associated person who possesses or believes that she/he may
possess material, non-public information about any issuer of securities must report
the matter immediately to the CCO. The CCO will review the matter and provide further
instructions regarding appropriate handling of the information to the reporting
individual.
C. Definitions | |||
Material Information. Material information generally includes: | |||
| any information that a reasonable investor would likely consider important in making his or her investment decision; or | ||
| any information that is reasonably certain to have a substantial effect on the price of a companys securities. | ||
Examples of material information include the following: dividend changes, earnings
estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger
or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems and
extraordinary management developments.
|
|||
Non-Public Information.
Information is non-public until it has
been effectively communicated to the market and the market has had time to absorb the information. For example, information found in a report filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or appearing in Dow Jones, Reuters Economic
Services,
The Wall Street Journal
or other publications of general circulation would
be considered public.
|
|||
Insider Trading.
While the law concerning insider trading is not
static, it generally prohibits: (1) trading by an insider while in possession of
material, non-public information; (2) trading by non-insiders while in possession
of material, non-public information, where the information was either disclosed
to the non-insider in violation of an insiders duty to keep it confidential
or was misappropriated; and (3) communicating material, non-public information to
others.
|
|||
Insiders.
The concept of insider is broad, and includes all employees
of a company. In addition, any person may be a temporary insider if she/he enters
into a special, confidential relationship with a company in the conduct of a companys affairs and as a result has access to information solely for the companys purposes. Any person associated with the Adviser may become a temporary insider
for a company it advises or for which it performs other services. Temporary insiders
may also include the following: a companys attorneys, accountants, consultants,
bank lending officers and the employees of such organizations.
|
5
D. Penalties for Insider Trading
The legal consequences for trading on or communicating material, non-public information
are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers.
A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he/she does
not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties may include:
| civil injunctions | ||
| jail sentences | ||
|
revocation
of applicable securities-related registrations and licenses
|
||
|
fines for
the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or
loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefited; and
|
||
|
fines for
the employee or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three
times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.
|
In addition, the Companys management will impose serious sanctions on any person who violates the Insider Trading Policies. These sanctions may include suspension or dismissal of the person or persons involved.
V. Personal Trading Policies
A. General Information
The following
policies and procedures apply to all accounts owned or controlled by an associated
person, those accounts owned or controlled by members of the associated persons
immediate family, including any relative by blood, marriage or domestic partnership
living in the same household, and any account in which the associated person has
any beneficial interest, such as a trust. These accounts are collectively referred
to as covered accounts. In the event that an associated person has a
casual roommate, as opposed to a fiancé or other domestic partner, the
accounts of the roommate may be exempt from the Code provisions, subject to the
CCOs determination. Any account in question should be addressed with the CCO
immediately to determine if it is a covered account.
B. Pre-Approval
The Company has
determined that in certain cases it is in the best interest of our clients to require
pre-clearance of personal trading in reportable or covered securities (as defined
earlier in the Code) by our associated persons, subject to certain exemptions.
No trading in reportable securities is allowed in any covered account until pre-clearance approval has been obtained, subject to certain exemptions outlined below. Approval is contingent upon the CCO determining that the contemplated transaction will raise no conflict of interest. An associated person who wishes to place a trade in a covered account shall complete a Pre-Clearance Request Form (Schedule A) and submit it to the CCO or his/her designee. The CCO shall indicate on the form both the date and the time he/she processes the request. The requested trade must be executed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the trading day following the request. If the trade is not placed or is
6
placed but not executed within this time period, a new Pre-Clearance Request Form must be processed.
Exemption from Pre-Approval
(1) Non-reportable
securities
Rule 204A-1 specifically excludes the following from the definition of reportable or covered securities: |
| Direct Obligations of the US Treasury | ||
| Bankers acceptance, Certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and the like | ||
| Money market fund shares | ||
|
Shares of
open end mutual funds, as long as neither CCP nor any affiliate serves as the adviser
or sub-adviser to the fund
|
||
| Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are advised or sub-advised by CCP. |
(2) Delegated
Discretion Accounts
Pre-clearance is not required on trades in a covered account over which an associated person has no discretion if: |
(a) |
the associated
person provides to the CCO a copy of the written contract pursuant to which investment
discretion for the account has been delegated in writing to a fiduciary;
|
||
(b) |
the associated
person certifies in writing that she/he has not and will not discuss potential investment
decisions with the independent fiduciary; and
|
||
(c) |
the associated
person ensures that duplicate broker-dealer trade confirmations and monthly/quarterly
statements of the discretionary account holdings are provided to the Adviser.
|
||
NOTE Transactions in reportable securities in such accounts shall be reported on a quarterly basis. |
(3) Automatic
Reinvestment Plans
Pre-Clearance is not required for transactions within an automatic reinvestment plan. |
|
(4) Employee
Accounts Managed by CCP
Trades in Covered Accounts that are managed by CCP in accordance with its model portfolios are not required to be pre-cleared so long as the trades are placed in aggregated block trades with client accounts or after all client accounts have traded. However, such trades are subject to all reporting requirements. |
C. Black-out periods
Trades in any reportable security, including options on such underlying securities, within 1 calendar day before any client account trades or considers trading the same security are prohibited.
7
Note: The following are exemptions from the black-out period:
De Minimis Exemption.
A pre-clearance request to trade
1,000 or fewer shares of an issuer that has at least $1 billion in market capitalization
is not subject to the Prohibited Trading Period.
|
|
Same Day Trade Exemption.
If an associated person requests to
make a trade in the same security on the same day through the same broker as client
accounts, the associated persons trade may be made as part of an aggregated
block trade with client accounts through the broker. These broker-specific blocks
will be placed by the trader in a particular sequence that rotates on a per trade
basis to ensure that, over time, no group of clients is disadvantaged by the timing
of the executions. If the entire block order is not filled, then the trader will
allocate the fills on a pro rata basis with covered person accounts receiving
no shares or units
(any excluded trades for associated persons will then be subject
to the 1 calendar day black-out period, unless they meet another exemption). When
such trades are completed, the prices for each broker-specific block of trades will
be separately averaged, and all accounts that traded through a particular broker
will receive the same price. Commissions will be charged to each account (including
associated person accounts) in accordance with the brokers policy; provided,
however, that if the entire block receives a single commission then the commission
shall be apportioned pro rata among all participating accounts.
|
D. Quarterly reporting requirements
Each associated person must file or cause to be filed with the CCO a Personal
Securities Transaction Report (the PST Report) within 30 days after
the end of each quarter (Schedule B). PST Report forms shall be circulated by the
CCO each quarter. Each PST Report shall require the covered person to certify that,
for the preceding quarter: (i) the information on the PST (or in lieu thereof or
in conjunction with, attached brokerage statements with transactions clearly marked
and/or transaction reports from the Companys portfolio management system)
represents all of the associated persons trading activity for the preceding
quarter, and (ii) the covered person has complied with the Advisers trading
policies in this Code of Ethics and applicable federal and state law in all respects.
This report shall be reviewed by the CCO (or his/her designee) in a timely fashion.
The CCO shall designate an appropriate person to review his/her reports.
If no broker is involved in a trade (unbrokered trades) by an associated person, he or she shall provide a transaction report within 10 days of the trade.
E. Initial and Annual reporting requirements
Within 10 days of beginning employment and annually thereafter on a date
designated by the Company, each associated person must provide a list of brokerage
accounts and reportable securities owned or controlled by the associated person,
his or her spouse or minor children, or any other person or entity in which the
associated person may have a beneficial interest or derive a direct or indirect
benefit (Schedule C). For each security owned, the following information is required:
(1) the title and type of security; (2) ticker symbol or cusip #, if applicable;
(3) the number of shares and (4) the principal amount of each reportable security
listed. As indicated on Schedule
8
C, this information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the report is submitted. (Brokerage statements and/or holdings reports from the Companys portfolio management system may be attached to Schedule C in lieu of, or in conjunction with, a list of reportable securities.)
Each associated person must notify the CCO of any updates or changes to his or her Covered Accounts within 10 days of such update or change. Reports made pursuant to this Section E shall be reviewed by the CCO (or his/her designee) in a timely fashion, and the CCO shall designate an appropriate person to review his/her reports.
F. Prohibited and Restricted Transactions | |||
|
Associated
persons are
prohibited
from participating in
IPOs
(Initial Public
Offerings) without
proper pre-clearance
.
|
||
|
Any associated
person wishing to purchase or sell a security obtained through a
Private placement
, including purchase of any interest in a hedge fund, must
first seek approval
by the CCO. In addition, if an associated person who owns a security in a private
company knows that the company is about to
engage in an IPO
, she/he must
disclose
this information to the CCO.
|
||
| Short sales of securities are prohibited . | ||
|
Purchases
and sales of
restricted securities
issued by public companies are generally
Prohibited
, unless CCO determines that the contemplated transaction will
raise no actual, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
|
||
|
Short-term
trading
by associated persons in their personal accounts, while not strictly
prohibited, is
discouraged
.
|
||
|
Participation
in
Investment Clubs
must be
approved in writing by the CCO
in advance
of any such participation.
|
Case-by-Case Exemptions
Because no written policy can provide for every possible contingency, the CCO may consider granting additional exemptions from the Prohibitions on Trading on a case-by-case basis. Any request for such consideration must be submitted by the covered person in writing to the CCO. Exceptions will only be granted in those cases in which the CCO determines that granting the request will create no actual, potential or apparent conflict of interest.
VI. Sanctions
Associated persons who violate any provision of the Code of Ethics may be subject to sanctions, which may include, among other things, education or formal censure; a letter of admonition; disgorgement of profits; restrictions on such persons personal securities transactions; fines, suspension, reassignment, demotion or termination of employment; or other significant remedial action.
All disciplinary responses to violations of the Code of Ethics shall be administered by the CCO, subject to approval, as applicable, by the president, chief executive officer or Board of Directors of
9
the Company. Determinations regarding appropriate disciplinary responses will be administered on a case-by-case basis, subject to the following specific policies:
(1) Associated
persons who violate the Pre-Clearance Procedures described above shall have personal
trading privileges under these Personal Trading Policies suspended for three months
following the discovery of the violation, and may face further discipline for repeated
violations; and
|
|
(2) Associated
persons who fail to timely submit PST Reports to the CCO as described above shall
be fined a minimum of $100 per offense, and may face further discipline for repeated
violations.
|
VII. Certification
Upon CCPs adoption of this Code of
Ethics and annually thereafter, all associated persons are required to certify in
writing his or her receipt, understanding and continuing acceptance of, as well
as agreement to abide by, the guidelines and polices set forth herein (Schedules
D (annual), E (initial)). New employees are required to certify in writing his or
her receipt, understanding and acceptance of, as well as agreement to abide by,
the guidelines and polices set forth herein (Schedule E) within ten (10) days of
employment. Additionally, any change or modification to the Code of Ethics will
be distributed to all associated persons and they will be required to certify in
writing their receipt, understanding and acceptance of the change(s) (Schedule F).
CCP will maintain the following records with regard to this Code:
| Copies of the original Code of Ethics and all revisions to the Code | ||
| Certification from all associated persons regarding their receipt, acknowledgement and acceptance of the Code and subsequent revisions | ||
| A list, kept current at all times, of all associated persons subject to the Code | ||
| Annual representation by each employee regarding his or her holdings in Reportable Securities | ||
| Annual representation by each employee listing his or her covered accounts | ||
| Quarterly reports, submitted by each associated person within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter, reflecting personal securities transactions during the quarter |
VIII. Review by Board of Directors
The Advisers CCO must prepare an annual report on this Code of Ethics for review by the Board of Directors of the Fund in accordance with Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. In accordance with Rule 17j-1, the report must contain the following
1. |
A description
of issues arising under the Code of Ethics since the last report including, but
not limited to, information about any violations of the Code, sanctions imposed
in response to such violations, changes made to the Codes provisions and procedures,
and any recommended changes to the Code; and
|
10
2. |
A certification
that the Adviser has adopted such procedures as are reasonably necessary to prevent
access persons from violating the Code of Ethics.
|
11
Schedule A
PERSONAL
TRANSACTION PRE-CLEARANCE FORM
The covered person submitting this request shall
complete the following section
in its entirety
:
PRINT NAME | BENEFICIAL OWNER NAME | DATE |
# of shares/
Principal Amt |
Name of Security | Buy or Sell |
Description
(e.g., Common Stock) |
Ticker Symbol | List Broker AND Account Number |
|
|
|
|
|
|
As applicable, please indicate the following:
o |
The above
transaction complies with the de minimis exemption from the Black-out Period Restriction
on Trading set forth in the Companys Code of Ethics, because the transaction
involves 1,000 or fewer shares and the issuer has a market capitalization of at
least $1 billion. I have attached written documentation evidencing the market capitalization.
|
o |
The above
transaction complies with the Same Day Trade exemption from the Black-out Period
Restriction on Trading set forth in the Companys Code of Ethics, because the
transaction would be a trade in the same security on the same day through the same
broker as client accounts as part of an aggregated block trade with client accounts
through the broker.
|
BY SIGNING BELOW, I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO ENGAGE IN THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TRANSACTION IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, AND I FURTHER REPRESENT THAT, IF MY REQUEST IS APPROVED, I HAVE DIRECTED MY BROKERAGE FIRM TO PROVIDE A COPY OF A CONFIRMATION OR STATEMENT DETAILING THE REQUESTED TRANSACTION(S) TO THE CCO.
SIGNATURE | PRINT NAME |
The Chief Compliance Officer (or other designated appropriate Adviser official)
shall complete
the following section and approve or decline permission for the proposed transaction: |
||||||||||
1. | (a) | Has any client account traded the security during the last 1 calendar day or does any client account plan to trade the security in the next 1 calendar days? | YES | o | NO | o | ||||
(b) | Does this trade qualify for the de minimis exemption described in the Code of Ethics? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
(c) | Does this trade qualify for the Same Day Trade exemption from the black-out period, as described in the Code of Ethics? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
2. | Does the proposed trade involve an initial public offering? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
3. | (a) | Does the proposed trade involve an option trade? | YES | o | NO | o | ||||
(b) | If yes, has any client account traded the security (or, if an option, the underlying security) during the last 1 calendar days or does any client account plan to trade the security in the next 1 calendar days? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
4. | Does the proposed trade involve a short sale transaction? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
5. | Does the proposed trade involve the purchase of restricted shares of a public company? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
6. | Does the proposed transaction involve a private placement or hedge fund investment (if YES, then provide written detail regarding the company and the amount of your investment and attach it to this form)? | YES | o | NO | o | |||||
7. | If you would own a beneficial interest in more than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer after executing the requested transaction, then state the total beneficial interest you will own in the companys voting securities after this purchase: | % |
PERMISSION (please check one): Granted o Denied o | TRADING REPRESENTATIVE TIME STAMP (Permission, if granted, good until 4:00 of trading day following approval date): | ||||
Chief Compliance Officer, or approved designee | Signature of individual placing trade | ||||
Date, time processed |
Date, time
of trade
|
Schedule B
Clifford
Capital Partners, LLC
Quarterly Personal Trading Report and Compliance Acknowledgement
Reporting Period: ________ to ________ | Due Date: ________ |
Please answer the following questions with respect to your trading for accounts in which you have a direct or indirect interest or control (including accounts of your spouse or minor children) (your Covered Accounts):
Were any trades conducted in the Accounts during the Reporting Period?
Yes | No |
If yes, please list trades below or attach brokerage statements with reportable transactions clearly indicated.
NAME OF
SECURITY |
BUY OR
SELL |
AMOUNT
OF
TRANSACTION |
PRICE OF
SECURITY |
BROKER/
DEALER |
DATE OF
TRANSACTION |
|||||
SIGNATURE | DATE |
REVIEWER SIGNATURE | PRINT NAME | DATE |
**Transactions in U.S. Treasury Securities, Certificates of Deposit and/or shares of registered mutual funds not managed by the firm or its affiliates need not be reported in this Personal Trading Report and Compliance Acknowledgement.
Schedule C
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC
EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION OF ACCOUNTS
Employee Name | ||
Employee home address | ||
Regulations require that you disclose information to your employer regarding your personal investment activity.
A. |
Please list
all
brokerage accounts you currently own, exercise control over or in which you
have any direct or indirect beneficial interest (for example, spouses accounts,
childrens accounts, etc. see Code of Ethics or discuss with CCO for
clarification). Attach additional page(s) if necessary. Please attach a copy of
the most recent statement of each (must be dated within 45 days of your signature
below).
|
||
B. |
For any securities
not held in a brokerage account listed below (i.e., held in certificate or other
form), the following information must be supplied: (1) the Title and type of security;
(2) ticker symbol or cusip #, if applicable; (3) the number of shares and (4) the
principal amount of each reportable security listed.
|
Also, if the brokerage report submitted under Item A above does not contain all the information listed in Item B, please provide this information for each security reflected on the brokerage statements.
Name of Account Custodian | Account number | Registration (Name) on Account | ||
Access Person Signature | Date | |
REVIEWER Signature* | Date |
*No Access Person may serve as Reviewer for his or her own accounts.
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC
EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION OF ACCOUNTS
Employee Name | |||
Regulations require that you disclose changes to your information regarding your personal investment accounts.
Please use this form to list covered accounts that have been opened or closed. Such account should be reported within 10 days of account opening or closing.
Name of Account Custodian | Account number | Registration (Name) on Account | ||
Access Person Signature | Date | |
REVIEWER Signature | Date |
Schedule D
I certify that during the 12 months preceding the date written below, in accordance with the Companys Code of Ethics:
1. |
I have fully
disclosed all accounts
and
reportable securities holdings in which I have, or a
member of my immediate family or household has, a beneficial interest (covered
securities and covered accounts).
|
|
2. |
I have obtained,
to the extent required by the Code of Ethics, pre-clearance for all transactions,
including those in IPOs or private placements in covered accounts.
|
|
3. |
I have reported
all securities transactions in which I have, or any member of my immediate family
has, a beneficial interest except for transactions exempt from reporting requirements.
|
|
4. |
I have received,
reviewed, understood, complied with, and will continue to comply with, the Code
of Ethics in all respects.
|
|
5. |
I have complied,
and will continue to comply with, all other policies and procedures established
by the Company.
|
Signature | |
Print Name | |
Dated: | |
Schedule E
I hereby certify that I have reviewed and understand the Companys Code of Ethics. I agree to abide by all provisions of the Code of Ethics, including, without limitation:
1. |
I have fully
disclosed all accounts
and
reportable securities holdings in which I have, or a
member of my immediate family or household has, a beneficial interest (covered
securities and covered accounts).
|
|
2. |
I will obtain,
to the extent required by the Code of Ethics, pre-clearance for all transactions,
including those in IPOs or private placements in covered accounts.
|
|
3. |
I will report
all securities transactions in which I have, or any member of my immediate family
has, a beneficial interest except for transactions exempt from reporting requirements.
|
|
4. |
I have received,
reviewed, understand, and will comply with the Code of Ethics in all respects.
|
|
5. |
I will comply
with all other policies and procedures established by the Company.
|
Signature | |
Print Name | |
Dated: | |
Schedule F
(Acknowledgement of Revision of Code of Ethics)
I hereby certify that I have received, reviewed and understand the change(s) in the Companys Code of Ethics. I agree to abide by all provisions of the Code of Ethics, including, without limitation new provisions represented by this change(s).
Signature | |
Print Name | |
Dated: | |