As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 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. (157) | [X] | ||
and/or | |||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | [X] | ||
Amendment No. (158) | [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.
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund
PROSPECTUS
February 23, 2016
Class A Shares
Ticker: SGFAX
Class C Shares Ticker: _______
This prospectus describes the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. The Fund is authorized to offer two classes of shares.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE |
Fund Summary | |
Investment Objective |
1 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
1 |
Portfolio Turnover |
2 |
Principal Investment Strategies |
2 |
Principal Risks |
4 |
Performance History |
11 |
Investment Adviser |
11 |
Portfolio Manager |
11 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
11 |
Tax Information |
11 |
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Intermediaries |
11 |
Additional Information About Fund Investments | 13 |
Additional Information About Risk | 15 |
Management | 24 |
How to Buy Shares | 26 |
How to Sell Shares | 28 |
General Information | 30 |
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes | 32 |
Distribution Arrangements | 37 |
Financial Highlights | 41 |
For More Information | Back Cover |
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FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective
The primary investment objective of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund (the Fund) is to provide long term capital appreciation and income generation. A secondary objective is to seek to preserve capital in down markets.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section Distribution Arrangements of this prospectus and in the section Distribution in the Funds statement of additional information.
(1)
With respect to certain purchases
made without the imposition of a sales charge at the time of purchase, you may be
charged a 1.00% redemption fee on Class A Shares if you redeem your shares within
one year after you purchase them.
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expense on short sales) do not exceed 1.70% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser may not terminate this expense limitation agreement prior to l January 31, 2017. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expense was incurred, provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver or reimbursement and at the time the waiver or reimbursement is recouped. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. The effect of the Advisers agreement to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses is only reflected in the first year of each example shown below. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Share Class | 1 Year | 3 Years |
Class A Shares | $690 | $1,127 |
Class C Shares | $475 | $885 |
If you did not redeem your shares, your cost for the one-year period would be:
Share Class | 1 Year |
Class C Shares | $275 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund has a flexible investment strategy and may invest in equity securities regardless of market capitalization (small, medium, or large) and style (growth or value). The Fund invests in value equity securities, which is buying equity securities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund also invests in growth equity securities; an investment strategy that emphasizes buying equity securities of companies whose potential for growth of capital and earnings is expected to be above average. These
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securities include common and preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and securities convertible into equity securities. The Fund will normally be invested in at least three countries (one of which may be the United States) and will invest at least 40% of its net assets either long or short in securities of foreign companies (including depositary receipts). For these purposes, foreign companies are firms that are organized or generate a majority (greater than 50%) of their revenue outside the United States, or otherwise expose the assets of the Fund to the economic fortunes and risks of countries other than the United States, or securities of issuers that are organized under the laws of a foreign country (e.g., through the use of derivatives or investments in other investment companies as described below). The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers located in emerging market countries. The Fund considers an emerging market country to be one whose economy or markets are generally considered to be emerging or developing.
The Funds portfolio is constructed by taking long positions in companies that Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. (the Adviser), the Funds investment adviser, believes are undervalued and sells short the securities that the Adviser believes are overvalued (i.e., short positions). A short sale is the sale by the Fund of a borrowed security (i.e., one that it does not own). When the Fund takes a long position with respect to a particular security, the Fund purchases a security with the expectation that the price of the security will appreciate in the future. When the Fund sells securities short, the Fund takes a position with respect to that security that reflects its expectation that the price of the security will decline in the future.
On the long side, the Adviser uses a top-down approach in choosing positions. We begin with a macroeconomic overview to identify countries, sectors and industries we believe offer opportunities. We analyze macroeconomic indicators, emphasizing the social, political and monetary conditions to better understand the financial and associated risks. Next, we perform technical analysis to determine the price history of securities along with time and volume information. Then we perform fundamental analysis looking for companies with strong business fundamentals and growth prospects, companies capable of generating cash flow and that are undervalued relative to their peers. The Adviser may consider companies within industries with a sustainable competitive advantage.
The Adviser focuses on companies for short positions that it believes have less attractive or deteriorating growth prospects, cash flow streams, investor interest, and may underperform the overall equity market, but always taking into account, securities that are difficult to short due to size and low liquidity and eliminates short positions with risk profiles the Adviser considers unattractive. These companies could have high leverage or poor earnings quality. The Adviser also will look at the industry where a company belongs and if it is a declining industry will consider using short positions. With respect to the long positions, this means that, depending on the Advisers overall outlook of market, economic and other conditions, the Fund could at any given time have more that 100% of its net assets in long positions (i.e., the Funds portfolio is leveraged). With respect to the short positions, this means that, depending on the Advisers overall outlook of market, economic and other conditions, the Fund could at any given time borrow securities in an amount of up to 40% of the Funds net assets and sell them with the view that the value of those positions will decline.
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The Fund intends to maintain a net long exposure; however, under certain circumstances such as poor market conditions, high market valuations, economic turmoil or crisis, the short positions may be close to or surpass the size of the overall long position. The Adviser expects that the Funds long positions may range from 100% to 140% and its short positions may range from 0% to 40%.
The Fund uses derivatives and other leveraged instruments to increase and decrease its exposure to equities. The Fund may hold long and short positions in derivatives in order to manage risk or amplify returns. The Adviser will primarily use options to generate income from equity securities by writing covered calls. The Adviser anticipates that covered calls will be used not only to increase income but also to reduce risk in the Funds portfolio. The Fund may use puts to manage risk on long equity positions or to acquire stock under certain market conditions. Additionally, the Fund may use derivatives such as forward foreign currency contracts for hedging foreign currency exposure that means that they may be used when the Adviser seeks to protect the Funds investments from currency fluctuations.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs), and real estate operating companies. The Fund may invest directly in currencies. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in any currency.
While the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies, it may also invest in fixed income securities for both capital appreciation and income generation. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities with remaining maturities of up to ten years, including investment grade and high-yield (or junk) corporate bonds, and foreign sovereign and foreign agency debt; money market instruments; ETFs that trade on U.S. and other exchanges and seek to track the performance of securities indices for the markets, sectors, and industries in which the Fund may invest directly; shares of other investment funds (to the extent permitted by applicable law); and other investments, like CDs and fixed-income linked structured notes, that the Adviser believes are likely to help the Fund achieve its investment objective. The Fund will not invest in junk bonds rated below B- by any of the credit rating agencies.
The Adviser may sell or reduce the Funds position in a security (i) when it approaches the Advisers estimate of its fair value, (ii) when its economic fundamentals have deteriorated, or (iii) when the facts surrounding the reason to originally put the security in the Funds portfolio have changed.
Principal Risks
Risk is inherent in all investing. A summary description of the principal risks of investing in the Fund is mentioned below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose part or all of your investment in the Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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Market Risk of Equity Securities . By investing in stocks, the Fund may expose you to a sudden decline in the share price of a particular portfolio holding or to an overall decline in the stock market due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. In addition, the Funds equity investments may underperform particular sectors of a given market or the equity market as a whole. The value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate daily and cyclically based on movements in the stock market and the activities of individual companies in the Funds portfolio.
Risks of Other Equity Securities . Most convertible securities are subject to the risks and price fluctuations of the underlying stock. They may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due and their market value may change based on changes in the issuers credit rating or the markets perception of the issuers creditworthiness. Some convertible preferred stocks have a conversion or call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock before the conversion date, which could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment. The fixed dividend rate of preferred stocks may cause their prices to behave more like those of debt securities. If interest rates rise, the value of preferred stock having a fixed dividend rate tends to fall. Preferred stock generally ranks behind debt securities in claims for dividends and assets of the issuer in a liquidation or bankruptcy. The price of a warrant does not necessarily move parallel to the price of the underlying security and is generally more volatile than that of the underlying security. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a shorter duration. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Market Risk of Fixed Income Securities . The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuers credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Generally, fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, and longer-term and lower rated securities are more volatile than shorter-term and higher rated securities. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because certain interest rates are near historically low levels. In addition, a fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration. The Funds debt security investments may underperform particular sectors of the debt market or the debt market as a whole. Most high yield investments pay a fixed rate of interest and are therefore vulnerable to inflation risk. The obligor of a fixed-income instrument may not be able or willing to pay interest or to repay principal when due in accordance with the terms of the associated agreement.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investment risks include foreign security risk, foreign currency risk and foreign sovereign risk. The prices of foreign securities may be more volatile than the prices of securities of U.S. issuers because of economic and social
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conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environments of foreign countries. In addition, changes in exchange rates and interest rates may adversely affect the values of the Funds foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms. Foreign securities include American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs). Unsponsored ADRs involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply and the issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from changes in share prices and payment of dividends.
Foreign Sovereign Risk . Foreign governments rely on taxes and other revenue sources to pay interest and principal on their debt obligations. The payment of principal and interest on these obligations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors, including economic results within the foreign country, changes in interest and exchange rates, changes in debt ratings, changing political sentiments, legislation, policy changes, a limited tax base or limited revenue sources, natural disasters, or other economic or credit problems.
Emerging Market Risk. Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have less government exchange controls, more volatile interest and currency exchange rates, less market regulation, and less developed economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. In addition, emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and may have less liquid securities markets and less efficient trading and settlement systems.
Currency Risk. The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. Dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile, and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the U.S. and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls and speculation.
Small-Cap, Mid-Cap and Micro-Cap Company Risk. The securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large capitalization companies by changes in earning results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions. Investments in micro-capitalization companies are subject to many of the same risks associated with investments in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies, although to a greater degree given they are generally much smaller size. Investment in small, mid-sized and micro-capitalization company stocks can be volatile and cause the value of the Funds investments to go up and down, sometimes abruptly or dramatically.
Large-Cap Company Risk . Larger, more established companies may be unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies during periods of economic expansion.
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REIT Risk. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund. Investments in REITS also involve the following risks: limited financial resources, infrequent or limited trading, and abrupt or erratic price movements. To the extent the Fund invests in foreign REITS, most of its distributions will be taxable as ordinary income (to the extent they come from mortgage interest and rents), rather than qualifying for the lower rate on qualified dividends. Thus, an investment in the Fund may not be suitable for taxable entities.
Real Estate Operating Companies . The Fund may invest in real estate operating companies (REOCs), which are publicly traded real estate companies that have not elected to be taxed as REITs. Reasons for not making that election may include: (a) a REOC may carry forward net operating losses; (b) a REOC may operate lines of businesses that generate income and would not qualify as a business that a REIT may operate and would not retain its tax status; and (c) a REOC may retain and reinvest its earnings whereas a REIT must distribute substantially all of its taxable income every year to retain its tax status.
Value Investing Risk . There is a risk that the value of securities may not increase in price as anticipated by the Adviser, and may even decline further in value, if other investors fail to recognize the companys value, or favor investing in faster-growing companies, or if the events or factors the Adviser believes will increase a securitys market value do not occur.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . The Fund may have a high degree of turnover in its investment portfolio, which may increase its costs and adversely affect the Funds performance. Active and frequent trading of the Funds portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Funds performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors such as market turmoil, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. Illiquid assets may also be difficult to value. This risk may be more pronounced for the Funds investments in developing or emerging market countries.
Credit and Counterparty Risk . The issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security or the counterparty to an over-the counter derivatives contract may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations. The Funds investments in fixed income securities subject it to varying degrees of risk that
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the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing the Funds share price and income level.
Interest Rate Risk . Generally, fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with lower rated securities more volatile than higher rated securities. The duration of these securities affects risk as well, with longer term securities generally more volatile than shorter term securities. The Fund also will face interest rate risk if it invests in fixed income securities paying no current interest (such as zero coupon securities and principal-only securities), interest-only securities and fixed income securities paying non-cash interest in the form of other securities.
High Yield (Junk) Bond Risk. High yield bonds are debt securities rated below investment grade (often called junk bonds). Junk bonds are speculative, involve greater risks of default, downgrade, or price declines and are more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities. Companies issuing high yield bonds are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than companies with higher credit ratings.
Structured Note Risk . Structured notes and other related instruments purchased by the Fund are generally privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a specific asset, benchmark asset, market or interest rate (reference measure). Structured notes expose the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the structured product. Structured notes may be leveraged, increasing the volatility of each structured notes value relative to the change in value of the reference measure. The value or interest rate of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure increases. Similarly, the value of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference measure decreases. Structured notes may also be less liquid and more difficult to price accurately than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities.
Short Sales Risk . In connection with a short sale of a security or other instrument, the Fund is subject to the risk that instead of declining, the price of the security or other instrument sold short will rise. If the price of the security or other instrument sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security or other instrument borrowed to make the short sale, the Fund will experience a loss, which is theoretically unlimited since there is a theoretically unlimited potential for the market price of a security or other instrument sold short to increase.
Derivative Risk. Derivatives are investments the value of which is derived from the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The Fund may utilize derivatives that include options, swaps and futures contracts on securities or securities indices. The value of derivatives may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative. If the Fund uses derivatives to hedge the overall risk of its portfolio, it is possible that the hedge may not succeed. This may happen for various reasons, including unexpected changes in the value of the rest of the Funds portfolio. Over the counter derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the contract will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund.
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Options.
The Funds use of options may involve other risks than those associated
with investing directly in the underlying securities or currencies. Derivatives,
such as options, involve risks of improper valuation and ambiguous documentation
and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly
with the underlying security or currency. The Fund will realize a gain or loss upon
the expiration or closing of the option contract. The risk in writing (selling)
a call option is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market
price of the security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in buying
an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised.
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Futures
Contracts.
The successful use of futures contracts depends upon the Advisers skill and experience with respect to such instruments and is subject to special
risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts
are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments
held by the Fund and the price of the futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid
secondary market for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures
contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which
are potentially unlimited; (d) the Advisers inability to predict correctly
the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and
other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in
the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it
may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements,
and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous
to do so.
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Swaps
. The Fund may utilize total return swaps, from time to time, to receive the return
of a reference asset such as an individual security or an index. In a total return
swap, the portfolio typically would pay a set rate or a financing cost, which is
normally based on a floating rate. In exchange, the portfolio would receive the
return of a particular reference asset. However, if the underlying asset declines
in value over the term of the swap, the Fund will be required to pay the dollar
value of that decline to the counterparty. The use of total return swaps is a highly
specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from
those associated with ordinary portfolio transactions. Total return swaps could
result in losses if the underlying asset does not perform as anticipated by the
Adviser. As a result, there is a risk that the investment performance of the Funds portfolio would be less favorable than it would have been if total return
swaps were not used.
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Forward
Foreign Currency Contracts
. Forward foreign currency contracts are a type of
derivative contract where by the Fund may agree to buy or sell a countrys
or regions currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future.
These contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded such that they
are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty and subject to counterparty
risk. The Funds use of these derivatives may amplify losses such that the
loss on leveraged transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment.
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Leveraging Risk . Certain Fund transactions, including taking short positions in financial instruments, may give rise to a form of leverage. Economic leverage can magnify the effects of changes in the value of the Funds investments and make the Fund more volatile. Leverage creates a risk of loss of value on a larger pool of assets than the Fund would otherwise have had, potentially resulting in the loss of all assets. The Fund may also have to sell assets at inopportune times to satisfy its obligations in connection with such transactions. Certain derivatives that give rise to leverage, have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
Other Investment Company Risk . Investments in shares of other investment companies (including mutual funds and ETFs) will expose the Fund to the risks associated with the securities and other investments held by those other investment companies. In addition, the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend, at least in part, upon the ability of any underlying funds to achieve their investment objectives.
ETF Risk . Investing in an ETF will provide the Fund with exposure to the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based and will expose the Fund to risks similar to those of investing directly in those securities. Shares of ETFs typically trade on securities exchanges and may at times trade at a premium or discount to their net asset values. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of securities held. Investing in ETFs, which are investment companies, may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. The Fund will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs.
Management Risk . The skill and judgment of the Adviser in selecting investments will play a significant role in the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective.
New Fund Risk . The Fund is 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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PERFORMANCE HISTORY
The Fund recently commenced operations and, as a result, does not have a full calendar year of performance history. In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of the Prospectus. Performance information will contain a bar chart and table that provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Funds performance from year to year and by showing the Funds average annual returns for certain time periods as compared to a broad measure of market performance. Investors should be aware that past performance 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.
Investment Adviser
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation, is the adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Manager
Mauricio Alvarez, Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser, has served as the portfolio manager of the Fund since the Funds inception on February 23, 2016.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading through a financial advisor, by mail (Strategic Global Long/Short Fund, 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.
Minimum Investments |
To Open Your Account | To Add to Your Account |
Direct Regular Accounts |
$1,000 | $100 |
Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts |
$1,000 | $100 |
Automatic Investment Plan |
$1,000 | $ 50 |
Gift Account for Minors |
$1,000 | $100 |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account in which case withdrawals will be taxed.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale
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of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your sales person to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your sales person or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS
Investment Objective
The Funds primary investment objective is to provide long term capital appreciation and income generation. A secondary objective is to seek to preserve capital in down markets.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Funds investment objective is not fundamental, and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval, upon at least 60 days prior written notice to shareholders.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund has a flexible investment strategy and may invest in equity securities regardless of market capitalization (small, medium, or large) and style (growth or value). The Fund invests in value equity securities, which is buying equity securities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund also invests in growth equity securities; an investment strategy that emphasizes buying equity securities of companies whose potential for growth of capital and earnings is expected to be above average. These securities include common and preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and securities convertible into equity securities. The Fund will normally be invested in at least three countries (one of which may be the United States) and will invest at least 40% of its net assets either long or short in securities of foreign companies (including depositary receipts). For these purposes, foreign companies are firms that are organized or generate a majority (greater than 50%) of their revenue outside the United States, or otherwise expose the assets of the Fund to the economic fortunes and risks of countries other than the United States, or securities or issuers that are organized under the laws of a foreign country (e.g., through the use of derivatives or investments in other investment companies as described above). The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers located in emerging market countries.
The Funds portfolio is constructed by taking long positions in companies that Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. (the Adviser), the Funds investment adviser, believes are undervalued and sells short the securities that the Adviser believes are overvalued (i.e., short positions). A short sale is the sale by the Fund of a borrowed security (i.e., one that it does not own). When the Fund takes a long position with respect to a particular security, the Fund purchases a security with the expectation that the price of the security will appreciate in the future. When the Fund sells securities short, the Fund takes a position with respect to that security that reflects its expectation that the price of the security will decline in the future.
On the long side, the Adviser uses a top-down approach in choosing positions. We begin with a macroeconomic overview to identify countries, sectors and industries we believe offer opportunities. We analyze macroeconomic indicators, emphasizing the social, political and monetary conditions to better understand the financial and associated risks. Next, we perform technical analysis to determine the price history of securities along with
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the time and volume information. Then we perform fundamental analysis looking for companies with strong business fundamentals and growth prospects, companies capable of generating cash flow and that are undervalued relative to their peers. The Adviser may consider companies within industries with a sustainable competitive advantage.
The Adviser focuses on companies for short positions that it believes have less attractive or deteriorating growth prospects, cash flow streams, investor interest, and may underperform the overall equity market, but always taking into account securities that are difficult to short due to size and low liquidity and eliminates short positions with risk profiles the Adviser considers unattractive. These companies could have high leverage or poor earnings quality. The Adviser also will look at the industry where a company belongs and if it is a declining industry will consider using short positions.
In making investments for the Fund, the Adviser is not constrained by country, industry, sector, or currency. The Adviser uses a blend of fundamental analysis, technical analysis, cash flow analysis, assessments of company management and perceived growth potential to identify investments for the Fund. The Adviser also analyzes macroeconomic and political conditions across the region in which it seeks to invest the Funds portfolio as part of its investment process. The Adviser may from time to time conduct on-site visits and undertake a due diligence process of issuers and investment managers across various regions in evaluating potential investments for the Funds portfolio. It is possible that the Advisers analytical process may lead to periods of high-volume investment activity on behalf of the Fund ( i.e ., when it identifies investment opportunities) and to periods when the Adviser may be relatively passive ( i.e ., when it identifies no or relatively fewer investment opportunities).
The Fund intends to maintain a net long exposure; however, under certain circumstances such as poor market conditions, high market valuations, economic turmoil or crisis, the short positions may be close to or surpass the size of the overall long position. The Adviser expects that the Funds long positions may range from 100% to 140% and its short positions may range from 0% to 40%. With respect to the long positions, this means that, depending on the Advisers overall outlook of market, economic and other conditions, the Fund could at any given time have more that 100% of its net assets in long positions (i.e., the Funds portfolio is leveraged). With respect to the short positions, this means that, depending on the Advisers overall outlook of market, economic and other conditions, the Fund could at any given time borrowed securities in an amount of up to 40% of the Funds net assets and sold them with the view that the value of those positions will decline.
The Fund uses derivatives and other leveraged instruments to increase and decrease its exposure to equities. The Fund may hold long and short positions in derivatives in order to manage risk or amplify returns. The Adviser will primarily use options to generate income from equity securities by writing covered calls. The Adviser anticipates that covered calls will be used not only to increase income but also to reduce risk in the Funds portfolio. The Fund may use puts to manage risk on long equity positions or to acquire stock under certain market conditions. Additionally, the Fund may use derivatives such as forward foreign currency contracts for hedging foreign currency exposure that means that
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they may be used when the Adviser seeks to protect the Funds investments from currency fluctuations.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate operating companies. The Fund may invest directly in currencies. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in any currency. The Fund may also invest in initial public offerings (IPOs).
While the Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies, it may also invest in fixed income securities for both capital appreciation and income generation. The Fund may invest in fixed income securities with remaining maturities of up to ten years, including investment grade and high-yield (or junk) corporate bonds, and foreign sovereign and foreign agency debt; money market instruments; ETFs that trade on U.S. and other exchanges and seek to track the performance of securities indices for the markets, sectors, and industries in which the Fund may invest directly; shares of other investment funds (to the extent permitted by applicable law); and other investments, like CDs and fixed-income linked structured notes, that the Adviser believes are likely to help the Fund achieve its investment objective. The Fund will not invest in junk bonds rated below B- by any of the credit rating agencies.
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including those securities that may be deemed to be illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.
The Fund may have a high degree of turnover in its investment portfolio, which may increase its costs and adversely affect the Funds performance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
The Funds principal risks are mentioned below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause you to lose money.
Market Risk of Equity Securities . By investing in stocks, the Fund is exposed to a sudden decline in a holdings share price or an overall decline in the stock market due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, the value of your investment will fluctuate on a day-to-day and a cyclical basis with movements in the stock market, as well as in response to the activities of individual companies. In addition, individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The rights of a companys common stockholders to dividends and upon liquidation of the company generally are subordinated ( i.e ., rank lower) to those of preferred stockholders, bondholders and other creditors of the issuer. The Fund is also subject to the risk that its equity market investments may underperform particular sectors of a given market or the equity market as a whole.
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Risks of Other Equity Securities . Other equity securities in which the Fund may invest include convertible securities, preferred securities, rights and warrants. Convertible securities are securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for common or preferred stock. The values of convertible securities may be affected by changes in interest rates, the creditworthiness of their issuer, and the ability of the issuer to repay principal and to make interest payments. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low. A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible debt security and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock. Most convertible securities are subject to the risks and price fluctuations of the underlying stock. They may be subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due and their market value may change based on changes in the issuers credit rating or the markets perception of the issuers creditworthiness. Some convertible preferred stocks have a conversion or call feature that allows the issuer to redeem the stock before the conversion date, which could diminish the potential for capital appreciation on the investment. Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. The market value of preferred stock is subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities and is sensitive to changes in the issuers creditworthiness, the ability of the issuer to make payments on the preferred stock and changes in interest rates, typically declining in value if interest rates rise. In addition, a companys preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. Therefore the value of preferred stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the companys financial condition or prospects. The price of a warrant does not necessarily move parallel to the price of the underlying security and is generally more volatile than that of the underlying security. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a shorter duration. The market for rights or warrants may be very limited and it may be difficult to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
Market Risk of Fixed Income Securities . The prices of fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to changes in an issuers credit rating or market perceptions about the creditworthiness of an issuer. Prices of fixed income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Generally, fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, and lower rated securities are more volatile than higher rated securities. The duration of these securities affects risk as well, with longer-term securities generally more volatile than shorter term securities. Duration is a weighted measure of the length of time required to receive the present value of future payments, both interest and principal, from a fixed income security. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because certain interest rates are near historically low levels. In addition, a fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration. The Funds debt
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security investments may underperform particular sectors of the debt market or the debt market as a whole.
Foreign Investment Risk . Foreign investment risk is the risk that the prices of securities of non-U.S. issuers may be more volatile because of economic and social conditions abroad, political developments, and changes in the regulatory environment of foreign countries. In addition, changes in currency and exchange rates may adversely affect the value of the Funds foreign investments. Foreign companies are generally subject to different legal and accounting standards than U.S. companies, and foreign financial intermediaries may be subject to less supervision and regulation than U.S. financial firms. The Funds investments in American depository receipts (ADRs) are subject to these risks, even though ADRs are denominated in U.S. Dollars, because changes in currency and exchange rates affect the values of the issuers of ADRs. There also may be less publicly available information about a non-U.S. company than a U.S. company. With respect to some foreign countries, there may be the possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation or imposition of other costs and administrative fees on investments and limitations on liquidity of securities. There also may be less government supervision and regulation of foreign broker-dealers, financial institutions, and listed companies than exists in the United States.
Foreign Sovereign Risk . Foreign governments rely on taxes and other revenue sources to pay interest and principal on their debt obligations. The payment of principal and interest on these obligations may be adversely affected by a variety of factors, including economic results within the foreign country, changes in interest and exchange rates, changes in debt ratings, changing political sentiments, legislation, policy changes, a limited tax base or limited revenue sources, natural disasters, or other economic or credit problems. It is possible that a foreign sovereign may default on its debt obligations.
Emerging Market Risk . Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have government exchange controls, less market regulation, and less developed economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. Their economies also depend heavily upon international trade and may be adversely affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners. Emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. Dollar and may not be traded internationally. Some countries with emerging securities markets have experienced high rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain countries. Emerging securities markets typically have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, securities in these markets are less liquid, and their prices often are more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies. Delays may occur in settling securities transactions in emerging market countries, which could adversely affect the Funds ability to make or liquidate investments in those markets in a timely fashion. In addition, it may not be possible for the Fund to find satisfactory custodial services in an emerging market country, which could increase the Funds costs and cause delays in the transportation and custody of its investments.
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Currency Risk . The Funds investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies are subject to currency risk, which means that the value of those securities can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. Dollar. The Fund may invest in foreign currencies to hedge against the risks of variation in currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. Dollar. Such strategies, however, involve certain transaction costs and investment risks, including dependence upon the ability of the Adviser to predict movements in exchange rates. Some countries in which the Fund may invest may have fixed or managed currencies that are not freely convertible at market rates into the U.S. Dollar. Certain currencies may not be internationally traded. Many countries in which the Fund may invest have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuation in inflation rates may have negative effects on certain economies and securities markets. Moreover, the economies of some countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate of growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments.
Small-Cap, Mid-Cap and Micro-Cap Company Risk. Investments in securities of small and mid-sized companies may involve greater risks than investing in large capitalization companies, because small and mid-sized companies generally have limited track records and their shares tend to trade infrequently or in limited volumes. Additionally, investments in common stocks, particularly small and mid-sized company stocks, can be volatile and cause the value of the Funds shares to go up and down, sometimes dramatically. Investments in micro-cap companies are subject to many of the same risks associated with investments in small- and mid-cap companies, although to a greater degree given they are generally much smaller size. These companies have often have inexperienced management teams, limited product lines, and limited financial resources, which could adversely affect their financial performance, particularly in an unfavorable economic environment. Micro-cap companies may be less able to access the securities markets for the purposes of raising capital because, for instance, they may be relatively unknown and unable to attract the interest of investors.
Large-Cap Company Risk . Larger, more established companies may be unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies during periods of economic expansion. In addition, large-capitalization companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and may be more prone to global economic risks.
REIT Risk. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund. Investments in REITS also involve the following risks: limited financial resources, infrequent or limited trading, and abrupt or erratic price movements. To the extent the Fund invests in foreign REITS, most of its distributions will be taxable as ordinary income (to the extent they come from mortgage interest and rents), rather than qualifying for the lower rate on qualified dividends. Thus,
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an investment in the Fund may not be suitable for taxable entities. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. REIT prices may drop because of the failure of borrowers to pay their loans, a dividend cut, a disruption to the real estate investment sales market, changes in federal or state taxation policies affecting REITs and poor management. Other risks that can adversely affect the value of securities in the real estate industry include: extended vacancies of properties; increased competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems; liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; limitations on rents; changes in neighborhood values; and the appeal of properties to tenants and changes in interest rates.
Real Estate Operating Companies . The Fund may invest in real estate operating companies (REOCs), which are publicly traded real estate companies that have not elected to be taxed as REITs. Reasons for not making that election may include: (a) a REOC may carry forward net operating losses; (b) a REOC may operate lines of businesses that generate income and would not qualify as a business that a REIT may operate and would not retain its tax status; and (c) a REOC may retain and reinvest its earnings whereas a REIT must distribute substantially all of its taxable income every year to retain its tax status.
Value Investing Risk . There is a risk that the value of securities may not increase in price as anticipated by the Adviser, and may even decline further in value, if other investors fail to recognize the companys value, or favor investing in faster-growing companies, or if the events or factors the Adviser believes will increase a securitys market value do not occur.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . Active and frequent trading of the Funds securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions, which could negatively affect the Funds performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more.
Liquidity Risk . Due to a lack of demand in the marketplace or other factors, such as market turmoil, the Fund may not be able to sell some or all of the investments that it holds, or if the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, it may only be able to sell those investments at a loss. Liquidity risk arises, for example, from small average trading volumes, trading restrictions, or temporary suspensions of trading. In addition, when the market for certain investments is illiquid, the Fund may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. Liquidity risk may be more pronounced for the Funds investments in developing countries.
Credit and Counterparty Risk . If an obligor (such as the issuer itself or a party offering credit enhancement) for a security held by the Fund fails to pay amounts due when required by the terms of the security, otherwise defaults, is perceived to be less creditworthy, becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, a securitys credit rating is downgraded or the credit quality or value of any underlying assets declines, the value of the Funds investment could decline. If the Fund enters into financial contracts (such as certain derivatives, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions), the Fund will be subject to the credit risk presented by the counterparties. The Funds investments in fixed income
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securities subject it to varying degrees of risk that the issuers of the securities will have their credit rating downgraded or will default, potentially reducing the Funds share price and income level.
Interest Rate Risk . Generally, fixed income securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with lower rated securities more volatile than higher rated securities. The duration of these securities affects risk as well, with longer term securities generally more volatile than shorter term securities. Like fixed income securities, preferred stock generally decreases in value if interest rates rise and increases in value if interest rates fall. The Fund also will face interest rate risk if it invests in fixed income securities paying no current interest (such as zero coupon securities and principal-only securities), interest-only securities and fixed income securities paying non-cash interest in the form of other securities.
High Yield Junk Bond Risk. High yield bonds involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment-grade securities. High yield bonds involve a greater risk of price declines than investment-grade securities due to actual or perceived changes in an issuers creditworthiness. In addition, issuers of high yield bonds may be more susceptible than other issuers to economic downturns, which may result in a weakened capacity of the issuer to make principal or interest payments. High yield bonds are subject to a greater risk that the issuer may not be able to pay interest or dividends and ultimately to repay principal upon maturity. Discontinuation of these payments could have a substantial adverse effect on the market value of the security. There is no lower limit on the ratings of high yield securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. In addition, the Fund may invest in unrated securities. Lower rated securities and unrated equivalents are speculative and may be in default.
The secondary markets in which lower-rated securities are traded may be less liquid than the markets for higher-rated securities. A lack of liquidity in the secondary trading markets could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a particular high yield security when necessary to meet liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event, such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer, and could adversely affect and cause large fluctuations in the net asset value of the Funds shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities generally.
Structured Note Risk. Structured notes are derivative securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by reference to an underlying indicator. A structured note may be positively, negatively, or both positively and negatively indexed. That is, the value or interest rate of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument or index increases. Similarly, the value of a structured note may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument or index decreases. Further, the change in the principal amount payable with respect to, or the interest rate of, a structured note may be a multiple of the percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying reference instrument or index. Structured notes generally are more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to value than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities. As a result, the Fund may experience difficultly in selling a structured note at an acceptable price. In addition, the Fund will bear the risk that the issuer of a structured
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note will default, will become bankrupt, or otherwise will be unable to make required payments on the structured note.
Short Sales Risk. In connection with a short sale of a security or other instrument, the Fund is subject to the risk that instead of declining, the price of the security or other instrument sold short will rise. If the price of the security or other instrument sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security or other instrument borrowed to make the short sale, the Fund will experience a loss, which is theoretically unlimited since there is a theoretically unlimited potential for the market price of a security or other instrument sold short to increase.
Derivative Risk. Derivatives are investments the value of which is derived from the value of an underlying asset (including an underlying security), reference rate or index. The Fund may utilize derivatives that include options, swaps and futures contracts on securities or securities indices. The value of derivatives may rise or fall more rapidly than other investments. For some derivatives, it is possible to lose more than the amount invested in the derivative. If the Fund uses derivatives to hedge the overall risk of its portfolio, it is possible that the hedge may not succeed. This may happen for various reasons, including unexpected changes in the value of the rest of the Funds portfolio. Over the counter derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the other party to the contract will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with the Fund.
Options. The Funds use of options may involve other risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying securities or currencies. Derivatives, such as options, involve risks of improper valuation and ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security or currency. The Fund will realize a gain or loss upon the expiration or closing of the option contract. The risk in writing (selling) a call option is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in buying an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised.
Futures Contracts. The successful use of futures contracts depends upon the Advisers skill and experience with respect to such instruments and is subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a futures contract and the resulting inability to close a futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Advisers inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
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Swaps . The Fund may utilize total return swaps, from time to time, to receive the return of a reference asset such as an individual security or an index. In a total return swap, the portfolio typically would pay a set rate or a financing cost, which is normally based on a floating rate. In exchange, the portfolio would receive the return of a particular reference asset. However, if the underlying asset declines in value over the term of the swap, the Fund will be required to pay the dollar value of that decline to the counterparty. The use of total return swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio transactions. Total return swaps could result in losses if the underlying asset does not perform as anticipated by the Adviser. As a result, there is a risk that the investment performance of the Funds portfolio would be less favorable than it would have been if total return swaps were not used.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts . Forward foreign currency contracts are a type of derivative contract where by the Fund may agree to buy or sell a countrys or regions currency at a specific price on a specific date in the future. These contracts are individually negotiated and privately traded such that they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty and subject to counterparty risk. The Funds use of these derivatives may amplify losses such that the loss on leveraged transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment.
Leveraging Risk. The use of leverage, such as entering into options, and short sales, may magnify the Funds gains or losses. Because many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying instrument can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
Other Investment Company Risk . Investments in shares of other investment companies (including mutual funds and ETFs) will expose the Fund to the risks associated with the securities and other investments held by those other investment companies. In addition, the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective will depend, at least in part, upon the ability of any underlying funds to achieve their investment objectives. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or a discount to their NAV. Others are continuously offered at NAV, but may also be traded in the secondary market. If the Fund invests in closed-end investment companies, it may incur added expenses such as additional management fees and trading costs. The Fund limits its investment in shares of other investment companies (including ETFs) to the extent allowed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Assets invested in other investment companies incur a layering of expenses, including operating costs and advisory fees that you indirectly bear as a shareholder in the Fund.
ETF Risk . ETFs are investment companies that generally seek to track the performance of specific securities indices. ETFs are listed on stock exchanges and can be traded throughout the day at market-determined prices. Investing in one or more ETFs will generally expose the Fund to the risks associated with owning the underlying securities
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the ETF is designed to track and to management and other risks associated with the ETF itself. The potential lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. The level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of ETF shares is generally similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for ETF shares is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying ETF shares purchased or sold by the Fund could result in losses on such shares. In addition, as an ETF investor the Fund will bear a proportionate share of an ETFs fees and expenses, which may adversely affect the Funds performance.
Management Risk . The skill of the Adviser in selecting investments will play a significant role in the Funds ability to achieve its investment objective. Among other matters, the Adviser could be incorrect in its analysis of countries, sectors, industries, companies, currencies, the relative attractiveness of different types of securities, macroeconomic factors, and government policies with respect to interest rates and other matters of monetary and fiscal policy. Because the Adviser will seek to invest the Funds portfolio in a variety of asset classes and in a number of different markets, this risk will be more pronounced for the Fund than it is for funds that pursue their objectives by investing in particular markets or asset classes.
New Fund Risk . The Fund is 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.
For further information about the risks of investing in the Fund, please see the Funds Statement of Additional Information.
Temporary Defensive Positions
At times and under certain economic and market conditions, a significant portion of the Funds portfolio or the Funds entire investment portfolio may consist of cash, cash equivalents or other highly liquid instruments. These investments will generally be denominated in U.S. Dollars or cash equivalents available in the United States. Such measures could include, but are not limited to, investments in (1) highly liquid short-term fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of municipal or corporate issuers, obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit; (2) repurchase agreements involving any such securities; and (3) other money market instruments. The Adviser may invest in cash, cash equivalents or other highly liquid instruments while it looks for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain the Funds liquidity. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
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MANAGEMENT
The Investment Adviser
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation with its principal office and place of business in La Paz, Bolivia, is the Funds investment adviser and provides investment advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust (the Advisory Agreement). The Adviser was founded in 2009 and its principal address is Calle Ayacucho No. 277, La Paz, Bolivia. The Adviser commenced operation in August 2009 and became registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January 2010. As of December 31, 2015, the Adviser only serves as an investment adviser to the mutual funds and had $10.6 million under management at that time.
The Adviser provides the Fund with advice on buying and selling securities. The Adviser also furnishes the Fund with office space and certain administrative services. For its services, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual management fee of 1.10 %, calculated daily and payable monthly, as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of interest, distribution fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1 Plans, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and dividend expense on short sales) do not exceed 1.70 % of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement is in effect until January 31, 2017, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trusts Board of Trustees. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expense was incurred, provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver or reimbursement and at the time the waiver or reimbursement is recouped.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds Annual/Semi-Annual Report to shareholders dated March 31, 2016.
The Portfolio Manager
Mauricio Alvarez has been the Portfolio Manager for the Fund since its inception on February 23, 2016. Mr. Alvarez has 15 years of investment experience. Mr. Alvarez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser. He also served as the Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser from October 2010 to April 2014. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Alvarez was the Chief Executive Officer and CCO of Mercantil Santa Cruz Agencia de Bolsa, an asset manager and broker dealer subsidiary of Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz S.A., a Bolivian bank. From 2005 to 2009 Mr. Alvarez served as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for Mid America Bank (which was acquired by National City Corporation, which was later acquired by PNC Bank), where he focused on training, business development, customer service and management. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Alvarez worked for Nacional de Valores, the investment firm of Banco Nacional de Bolivia, where he was in charge of the strategies, decisions and trades for its investment advisor and broker dealer. Mr. Alvarez
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began his career in 1999 as an investment officer and working for the broker dealer for Credibolsa Investments, a subsidiary in Bolivia of Credicorp Group of Peru.
Mr. Alvarez has a degree in economics from the Bolivian Catholic University and a Specialization in market analysis and portfolio management from the Instituto de Estudios Bursatiles in Madrid, Spain.
The Funds SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers compensation, other assets managed by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Managers ownership of securities in the Fund.
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.
Rule 12b-1 Fees
The Board has adopted a Distribution and Service Plans for the Funds Class A Shares and Class C Shares (collectively, the 12b-1 Plans) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plans, the Fund may finance from the assets of a particular class certain activities or expenses that are intended primarily to result in the sale of shares of such class. The Fund finances these distribution and service activities through payments made to the Distributor. The fee paid to the Distributor by each class is computed on an annualized basis reflecting the average daily net assets of a class, up to a maximum of 0.25% for Class A share expenses and 1.00% for Class C Share expenses. With respect to Class C Shares, 0.75% represents 12b-1 distribution fees and 0.25% represents shareholder servicing fees paid to institutions that have agreements with the Distributor to provide such services. Because these fees are paid out of a classs assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost more than paying other types of sales charges. The 12b-1 Plans, while primarily intended to compensate for shareholder services expenses, were adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and they therefore may be used to pay for certain expenditures related to financing distribution related activities of the Fund.
Shareholder Servicing
Certain financial intermediaries that maintain street name or omnibus accounts with the Fund provide sub-accounting, recordkeeping and/or administrative services to the Fund and are compensated for such services by the Fund. These service fees may be paid in addition to the fees paid under the 12b-1 Plans. For more information, please refer to the SAI.
The Fund has also adopted a shareholder servicing plan for its Class A and Class C Shares that provides for the payment of up to 0.25%. For more information, please refer to the SAI.
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Other Expenses
In addition to the 12b-1 fees and the investment advisory fees, the Fund pays all expenses not assumed by the Adviser, including, without limitation, the following: the fees and expenses of its independent accountants and legal counsel; the costs of printing and mailing to shareholders annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, and supplements thereto; the costs of printing registration statements; bank transaction charges and custodians fees; any proxy solicitors fees and expenses; filing fees; any federal, state, or local income or other taxes; any interest; any membership fees of the Investment Company Institute and similar organizations; fidelity bond and Trustees liability insurance premiums; and any extraordinary expenses, such as indemnification payments or damages awarded in litigation or settlements made.
Portfolio Holdings
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. Complete holdings (as of the dates of such reports) are available in reports on Form N-Q and Form N-CSR filed with the SEC.
HOW TO BUY SHARES
You may purchase shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries, such as fund supermarkets or through brokers or dealers who are authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund (collectively, Financial Intermediaries). You may also purchase shares directly from the Distributor. You may request a copy of this prospectus by calling (800) 673-0550. Financial Intermediaries who offer Class A Shares or Class C Shares may require the payment of fees from their individual clients, which may be different from those described in this prospectus. For example, 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. The price you pay for a share of the Fund is the net asset value next determined upon receipt by the Transfer Agent or Financial Intermediary. The Fund will be deemed to have received your purchase or redemption order when 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.
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.
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Minimum Investments . The minimum initial investment and subsequent investments for each of Class A Shares and Class C Shares are as follows:
Minimum Investments |
To Open Your Account | To Add to Your Account |
Direct Regular Accounts |
$1,000 | $100 |
Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts |
$1,000 | $100 |
Automatic Investment Plan |
$1,000 | $50 |
Gift Account for Minors |
$1,000 | $100 |
The Trust may waive the minimum initial investment requirement for purchases made by directors, 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.
Small Account Balances . If the value of your account falls below the minimum account balance of $1,000, the Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below the minimum balance after 60 days, the Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. The Fund will not close your account if it falls below this amount solely as a result of Fund performance. Please check with your financial intermediary concerning required minimum account balances.
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:
|
Name; | ||
|
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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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 by wire directly to the Transfer Agent. To invest by wire, please call the Trust at (800) 673-0550 or the Transfer Agent at (800) 628-4077 to advise the Trust of your investment and to receive further instructions. Your bank may charge you a small 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.
Other Purchase Information . You may purchase and redeem Fund shares, or exchange shares of the Fund for those of another managed by the Adviser, by contacting any broker authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund, by contacting the Fund at (800) 673-0550 or by contacting the Transfer Agent, at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 or by telephoning (800) 628-4077. Brokers may charge transaction fees for the purchase or sale of the Funds shares, depending on your arrangement with the broker.
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.
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
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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.
If you sell your Shares through a securities dealer or investment professional, it is such persons responsibility to transmit the order to the Fund in a timely fashion. Any loss to you resulting from failure to do so must be settled between you and such person.
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.
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: Strategic Global Long/Short 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.
The Fund will not be responsible for any losses resulting from unauthorized transactions (such as purchases, sales or exchanges) if it follows reasonable security procedures
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designed to verify the identity of the investor. You should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them. 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 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.
Purchasing or Redeeming through a Financial Intermediary
You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund through an authorized Financial Intermediary (such as a financial planner or advisor). To purchase or redeem shares at the net asset value of any given day, your Financial Intermediary must receive your order before the close of regular trading on the NYSE that day. Your Financial Intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation, and money to a Fund on time. Your Financial Intermediary may charge additional transaction fees for its services and/or set different minimum 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 Funds as the policies and procedures may be different. The price you pay for a share of the Fund is the net asset value next determined upon receipt of your purchase request by the Transfer Agent or Financial Intermediary. The Fund will be deemed to have received your purchase or redemption order when 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.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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.
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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.
Automatic Investment Plan . Existing shareholders, who wish to make regular monthly investments in amounts of $50 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 15th 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 wont pay a deferred sales charge on an exchange; however, when you sell the shares you acquire in an exchange, you will pay a deferred sales charge based on the date you bought the original shares you exchanged. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser does not manage any other funds in the Trust.
Frequent purchase 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.
How to Transfer 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,
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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) 527-9525.
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.
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions . Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly for the Fund. The Fund intends to distribute annually any net capital gains. The Fund may make an additional payment of dividends or distributions if it deems it desirable at any other time during the year.
Dividends and distributions will automatically be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect to have the distributions paid to you in cash. 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.
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
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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.
For those securities defined as covered under current Internal Revenue Service cost basis tax reporting regulations, the Fund is responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Fund is not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered. The Fund and its service providers do not provide tax advice. You should consult independent sources, which may include a tax professional, with respect to any decisions you may make with respect to choosing a tax lot identification method.
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NET ASSET VALUE
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, subtracting any liabilities and then dividing by the total number of the shares outstanding.
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 (as defined below). 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.
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. 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.
The Funds securities are valued at current market prices. Investments in securities traded on the 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. Depositary Receipts will be valued at the closing price of the instrument last determined prior to the Valuation Time unless the Fund is aware of a material change in value. Securities for which such a value cannot be readily determined on any day will be valued at the closing price of the underlying security adjusted for the exchange rate. The value of a foreign security is determined as of the close of trading on the foreign exchange on which it is traded or as of the scheduled close of trading on the NYSE, whichever is earlier. Portfolio securities that are listed on foreign exchanges may experience a change in value on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund. 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.
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 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.
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 Fund shares 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
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first in-first out (FIFO) method issued 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.
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, subject to certain permissible exceptions as described above, the Fund will not accommodate abusive Frequent Trading. 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 that may require sharing of information about you and your account, 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
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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.
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.
Class A Shares
Class A Shares are subject to a front-end sales charge and a distribution fee. The following schedule governs the percentage to be received by the selling broker-dealer firm for selling Class A Shares.
Sales charge as a percentage of | ||||||
Amount
of purchase at the public
offering price |
Offering
Price (1) |
Net amount
invested |
Discount
as a
percentage of offering price |
|||
Up to $24,999 | 5.00% | 5.26% | 5.00% | |||
$25,000 - $49,999 | 4.50% | 4.71% | 4.50% | |||
$50,000 - $99,999 | 4.00% | 4.17% | 4.00% | |||
$100,000 - $249,999 | 3.00% | 3.09% | 3.00% | |||
$250,000 - $499,999 | 2.50% | 2.56% | 2.50% | |||
$500,000 - $749,999 | 1.80% | 1.83% | 1.80% | |||
$750,000 - $999,999 | 1.20% | 1.21% | 1.20% | |||
$1 million or more | See below(2) | See below(2) | See below (2) | |||
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(1) | The term Offering Price includes the front-end sales charge. | |
(2) | If you are in a category of investors who may purchase Class A Shares without paying a front-end sales charge, you will be subject to a 1.00% deferred sales charge if you redeem your shares within one year of purchase. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a front-end or deferred sales charge. In addition, the deferred sales charge on shares purchased without the payment of a front-end sales charge and redeemed within one year of purchase may be waived in certain circumstances. The deferred sales charge on redemptions of shares is computed based on a percentage of the NAV at the time the shares were purchased, net of reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. The deferred sales charge would equal 1.00% of the offering price and of the net amount invested. In determining whether to charge a deferred sales charge, the Fund will assume that you have redeemed shares on which there is no deferred sales charge first and then shares in the order of purchase. |
Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers
To receive a reduction or waiver of your initial sales charge, you or your financial consultant must notify the Funds transfer agent or your financial intermediary at the time of purchase that you qualify for such a reduction or waiver. If you do not let your financial intermediary or the Funds Transfer Agent know that you are eligible for a reduction or waiver, you may not receive the reduction or waiver to which you are otherwise entitled. Certain individuals and employer-sponsored retirement plans may link accounts for the purpose of qualifying for lower initial sales charges. You or your financial consultant must provide other account numbers to be considered for Rights of Accumulation, or mark the Letter of Intent section on the account application, or provide other relevant documentation, so that the Funds Transfer Agent can verify your eligibility for the reduction or waiver. In order to receive a reduction or waiver, you may be required to provide your financial intermediary or the Funds Transfer Agent with evidence of your qualification for the reduction or waiver, such as records regarding Fund shares held in accounts with that financial intermediary and other financial intermediaries. Consult the Funds SAI for additional details.
You can reduce your initial sales charge in the following ways:
Right of Accumulation . After making an initial purchase, you may reduce the sales charge applied to any subsequent purchases. Your Class A Shares purchased will be taken into account on a combined basis at the current NAV per share in order to establish the aggregate investment amount to be used in determining the applicable sales charge. Only previous purchases of Class A Shares that are still held in the Fund and that were sold subject to a sales charge will be included in the calculation. To take advantage of this privilege, you must give notice at the time you place your initial order and subsequent orders that you wish to combine purchases. When you send your payment and request to combine purchases, please specify your account number(s).
38
Statement of Intention . A reduced sales charge on Class A Shares of the Fund, as set forth above, applies immediately to all purchases where the investor has executed a Statement of Intention calling for the purchase within a 13-month period of an amount qualifying for the reduced sales charge. The investor must actually purchase the amount stated in such statement to avoid later paying the full sales charge on shares that are purchased.
Combine with family member . You can also count toward the amount of your investment all investments by your spouse and your children under age 21 (family members), including their rights of accumulation and goals under a letter of intent. Certain other groups may also be permitted to combine purchases for purposes of reducing or eliminating sales charges, such as: a retirement plan established exclusively for the benefit of an Individual, specifically including, but not limited to, a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), Keogh plan, or a tax-sheltered 403(b)(7) custodial account; and a qualified tuition plan account, maintained pursuant to Section 529 of the Code, or a Coverdell Education Savings Account, maintained pursuant to Section 530 of the Code (in either case, the account must be established by an Individual or have an Individual named as the beneficiary thereof).
Waiver of Front-End Sales Charges - Class A Shares
No sales charge shall apply to:
(1) |
reinvestment
of income dividends and capital gain distributions;
|
|
(2) |
exchanges
of the Funds shares for those of another fund of the Trust;
|
|
(3) |
purchases
of Fund shares made by current or former directors, officers or employees, or agents
of the Trust, the Adviser, the distributor, and by members of their immediate families
and employees (including immediate family members) of a broker-dealer distributing
Fund shares;
|
|
(4) |
purchases
of Fund shares by the Funds distributor for their own investment account and
for investment purposes only;
|
|
(5) |
a qualified
institutional buyer, as that term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities
Act of 1933, including, but not limited to, insurance companies, investment companies
registered under the 1940 Act, business development companies registered under the
1940 Act, and small business investment companies;
|
|
(6) |
a charitable
organization, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the
Code), as well as other charitable trusts and endowments, investing $50,000 or
more;
|
|
(7) |
a charitable
remainder trust, under Section 664 of the Code, or a life income pool, established
for the benefit of a charitable organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of
the Code;
|
39
(8) |
investment
advisers or financial planners who place trades for their own accounts or the accounts
of their clients and who charge a management, consulting or other fee for their
services; and clients of those investment advisers or financial planners who place
trades for their own accounts if the accounts are linked to the master account of
the investment adviser or financial planner on the books and records of the broker
or agent;
|
|
(9) |
institutional
retirement and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans,
including, but not limited to, those defined in section 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of
the Code and rabbi trusts; and
|
|
(10) |
the purchase
of Fund shares, if available, through certain third-party fund supermarkets. Some
fund supermarkets may offer Fund shares without a sales charge or with a reduced
sales charge. Other fees may be charged by the service-provider sponsoring the fund
supermarket, and transaction charges may apply to purchases and sales made through
a broker-dealer.
|
Additional information regarding the waiver of sales charges may be obtained by calling the Trust at (800) 673-0550. All account information is subject to acceptance and verification by the Funds Distributor.
Class C Shares
Deferred Sales Charge Class C Shares are sold without an initial front-end sales charge so that the full amount of your purchase is invested. A deferred sales charge of 1.00% is applied if your Class C Shares are sold within one year and is paid to the distributor.
Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a deferred sales charge. In addition, the deferred sales charge may be waived in certain circumstances. The deferred sales charge is a percentage of the net asset value at the time of purchase. Class C Shares are subject to a Distribution (12b-1) and Service Fee as described above under Rule 12b-1 Fees.
Waiver of Deferred Sales Charge
The deferred sales charge on Class C Shares is waived for:
(1) | certain post-retirement withdrawals from an IRA or other retirement plan if you are over 70 1/2 ; | |
(2) | redemptions by certain eligible 401(a) and 401(k) plans and certain retirement plan rollovers; | |
(3) | withdrawals resulting from shareholder death or disability provided that the redemption is requested within one year of death or disability; and | |
(4) | withdrawals through Systematic Monthly Investment (systematic withdrawal plan). |
40
Additional information regarding the waiver of sales charges may be obtained by calling the Trust at (800) 673-0550. All account information is subject to acceptance and verification by the Funds Distributor.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Because the Fund has only recently commenced investment operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.
41
You will find more information about the Fund in the following documents:
The Funds annual and semi-annual
reports will contain more information about the Fund. The Funds annual report
will contain a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that
had a significant effect on the Funds performance during the last fiscal year.
For more information about the Fund, you may wish to refer to the Funds Statement of Additional Information (the SAI) dated February 23, 2016, which is on file with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You can obtain a free copy of the annual and semi-annual reports, and SAI by writing to World Funds Trust, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, by calling toll free (800) 673-0550, by e-mail at: mail@ccofva.com or on the World Funds Trust website at www.theworldfundstrust.com . General inquiries regarding the Fund may also be directed to the above address or telephone number.
Information about the Trust, including the SAI, can be reviewed and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. Information about the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. Reports and other information regarding the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Commissions Public Reference Section, Washington D.C. 20549-0102.
(Investment Company Act File No. 811-22172)
STRATEGIC GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Class A Shares (Ticker Symbol:
SGFAX)
Class C Shares (Ticker Symbol: ______)
Strategic
Asset Management, Ltd.
February 23, 2016
8730 Stony Point Parkway,
Suite 205
Richmond, Virginia 23235
(800) 673-0550
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current prospectus dated February 23, 2016 of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund (the Fund), as it may be supplemented or revised from time to time.
This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Funds prospectus. You may obtain the prospectus of the Fund and the SAI, free of charge, by writing to World Funds Trust (the Trust), 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 or by calling (800) 673-0550.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||
Page |
THE TRUST | 1 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES | 1 |
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS | 2 |
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS | 28 |
INVESTMENT ADVISER | 30 |
PORTFOLIO MANAGER | 32 |
SERVICE PROVIDERS | 33 |
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST | 34 |
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITIES HOLDERS | 40 |
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE | 40 |
DISTRIBUTION | 41 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND SALES | 44 |
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES | 46 |
TAXES | 48 |
BROKER ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES | 63 |
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES HOLDINGS | 65 |
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES | 69 |
PROXY VOTING | 70 |
CODE OF ETHICS | 70 |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 71 |
EXHIBIT A (PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF ADVISER) | 72 |
EXHIBIT B (PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF TRUST) | 77 |
EXHIBIT C (NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER) | 79 |
EXHIBIT D (DESCRIPTION OF SHORT-TERM RATINGS) | 82 |
THE TRUST
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. 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 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 Fund is authorized to issue two classes of shares: Class A Shares imposing a front-end sales charge up to a maximum of 5.00% and charging a 0.25% 12b-1 fee and Class C Shares imposing no front-end sales charge, imposing a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if shares are redeemed within 1 year after purchase and charging a 1.00% 12b-1 and service fee.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The Funds investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the prospectus. The Fund is a diversified series as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see Description of Permitted Investments in this SAI.
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
1
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.
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS
The following discussion of investment techniques and instruments supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the investment information in the Funds prospectus. In seeking to meet its investment objective, the Fund may invest in any type of security whose characteristics are consistent with its investment programs described below.
Market Conditions
The equity and debt capital markets in the United States and internationally have experienced unprecedented volatility. These conditions have caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities and other instruments. It is impossible to predict whether these conditions will continue, improve or worsen. Because this situation is widespread, it may be unusually difficult to identify both risks and opportunities using past models of the interplay of market forces, or to predict the duration of these events.
Common Stock
Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a companys stock price.
The fundamental risk of investing in common stock is that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. While common stocks have historically provided greater long-term returns than preferred stocks, fixed-income and money market investments, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility than the returns from those other investments.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment in the event a company is liquidated, although preferred stock is usually subordinate to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock may have mandatory sinking
2
fund provisions, as well as call/redemption provisions prior to maturity, a negative feature when interest rates decline. In addition, a fund may receive stocks or warrants as result of an exchange or tender of fixed income securities.
The Funds investment in preferred stocks is subject to the credit risk related to the financial condition of the issuers of those securities. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and dividend or interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value.
Warrants and Rights
The Fund may invest in warrants or rights (including those acquired in units or attached to other securities) that entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time but will do so only if such equity securities are deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Warrants do not have voting rights, do not earn dividends, and do not entitle the holder to any rights with respect to the assets of the corporation that has issued them. They do not represent ownership of the underlying companies but only the right to purchase shares of those companies at a specified price on or before a specified exercise date. Warrants tend to be more volatile than the underlying stock, and if at a warrants expiration date the stock is trading at a price below the price set in the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless. Conversely, if at the expiration date the stock is trading at a price higher than the price set in the warrant, the Fund can acquire the stock at a price below its market value. The prices of warrants do not necessarily parallel the prices of the underlying securities. An investment in warrants or rights may be considered speculative.
Small- and Mid-Cap Stocks
The Fund may invest in stock of companies with market capitalizations that are small compared to other publicly traded companies. Investments in larger companies present certain advantages in that such companies generally have greater financial resources, more extensive research and development, manufacturing, marketing and service capabilities, and more stability and greater depth of management and personnel. Investments in smaller, less seasoned companies may present greater opportunities for growth but also may involve greater risks than customarily are associated with more established companies. The securities of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent upon a limited management group, their securities may be traded in the over-the-counter market or on a regional exchange, or may otherwise have limited liquidity. As a result of owning large positions in this type of security, the Fund is subject to the additional risk of possibly having to sell portfolio securities at disadvantageous times and prices if redemptions require the Fund to liquidate its securities positions. In addition, it may be prudent for the Fund, as its asset size grows, to limit the number of relatively small positions it holds in securities having limited liquidity in order to minimize its exposure to such risks, to minimize transaction costs, and to maximize the benefits of research. As a consequence, as the Funds asset size increases, the Fund may reduce its exposure to illiquid small capitalization securities, which could adversely affect performance.
3
The Fund may also invest in stocks of companies with medium market capitalizations (i.e., mid-cap companies). Such investments share some of the risk characteristics of investments in stocks of companies with small market capitalizations described above, although mid cap companies tend to have longer operating histories, broader product lines and greater financial resources and their stocks tend to be more liquid and less volatile than those of smaller capitalization issuers.
Convertible Securities
A convertible security is a preferred stock, warrant or other security that may be converted or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other security of the same or a different issuer or into cash within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive the dividend or interest until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities generally have characteristics similar to both fixed income and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with fixed income securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stocks and, therefore, also will react to variations in the general market for equity securities. A significant feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so they may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
Foreign Investments
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers and other non-U.S. investments may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of U.S. issuers or other U.S. investments. All foreign investments are subject to risks of foreign political and economic instability, adverse movements in foreign exchange rates, and the imposition or tightening of exchange controls and limitations on the repatriation of foreign capital. Other risks stem from potential changes in governmental attitude or policy toward private investment, which in turn raises the risk of nationalization, increased taxation or confiscation of foreign investors assets.
The financial problems in global economies over the past several years, including the European sovereign debt crisis, may continue to cause high volatility in global financial markets.
4
In addition, global economies are increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact a different country or region. The severity or duration of these conditions may also be affected if one or more countries leave the Euro currency or by other policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations.
Additional non-U.S. taxes and expenses may also adversely affect the Funds performance, including foreign withholding taxes on foreign securities dividends. Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than in the United States. Foreign companies may be subject to different accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards. To the extent foreign securities held by the Fund are not registered with the SEC or with any other U.S. regulator, the issuers thereof will not be subject to the reporting requirements of the SEC or any other U.S. regulator. Accordingly, less information may be available about foreign companies and other investments than is generally available on issuers of comparable securities and other investments in the United States. Foreign securities and other investments may also trade less frequently and with lower volume and may exhibit greater price volatility than U.S. securities and other investments.
Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value in U.S. Dollars of all foreign currency-denominated securities and other investments held by the Fund. Exchange rates are influenced generally by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign currency markets and by numerous other political and economic events occurring outside the United States, many of which may be difficult, if not impossible, to predict.
Income from foreign securities and other investments will be received and realized in foreign currencies, and the Fund is required to compute and distribute income in U.S. Dollars. Accordingly, a decline in the value of a particular foreign currency against the U.S. Dollar occurring after the Funds income has been earned and computed in U.S. Dollars may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio securities or other investments to acquire sufficient U.S. Dollars to make a distribution. Similarly, if the exchange rate declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses in U.S. Dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund may be required to liquidate additional portfolio securities or other investments to purchase the U.S. Dollars required to meet such expenses.
The Fund may purchase foreign bank obligations. In addition to the risks described above that are generally applicable to foreign investments, the investments that the Fund makes in obligations of foreign banks, branches or subsidiaries may involve further risks, including differences between foreign banks and U.S. banks in applicable accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, and the possible establishment of exchange controls or other foreign government laws or restrictions applicable to the payment of certificates of deposit or time deposits that may affect adversely the payment of principal and interest on the securities and other investments held by the Fund.
5
Emerging Markets .
There are special risks involved in investing in emerging market countries. Many investments in emerging markets can be considered speculative, and their prices can be more volatile than in the developed nations of the world. This difference reflects the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. The financial markets of emerging markets countries are generally less well capitalized and thus securities of issuers based in such countries may be less liquid. Some companies in emerging markets are heavily dependent on international trade, and some are especially vulnerable to recessions in other countries. Most emerging market countries are the main suppliers of agricultural, energy, base and precious metals to the world, but there are some emerging market economies that are not rich in natural resources and are adversely affected by an increase in world commodity prices. Some countries may still have developing economic or legal systems. The currencies of certain emerging market countries, and therefore the value of securities denominated in such currencies, may be more volatile than currencies of developed countries.
In certain emerging market countries, severe and persistent levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation, has, in turn, led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to keep inflation in check, and a generally debilitating effect on economic growth. Although inflation in many countries has lessened, there is no guarantee it will remain at lower levels. The political history of certain of these countries has also been characterized by political uncertainty, intervention by the military in civilian and economic spheres, and political corruption. Such developments, if they were to reoccur, could reverse favorable trends toward market and economic reform, privatization, and removal of trade barriers, and result in significant disruption in securities markets. A number of these countries are highly dependent on foreign loans for their operation. There have been moratoria on, and reschedulings of, repayment with respect to many countries debts. Such events can restrict the flexibility of these debtor nations in the international markets and result in the imposition of onerous conditions on their economies.
Under foreign tax laws, taxes may be withheld at the source in certain foreign countries and there is a possibility of expropriation or potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, political, social, or imposition of other costs and administrative fees on investment and monetary instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect investments in, the liquidity of, and the ability to enforce contractual obligations with respect to, securities of issuers located in those countries. Amounts realized on foreign securities in which the Fund may invest may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes that could reduce the return on these securities. Applicable tax treaties between the United States and foreign countries, however, may reduce or eliminate the amount of foreign taxes to which the Fund would otherwise be subject.
Foreign Currency Transactions.
The Fund may conduct foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot, i.e., cash basis at the prevailing rate in the foreign exchange market or by entering into a forward foreign currency contract. A forward foreign currency contract (forward contract) involves an
6
obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are considered to be derivatives. The Fund enters into forward contracts in order to lock in the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, the Fund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities the Fund owns or anticipates purchasing or the U.S. Dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities. The Fund will not have more than 10% of its total assets committed to forward contracts, or maintain a net exposure to forward contracts that would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the Funds investment securities or other assets denominated in that currency.
If the Fund delivers the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required to obtain the currency by selling some of the Funds assets that are denominated in that specific currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to purchase a foreign currency by selling an offsetting contract, in which case it will realize a gain or a loss.
Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Fund incurs foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Adviser is inaccurate in predicting currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for the Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and deliver the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate the fluctuation in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it fixes a rate of exchange in advance. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss if the values of the hedged currencies decline, these instruments also limit the potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the hedged currencies.
There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies, and there is no regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information available is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global around-the-clock market. Since foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, the Fund may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots. The Fund may take positions in options on foreign currencies in order to hedge against the risk of foreign exchange fluctuation on foreign securities the Fund holds in its portfolio or which it intends to purchase.
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Depository Receipts.
American Depository Receipts (ADRs) are negotiable receipts issued by a United States bank or trust company that evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust companys office or agent in a foreign country. Investing in ADRs presents risks that may not be equal to the risk inherent in holding the equivalent shares of the same companies that are traded in the local markets even though the Fund will purchase, sell and be paid dividends on ADRs in U.S. Dollars. These risks include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; speculation; and other factors. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, imposition of other costs and administrative fees on investments and economic instability. The Fund may be required to pay foreign withholding or other taxes on certain ADRs that it owns, but investors may or may not be able to deduct their pro rata share of such taxes in computing their taxable income, or take such shares as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax. ADRs may be sponsored by foreign issuers or may be unsponsored. Unsponsored ADRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities. While readily exchangeable with stock in local markets, unsponsored ADRs may be less liquid than sponsored ADRs. Additionally, there generally is less publicly available information with respect to unsponsored ADRs.
Other Investment Company Securities
The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies (each, an Underlying Fund), including open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts (UITs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions set forth in this SAI.
Under Sections 12(d)(1)(A) and 12(d)(1)(B) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may hold securities of another investment company in amounts which (i) do not exceed 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of such company, (ii) do not exceed 5% of the value of the Funds total assets, and (iii) when added to all other investment company securities held by the Fund, do not exceed 10% of the value of the Funds total assets. The Fund may exceed these limits when permitted by SEC order or other applicable law or regulatory guidance, such as is the case with many ETFs.
Generally, under Section 12(d)(1)(F) and 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act and SEC rules adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may acquire the securities of affiliated and unaffiliated Underlying Funds subject to the following guidelines and restrictions:
The Fund
may own an unlimited amount of the securities of any registered open-end fund or
registered unit investment trust that is affiliated with the Fund, so long as any
such Underlying Fund has a policy that prohibits it from acquiring any securities of registered
open-end funds or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on certain sections
of the 1940 Act.
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The Fund
and its affiliated persons may own up to 3% of the outstanding stock
of any fund, subject to the following restrictions: the Fund and the Underlying
Fund, in the aggregate, may not charge a sales load greater than the limits set
forth in Rule 2830(d)(3) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA) applicable to funds of funds; the Underlying Fund
is not obligated to redeem more than 1% of its total outstanding securities during
any period less than 30 days; and the purchase or acquisition of the Underlying
Fund is made pursuant to an arrangement with the Underlying Fund or its principal
underwriter whereby the Fund is obligated either to (i) seek instructions from its
shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to the Underlying
Fund and to vote in accordance with such instructions, or (ii) to vote the shares
of the Underlying Fund held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all
other shareholders of the Underlying Fund.
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Acquired funds typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Funds purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses as Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to certain leverage risks. The net asset value and market value of leveraged securities will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged securities. Investment companies may have investment policies that differ from those of the Fund.
Under certain circumstances an open-end investment company in which the Fund invests may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, instead of in cash. As a result, the Fund may hold such securities until the Adviser determines it is appropriate to dispose of them. Such disposition will impose additional costs on the Fund.
Investment decisions by the investment advisers to the registered investment companies in which the Fund invests are made independently of the Fund. At any particular time, one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of an issuer whose shares are being sold by another Underlying Fund. As a result, under these circumstances the Fund indirectly would incur certain transactional costs without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
ETFs are pooled investment vehicles that generally seek to track the performance of specific indices. ETFs may be organized as open-end funds or as unit investment trusts. Their shares are listed on stock exchanges and can be traded throughout the day at market-determined prices.
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An ETF generally issues index-based investments in aggregations of 50,000 shares known as Creation Units in exchange for a Portfolio Deposit consisting of (a) a portfolio of securities substantially similar to the component securities (Index Securities) of the applicable index (the Index), (b) a cash payment equal to a pro rata portion of the dividends accrued on the ETFs portfolio securities since the last dividend payment by the ETF, net of expenses and liabilities, and (c) a cash payment or credit (Balancing Amount) designed to equalize the net asset value of the Index and the net asset value of a Portfolio Deposit.
Shares of ETFs are not individually redeemable, except upon termination of the ETF. To redeem shares of an ETF, an investor must accumulate enough shares of the ETF to reconstitute a Creation Unit. The liquidity of small holdings of ETF shares, therefore, will depend upon the existence of a secondary market for such shares. Upon redemption of a Creation Unit, the portfolio will receive Index Securities and cash identical to the Portfolio Deposit required of an investor wishing to purchase a Creation Unit that day.
The price of ETF shares is based upon (but not necessarily identical to) the value of the securities held by the ETF. Accordingly, the level of risk involved in the purchase or sale of ETF shares is similar to the risk involved in the purchase or sale of traditional common stock, with the exception that the pricing mechanism for ETF shares is based on a basket of stocks. Disruptions in the markets for the securities underlying ETF shares purchased or sold by the Fund could result in losses on such shares. There is no assurance that the requirements of the national securities exchanges necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any ETF will continue to be met.
Short Sales
The Fund may engage in short sales. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss will be increased, by the transaction costs incurred by the Fund, including the costs associated with providing collateral to the broker-dealer (usually cash and liquid securities) and the maintenance of collateral with its custodian. The Fund also may be required to pay a premium to borrow a security, which would increase the cost of the security sold short. Although the Funds gain is limited to the price at which it sold the security short, its potential loss is theoretically unlimited.
The broker-dealer will retain the net proceeds of the short sale to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements until the short position is closed out.
When the Adviser believes that the price of a particular security held by the Fund may decline, it may make short sales against the box to hedge the unrealized gain on such security. Selling short against the box involves selling a security which the Fund owns for delivery at a specified date in the future. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box.
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To the extent the Fund sells securities short (except in the case of short sales against the box), it is required to segregate an amount of cash or liquid securities on its records equal to the market price of the securities sold short. The segregated assets are marked to market daily in an attempt to ensure that the amount deposited in the segregated account is at least equal to the market value of the securities sold short. Segregated securities cannot be sold while the position they are covering is outstanding, unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is the possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Funds assets could affect its portfolio management.
Derivatives
The Fund may utilize a variety of financial instruments, such as derivatives, options, and forward contracts, both for investment purposes and for hedging purposes. Hedging involves special risks including the possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisers assessment of certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of hedging could result in losses greater than if hedging had not been used. Nonetheless, with respect to certain investment positions, the Fund may not be sufficiently hedged against market fluctuations, in which case an investment position could result in a loss greater than if the Adviser had been sufficiently hedged with respect to such position.
The Adviser will not, in general, attempt to hedge all market or other risks inherent in the Funds positions, and will hedge certain risks, if at all, only partially. Specifically, the Adviser may choose not, or may determine that it is economically unattractive, to hedge certain risks, either in respect of particular positions or in respect of the Funds overall portfolio. Moreover, it should be noted that the Funds portfolio always will be exposed to unidentified systematic risk factors and to certain risks that cannot be completely hedged, such as credit risk (relating both to particular securities and to counterparties). The Funds portfolio composition may result in various directional market risks remaining unhedged, although the Adviser may rely on diversification to control such risks to the extent that the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so.
Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation is not yet fully known and may not be for some time. Any new regulations could adversely affect the value, availability and performance of derivative instruments, may make them more costly, and may limit or restrict their use by the Fund.
The Fund may utilize a variety of investment strategies to hedge various market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and broad specific equity or fixed-income market movements). Such strategies are generally accepted as modern portfolio management and are regularly utilized by many mutual funds and institutional investors. Techniques and instruments may change over time as new instruments and strategies develop and regulatory changes occur.
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In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, fixed-income indices and other financial instruments, purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, and enter into various currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies or currency futures (collectively, all the above are referred to as derivatives).
When conducted outside the United States, derivatives transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as they are in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions could also be adversely affected by: (1) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (2) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (3) delays in the Funds ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (4) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (5) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Options on Securities and Securities Indices
A call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. A put option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to sell specified securities during the option period. The Fund may invest in both European-style or American-style options. A European-style option is only exercisable immediately prior to its expiration. American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.
Writing Call Options. The Fund may write covered call options. A call option is covered if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire the security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as held in a segregated account by the Funds custodian. The writer of a call option receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. The writer has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price during the option period. If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes to terminate his obligation, he may effect a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written. A writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option.
Effecting a closing transaction in a written call option will permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the
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concurrent sale of any securities subject to the option to be used for other investments of the Fund. If the Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the security. The Fund will realize a gain from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are more than the premium paid to purchase the option. The Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are less than the premium paid to purchase the option. However, because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss to the Fund resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund.
In addition to covered call options, the Fund may write uncovered (or naked) call options on securities, including ETFs, and indices. The Fund may cover call options on securities indices by owning securities whose price changes, in the opinion of the Adviser, are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index, or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. The Fund may also cover by segregating with the custodian liquid assets sufficient to purchase the underlying security or equal to the market value of the stock index option, marked to market daily. Where the Fund covers a call option on a securities index through ownership of securities, such securities may not match the composition of the index and, in that event, the Fund will not be fully covered and could be subject to risk of loss in the event of adverse changes in the value of the index. Segregated securities cannot be sold while the option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Funds assets could impede portfolio management or the Funds ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Writing Covered Index Call Options. The Fund may sell index call options. The Fund may also execute a closing purchase transaction with respect to the option it has sold and then sell another option with either a different exercise price and/or expiration date. The Funds objective in entering into such closing transactions is to increase option premium income, to limit losses or to protect anticipated gains in the underlying stocks. The cost of a closing transaction, while reducing the premium income realized from the sale of the option, should be offset, at least in part, by the appreciation in the value of the underlying index, and by the opportunity to realize additional premium income from selling a new option.
When the Fund sells an index call option, it does not deliver the underlying stocks or cash to the broker through whom the transaction is effected. In the case of an exchange-traded option, the Fund establishes an escrow account. The Custodian (or a securities depository acting for the Custodian) acts as the Funds escrow agent. The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in the Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities). The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account
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when the call option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by the Fund. The Fund may enter into similar collateral arrangements with the counterparty when it sells over-the-counter index call options. When the Fund sells an index call option, it is also required to cover the option pursuant to requirements enunciated by the staff of the SEC. The staff has indicated that a mutual fund may cover an index call option by (1) owning and holding for the term of the option a portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index underlying the call option; (2) purchasing an American-style call option on the same index with an exercise price not greater than the exercise price of the written option; or (3) establishing and maintaining for the term of the option a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt securities, equal in value to the aggregate contract price of the call option (the current index value times the specific multiple). The Fund generally covers the index options it has sold by owning and holding stocks substantially replicating the movement of the applicable index. As an alternative method of covering the option, the Fund may purchase an appropriate offsetting option.
The purchaser of an index call option sold by the Fund may exercise the option at a price fixed as of the closing level of the index on exercise date. Unless the Fund has liquid assets sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the index call option, the Fund would be required to liquidate portfolio securities to satisfy the exercise. The market value of such securities may decline between the time the option is exercised and the time the Fund is able to sell the securities. If the Fund fails to anticipate an exercise, it may have to borrow from a bank (in amounts not exceeding 5% of the Funds total assets) pending settlement of the sale of the portfolio securities and thereby incur interest charges. If trading is interrupted on the index, the Fund would not be able to close out its option positions.
Risks of Transactions in Options . There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and indices. Options may be more volatile than the underlying securities and, therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation in value than an investment in the underlying securities themselves. There are also significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objective. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options of underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or clearing corporation may not be adequate to handle current trading volume at all times; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
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A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The extent to which the Fund may enter into options transactions may be limited by the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), for qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.
Over-the-Counter Options. The Fund may engage in transactions involving over-the-counter options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to over-the-counter options. The Fund may engage a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, but if the Fund purchased an over-the-counter option, it must then rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option if the option is exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while over-the-counter options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of an over-the-counter option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes an over-the-counter option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into over-the-counter options only with dealers who will agree to and are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate an over-the-counter option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered over-the-counter call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate an over-the-counter option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, since the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Funds ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.
The SEC has taken the position that purchased over-the-counter options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written over-the-counter options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the over-the-counter option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the over-the-counter option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat over-the-counter options as subject to the Funds limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of over-the-counter options, the Fund will change the treatment of such instruments accordingly.
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Stock Index Options. The Fund may invest in options on indices, including broad-based security indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on other investments except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities. When a fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (multiplier), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When a fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When a fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the funds exercise of the put, to deliver to the fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When a fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.
The risks of investment in options on indices may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, if a fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying index. A fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities or instruments similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, a fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities or instruments as underlie the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities or instruments held will vary from the value of the index.
Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the timing risk inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, a fund as the call writer will not learn of the assignment until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security or instrument, such as common stock, because there the writers obligation is to deliver the underlying security or instrument, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying security or instrument, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds investments that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those investments against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date. By the time it learns that it has
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been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This timing risk is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding security or instrument positions.
If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
Futures .
The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate or currency market changes and for risk management purposes. The use of futures for hedging is intended to protect the Fund from (1) the risk that the value of its portfolio of investments in a foreign market may decline before it can liquidate its interest, or (2) the risk that a foreign market in which it proposes to invest may have significant increases in value before it actually invests in that market. In the first instance, the Fund will sell a future based upon a broad market index which it is believed will move in a manner comparable to the overall value of securities in that market. In the second instance, the Fund will purchase the appropriate index as an anticipatory hedge until it can otherwise acquire suitable direct investments in that market. As with the hedging of foreign currencies, the precise matching of financial futures on foreign indices and the value of the cash or portfolio securities being hedged may not have a perfect correlation. The projection of future market movement and the movement of appropriate indices is difficult, and the successful execution of this short-term hedging strategy is uncertain.
Regulatory policies governing the use of such hedging techniques require the Fund to provide for the deposit of initial margin and the segregation of suitable assets to meet its obligations under futures contracts. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurocurrency instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
The Funds use of financial futures and options thereon will in all cases be consistent with applicable regulatory requirements, particularly the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Fund will use such techniques only for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio management purposes. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires the Fund to deposit an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin), which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances) with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations. Additional cash or assets (variation margin)
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may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the Fund. If the Fund exercises an option on a futures contract, it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction, but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantage price or that delivery will occur.
CFTC Exemption . This Fund is being operated by an investment adviser that has claimed an exemption from registration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, and therefore the investment adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under that Act. This claim of exemption from registration as a commodity pool operator is pursuant to Rule 4.5 promulgated under the Commodity Exchange Act. Specifically, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 4.5(b)(1), the Fund will limit its use if commodity futures contracts and commodity options contracts to no more than (i) five percent (5%) of the Funds liquidation value being committed as aggregate initial premium or margin for such contracts or (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of the Funds liquidation value in aggregate net notional value of commodity futures, commodity options and swaps positions.
Segregated and Other Special Accounts .
In addition to other requirements, many transactions require the Fund to segregate liquid high grade assets with its custodian to the extent Fund obligations are not otherwise covered through the ownership of the underlying security, financial instruments or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by the Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid high grade securities at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by the Fund will require the Fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate liquid high grade securities sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or segregate liquid high grade assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price industry or other on a current basis. A put option written by the Fund requires the Fund to segregate liquid, high grade assets equal to the exercise price. A currency contract which obligates the Fund to buy or sell currency will generally require the Fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid securities denominated in that currency equal to the Funds obligations or to segregate liquid high grade assets equal to the amount of the Funds obligation.
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OTC options entered into by the Fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange-listed index options will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when the Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets equal to the notional value, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by the Fund, or in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when the Fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to the notional amount. OCC issued and exchange-listed options sold by the Fund generally settle with physical delivery, and the Fund will segregate an amount of liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, the Fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating sufficient liquid assets. Such assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt securities or other liquid assets.
Derivatives transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. The Fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and derivatives transactions. For example, the Fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating assets, if the Fund holds a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high as or higher than the price of the contract held. Other derivatives transactions may also be offered in combinations.
If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction, no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
The Funds activities involving derivatives transactions may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.
REITs .
The Fund may invest in REITs. REITs may be subject to certain risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, and variations in rental income. Generally, increases in interest rates will decrease the value of high yielding securities and increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could decrease the value of the REITs held in the Funds portfolio.
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REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for the tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and to maintain their exemption from registration under Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) .
The Fund may invest in IPOs. IPOs occur when a firm offers its securities to the public. Although companies can be any age or size at the time of their IPO, they are often smaller and have a limited operating history, which involves a greater potential for the value of their securities to be impaired following the IPO.
Investors in IPOs can be adversely affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. In addition, all of the factors that affect stock market performance may have a greater impact on the shares of IPO companies.
The price of a companys securities may be highly unstable at the time of its IPO and for a period thereafter due to market psychology prevailing at the time of the IPO, the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available and limited availability of investor information. As a result of this or other factors, the Funds Sub-Adviser might decide to sell an IPO security more quickly than it would otherwise, which may result in a significant gain or loss and greater transaction costs to the Fund. Any gains from shares held for 12 months or less will be treated as short-term gains, taxable as ordinary income to the Funds shareholders. In addition, IPO securities may be subject to varying patterns of trading volume and may, at times, be difficult to sell without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices.
The effect of an IPO investment can have a magnified impact on the Funds performance when the Funds asset base is small. Consequently, IPOs may constitute a significant portion of the Funds returns particularly when the Fund is small. Since the number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of the Funds assets as it increases in size and therefore have a more limited effect on the Funds performance.
There can be no assurance that IPOs will continue to be available for the Fund to purchase. The number or quality of IPOs available for purchase by the Fund may vary, decrease or entirely disappear. In some cases, the Fund may not be able to purchase IPOs at the offering price, but may have to purchase the shares in the aftermarket at a price greatly exceeding the offering price, making it more difficult for the Fund to realize a profit.
Debt Securities
Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Generally, issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the applicable
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coupon rate over a specified time period. The market prices of debt securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality and maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.
Lower rated debt securities, those rated Ba or below by Moodys Investor Service, Inc. (Moodys) and/or BB or below by Standard & Poors Rating Group (S&P) or unrated but determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality, are described by the rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes than higher rated debt securities due to changes in the issuers creditworthiness or the fact that the issuer may already be in default. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. It may be more difficult to sell or to determine the value of lower rated debt securities.
Certain additional risk factors related to debt securities are discussed below:
Sensitivity to interest rate and economic changes . Debt securities may be sensitive to economic changes, political and corporate developments, and interest rate changes. In addition, during an economic downturn or periods of rising interest rates, issuers that are highly leveraged may experience increased financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to meet projected business goals, obtain additional financing, and service their principal and interest payment obligations. Furthermore, periods of economic change and uncertainty can be expected to result in increased volatility of market prices and yields of certain debt securities. For example, prices of these securities can be affected by financial contracts held by the issuer or third parties (such as derivatives) related to the security or other assets or indices.
Payment expectations . Debt securities may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises these provisions in a lower interest rate environment, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in decreased income to investors. If the issuer of a debt security defaults on its obligations to pay interest or principal or is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, the Fund may incur losses or expenses in seeking recovery of amounts owed to it.
Liquidity and valuation . There may be limited trading in the secondary market for particular debt securities, which may adversely affect the Funds ability to accurately value or sell such debt securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and/or liquidity of debt securities. The Adviser attempts to reduce the risks described above through diversification of the Funds portfolio, credit analysis of each issuer, and by monitoring broad economic trends as well as corporate and legislative developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so. Credit ratings of debt securities provided by rating agencies indicate a measure of the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk. The rating of an issuer is a rating agencys view of past and future potential developments related to the issuer and may not necessarily reflect actual outcomes. There can be a lag between corporate developments and the time a rating is assigned and updated.
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Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions . Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) has attempted to stabilize the U.S. economy and support the U.S. economic recovery by keeping the federal funds rate at or near zero percent. In addition, the Federal Reserve has purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market (Quantitative Easing). As the Federal Reserve tapers or reduces Quantitative Easing, and when the Federal Reserve raises the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will rise. These policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of the Funds investments and share price to decline. Because the Fund invests in derivatives tied to fixed income markets it may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in derivatives. To the extent the Fund experiences high redemptions because of these policy changes, the Fund may experience increased portfolio turnover, which will increase the costs that the Fund incurs and may lower the Funds performance. The liquidity levels of the Funds portfolio may also be affected. In addition, decreases since 2007 in fixed income dealer market-making capacity may persist in the future, potentially leading to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets.
Bond rating agencies may assign modifiers (such as +/) to ratings categories to signify the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Investment policies that are based on ratings categories should be read to include any security within that category, without considering the modifier. Please refer to Appendix A for more information about credit ratings.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities
The Fund may invest in lower-rated fixed-income securities (commonly known as junk bonds). The lower ratings reflect a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions, or both, or an unanticipated rise in interest rates, may impair the ability of the issuer to make payments of interest and principal. The inability (or perceived inability) of issuers to make timely payment of interest and principal would likely make the values of securities held by the Fund more volatile and could limit the Funds ability to sell its securities at prices approximating the values the Fund had placed on such securities. In the absence of a liquid trading market for securities held by it, the Fund at times may be unable to establish the fair value of such securities. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuers historical financial condition and the rating agencies analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuers current financial condition, which may be better or worse than the rating would indicate. In addition, the rating assigned to a security by Moodys or S&P (or by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency) does not reflect an assessment of the volatility of the securitys market value or the liquidity of an investment in the security.
Like those of other fixed-income securities, the values of lower-rated securities fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. A decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of the Funds fixed-income assets. Conversely, during periods of rising
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interest rates, the value of the Funds fixed-income assets will generally decline. The values of lower-rated securities may often be affected to a greater extent by changes in general economic conditions and business conditions affecting the issuers of such securities and their industries. Negative publicity or investor perceptions may also adversely affect the values of lower-rated securities. Changes by nationally recognized securities rating agencies in their ratings of any fixed-income security and changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal may also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of portfolio securities generally will not affect income derived from these securities, but will affect the Funds net asset value. The Fund will not necessarily dispose of a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. However, the Adviser will monitor the investment to determine whether its retention will assist in meeting the Funds investment objective. Issuers of lower-rated securities are often highly leveraged, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. Such issuers may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay outstanding obligations at maturity by refinancing. The risk of loss due to default in payment of interest or repayment of principal by such issuers is significantly greater because such securities frequently are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. It is possible that, under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities when the Adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if they were more widely held. Under these circumstances, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Funds net asset value. In order to enforce its rights in the event of a default, the Fund may be required to participate in various legal proceedings or take possession of and manage assets securing the issuers obligations on such securities. This could increase the Funds operating expenses and adversely affect the Funds net asset value. The ability of a holder of a tax-exempt security to enforce the terms of that security in a bankruptcy proceeding may be more limited than would be the case with respect to securities of private issuers. In addition, the Funds intention to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code may limit the extent to which the fund may exercise its rights by taking possession of such assets. To the extent the Fund invests in securities in the lower rating categories, the achievement of the Funds investment objective is more dependent on the Advisers investment analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in securities in the higher rating categories.
Sovereign Debt Obligations
The Fund may invest in sovereign debt obligations, which are securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, governmental agencies or instrumentalities and political subdivisions, including debt of emerging markets nations or other developing countries. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Sovereign debt of developing countries may involve a high degree of risk, and may be in default or present the risk of default. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or rescheduling of debt payments. In addition,
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prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. Government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. Government. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including (i) securities for which there is no readily available market; (ii) securities in which the disposition would be subject to legal restrictions (so called restricted securities); and (iii) repurchase agreements having more than seven days to maturity. However, the Fund will not acquire illiquid securities if, as a result, such securities would comprise more than 15% of the value of the Funds net assets. The Board or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 15% limitation. The Board has delegated to the Adviser the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any security held by the Fund, although it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. Although no definitive liquidity criteria are used, the Board has directed the Adviser to consider to such factors as (a) frequency of trading and availability of quotations; (b) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the availability of buyers; (c) the willingness of dealers to be market makers in the security; and (d) the nature of trading activity including (i) the time needed to dispose of a position or part of a position and (ii) offer and solicitation methods. A considerable period of time may elapse between the Funds decision to sell such securities and the time when the Fund is able to sell them, during which time the value of the securities could decline. Illiquid securities will usually be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegate. If, through the appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid securities, more than 15% of the value of the Funds net assets is invested in illiquid securities, including restricted securities which are not readily marketable, the Fund will take such steps as is deemed advisable, if any, to protect liquidity.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Restricted securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act that have a readily available market usually are not deemed illiquid for purposes of this limitation by the Fund. However, investing in Rule 144A securities could result in increasing the level of the Funds illiquidity if qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities.
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OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND RISKS
Temporary Investments
The Fund may take temporary defensive measures that are inconsistent with the Funds normal fundamental or non-fundamental investment policies and strategies in response to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions as determined by the Adviser. Such measures could include, but are not limited to, investments in (1) highly liquid short-term fixed income securities issued by or on behalf of municipal or corporate issuers, obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit; (2) repurchase agreements involving any such securities; and (3) other money market instruments. The Fund may also invest in shares of money market mutual funds to the extent permitted under applicable law. Money market mutual funds are investment companies, and the investments in those companies by the Fund are in some cases subject to certain fundamental investment restrictions. As a shareholder in a mutual fund, the Fund will bear its ratable shares of its expenses, including management fees, and will remain subject to payment of the fees to the Adviser, with respect to assets so invested. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives during temporary defensive periods.
Cash Defensive Position
When deemed appropriate by the Adviser for short term defensive purposes, the Fund may hold up to 100% of its assets in cash and equivalents including government obligations in the local currency of any developed country including the United States, commercial paper and certificates of deposit.
Short-Term Investments
The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers Acceptances and Time Deposits . The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits in U.S. Dollar or foreign currencies, subject to the Advisers review of the issuing institutions credit risk and overall financial condition. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are accepted by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. If the Fund holds instruments of foreign banks or financial institutions, it may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those incurred if the Fund invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. See Foreign Securities above. Such risks include future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes by the particular country in which the issuer is located, the possible confiscation or nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which may adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.
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Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds and the interest income generated from lending operations. General economic conditions, government policy (including emergency measures) and the quality of loan portfolios affect the banking industry.
As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amount that they can loan to a single borrower, and are subject to regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and regulations may not necessarily apply to foreign banks, thereby affecting the risk involved in bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances, to the extent permitted under its investment strategies and policies stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI, the Fund may invest in interest-bearing time deposits or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks or micro-finance institutions. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations . The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
Corporate debt obligations are subject to the risk of an issuers inability to meet principal and interest payments on the obligations, i.e., credit risk. The Adviser may actively expose the Fund to credit risk. However, there can be no guarantee that the Adviser will be successful in making the right selections and thus fully mitigate the impact of credit risk changes on the Fund.
Government Obligations
The Fund may invest in short-term U.S. Government obligations. Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government securities, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises.
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Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored enterprises, where it is not obligated to do so. In addition, U.S. Government obligations are subject to fluctuations in market value due to fluctuations in market interest rates. As a general matter, the value of debt instruments, including U.S. Government obligations, declines when market interest rates increase and rises when market interest rates decrease. Certain types of U.S. Government obligations are subject to fluctuations in yield or value due to their structure or contract terms.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to its portfolio securities. Pursuant to such agreements, the Fund acquires securities from financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers deemed to be creditworthy by the Adviser, subject to the sellers agreement to repurchase and the Funds agreement to resell such securities at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The Adviser monitors the value of the collateral to ensure that its value always equals or exceeds the repurchase price and also monitors the financial condition of the seller of the repurchase agreement. The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted, and annually reviews, the Advisers compliance with procedures designed to ensure that the repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund are fully collateralized. The repurchase agreements will be fully collateralized as appropriate in conformity with Rule 5b-3 under the 1940 Act. The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the underlying portfolio security). Securities subject to repurchase agreements will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book-Entry System or an equivalent foreign system. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the underlying securities at not less than 102% of the repurchase price under the agreement. If the seller defaults on its repurchase obligation, the Fund will suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from a sale of the underlying securities are less than the repurchase price under the agreement. Bankruptcy or insolvency of such a defaulting seller may cause the Funds rights with respect to such securities to be delayed or limited. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans under the 1940 Act.
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Lending Portfolio Securities
The Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount not exceeding one-third of its net assets to financial institutions such as banks and brokers if the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable regulations. Under the present regulatory requirements which govern loans of portfolio securities, the loan collateral must, on each business day, at least equal the value of the loaned securities and must consist of cash, letters of credit of domestic banks or domestic branches of foreign banks, or securities of the U.S. Government or its agencies. To be acceptable as collateral, letters of credit must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by the Fund if the demand meets the terms of the letter. Such terms and the issuing bank would have to be satisfactory to the Fund. Any loan may be secured by any one or more of the three types of collateral. The terms of the Funds loans must permit the Fund to reacquire loaned securities on five days notice or in time to vote on any serious matter and must meet certain tests under the Code.
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 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).
The Fund:
1. 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. May not issue any senior securities to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time.
3. 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. 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).
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5. 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.
6. 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. May invest in commodities only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.
8. 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.
Except with respect to borrowing and circumstances where the Fund is required to cover its positions, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation. 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 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 the 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 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.
Currently, with respect to senior securities, the 1940 Act and regulatory interpretations of relevant provisions of the 1940 Act establish the following general limits, subject to modification to conform to the 1940 Act as interpreted or modified from time to time: Open-end registered investment companies such as the Fund are not permitted to issue any class of senior security or to sell any senior security of which they are the issuers. The Trust is, however, permitted to issue separate series of Shares (the Fund is a series of the Trust) and to divide those series into separate classes. Individual class and institutional class are separate classes. The Fund has no intention of issuing senior securities, except that the Trust has issued its Shares in separate series and may divide those series into classes of Shares. Collateral arrangements with respect to forward
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contracts, futures contracts or options, including deposits of initial and variation margin, are not considered to be the issuance of a senior security for purposes of this restriction.
With respect to borrowing, the Fund may borrow for investment purposes and for other purposes permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% with respect to permitted borrowings and to sell (within three days) sufficient portfolio holdings to restore such coverage if it should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or otherwise, even if such liquidation of the Funds holdings may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation with its principal office and place of business in Calle Ayacucho No. 277, La Paz, Bolivia, acts as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the Advisory Agreement). Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Adviser is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision, as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Funds investments. The Adviser also continuously monitors and maintains the Funds investment criteria and determines what securities may be purchased by the Fund. The Adviser is owned by GeZu S.A. (a Panamanian new business and project development company) controlled by ZUAVA with 60%, and Mr. Alberto Valdes with 40%.
The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for an initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement continues in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, upon giving the Adviser 60 days notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Funds shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board, or by the Adviser on 60 days written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser under such agreement shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the Advisory Agreement, except for a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, or for a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by the Adviser of its duties under the Advisory Agreement.
For its services, the Adviser receives an annual investment management fee of 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund (and deducted proportionately from each class of Shares). The fee payable pursuant to the Advisory Agreement is calculated and accrued daily, and, subject to the provisions of an applicable expense limitation agreement, paid monthly.
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The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses (all of which will be borne directly or indirectly by the Funds shareholders), including among others, legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and the Funds independent trustees; insurance (including trustees and officers errors and omissions insurance); auditing and accounting expenses; taxes and governmental fees; listing fees; dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; fees and expenses of the Funds custodians, administrators, transfer agents, registrars and other service providers; expenses for portfolio pricing services by a pricing agent, if any; other expenses in connection with the issuance and offering of shares; expenses relating to investor and public relations; expenses of registering or qualifying securities of the Fund for public sale; brokerage commissions and other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio holding of the Fund; expenses of preparation and distribution of reports, notices and dividends to shareholders; expenses of the dividend reinvestment plan; compensation and expenses of trustees; any litigation expenses; and costs of shareholders and other meetings.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or to pay for operating expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of interest, distribution fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1 Plans, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, extraordinary expenses and dividend expense on short sales) do not exceed 1.70% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This agreement is in effect until January 31, 2017, and it may be terminated before that date only by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expense was incurred, provided that the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver or reimbursement and at the time the waiver or reimbursement is recouped.
The Adviser retains the right to use the name Strategic Asset Management 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 Strategic Asset Management or any derivative thereof automatically ceases ninety days after termination of the Advisory Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on ninety days written notice. The services furnished by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are not exclusive, and the Adviser is free to perform similar services for others.
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
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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.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Mauricio Alvarez has been the Portfolio Manager for the Fund since its inception in February 2016. Mr. Alvarez has 15 years of investment experience. Mr. Alvarez is the Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser and has served as the Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser from October 2010 to April 2014. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Alvarez was the Chief Executive Officer and CCO of Mercantil Santa Cruz Agencia de Bolsa, an asset manager and broker dealer subsidiary of Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz S.A., a Bolivian bank. From 2005 to 2009. Mr. Alvarez served as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for Mid America Bank (which was acquired by National City Corporation, which was later acquired by PNC Bank), where he focused on training, business development, customer service and management. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Alvarez worked for Nacional de Valores, the investment firm of Banco Nacional de Bolivia, where he was in charge of the strategies, decisions and trades for its investment adviser and broker dealer. Mr. Alvarez began his career in 1999 as an investment officer and working for the broker dealer for Credibolsa Investments, a subsidiary in Bolivia of Credicorp Group of Peru.
Mr. Alvarez has a degree in economics from the Bolivian Catholic University and a Specialization in market analysis and portfolio management from the Instituto de Estudios Bursatiles in Madrid, Spain.
As of December 31, 2015, information on other accounts managed by Mr. Alvarez is as follows:
Material Conflicts of Interests . Currently, the Adviser and the portfolio manager only manage the Fund and have no other investment clients. The Adviser will allocate all investment opportunities to the Fund. Should the Adviser decide in the future to offer and provide its services to more than one client, the Adviser will adopt procedures to ensure that allocations of investment opportunities are done in a fair and equitable basis for all clients.
Compensation . The Portfolio Manager is compensated by the Adviser. He receives a fixed base salary, and his compensation is not based on the profitability of a single client or strategy.
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Securities Owned in the Fund by the Portfolio Manager . As of the date of this SAI, the Portfolio Manager did not own any of the equity securities of the Fund.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Administrator 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 and transfer 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 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 paid monthly, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Custodian . UMB Bank, N.A. (the Custodian), 928 Grand Blvd., 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, serves as the custodian of the Funds assets. The Custodian has entered into a foreign sub-custody arrangement with Citibank, N.A., 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.
Accounting Services . UMB Fund Services, Inc., (UMB) 803 W. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 acts as the accounting services agent of the Fund. As such, UMB maintains and keeps current the books, accounts, records, journals or other records of original entry relating to the Funds business.
33
Principal Underwriter . 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.
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 is entitled to a portion of the front-end sales charge on the sale of Class A Shares as described in the prospectus and this SAI. The Distributor is also entitled to the payment of deferred sales charges upon the redemption of Fund shares as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI. In addition, the Distributor may receive Distribution 12b-1 and Service Fees from the Fund, as described in the applicable prospectus and this SAI.
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 to the Trust and the Fund.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, 1818 Market Street, Suite 2400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. Its services include auditing the Funds financial statements and the performance of related tax services.
TRUSTEES & OFFICERS OF THE TRUST
Trustees and Officers . The Trust is governed by 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
34
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 of Trustees is Ms. Ivey, who is not an interested person of the Trust, within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Trust also has an independent Audit Committee 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 private sessions with the Trusts auditor, Chief Compliance Officer and legal counsel, stay fully informed regarding management decisions. Considering the size of the Trust and its shareholder base, the Trustees have determined that an interested Chairman balanced by an independent Audit Committee is the appropriate leadership structure for the Board of Trustees.
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.
Following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their principal occupation over the last five years.
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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. | 14 | None |
Mary Lou H.
Ivey
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 57 |
Trustee |
Indefinite,
Since
June 2010 |
Accountant, Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C., accounting firm, since 2008. | 14 | None |
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) since 1997 to present. | 14 | Independent Trustee of Gardner Lewis Investment Trust for the two series of that trust; Leeward Investment Trust for the one 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). |
36
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 HELD BY TRUSTEE |
John Pasco
III
8730 Stony Point Pkwy Suite 205 Richmond, VA 23235 Age: 70 |
President
and
Principal Executive Officer |
Indefinite,
Since June 2010 |
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (CFS), the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent, Disbursing Agent, and 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. | N/A | N/A |
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., since 2003. | 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). | 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 |
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees oversees the Trust and certain aspects of the services 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 September 30, 2015, the Audit Committee met 6 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 September 30, 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 September 30, 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 September 30, 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. Effective January 1, 2015, each Trustee received an annual retainer of $18,000. Compensation received from the Trust for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 is as follows:
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 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $14,750 | ||||
Mary Lou H. Ivey, Trustee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $14,750 | ||||
Theo H. Pitt, Jr., Trustee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $14,750 | ||||
* |
Company does
not pay deferred compensation.
|
|
(1) |
The Fund
Complex consists of the Trust, which is comprised of the fourteen Funds.
|
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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 the date of this SAI, 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 |
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.
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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITIES HOLDERS
A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of such control. As a controlling shareholder, each of these persons could control the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Funds fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.
The Fund has not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI and therefore the Fund does not have any shareholders who beneficially own of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers own less than 1% of the Funds shares.
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
General Policy . The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rule 2a-4 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value 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
40
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.
DISTRIBUTION
The Distributor may from time to time offer incentive compensation to dealers (which sell shares of the Fund that are subject to sales charges) allowing such dealers to retain an additional portion of the sales load. A dealer who receives all of the sales load may be considered an underwriter of the Funds shares.
In connection with promotion of the sales of the Fund, the Distributor may, from time to time, offer (to all broker dealers who have a sales agreement with the Distributor) the opportunity to participate in sales incentive programs (which may include non-cash concessions). The Distributor may also, from time to time, pay expenses and fees required in order to participate in dealer sponsored seminars and conferences, reimburse dealers for expenses incurred in connection with pre-approved seminars, conferences and advertising, and may, from time to time, pay or allow additional promotional incentives to dealers as part of pre-approved sales contests.
Statement of Intention . The reduced sales charge and public offering price applicable to Class A Shares, as set forth in the prospectus, applies to purchases of $25,000 or more made within a 13-month period pursuant to the terms of a written Statement of Intention in the form provided by the Distributor and signed by the purchaser. The Statement of Intention is not a binding obligation to purchase the indicated amount. Class A Shares equal to 4.50% (declining to 1.00% after an aggregate of $1,000,000 has been purchased under the Statement of Intention) of the dollar amount specified in the Statement of Intention will be held in escrow and capital gain distributions on these escrowed shares will be credited to the shareholders account in shares (or paid in cash, if requested). If the intended investment is not completed within the specified 13-month period, the purchaser will remit to the Distributor the difference between the sales charge actually paid and the sales charge which would have been paid if the total purchases had been made at a single time. If the difference is not paid within 20 days after written request by the Distributor or the securities dealer, the appropriate number of escrowed Class A Shares will be redeemed to pay such difference.
In the case of purchase orders by the trustees of certain employee plans by payroll deduction, the sales charge for the investments made during the 13-month period will be based
41
on the following: total investments made the first month of the 13-month period times 13; as the period progresses the sales charge will be based (1) on the actual investment made previously during the 13-month period, plus (2) the current months investments times the number of months remaining in the 13-month period. There will be no retroactive adjustments in sales charge on investments previously made during the 13-month period.
Dealer Reallowances . Class A Shares of the Fund are sold subject to a front-end sales charge as described in the prospectus. The following table shows the amount of the front-end sales charge that is reallowed to dealers as a percentage of the offering price of Class A Shares.
Dealer Reallowance As a Percentage of Offering Price for Class A Shares | |||||||
Less than
$24,999 |
$25,000
-
$49,999 |
$50,000
-
$99,999 |
$100,000
-
$249,999 |
$250,000
-
$499,999 |
$500,000
-
$749,999 |
$750,000
-
$999,999 |
$1 million
or more |
5.00% | 4.50% | 4.00% | 3.00% | 2.50% | 1.80% | 1.20% | 1.00% |
Plan of Distribution . The Fund has a Distribution and Service Plan (each a Plan and together the Plans) for its Class A Shares and Class C Shares under which it may finance certain activities primarily intended to sell such classes of shares. The Trust has adopted the Plans in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. The Trust intends to operate the Plans in accordance with its terms and with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules concerning sales charges.
The Plans provide that the Fund will pay a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets attributable to the Funds outstanding Class A Shares and at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributed to the Funds Class C Shares, in consideration for distribution and other services, which are described more fully below. The fee is generally paid to FDCC as compensation for distribution-related activities although the Fund may pay the fee directly to other Financial Intermediaries.
As noted above, payments for distribution expenses under the Plans are subject to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12b-1 defines distribution expenses to include the cost of any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by the Trust. Rule 12b-1 provides, among other things, that an investment company may bear such expenses only pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1. In accordance with Rule 12b-1, the Plans provide that a report of the amounts expended under the Plans, and the purposes for which such expenditures were incurred, will be made to the Board for its review at least quarterly. Each Plan provide that it may not be amended to increase materially the costs which shares of the Fund may bear for distribution pursuant to the Plan without shareholder approval, and that any other type of material amendment must be approved by a majority of the Board, and by a majority of the trustees who are neither interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust nor have any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any related agreement (the 12b-1 Trustees), by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments.
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The Trust understands that Financial Intermediaries may charge fees to their customers who are the beneficial owners of Fund shares, in connection with their accounts with such Financial Intermediaries. Any such fees would be in addition to any amounts which may be received by an institution under the applicable Plan.
The Board has concluded that there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit the Fund. It is anticipated that the Plans will benefit shareholders because an effective sales program typically is necessary for the Fund to reach and maintain a sufficient size to achieve efficiently its investment objectives and to realize economies of scale. The Plans are subject to annual re-approval by a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees and each is terminable at any time with respect to the Fund by a vote of a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable classes outstanding shares of the Fund. Any agreement entered into pursuant to the Plans with a Financial Intermediary is terminable with respect to the Fund without penalty, at any time, by vote of a majority of the 12b-1 Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable classes outstanding shares of the Fund, by FDCC or by the Financial Intermediary. An agreement will also terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
As long as the Plans are in effect, the nomination of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) must be committed to the discretion of the 12b-1 Trustees.
The Plans provide 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 these Plans) 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
43
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.
Shareholder Servicing Plan . The Fund has adopted a shareholder service plan on behalf of its Class A Shares and Class C Shares. Under a shareholder services plan, the Fund may pay an authorized firm up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of average daily net assets attributable to its customers who are shareholders. For this fee, the authorized firms may provide a variety of services, such as: 1) receiving and processing shareholder orders; 2) performing the accounting for the shareholders account; 3) maintaining retirement plan accounts; 4) answering questions and handling correspondence for individual accounts; 5) acting as the sole shareholder of record for individual shareholders; 6) issuing shareholder reports and transaction confirmations; 7) executing daily investment sweep functions; and 8) furnishing investment advisory services.
Because the Fund has adopted the shareholder services plan to compensate authorized firms for providing the types of services described above, the Fund believes the shareholder services plan is not covered by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which relates to payment of distribution fees. The Fund, however, follows the procedural requirements of Rule 12b-1 in connection with the implementation and administration of each shareholder services plan.
An authorized firm generally represents in a service agreement used in connection with the shareholder services plan that all compensation payable to the authorized firm from its customers in connection with the investment of their assets in the Fund will be disclosed by the authorized firm to its customers. It also generally provides that all such compensation will be authorized by the authorized firms customers.
The Fund does not monitor the actual services being performed by an authorized firm under the plan and related service agreement. The Fund also does not monitor the reasonableness of the total compensation that an authorized firm may receive, including any service fee that an authorized firm may receive from the Fund and any compensation the authorized firm may receive directly from its clients.
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.
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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 managed by the Adviser, 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 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.
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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:
1. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) . IRAs are available for use by individuals with compensation for services rendered who wish to use shares of the Fund as the funding medium for individual retirement savings. IRAs include traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and Rollover IRAs.
2. Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEPs) . SEPs are a form of retirement plan for sole proprietors, partnerships and corporations.
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 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 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.
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TAXES
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders. The discussion reflects applicable federal income tax laws of the U.S. as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS), possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. income, estate or gift tax, or foreign, state or local tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a special tax status such as a financial institution, real estate investment trust, insurance company, regulated investment company (RIC), individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or non-U.S. investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes shares of the Fund are held by U.S. shareholders and that such shares are held as capital assets.
A U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a citizen
or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and
former long-term residents);
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a corporation
or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
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an estate,
the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its
source; or
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a trust with
respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision
over its administration and one or more U.S. shareholders have the authority to
control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election
in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
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A Non-U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Fund that is an individual, corporation, trust or estate and is not a U.S. shareholder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Fund, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally depends upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A prospective shareholder who is a partner of a partnership holding the Fund shares should consult its tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of its Fund shares.
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Taxation as a RIC. The Fund intends to qualify and remain qualified as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code). The Fund will qualify as a RIC if, among other things, it meets the source-of-income and the asset-diversification requirements. With respect to the source-of-income requirement, the Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such shares, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. A qualified publicly traded partnership is generally defined as a publicly traded partnership under Internal Revenue Code section 7704. However, for these purposes, a qualified publicly traded partnership does not include a publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its income is described in (i) above. Income derived from a partnership (other than a qualified publicly traded partnership) or trust is qualifying income to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership or trust which would be qualifying income if realized by the Fund in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust.
The Fund intends to invest in ETFs that are taxable as RICs under the Code. Accordingly, the income the Fund receives from such ETFs should be qualifying income for purposes of the Fund satisfying the 90% Test described above. However, the Fund may also invest in one or more ETFs that are not taxable as RICs under the Code and that may generate non-qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the 90% Test. The Fund anticipates monitoring its investments in such ETFs so as to keep the Funds non-qualifying income within acceptable limits of the 90% Test, however, it is possible that such non-qualifying income will be more than anticipated which could cause the Fund to inadvertently fail the 90% Test thereby causing the Fund to fail to qualify as a RIC. In such a case, the Fund would be subject to the rules described below.
If a RIC fails this 90% source-of-income test as long as such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect it is no longer subject to a 35%. Instead, the amount of the penalty for non-compliance is the amount by which the non-qualifying income exceeds one-ninth of the qualifying gross income.
With respect to the asset-diversification requirement, the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of the Funds total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Funds total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Funds total assets is invested in the securities other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs of (a) one issuer, (b) two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
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If a RIC fails this asset-diversification test, such RIC, in addition to other cure provisions previously permitted, has a 6-month period to correct any failure without incurring a penalty if such failure is de minimis, meaning that the failure does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the RICs assets, or $10 million. Such cure right is similar to that previously and currently permitted for a REIT.
Similarly, if a RIC fails this asset-diversification test and the failure is not de minimis, a RIC can cure failure if: (a) the RIC files with the Treasury Department a description of each asset that causes the RIC to fail the diversification tests; (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect; and (c) the failure is cured within six months (or such other period specified by the Treasury). In such cases, a tax is imposed on the RIC equal to the greater of: (a) $50,000 or (b) an amount determined by multiplying the highest rate of tax (currently 35%) by the amount of net income generated during the period of diversification test failure by the assets that caused the RIC to fail the diversification test.
If the Fund qualifies as a RIC and distributes to its shareholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of the sum of (i) its investment company taxable income as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code (which includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses and certain net foreign exchange gains as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (ii) the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain deductions attributable to such interest that are otherwise disallowed, the Fund will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, any ordinary income or capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of its investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain.
The Fund will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on the portion of its undistributed ordinary income with respect to each calendar year and undistributed capital gains if it fails to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to the one-year period ending on October 31 in that calendar year. To avoid the 4% federal excise tax, the required minimum distribution is generally equal to the sum of (i) 98% of the Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (ii) 98.2% of the Funds capital gain net income (generally computed for the one-year period ending on October 31) and (iii) any income realized, but not distributed, and on which we paid no federal income tax in preceding years. The Fund generally intends to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal market conditions, does not expect to be subject to this excise tax.
The Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which it does not receive cash. For example, if the Fund holds debt obligations that are treated under
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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.
To the extent that the 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 the 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 in taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2013, 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
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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 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. The maximum tax rate on capital gain dividends received by individuals is generally 20%. 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.
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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 adviser with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in the shares of the Fund is properly treated as a sale or exchange for federal income tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. The sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund will generally result in capital gain or loss to the shareholder equal to the difference between the amount realized and his adjusted tax basis in the shares sold or exchanged, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by such shareholder with respect to such shares. A loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund generally will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are acquired within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital
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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 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.
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.
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013, 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.
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.
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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
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interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. In limited circumstances, it may also not be clear whether the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, and if so, what amount of market discount the Fund should recognize. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if 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 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 REMICs or equity interests in TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Funds investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).
In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) that invest in regulated investment companies that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT (as defined in section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code) that realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in the Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income. Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in the Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax on that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders, at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to
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specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholders distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholders interest in the Fund. The Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. A passive foreign investment company (PFIC) is any foreign corporation: (i) 75% or more of the gross income of which for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets of which (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active business and certain income received from related persons.
Equity investments by the Fund in certain PFICs could potentially subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax or other charge (including interest charges) on the distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax 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.
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Master Limited Partnerships To qualify for master limited partner (MLP) status, a partnership must generate at least 90% of its income from what the IRS deems qualifying sources, which include all manner of activities related to the production, processing or transportation of oil, natural gas and coal. MLPs, as partnership, pay no corporate tax, and the IRS deems much of the distributions paid out as a return of capital, and taxes on such distributions are deferred until the Fund sells its position therein. As partnerships, MLPs pass through the majority of their income to investors in the form of regular quarterly distributions. You as owner of the Fund are responsible for paying tax on your share of distributions received. In addition, the regular quarterly cash payments MLPs pay out are known as distributions rather than dividends. With respect to each MLP in which the Fund invests, MLP investors, and therefore you as owner of the Fund, may be subject to the state tax of each state in which the MLP has operations or does business. If a MLP is held in a tax-sheltered account, such as an IRA, the portion of the distributions designated as ordinary income may be considered unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), and subject to tax. However, UBTI is usually a small percentage of total distributions and it will not be taxed as long as the amount of this income and all other sources of UBTI does not exceed $1,000 in any year.
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 ETFs in which the Fund invests may invest in foreign securities. Dividends and interest received by an ETFs holding of foreign securities may give rise to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If the ETF in which the Fund invests is taxable as a RIC and meets certain other requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of such ETFs total assets at the close of its respective taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, then the ETF should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders, including the Fund in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid the by Fund, subject to certain limitations.
A qualified fund of funds is a RIC that has at least 50% of the value of its total interests invested in other RICs at the end of each quarter of the taxable year. If the Fund satisfied this requirement or if it meets certain other requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of the Funds total assets at the close of its taxable year consist of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, then the Fund should be eligible to file an election with the IRS that may enable its shareholders to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a tax deduction, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations.
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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.
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 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
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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.
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.
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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. The backup withholding tax rate is currently 28%.
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 each taxable year
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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, 2013. 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 the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain
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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. The 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 the 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. These provisions are subject to change by legislative and administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal income, estate or gift taxes, or foreign, state, local taxes or other taxes.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
Brokerage Transactions . Generally, equity securities are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealers mark-up or reflect a dealers mark-down. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealers mark up or reflect a dealers mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.
In selecting brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions, the Adviser may consider research and brokerage services furnished to the Adviser or its affiliates. The Adviser may not consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers, but may place portfolio transactions with brokers and dealers that promote or sell the Funds shares so long as such transactions are done in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of execution and not on sales efforts. When placing portfolio transactions with a broker or dealer, the Adviser may aggregate securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other advisory accounts managed by the Adviser. In aggregating such securities, the Adviser will average the transaction as to price and will allocate available investments in a manner that the Adviser believes to be fair and reasonable to the Fund and such other advisory accounts. An aggregated order will generally be allocated on a pro rata basis among all participating accounts, based on the relative dollar values of the participating accounts, or using any other method deemed to be fair to the participating accounts, with any exceptions to such methods involving the Trust being reported to the Trustees.
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Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,economic factors and trends, Fund strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.
To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Funds Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.
In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a research and a non-research use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.
As the Fund had not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, it paid no commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research or other brokerage services to the Adviser.
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From time to time, the Fund may purchase new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research credits in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).
Brokerage with Fund Affiliates . The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 1934 Act) and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules further require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed usual and customary brokerage commissions. The rules define usual and customary commissions to include amounts which are reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time. The Trustees, including those who are not interested persons of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
As the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, it paid no brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.
Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers. The Fund is required to identify any securities of its regular brokers and dealers (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which the Fund may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year.
Allocation . When two or more clients managed by the Adviser are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security, the transactions are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each client. In some cases this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security as far as the Fund is concerned. In other cases, however, the ability to participate in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Fund. The Board believes that these advantages, when combined with the other benefits available because of the Advisers organization, outweigh the disadvantages that may exist from this treatment of transactions.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES 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 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
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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;
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|
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.
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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, 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:
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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.
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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.
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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 are managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus have similar portfolio holdings, and the other investment related services provided by 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 Adviser 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
68
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.
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.
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.
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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.
PROXY VOTING
The Trust is required to disclose information concerning the Funds proxy voting policies and procedures to shareholders. The Board has delegated to the 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 Exhibit A. The Trusts proxy voting policies and procedures are found in Exhibit B.
Any material changes to the proxy policies and procedures will be submitted to the Board for approval. The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX. 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) 673-0550; and (2) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
CODES OF ETHICS
The Board of Trustees, 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
70
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. In addition, the Codes of Ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov .
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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
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EXHIBIT A
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
POLICY
STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT, LTD (the Advisor or SAM) may act as discretionary investment advisor for various clients, including clients governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Advisors authority to vote proxies or act with respect to other shareholder actions is established through the delegation of discretionary authority under our investment advisory contracts. Therefore, unless a client (including a named fiduciary under ERISA) specifically reserves the right, in writing, to vote its own proxies or to take shareholder action with respect to other corporate actions requiring shareholder actions, the Advisor will vote all proxies and act on all other actions in a timely manner as part of its full discretionary authority over client assets in accordance with these Policies and Procedures. Corporate actions may include, for example and without limitation, tender offers or exchanges, bankruptcy proceedings, and class actions.
When voting proxies or acting with respect to corporate actions for clients, the Advisors utmost concern is that all decisions be made solely in the best interest of the client (and for ERISA accounts, plan beneficiaries and participants, in accordance with the letter and spirit of ERISA). The Advisor will act in a prudent and diligent manner intended to enhance the economic value of the assets of the clients account.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
These Policies and Procedures have been adopted by the Advisor to enable it to comply with its fiduciary responsibilities to clients and with the requirements of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, as amended (Advisors Act). These Policies and Procedures also reflect the fiduciary standards and responsibilities set forth by the Department of Labor relating to ERISA accounts.
PROCEDURES
The Chief Compliance Officer is ultimately responsible for ensuring that all proxies that are received by the Advisor in a timely manner are voted in a timely manner and in a manner consistent with the Advisors determination of the clients best interests. No votes will be cast unless a valid notification is received by the Advisor in a timely manner. Although many proxy proposals can be voted in accordance with the Advisors established guidelines (see Guidelines below), the Advisor recognizes that some proposals require special consideration which may dictate that the Advisor makes an exception to the Guidelines.
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The Portfolio Manager is also responsible for ensuring that all corporate action notices or requests which require shareholder action received by the Advisor are addressed in a timely manner and consistent action is taken across all similarly situated client accounts.
PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Examples of potential conflicts of interest include situations where SAM or an affiliate, or personnel of either entity:
o Manages a pension plan or other assets of a company whose management is soliciting proxies;
o Has a material business relationship with a proponent of a proxy proposal and this business relationship may influence how the proxy vote is cast;
o Has acquired non-public information about an issuer that is soliciting proxies; or
o Has a business or personal relationship with participants in a proxy contest, corporate directors or candidates for directorships.
Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Advisors interests and a clients interest, SAM will resolve such a conflict in the manner described below.
The Advisor shall review each proxy to assess the extent, if any, to which there may be a material conflict between the interests of the applicable client on the one hand and SAM and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees (and other similar persons) on the other hand (a potential conflict). SAM shall perform this assessment on a proposal-by-proposal basis, and a potential conflict with respect to one proposal in a proxy shall not indicate that a potential conflict exists with respect to any other proposal in such proxy. If the Advisor determines that a potential conflict may exist, it shall resolve any such conflict in a manner that is in the collective best interests of the applicable client and the Advisors other clients (excluding any client that may have a potential conflict).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Advisor may resolve a potential conflict in any of the following manners:
(i) if the proposal that gives rise to a potential conflict is specifically addressed in these procedures, the Advisor may vote the proxy in accordance with the predetermined policies and guidelines set forth in such procedures; provided that such predetermined policies and guidelines involve little discretion on the part of the Advisor;
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(ii) the Advisor may disclose the potential
conflict to the client and obtain the clients consent before voting in the
manner approved by the client;
(iii) the Advisor may engage an independent third-party
to determine how the proxy should be voted; or
(iv) the Advisor may establish
an ethical wall or other informational barriers between the person(s) that are involved
in the potential conflict and the person(s) making the voting decision in order
to insulate the potential conflict from the decision maker. The Advisor shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to determine whether a potential conflict may exist,
and a potential conflict shall be deemed to exist if and only if one or more of
the Advisors senior account representatives actually knew or reasonably should
have known of the potential conflict.
PROCEDURES RELATING TO LIMITATIONS ON PROXY VOTING
The following are certain circumstances where SAM will limit its role in voting proxies:
CLIENT MAINTAINS PROXY VOTING AUTHORITY : Where a client specifies in writing that it will maintain the authority to vote proxies itself or that it has delegated the right to vote proxies to a third party, the Advisor will not vote the securities and will direct the relevant custodian to send the proxy material directly to the client. If any proxy material is received by SAM, it will be forwarded promptly to the client or specified third party.
TERMINATED ACCOUNT : Once a client account has been terminated, the Advisor will not vote any proxies received after the termination date. In such circumstances, the client may specify in writing that proxies should be directed to the client (or a specified third party) for action.
LIMITED VALUE : If the Advisor determines that the value of a clients economic interest or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, the Advisor may abstain from voting a clients proxies. SAM also will not vote proxies received for securities that are no longer held by the clients account. In addition, the Advisor generally will not vote securities where the economic value of the securities in the client account is less than $500.
UNJUSTIFIABLE COSTS : In certain circumstances, after doing a cost-benefit analysis, the Advisor may abstain from voting where the cost of voting a clients proxy would exceed any anticipated benefits to the client of the proxy proposal.
RECORD KEEPING
In accordance with Rule 204-2 under the Advisors Act, the Advisor will maintain for the time periods set forth in the Rule:
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(i) these proxy voting procedures and policies,
and all amendments thereto;
(ii) all proxy statements received regarding client
securities (provided however, that the Advisor may rely on the proxy statement filed
on EDGAR as its records);
(iii) a record of all votes cast on behalf of clients;
(iv) records of all client requests for proxy voting information and a copy of
any written response by the Advisor to any such client request;
(v) any documents
prepared by the Advisor that were material to making a decision how to vote or that
memorialized the basis for the decision; and
(vi) all records relating to requests
made to clients regarding conflicts of interest in voting the proxy.
The Advisor will describe in its Part II of Form ADV (or other brochure fulfilling the requirement of Rule 204-3) its proxy voting policies and procedures and will inform clients how they may obtain information on how the Advisor voted proxies with respect to the clients portfolio securities. Clients may obtain information on how their securities were voted or a copy of the Advisors Policies and Procedures by written request addressed to the Advisor.
GUIDELINES
Each proxy issue will be considered individually. The following guidelines are a partial list to be used in voting proposals contained in the proxy statements, but will not be used as rigid rules.
A. OPPOSE
The Advisor will generally vote against any management or shareholder proposal that potentially has the effect of restricting the ability of shareholders to realize the full potential value of their investment.
Proposals in this category would include:
1. Issues regarding the issuers Board entrenchment and anti-takeover measures
such as the following:
a. Proposals to stagger board members
terms;
b. Proposals to limit the ability of shareholders to call special meetings;
c. Proposals to require super majority votes;
d. Proposals requesting excessive
increases in authorized common or preferred shares where management provides no
explanation for the use or need of these additional shares;
e. Proposals regarding
fair price provisions; and
f. Proposals regarding poison pill provisions.
2. Restrictions related to social, political or special interest issues that potentially may have a negative effect on the ability of shareholders to realize the full potential value of their investment, unless specific client guidelines supercede.
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B. APPROVE
When voting on common management sponsored initiatives, the Advisor generally votes in support of management. These issues include:
1. Election of directors recommended by
management, except if there is a proxy fight.
2. Election of auditors recommended
by management, unless seeking to replace if there exists a dispute over policies.
3. Date and place of annual meeting.
4. Limitation on charitable contributions
or fees paid to lawyers.
5. Ratification of directors actions on routine
matters since previous annual meeting.
6. Confidential voting is most often proposed
by shareholders as a means of eliminating undue management pressure on shareholders
regarding their vote on proxy issues. The Advisor will generally approve these proposals
as shareholders can later divulge their votes to management on a selective basis
if a legitimate reason arises.
7. Limiting directors liability and allowing
indemnification of directors and/or officers after reviewing the applicable laws
and extent of protection requested.
8. Eliminate preemptive rights. Preemptive
rights give current shareholders the opportunity to maintain their current percentage
ownership through any subsequent equity offerings. These provisions are no longer
common in the U.S., and can restrict managements ability to raise new capital.
The Advisor generally approves the elimination of preemptive rights, but will oppose
the elimination of limited preemptive rights,
e.g
., on proposed issues representing
more than an acceptable level of total dilution.
9. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
10. Establish 401(k) Plan
C. CASE-BY-CASE
The Advisor will review each issue in this
category on a case-by-case basis. These matters include:
1. Director compensation.
2. Eliminate director mandatory retirement policy.
3. Rotate annual meeting
location/date.
4. Option and stock grants to management and directors.
5.
Proposals to reincorporate into another state.
D. NO INSTRUCTION PROVIDED/DISAGREE WITH
INSTRUCTION
If a proxy proposal is not covered by this Proxy Policy, the
Portfolio Manager will prepare a brief memo to the Investment Committee that clearly
states the proposal, provides a recommendation as to how the proposal should be
voted, provides justification for the recommended vote, and sets forth a deadline
when a response is needed as to whether the voting recommendation is approved.
If a proxy proposal is covered by this Proxy Policy but the Portfolio Manager believes that SAM should not vote in accordance with these procedures, the Portfolio Manager will prepare a brief memo to the Investment Committee that explains the reason(s) why the Portfolio Manager believes the proxy should not be voted in accordance with these procedures and sets forth a deadline when a response is needed as to whether the voting recommendation is approved.
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EXHIBIT B
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
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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.
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
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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.
|
79
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 |
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
|
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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.
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EXHIBIT D
DESCRIPTION OF SHORT-TERM RATINGS
Description of certain short-term ratings assigned by Standard & Poors Ratings Services (S&P) and Moodys Investors Service (Moodys):
S&P
A-1 -
A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within
this category, certain obligations are given a plus sign (+) designation. This indicates
that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations
is extremely strong.
A-2 -
A short-term obligation rated A-2
is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances
and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the
obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
Moodys
Prime rating system
(short-term
)
Issuers rated
Prime-1
(or supporting institutions) have
a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1
repayment ability will often be evidenced by (a) leading market positions in well-established
industries, (b).high rates of return on funds employed, (c) conservative capitalization
structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, (d) broad margins
in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation,
and (e) well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources
of alternate liquidity.
Issuers rated
Prime-2
(or supporting institutions)
have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This
will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser
degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
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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).
49
|
|
(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) |
Principal
Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp.
48
|
|
(e)(14) |
Schedule
A to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
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) |
Form of
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.
49
|
|
(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.
49
|
|
(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.
49
|
|
(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.
49
|
|
(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 dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc.
48
|
|
(h)(20) |
Schedule A to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Clifford Capital Partners
Fund.
47
|
|
(h)(21) |
Schedule A to the Fund Services
Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf
of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(22) |
Transfer
Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the Registrant and Commonwealth
Fund Services, Inc.
3
|
|
(h)(23) |
Schedule
C to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2008 between the
Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc.
4
|
|
(h)(24) |
Amended
and Restated Transfer Agency and Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services.
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 Union Street Partners Value Fund.
5
|
|
(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 Perkins
Discovery Fund.
8
|
|
(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 DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(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 REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
|
(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 B. Riley
Diversified Equity Fund.
15
|
|
(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
International Fund.
20
|
|
(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
Core Fund.
49
|
|
(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 Toreador
Explorer Fund.
49
|
|
(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 Global
Strategic Income Fund (formerly known as the European Equity Fund).
21
|
|
(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 Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(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 REMS Real
Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
(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 Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(h)(37) |
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)(38) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Accounting, Inc.
3
|
|
(h)(39) |
Schedule
A to the Accounting Services Agreement dated July 30, 2008 between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Accounting, Inc.
4
|
|
(h)(40) |
Amended
and Restated Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth
Fund Accounting, Inc.
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 Union Street Partners
Value Fund.
5
|
|
(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 Perkins Discovery Fund.
8
|
|
(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 DGHM Funds.
12
|
|
(h)(44) |
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)(45) |
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)(46) |
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)(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 Core Fund.
49
|
|
(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 Toreador Explorer Fund.
48
|
|
(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 Income 50/50 Fund.
22
|
|
(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 REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
23
|
|
(h)(51) |
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)(52) |
Accounting
Services Agreement dated October 31, 2014 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services,
Inc. with respect to Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
(h)(53) |
Form of
Amended and Restated Schedule A to the 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)(54) |
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)(55) |
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)(56) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
with respect to shares of the Perkins Discovery Fund.
18
|
|
(h)(57) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher
& Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM Funds.
49
|
|
(h)(58) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services
Group, LLC with respect to the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
49
|
|
(h)(59) |
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)(60) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Funds.
40
|
|
(h)(61) |
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).
49
|
|
(h)(62) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services,
LLC with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
49
|
|
(h)(63) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services,
LLC with respect to the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
49
|
|
(h)(64) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Chicago Partners Investment Group,
LLC with respect to the Big 4 OneFund.
25
|
|
(h)(65) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd.
with respect to the Strategic Latin America Fund.
26
|
|
(h)(66) |
Expense
Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd.
with respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
48
|
|
(h)(67) |
Shareholder
Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
3
|
|
(h)(68) |
Revised
Schedule A to the Shareholder Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
4
|
|
(h)(69) |
Amended
Schedule A to the Shareholder Services Plan.
5
|
|
(h)(70) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated August 2, 2013, with respect to DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund
Investor Class Shares.
12
|
|
(h)(71) |
Amended
Schedule A to the Shareholder Services Plan with respect to the REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
14
|
(h)(72) |
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) |
Amended
Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 18, 2016, for the Class
A Shares and Class C 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.
49
|
|
(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. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
8, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
48. |
Filed herewith.
|
49. |
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.
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. 157 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 23 rd day of February, 2016.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
By: /s/ John Pasco, III | |||
John Pasco, III | |||
President and Principal Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
*Attorney-in-fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney
EXHIBITS
(d)(18) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(e)(13) | Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp. | |
(e)(14) | Schedule A dated to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(g)(11) | Form of 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. | |
(h)(19) | Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. | |
(h)(21) | Schedule A to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(h)(53) | Form of Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Accounting Services Agreement dated November 11, 2015 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. with respect to Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(h)(66) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(i)(27) | Opinion and Consent of Legal Counsel for Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(m)(16) | Amended Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 18, 2016, for the Class A Shares and Class C Shares of the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund. | |
(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. |
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the Agreement) made as of this 1 st day of February, 2016 by and between World Funds Trust (the Trust), a Delaware statutory trust registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. (the Adviser), a Cayman Islands corporation with its principal place of business in La Paz, Bolivia.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the Board) of the Trust has selected the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the series portfolios of the Trust set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each, a Fund), as such schedule may be amended from time to time upon mutual agreement of the parties, and to provide certain related services, as more fully set forth below, and to perform such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the Trust and the Adviser do hereby agree as follows:
1. | THE ADVISERS SERVICES . |
(a) |
Discretionary
Investment Management Services
. The Adviser shall act as investment adviser
with respect to each Fund. In such capacity, the Adviser shall, subject to the supervision
of the Board, regularly provide each Fund with investment research, advice and supervision
and shall furnish continuously an investment program for each Fund, consistent with
the respective investment objectives and policies of each Fund. The Adviser shall
determine, from time to time, what securities shall be purchased for each Fund,
what securities shall be held or sold by each Fund and what portion of each Funds assets shall be held uninvested in cash, subject always to the provisions
of the Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust (Declaration of Trust), as amended and supplemented (the Declaration of Trust), Bylaws
and its registration statement on Form N-1A (the Registration Statement)
under the 1940 Act, and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933
Act), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), and with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of each Fund,
as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations,
and to the extent not prohibited by any of the foregoing, the Adviser shall exercise
full discretion and act for each Fund in the same manner and with the same force
and effect as each Fund itself might or could do with respect to purchases, sales
or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other such things necessary
or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or other transactions.
No reference in this Agreement to the Adviser having full discretionary authority
over each Funds investments shall in any way limit the right of the Board,
in its sole discretion, to establish or revise policies in connection with the management
of a Funds assets or to otherwise exercise its right to control the overall
management of a Fund.
|
||
(b) |
Compliance
. The Adviser agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act), the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and the
respective rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all
other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that relate to the
services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business
as a registered investment adviser. The Adviser also agrees to comply with the objectives,
policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented, of each Fund, and with any policies, guidelines, instructions and
procedures approved by the Board and provided to the Adviser. In selecting each
Funds portfolio securities and performing the Advisers obligations hereunder,
the
|
1
Adviser shall
cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements
of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), for qualification as a regulated investment company. The Adviser shall maintain
compliance procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure its compliance
with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Board shall limit
the Advisers full responsibility for any of the foregoing.
|
|||
(c) |
Recordkeeping
. The Adviser agrees to preserve any Trust records that it creates or possesses
that are required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder (Fund Books and Records) for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under
the 1940 Act. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act,
the Adviser agrees that all such records are the property of the Trust and will
surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trusts request.
|
||
(d) |
Holdings
Information and Pricing
. The Adviser shall provide regular reports regarding
Fund holdings, and shall, on its own initiative, furnish the Trust and its Board
from time to time with whatever information the Adviser believes is appropriate
for this purpose, and at the request of the Board, such information and reports
requested by the Board. The Adviser agrees to notify the Trust as soon as practicable
if the Adviser reasonably believes that the value of any security held by a Fund
may not reflect fair value. The Adviser agrees to provide any pricing information
of which the Adviser is aware to the Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent
to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which
market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance
with the 1940 Act or the Trusts valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating
the Fund net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by
the Board.
|
||
(e) |
Cooperation
with Agents of the Trust
. The Adviser agrees to cooperate with and provide reasonable
assistance to the Trust, any Trust custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust
pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust with respect
to such information regarding each Fund as such entities may reasonably request
from time to time in the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses
to reasonable requests made by such persons and use appropriate interfaces established
by such persons so as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance
with applicable laws and regulations.
|
||
(f) |
Delegation
of Authority
. Any of the duties, responsibilities and obligations of the Adviser
specified in this Section 1 and throughout the remainder of this Agreement with
respect to one or more Funds may be delegated by the Adviser, at the Advisers
expense, to an appropriate party (a Sub-Adviser), subject to such approval
by the Board and shareholders of the applicable Funds to the extent required by
the 1940 Act. The Adviser shall oversee the performance of delegated duties by any
Sub-Adviser and shall furnish the Board with periodic reports concerning the performance
of delegated responsibilities by such Sub-Adviser. The retention of a Sub-Adviser
by the Adviser pursuant to this Paragraph 1(f) shall in no way reduce the responsibilities
and obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement and the Adviser shall be responsible
to the Trust for all acts or omissions of any Sub-Adviser to the same extent the
Adviser would be liable hereunder. Insofar as the provisions of this Agreement impose
any restrictions, conditions, limitations or requirements on the Adviser, the Adviser
shall take measures through its contract with, or its oversight of, the Sub-Adviser
that attempt to impose similar (insofar as the circumstances may require) restrictions,
conditions, limitations or requirements on the Sub-Adviser.
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2. |
CODE OF
ETHICS
. The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics (Advisers
Code of Ethics) that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements
of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which it has provided to the Trust. The Adviser
has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the Advisers Code of Ethics. Upon request, the Adviser shall provide the Trust with a
(i) copy of the Advisers Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and
any proposed
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2
amendments
thereto that the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of the Trust determines
should be presented to the Board, and (ii) certification that it has adopted procedures
reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited
by the Advisers Code of Ethics. Annually, the Adviser shall furnish a written
report to the Board, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning
the Advisers Code of Ethics. The Adviser shall respond to requests for information
from the Trust as to violations of the Advisers Code of Ethics by Access Persons
and the sanctions imposed by the Adviser. The Adviser shall notify the Trust as
soon as practicable after it becomes aware of any material violation of the Advisers Code of Ethics, whether or not such violation relates to a security held
by any Fund.
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3. |
INFORMATION
AND REPORTING
. The Adviser shall provide the Trust and its respective officers
with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Adviser has assumed under
this Agreement as the Trust may from time to time reasonably request.
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(a) |
Notification
of Breach / Compliance Reports
. The Adviser shall notify the Trusts CCO
promptly upon detection of (i) any material failure to manage any Fund in accordance
with its investment objectives and policies or any applicable law, or (ii) any material
breach of any of each Funds or the Advisers policies, guidelines or
procedures with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Adviser shall respond to quarterly
requests for information concerning the Funds compliance with its investment
objectives and policies, applicable law, including, but not limited to the 1940
Act and Subchapter M of the Code, and the Funds policies, guidelines or procedures
as applicable to the Advisers obligations under this Agreement. The Adviser
agrees to correct any such failure promptly and to take any action that the Board
may reasonably request in connection with any such breach. Upon request, the Adviser
shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection
with such certifications of Fund financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant
to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in the event
(x) the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board,
or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in which
a Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Funds ownership
of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Adviser with the federal or
state securities laws, or (y) of an actual change in control of the Adviser resulting
in an assignment (as defined in Section 15) that has occurred or is
otherwise proposed to occur.
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(b) |
Board and
Filings Information
. The Adviser will also provide the Trust with any information
reasonably requested regarding its management of each Fund required for any meeting
of the Board, or for any shareholder report on Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX,
Form N-SAR, Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, proxy statement, prospectus
supplement, or other form or document to be filed by the Trust with the Commission.
The Adviser will make its officers and employees available to meet with the Board
from time to time on a reasonable basis on due notice to review its investment management
services to each Fund in light of current and prospective economic and market conditions
and shall furnish to the Board such information as may reasonably be necessary in
order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.
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(c) |
T
ransaction
Information
. The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust such information concerning
portfolio transactions as may be necessary to enable the Trust or its designated
agent to perform such compliance testing on each Fund and the Advisers services
as the Trust may, in its sole discretion, determine to be appropriate. The provision
of such information by the Adviser to the Trust or its designated agent in no way
relieves the Adviser of its own responsibilities under this Agreement.
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3
4. | BROKERAGE. |
(a) |
Principal
Transactions
. In connection with purchases or sales of securities for the account
of a Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees will
act as a principal or agent or receive any commission except as permitted by the
1940 Act.
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(b) |
Placement
of Orders
. The Adviser shall place all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities for each Funds account with brokers or dealers selected by the
Adviser. The Adviser will not execute transactions with a broker dealer which is
an affiliated person of the Trust except in accordance with procedures adopted
by the Board. The Adviser shall use its best efforts to seek to execute portfolio
transactions at prices which are advantageous to each Fund and at commission rates
which are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. In selecting brokers
or dealers qualified to execute a particular transaction, brokers or dealers may
be selected who also provide brokerage and research services (as those terms are
defined in Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act) to each Fund and/or the other accounts
over which the Adviser or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Adviser
is authorized to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research
services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for each Fund which
is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged
for effecting that transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such
amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by such broker or dealer. This determination may be viewed
in terms of either that particular transaction or the overall responsibilities which
the Adviser and its affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise
investment discretion. The Board shall periodically review the commissions paid
by each Fund to determine if the commissions paid over representative periods of
time were reasonable in relation to the benefits received by each Fund.
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5. |
CUSTODY
. Nothing in this Agreement shall permit the Adviser to take or receive physical
possession of cash, securities or other investments of a Fund.
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6. |
ALLOCATION
OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES
. The Adviser will bear its own costs of providing services
hereunder. Other than as herein specifically indicated or otherwise agreed to in
a separate signed writing, the Adviser shall not be responsible for a Funds
expenses, including brokerage and other expenses incurred in placing orders for
the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments.
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7. | REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. |
(a) |
Properly
Registered
. The Adviser is registered with the Commission as an investment adviser
under the Advisers Act, and will remain so registered for the duration of this Agreement.
The Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from performing
the services contemplated by this Agreement, and to the best knowledge of the Adviser,
there is no proceeding or investigation pending or threatened that is reasonably
likely to result in the Adviser being prohibited from performing the services contemplated
by this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence
of any event that would disqualify the Adviser from serving as an investment adviser
to an investment company. The Adviser is in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable federal and state law in connection with its investment management
operations.
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(b) |
ADV Disclosure
. The Adviser has provided the Board with a copy of its Form ADV and will, promptly
after amending its Form ADV, furnish a copy of such amendments to the Trust. The
information contained in the Advisers Form ADV is accurate and complete in
all material respects and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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4
(c) |
Fund Disclosure
Documents
. The Adviser has reviewed and will in the future review the Registration
Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, the annual or semi-annual
reports to shareholders, other reports filed with the Commission and any marketing
material of a Fund (collectively the Disclosure Documents) and represents
and warrants that with respect to disclosure about the Adviser, the manner in which
the Adviser manages the Fund or information relating directly or indirectly to the
Adviser, such Disclosure Documents contain or will contain, as of the date thereof,
no untrue statement of any material fact and do not and will not omit any statement
of material fact which was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading.
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(d) |
Use of the
Name Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
The Adviser has the right to
use the name Strategic Global Long/Short Fund or any derivation thereof
in connection with its services to the Trust and, subject to the terms set forth
in Section 8 of this Agreement, the Trust shall have the right to use the name Strategic Global Long/Short Fund in connection with the management and
operation of each Fund. The Adviser is not aware of any actions, claims, litigation
or proceedings existing or threatened that would adversely affect or prejudice the
rights of the Adviser or the Trust to use the name Strategic Global Long/Short
Fund.
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(e) |
Insurance
. The Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance coverage in the amount
disclosed to the Trust in connection with the Boards approval of the Agreement
and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust: (i) of any material changes
in its insurance policies or insurance coverage; or (ii) if any material claims
will be made on its insurance policies. Furthermore, the Adviser shall, upon reasonable
request, provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning
the amount of or scope of such insurance.
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(f) |
No Detrimental
Agreement
. The Adviser represents and warrants that it has no arrangement or
understanding with any party, other than the Trust, that would influence the decision
of the Adviser with respect to its selection of securities for a Fund and its management
of the assets of the Fund, and that all selections shall be done in accordance with
what is in the best interest of the Fund.
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(g) |
Conflicts
. The Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of
its clients and the Fund. The Adviser maintains a Code of Ethics which defines the
standards by which the Adviser conducts its operations consistent with its fiduciary
duties and other obligations under applicable law.
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(h) |
Representations
. The representations and warranties in this Section 7 shall be deemed to be
made on the date this Agreement is executed and at the time of delivery of the quarterly
compliance report required by Section 3(a), whether or not specifically referenced
in such report.
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8. |
THE NAME
Strategic Asset Management.
The Adviser grants to the Trust a license
to use the name Strategic Asset Management (the Name) as
part of the name of any Fund during the term of this Agreement. The foregoing authorization
by the Adviser to the Trust to use the Name as part of the name of any Fund is not
exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use,
the Name; the Trust acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Trust and the Adviser,
the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Trust
shall: (i) only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser;
(ii) use its best efforts to maintain the quality of the services offered using
the Name; and (iii) adhere to such other specific quality control standards as the
Adviser may from time to time promulgate. At the request of the Adviser, the Trust
will (i) submit to the Adviser representative samples of any promotional materials
using the Name, and (ii) change the name of any Fund within three months of its
receipt of the Advisers request, or such other shorter time period as may
be required under the terms of a settlement agreement or court order, so as to eliminate
all reference to the Name and
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5
will not thereafter
transact any business using the Name in the name of any Fund. As soon as practicable
following the termination of this Agreement, but in no event longer than three months,
the Trust shall cease the use of the Name and any related logos or any confusingly
similar name and/or logo in connection with the marketing or operation of the Funds.
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9. |
ADVISERS COMPENSATION
. Each Fund shall pay to the Adviser, as compensation for
the Advisers services hereunder, a fee, determined as described in
Schedule
A
that is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be computed daily
and paid not less than monthly in arrears by each Fund. The method for determining
net assets of a Fund for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method for determining
net assets for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund
shares as described in the Funds Registration Statement. In the event of termination
of this Agreement, the fee provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis
of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect
subject to a pro rata adjustment based on the number of days elapsed in the current
month as a percentage of the total number of days in such month.
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10. |
INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR
. In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Adviser is and shall
be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or
otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent
the Trust or any Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed to be an agent of the Trust
or any Fund. If any occasion should arise in which the Adviser gives any advice
to its clients concerning the shares of a Fund, the Adviser will act solely as investment
counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.
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11. |
ASSIGNMENT
AND AMENDMENTS
. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without the payment
of any penalty, in the event of its assignment (as defined in Section
15). This Agreement may not be added to or changed orally and may not be modified
or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto and in accordance
with the requirements of the 1940 Act, when applicable.
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12. | DURATION AND TERMINATION . |
(a) |
This Agreement
shall become effective as of the date executed and shall remain in full force and
effect continually thereafter, subject to renewal as provided in Section 12(a)(ii)
hereof and unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 11 hereof or
until terminated as follows:
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i. |
Either party
hereto may, at any time on sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other,
terminate this Agreement, without payment of any penalty. With respect to a Fund,
termination may be authorized by action of the Board or by an affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined
in Section 15); or
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ii. |
This Agreement
shall automatically terminate two years from the date of its execution unless the
terms of such contract and any renewal thereof is specifically approved at least
annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote of the Trustees, including a majority
vote of such Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons (as defined in Section 15) of the Trust or the Adviser, at an in-person meeting
called for the purpose of voting on such approval, or (ii) the vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, that if the
continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of each Fund for
their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement
as provided herein, the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder as to each Fund
in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
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6
(b) |
In the event
of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Adviser shall, immediately
upon notice of termination or on such later date as may be specified in such notice,
cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and with respect to any of its assets,
except as otherwise required by any fiduciary duties of the Adviser under applicable
law. In addition, the Adviser shall deliver the Fund Books and Records to the Trust
by such means and in accordance with such schedule as the Trust shall direct and
shall otherwise cooperate, as reasonably directed by the Trust, in the transition
of portfolio asset management to any successor of the Adviser.
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13. |
NOTICE. Any
notice or other communication required by or permitted to be given in connection
with this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be delivered in person or sent
by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the respective parties at their last known
address, or by e-mail or fax to a designated contact of the other party or such
other address as the parties may designate from time to time. Oral instructions
may be given if authorized by the Board and preceded by a certificate from the Trusts Secretary so attesting. Notices to the Trust shall be directed to Commonwealth
Fund Services, Inc., 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA, 23235 Attention:
President; and notices to the Adviser shall be directed to Strategic Asset Management,
Ltd, Calle Ayacucho Nro 277, Attention Mauricio Alvarez.
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14. |
CONFIDENTIALITY
. The Adviser 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 the Adviser 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 the Adviser 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.
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15. |
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
. For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, assignment and interested person shall have their respective meanings as
defined in the 1940 Act and rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however,
to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any
interpretations of the Commission staff.
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16. |
LIABILITY
OF THE ADVISER
. Neither the Adviser nor its officers, directors, employees,
agents, affiliated persons or controlling persons or assigns shall be liable for
any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment
or for any act or omission in the execution of securities transactions of a Fund;
provided that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to protect the Adviser against
any liability to a Fund or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise
be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or obligations hereunder or by reason of its reckless
disregard of its duties or obligations hereunder.
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17. |
RELATIONS
WITH THE TRUST
. It is understood that the Trustees, officers and shareholders
of the Trust are or may be or become interested persons of the Adviser as directors,
officers or otherwise and that directors, officers and stockholders of the Adviser
are or may be or become interested persons of the Fund, and that the Adviser may
be or become interested persons of the Fund as a shareholder or otherwise.
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18. |
ENFORCEABILITY
. 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. This Agreement
shall be severable as to each Fund.
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7
19. |
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY
. The Adviser is expressly put on notice of the limitation of liability
as set forth in the Declaration of Trust or other Trust organizational documents
and agrees that the obligations assumed by each Fund pursuant to this Agreement
shall be limited in all cases to each Fund and each Funds respective assets,
and the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from shareholders
or any shareholder of each Fund. In addition, the Adviser shall not seek satisfaction
of any such obligations from the Trustees of the Trust or any individual Trustee.
The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of any Fund under the Declaration
of Trust or other organizational document are separate and distinct from those of
any of and all other Funds.
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20. |
NON-EXCLUSIVE
SERVICES
. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not deemed exclusive,
and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others, to the extent
that such service does not affect the Advisers ability to perform its duties
and obligations hereunder.
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21. |
GOVERNING
LAW
. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed to be in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without preference 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 State of Delaware, or any of the provisions
herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall
control. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement
having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940
Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and
to any interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or in the absence
of any controlling decision of any such court, by the Commission or its staff. In
addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act, reflected in any provision
of this Agreement, is revised by rule, regulation, order or interpretation of the
Commission or its staff, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect
of such revised rule, regulation, order or interpretation.
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22. |
PARAGRAPH
HEADINGS; SYNTAX
. All Section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only, do not form a part of this Agreement and will not affect in any
way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Words used herein, regardless
of the number and gender specifically used, will be deemed and construed to include
any other number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine,
or neuter, as the contract requires.
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23. |
COUNTERPARTS
. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which,
when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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Signature Page to Follow
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
/s/ John Pasco, III | ||
Signature | ||
By: John Pasco, III | ||
Title: President | ||
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. | ||
/s/ Mauricio O. Alvarez | ||
Signature | ||
By Mauricio O. Alvarez | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
9
Schedule A
Investment Advisory Agreement
between
World Funds
Trust (the Trust) and
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. (the Adviser)
Dated as of January 26, 2016
The Trust will pay to the Adviser as compensation for the Advisers services rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the respective Fund in accordance the following fee schedule:
Fund | Rate |
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund | 1.10% |
10
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT , dated as of February 18, 2016, by and between the World Funds Trust, an open-end management investment company (the Trust), and First Dominion Capital Corp., a Virginia corporation (FDCC),
WHEREAS , FDCC is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the NASD); and
WHEREAS , the Trust is registered as a diversified, open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Act); and
WHEREAS , the Trust is authorized to offer shares of beneficial interest (the Shares) in one or more separate series (each a Fund and together the Funds), each with one or more separate classes of Shares; and
WHEREAS , the Trust wishes to retain FDCC to provide statutory principal underwriting services to the Funds listed in Schedule A and FDCC is willing to furnish such services; and
WHEREAS , the Board of Trustees of the Trust has approved such engagement:
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and agreements of the parties contained herein, and for good consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged by both parties, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. | Appointment. | |
The Trust
hereby engages FDCC as the Funds exclusive agent for the distribution of the
Shares, and FDCC hereby accepts such appointment under the terms of this Agreement.
The services that FDCC will perform pursuant to this appointment are described more
specifically in Schedule B. While this Agreement is in force, the Trust shall not
sell any Shares, except on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof, the Trust may terminate, suspend or withdraw the offering
of Shares whenever, in each entitys sole discretion, it deems such action
to be desirable.
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2. |
Sale and
Repurchase of Shares.
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(a) |
FDCC will
have the right, as agent for the Funds, to enter into agreements with brokers, dealers
and other financial intermediaries (generally, Financial Intermediary)
against orders therefor at the public offering price (as defined in subparagraph
2(d) hereof) stated in each Funds currently effective Registration Statement
on Form N-1A under the Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including
the then current prospectus and statement of additional information (the Registration
Statement). Upon receipt of an order to purchase Shares from a Financial Intermediary
with whom FDCC has a agreement, FDCC will promptly cause such order to be filled
by the appropriate Fund.
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(b) |
FDCC will
also have the right, as agent for the Funds, to sell such Shares to the public against
orders therefor at the public offering price.
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(c) |
FDCC will
also have the right to take, as agent for the Funds, all actions which, in FDCCs reasonable judgment, are necessary to carry into effect the distribution
of the Shares.
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(d) |
The public
offering price for the Shares of each Fund shall be the respective net asset value
of the Shares of that Fund then in effect, plus any applicable sales charge determined
in the manner set forth in the Registration Statement or as permitted by the Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. In no event
shall any applicable sales charge exceed the maximum sales charge permitted by the
Rules of the FINRA.
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First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust -1 |
(e) |
The net asset
value of the Shares of each Fund shall be determined in the manner provided in the
Registration Statement, and when determined shall be applicable to transactions
as provided for in the Funds Registration Statement. The net asset value of
the Shares of each Fund shall be calculated by the applicable Fund or its authorized
designee on behalf of the Fund. FDCC shall have no duty to inquire into or liability
for the accuracy of the net asset value per Share as calculated.
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(f) |
On every sale,
the applicable Fund shall receive the applicable net asset value of the Shares promptly,
but in no event later than the third business day following the date on which FDCC
shall have received an order for the purchase of the Shares.
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(g) |
Upon receipt
of purchase instructions, FDCC will transmit such instructions to the applicable
Fund or its authorized transfer agent for registration of the Shares purchased.
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(h) |
Nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent FDCC or any affiliated person (as defined in the Act)
of FDCC from acting as principal underwriter or distributor for any other person,
firm or corporation (including other investment companies) or in any way limit or
restrict FDCC or any such affiliated person from buying, selling or trading any
securities for its or their own account or for the accounts of others from whom
it or they may be acting; provided, however, that FDCC expressly represents that
it will undertake no activities which, in its reasonable judgment, will adversely
affect the performance of its obligations to the Funds under this Agreement.
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(i) |
FDCC, as agent
of and for the account of the Funds, may repurchase the Shares at such prices and
upon such terms and conditions as shall be specified in the Registration Statement.
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3. |
Sale of
Shares by the Fund.
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Each Fund
reserves the right to issue any Shares at any time directly to the holders of Shares
(Shareholders), to sell Shares to its Shareholders or to other persons at not
less than net asset value and to issue Shares in exchange for substantially all
the assets of any corporation or trust or for the shares of any corporation or trust.
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4. |
Basis of
Sale of Shares.
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This Agreement
is not a firm commitment underwriting and, as a result, FDCC does not agree to sell
any specific number of Shares. FDCC, as agent for the Funds, undertakes to sell
Shares on a best efforts basis only against orders therefor.
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5. |
Rules of
FINRA, etc.
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(a) |
FDCC will
conform its activities to the Rules of FINRA and the securities laws of the Commission
and any jurisdiction in which it sells, directly or indirectly, any Shares.
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(b) |
FDCC will
require each Financial Intermediaries with whom FDCC has a agreement to conform
to the applicable provisions hereof and the Registration Statement with respect
to the public offering price of the Shares, and neither FDCC nor any such Financial
Intermediaries shall withhold the placing of purchase orders so as to make a profit
thereby.
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(c) |
The Trust
agrees to furnish to FDCC sufficient copies of any agreements, plans or other materials
it intends to use in connection with any sales of Shares in reasonably adequate
time for FDCC, on behalf of any applicable Fund, to file and clear them with the
proper authorities before they are put in use, and not to use them until so filed
and cleared.
|
||
(d) |
FDCC, at its
own expense, will qualify as dealer or broker, or otherwise, under all applicable
state or federal laws required in order that Shares may be sold in such states as
may be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
|
||
(e) |
FDCC shall
not make, or permit any representative or any Financial Intermediaries to make,
in connection with any sale or solicitation of a sale of the Shares, any representations
or statement (whether orally or in writing) concerning the Shares except those contained
in the then current prospectus and statement of additional information or as may
otherwise be permitted under applicable law covering the Shares. Copies of the then
effective prospectus and
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 2 |
statement
of additional information and any such printed supplemental information will be
supplied to FDCC in reasonable quantities upon request.
|
6. |
Records
to be Supplied by the Trust
|
|
The Funds
shall furnish to FDCC copies of all information, financial statements and other
papers which FDCC may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution
of the Shares, and this shall include, but shall not be limited to, one certified
copy, upon request by FDCC, of all financial statements prepared for the Funds by
independent public accountants.
|
||
7. |
Fees and
Expenses.
|
(a) |
For its services
as principal underwriter for the Funds, FDCC shall be entitled to receive the fees
set forth in Schedule C.
|
||
(b) |
FDCC is authorized
to collect the gross proceeds derived from the sale of the Shares, remit the net
asset value thereof to the Funds upon receipt of the proceeds and retain the sales
charge, if any.
|
||
(c) |
FDCC may receive
from each Fund a distribution fee and/or service fee at the rates under terms of
and conditions of any distribution plans (Plans) adopted by each class
of a Fund, as such Plans are in effect from time to time, and subject to any further
limitations of such fees as the Trusts Board of Trustees may impose. In circumstances
described in the foregoing sentence, FDCC shall not be entitled to receive the amount
payable under the Plans. This provision shall not limit the Trust from entering
into an agreement with a financial intermediary directly, regardless of whether
FDCC is also a party to such agreement, pursuant to which the Trust compensates
the financial intermediary with fees payable pursuant to the Plans
|
||
(d) |
FDCC shall
reallow any or all of the sales charge, distribution fee and service fee that it
has received under this Agreement to a Financial Intermediary as it may from time
to time determine in accordance with a schedule set forth in the Registration Statement
of the Fund or as otherwise negotiated by FDCC. Payment of any sales charge shall
be the sole obligation of FDCC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, FDCC may not reallow
to any financial intermediary for shareholder services an amount in excess of 0.25%
of the average annual net asset value of the shares with respect to which said intermediary
provides shareholder services
|
||
(e) |
FDCC may from
time to time employ or associate with such person or persons as may be appropriate
to assist FDCC in the performance of this Agreement. Such person or persons may
be officers, employees other agents who are employed or designated as officers by
FDCC, the Fund, and/or affiliated entities of the Funds. To the extent that FDCC
employs or retains such persons, FDCC shall pay the compensation of such person
or persons for such employment, and no obligation will be incurred by or on behalf
of the Fund in such respect unless specifically approved by the Board of Trustees.
Persons who become associated with FDCC as registered representatives or in like
fashion shall not be compensated by FDCC other than pursuant to a separate agreement,
if any.
|
8. |
Indemnification
of the Funds.
|
|
FDCC agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds and each person who has been, is, or may
hereafter be a trustee, officer, employee, shareholder or control person of the
Trust against any loss, damage or expense (including the reasonable costs of investigation)
reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with any claim or in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding to which any of them may be a party, which arises
out of or is alleged to arise out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements not misleading, on the part of
FDCC or any agent or employee of FDCC or any other person for whose acts FDCC is
responsible, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon written
information furnished by the Fund. FDCC likewise agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Fund and each such person in connection with any claim or in connection with
any action, suit or proceeding which arises out of or is alleged to arise out of
FDCCs failure to exercise reasonable care and diligence with respect to its
services, if any, rendered in connection with investment, reinvestment, automatic
withdrawal and other plans for Shares. The term expenses for purposes of this
and the next paragraph includes amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments or in
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 3 |
settlements
which are made with FDCCs consent. The foregoing rights of indemnification
shall be in addition to any other rights to which the Funds or each such person
may be entitled as a matter of law.
|
||
9. |
Indemnification
of FDCC.
|
|
Each Fund
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless FDCC and each person who has been, is, or
may hereafter be a director, officer, employee, shareholder or control person of
FDCC against any loss, damage or expense (including the reasonable costs of investigation)
reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the matters to which this
Agreement relates, including clerical errors and mechanical failures, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, on the part of any
of such persons in the performance of FDCCs duties or from the reckless disregard
by any of such persons of FDCCs obligations and duties under this Agreement,
for all of which exceptions FDCC shall be liable to each Fund.
|
||
In order that
the indemnification provisions contained in this Paragraph 9 shall apply, it is
understood that if in any case a Fund may be asked to indemnify FDCC or any other
person or hold FDCC or any other person harmless, such Fund shall be fully and promptly
advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further
understood that FDCC will use all reasonable care to identify and notify a Fund
promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present the
probability of such a claim for indemnification against a Fund. The Funds shall
have the option to defend FDCC and any such person against any claim which may be
the subject of this indemnification, and in the event that either party so elects,
it will so notify FDCC, and thereupon the Trust shall take over complete defense
of the claim, and neither FDCC nor any such person shall in such situation initiate
further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this
Paragraph 9. FDCC shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any
case in which a Fund will be asked to indemnify FDCC or any such person except with
the appropriate Funds written consent.
|
||
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, FDCC shall be entitled to receive and act
upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Funds or its own counsel) and
shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or thing reasonably done
pursuant to such advice, provided that such action is not in violation of applicable
federal or state laws or regulations.
|
||
10. |
Termination
and Amendment of this Agreement.
|
|
This Agreement
shall continue in effect for a period no more than two years from the date of its
execution with respect to each Fund, only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. This Agreement will terminate automatically,
without the payment of any penalty, in the event of its assignment. Either the Trust
or FDCC may at any time terminate this Agreement on ninety (90) days written
notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party.
This Agreement may be amended only if such amendment is approved by the parties
hereto and in a manner consistent with applicable law.
|
||
11. |
Effective
Period of this Agreement.
|
|
This Agreement
shall take effect on the date referenced above, and shall remain in full force and
effect until for a period of two (2) years thereafter (unless terminated automatically
as set forth in Paragraph 10), and shall continue from year to year thereafter,
subject to annual approval as required by the Act.
|
||
12. |
New Funds.
|
|
The terms
and provisions of this Agreement shall become automatically applicable to any additional
Funds of the Trust established during the initial or renewal term of this Agreement.
|
||
13. |
Successor
Investment Fund.
|
|
Unless this
Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Paragraph 10, the terms and provisions
of this Agreement shall become automatically applicable to any investment company
which is a successor to the Trust as a result of reorganization, recapitalization
or change of domicile.
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 4 |
14. |
Limitation
of Liability.
|
|
It is expressly
agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any
of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Funds,
personally, but bind only the trust property of the Funds. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trust and signed by an officer of
each Fund, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such
execution and delivery by such officer 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 Funds.
|
||
15. |
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.
|
||
16. |
Questions
of Interpretation.
|
(a) |
This Agreement
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
|
||
(b) |
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 rules, regulations or orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission
issued pursuant to said Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the
Act, reflected in any provision of this Agreement is revised by rule, regulation
or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such provision shall be deemed
to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.
|
17. |
Notices.
|
|
Any notices
under this Agreement shall be in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed postage
paid to the other party, with a copy to the Funds counsel, at such address
as such other party may designate for the receipt of such notice. Such notice will
be effective upon receipt. Until further notice to the other party, it is agreed
that the address of each party for this purpose shall be:
|
(a) | If to the Funds, to: | |||
World Funds Trust | ||||
8730 Stony Point Pkwy, Suite 205 | ||||
Richmond, VA 23235 | ||||
Attn: President | ||||
(b) | If to FDCC, to: | |||
First Dominion Capital Corp. | ||||
8730 Stony Point Pkwy, Suite 205 | ||||
Richmond, VA 23235 | ||||
Attn: President |
18. |
Execution.
|
|
This Agreement
may be executed by one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together will constitute one in the same instrument.
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 5 |
19. |
AML and
Privacy.
|
|
FDCC represents
that it is in compliance in all material respects, and will continue to so comply,
with all applicable laws and regulations relating to guarding against terrorism
and money laundering, and FDCC agrees to comply with the Trusts anti-money
laundering program to the extent applicable. FDCC also agrees to comply with the
Trusts privacy policies with respect to all information obtained pursuant
to this Agreement.
|
||
20. |
Headings.
|
|
All Section
headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not
form a part of this Agreement and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of this Agreement. Words used herein, regardless of the number and gender specifically
used, will be deemed and construed to include any other number, singular or plural,
and any other gender, masculine, feminine, or neuter, as the Agreement requires.
|
||
21. |
Entire
Agreement.
|
|
This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof.
|
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Trust and FDCC have each caused this Agreement to be signed in duplicate on their behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.
WORLD FUNDS
TRUST
|
|
By: /s/ John Pasco, III Date___2/18/2016_____________ | |
Print Name: John Pasco, III | |
Title: President | |
FIRST DOMINION CAPITAL CORP. | |
By: /s/John Pasco, III Date____2/18/16_____________ | |
Print Name: John Pasco, III | |
Title: President |
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 6 |
Schedule A
To the
Underwriter
Agreement
Funds:
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 7 |
Schedule B
To the
Underwriter
Agreement
Services
I. |
Underwriter
services include:
|
|
A. |
Preparation
and execution of Underwriting, Selling Agreement, and Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plans.
|
|
Monitoring
accruals
|
||
|
Monitoring
expenses
|
||
|
Disbursements
for expenses and trail commissions
|
B. |
Provide Quarterly
12b-1 and/or Service Fee Reports to the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
|
|
C. |
Review, recommend
and submit sales materials to FINRA.
|
|
D. |
Initial FINRA
Licensing and Transfers of Registered Representatives.
|
|
U-4 Form and
Fingerprint Submissions to FINRA
|
||
|
Supplying
Series 6, 7, 24 and 63 written study material
|
||
|
Registration
for Exam Preparation classes
|
||
|
Renewals and
Terminations of Representatives
|
E. |
Provide and
regularly update written supervisory procedures and manuals for registered representatives.
|
|
F. |
Ongoing compliance
updates for representatives regarding sales practices, written correspondence and
other communication with the public.
|
|
G. |
Provide, monitor
and ensure compliance with all FINRA Continuing Education Requirements for registered
representatives.
|
|
H. |
Maintaining
records with respect to submissions to FINRA, dealer discounts and brokerage fees
and commissions, and selling agreements.
|
|
I. |
Maintaining
an account with the National Securities Clearing Corporations Fund/SERV System
|
|
J. |
Preparing
reports for investment advisers to the Funds and other service providers to the
Fund from time to time shall be reasonably requested; and
|
|
K. |
Performing
such other services as the Board of Trustees may request from time to time.
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 8 |
Schedule C
To the
Underwriter
Agreement
Fees
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 9 |
Schedule A
To the
Underwriter
Agreement
Funds:
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund
Form Of
APPENDIX B
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
The following portfolios (Funds) are hereby made parties to the Custody Agreement dated June 15, 2008, with UMB Bank, n.a. (Custodian) and World Funds Trust, and agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions contained in said Agreement:
UNION STREET PARTNERS
VALUE FUND
PERKINS DISCOVERY FUND
B. RILEY DIVERSIFIED EQUITY FUND
REMS
INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY FUND
REMS REAL ESTATE VALUE OPPORTUNITY
FUND
REMS REAL ESTATE INCOME 50/50 FUND
STRATEGIC LATIN AMERICA FUND
STRATEGIC
GLOBAL LONG/SHORT FUND
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
Attest: | By: | |
Name: John Pasco, III | ||
Title: President | ||
Date: January 26, 2016 | ||
UMB BANK, N.A. | ||
Attest: | By: | |
Name: Pete Bergman | ||
Title: Vice President | ||
Date: | ||
Form Of
APPENDIX C
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
Eligible Funds and Borrowing Limitations World Funds Trust
Fund Name |
Acceptable Reason |
Limitation |
Union Street Partners Value Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
Perkins Discovery Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
REMS International Real Estate Value Opportunity Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
REMS Real Estate Value Opportunity Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
Strategic Latin America Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund |
Temporary emergency only |
Limited to extent allowed under the 1940 Act |
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 December 1, 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 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.
|
EXHIBIT A
to
Fund Services
Agreement
List of Funds
Fund Name | Effective Date | End Date of Initial Term |
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund | January 26, 2016 | November 30, 2018 |
Form Of
Amended and
Restated
Schedule A
to the
Fund Accounting Agreement
by and between
World Funds Trust
and
UMB Fund Services, Inc.
Intending to be legally bound, the undersigned hereby amend and restate Schedule A to the aforesaid Agreement as follows, effective as of the date set forth below.
NAMES OF FUNDS
REMS International Real Estate
Value-Opportunity Fund
Strategic Latin America Fund
Strategic Global Long/Short
Fund
In witness whereof, the undersigned have executed this Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Fund Accounting Agreement between World Funds Trust and UMB Fund Services, Inc., effective as of the 26th day of January 2016.
UMB FUND SERVICES, INC. | WORLD FUNDS TRUST | |
By:______________________________ | By:______________________________ | |
Title:_____________________________ | Title:__President____________________ |
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT, effective as of February 1, 2016 by andbetween Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. (the Adviser) and World Funds Trust (the Trust) (Agreement), on behalf of the series of the Trust set forth in Schedule A attached hereto (each a Fund, and collectively, the Funds).
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust, and is registered under theInvestment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), as an open-endmanagement investment company of the series type, and each Fund is a series of the Trust;
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser have entered into an Advisory Agreement dated February 1, 2016 (Advisory Agreement), pursuant to which the Adviser provides investment management services to each Fund for compensation based on the value of the average daily net assets of each such Fund;
WHEREAS , the Trust and the Adviser have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to maintain the expenses of each Fund at a level below the level to which each such Fund would normally be subject in order to maintain each Funds expense ratio at the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit (as hereinafter defined) specified in Schedule A hereto;
NOW THEREFORE , the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Expense Limitation. |
a. |
Applicable
Expense Limit
. To the extent that the aggregate expenses ofevery character incurred
by a Fund in any fiscal year, including but not limited to investment advisory fees
of the Adviser (but excluding interest, distribution fees pursuant to Rule 12b-1
Plans, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage commissions, dividend expenses
on short sales, and other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and other extraordinary expenses not incurred
in the ordinary course of such Funds business) (Fund Operating Expenses),
exceed the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit, as defined in Section 1.2 below,
such excess amount (the Excess Amount) shall be the liability of the Adviser.
|
||
b. |
Maximum Annual
Operating Expense Limit
. The Maximum Annual OperatingExpense Limit with respect
to each Fund shall be the amount specified in Schedule A based on a percentage of
the average daily net assets of each Fund.
|
||
c. |
Method of
Computation
. To determine the Advisers liability with respect to the Excess
Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses for each Fund shall be annualized
as
|
1
of the last
day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses for any month of a Fund
exceed the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit of such Fund, the Adviser shall
first waive or reduce its investment advisory fee for such month by an amount sufficient
to reduce the annualized Fund Operating Expenses to an amount no higher than the
Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit. If the amount of the waived or reduced investment
advisory fee for any such month is insufficient to pay the Excess Amount, the Adviser
may also remit to the appropriate Fund or Funds an amount that, together with the
waived or reduced investment advisory fee, is sufficient to pay such Excess Amount.
|
|||
d. |
Year-End Adjustment
.
If necessary, on or before the last day of the first month of each fiscal year,
an adjustment payment shall be made by theappropriate party in order that the amount
of the investment advisory feeswaived or reduced and other payments remitted by
the Adviser to the Fund orFunds with respect to the previous fiscal year shall equal
the Excess Amount.
|
2. |
Reimbursement of Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements.
|
a. |
Reimbursement
. If,
during any fiscal quarter in which the AdvisoryAgreement is still in effect, the
estimated aggregate Fund Operating Expenses of such Fund for the fiscal quarter
are less than the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit for that quarter, the Adviser
shall be entitled to reimbursement by such Fund, in whole or in part as provided
below, of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments remitted
by the Adviser to such Fund pursuant to Section 1 hereof. The total amount of reimbursement
to which the Adviser may be entitled (Reimbursement Amount) shall equal, at any
time, the sum of all investment advisory fees previously waived or reduced by the
Adviser and all other payments remitted by the Adviser to the Fund, pursuant to
Section 1 hereof, during any of the previous three (3) fiscal years, less any reimbursement
previously paid by such Fund to the Adviser, pursuant to this Sections 2.1, with
respect to such waivers, reductions, and payments. The Reimbursement Amount shall
not include any additional charges or fees whatsoever, including, e.g., interest
accruable on the Reimbursement Amount. To the extent any reimbursement is made pursuant
to this Section 2.1, such reimbursement shall not cause the Fund Operating Expenses
to exceed the Maximum Annual OperatingExpense Limit that was in place at the time
the Adviser waived or reduced its advisory fees or reimburse other expenses of the
Fund.
|
||
b. |
Board Review
.
No Reimbursement Amount will be paid to the Adviser if the Trusts Board of
Trustees determines that the payment of the Reimbursement Amount is not in the best
interests of shareholders.
|
||
c. |
Method of
Computation
. To determine each Funds accrual, if any, to reimburse the Adviser
for the Reimbursement Amount, each month the Fund Operating Expenses of each Fund
shall be annualized as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of
a Fund for any month are less than the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit of
such Fund, such Fund shall accrue into its net asset value an amount payable to the
Adviser sufficient to increase the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of that Fund
to an amount no greater than the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit of that Fund,
provided that such amount paid to the Adviser will in no event exceed the total
Reimbursement Amount. For accounting purposes, amounts accrued pursuant to this
Section 2 shall be a liability of the Fund for purposes of determining the Funds net asset value.
|
2
d. |
Payment and
Year-End Adjustment
. Amounts accrued pursuant to this Agreement shall be payable
to the Adviser as of the last day of each month. If necessary, on or before the
last day of the first month of each fiscal year, an adjustment payment shall be
made by the appropriate party in order that the actual Fund Operating Expenses of
a Fund for the prior fiscal year (including any reimbursement payments hereunder
with respect to such fiscal year) do not exceed the Maximum Annual Operating Expense
Limit.
|
3. |
Term and Termination
of Agreement.
|
a. |
This Agreement
shall continue in effect with respect to the Fund until such date as noted on Schedule
A and shall thereafter continue in effect with respect to each Fund from year to
year for successive one-year periods provided that Agreement may be terminated by
either party hereto, without payment of any penalty, upon ninety (90) days
prior written notice to the other party at its principal place of business; provided
that, in the case of termination by the Adviser, such action shall be authorized
by resolution of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees of the Trust or by a
vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust.
|
4. |
Miscellaneous.
|
a. |
Captions
.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and
in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect.
|
||
b. |
Interpretation
. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or the Funds to take any
action contrary to the Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust or by-laws,
as amended from time to time, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement
to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trusts Board of Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of
the affairs of the Trust or the Funds. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge
and agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, and
of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of
the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or holder of shares of beneficial
interest of the Fund shall be personally liable for any of the foregoing liabilities.
The Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust and by-laws
describe in detail the respective responsibilities and limitations on liability
of the Trustees, officers, and holders of shares of beneficial interest.
|
3
c. |
Definitions
.
Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including
but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values,
and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from
the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the
same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement or the 1940
Act.
|
||
d. |
Enforceability
.
Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction be ineffective to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining
terms or provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability
of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
World Funds Trust, on behalf of each Fund Listed on Schedule A |
By: __/s/ John Pasco, III__________________ |
Name: John Pasco, III |
Title: President |
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. |
By:___/s/ Mauricio O. Alvarez_________________ |
Name: Mauricio O. Alvarez |
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
4
SCHEDULE A
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT (the Agreement)
between
WORLD FUNDS TRUST (the
Trust)
and
STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT, LTD.
This Agreement relates to the following Funds of the Trust:
Term Fund | Maximum Annual Limit | Operating Expense |
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund | April 30, 2017 | 1.70% |
5
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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 23, 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 Strategic Global Long/Short 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 23, 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
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(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.
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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
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(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
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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.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION AND 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 Strategic Global Long/Short Fund (the Fund) of the Trust; and
WHEREAS , the Trust desires to adopt a Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan (Plan) with respect to the class(es) of Shares of the Fund identified in Section 2(a) of this Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; 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 class(es) of Shares of the Fund identified in Section 2(a) of this Plan 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 of the class(es) of Shares identified in Section 2(a) of this Plan, 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 distribution and 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:
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(1)
Class A Shares
. For the Class A Shares of the Fund, the Fund may pay an amount
calculated at the rate of up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net asset value
of the Class A 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 Class A Shares to the date of such expenditures.
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(2) Class C Shares . For the Class C Shares of the Fund, the Fund may pay an amount calculated at the rate of up to 1.00% (0.25% for service fees and 0.75% for distribution fees) per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class C 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 Class C Shares to the date of such expenditures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may expenditures paid by the Fund under, or pursuant to, this Plan as service fees with respect to Class C Shares of the Fund exceed an amount calculated at the rate of 0.25% of the average annual net assets of such Class, nor may such expenditures paid as service fees under, or pursuant to, this Plan to any person who sells the Shares of the Fund exceed an amount calculated at the rate of 0.25% of the average annual net asset value of such Shares. Payments for distribution and shareholder servicing activities may be made directly by the Trust to other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan. | ||
(b) Allocation of Class Expenses. Only distribution
expenditures properly attributable to the sale of a particular class may be used
to support the distribution and shareholder services fee charged to shareholders
of such class. Expenses attributable to the sale of more than one class will be
allocated in a manner deemed equitable by the Board.
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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 class(es) of Shares identified in Section 2(a) of this Plan on January 26, 2016.
Amended February 18, 2016.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
RULE 18F-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN
For Funds Advised by Strategic Asset Management, Ltd.
Strategic Global Long/Short Fund
I. Introduction.
Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), this Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan (Plan) sets forth the general characteristics of, and conditions under which the World Funds Trust(Trust) may offer, multiple classes of shares (each a Class of Shares and collectively Classes of Shares) of the following series: Strategic Global Long/Short Fund(the Fund).
In addition, the Plan sets forth the shareholder servicing arrangements, distribution arrangements, conversion features, exchange privileges, and other shareholder services of each Class of Shares in the Fund. The Plan is intended to allow the Fund to offer multiple Classes of Shares to the fullest extent and manner permitted by Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, subject to the requirements and conditions imposed by that rule. This Plan may be revised or amended from time to time as provided below.
The Fund is authorized, as indicated below in the section Class Arrangements, to issue the following Classes of Shares representing interests in the Fund:
Class A Shares; and | |
Class C Shares |
Each Class of Shares will represent interests in the same portfolio of the Fund and, except as described herein, shall have the same rights and obligations as each other Class of Shares of the Fund. Each Class of Shares shall be subject to such investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility as are set forth in the Funds prospectus (Prospectus) or statement of additional information (Statement of Additional Information), as amended from time to time.
II. Allocation of Expenses.
Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the Trust shall allocate to each Class of Shares in the Fund: (i) any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the distribution of such Class of Shares under a distribution plan (and related agreements) adopted for such Class of Shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and (ii) any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust under a shareholder servicing plan (and related agreements) in connection with the provision of shareholder services to the holders of such Class of Shares. In addition, pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust may allocate the following fees and expenses to a particular Class of Shares in a single Fund:
(a) |
Transfer agency
fees, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, sub-administration, administration and
other similar fees and expenses identified by the Funds service providers
as being attributable to such Class of Shares;
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(b) |
Printing and
postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder
reports, notices, prospectuses, reports, and proxies to current shareholders of
such Class of Shares or to regulatory agencies with respect to such Class of Shares;
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(c) |
Blue sky registration
or qualification fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
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(d) |
Securities
and Exchange Commission registration fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
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(e) |
The expense
of administrative and personnel services (including, but not limited to, those of
a portfolio accountant or dividend paying agent charged with calculating net asset
values or determining or paying dividends) as required to support the shareholders
of such Class of Shares;
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(f) |
Litigation
or other legal expenses relating solely to such Class of Shares;
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(g) |
Fees of the
Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues particularly relating to such
Class of Shares;
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(h) |
Independent
registered public accountants fees relating solely to such Class of Shares;
and
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(i) |
Any additional
expenses, other than advisory or custodial fees or other expenses relating to the
management of a Funds assets, if such expenses are actually incurred in a
different amount with respect to a Class of Shares that are of a different kind
or to a different degree than with respect to one or more other Classes of Shares.
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The initial determination of the class specific expenses that will be allocated by the Trust to a particular Class of Shares and any subsequent changes thereto will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and approved by a vote of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.
Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of the Fund not allocated to a particular Class of Shares of the Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each Class of Shares of the Fund on the basis of the net asset value of that Class of Shares in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.
III. Dividends.
Dividends paid by the Trust with respect to each Class of Shares, to the extent any dividends are paid, will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time and will be in the same amount, except that any fees and expenses that are properly allocated to a particular Class of Shares will be borne by that Class of Shares.
IV. Voting Rights.
Each share (or fraction thereof) of the Fund entitles the shareholder of record to one vote (or fraction thereof). Each Class of Shares of the Fund will vote separately as a Class of Shares with respect to: (i) the adoption of any Rule 12b-1 distribution plan applicable to that Class of Shares and any increase in the amount paid under such distribution plan; and (ii) any other matters for which voting on a Class of Shares by Class of Shares basis is required under applicable law or interpretative positions of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
V. Class Arrangements.
The following summarizes the front-end sales charges, contingent deferred sales charges, Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees, conversion features, exchange privileges, and other shareholder services applicable to each Class of Shares of the Fund. Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in the Funds current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
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(a) | Class A Shares. |
1. |
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): 5.00%.
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2. |
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None for purchases less than $1 million. A 1.00% contingent
deferred sales charge will apply to redemptions effected within one year of any
purchase of $1 million or more in Class A Shares of the Fund. Additional details
on such Charge are set forth in the Funds current Prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information.
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3. |
Rule 12b-1
Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution and Service
Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 the 12b-1 Plan), Class A Shares of the
Fund may pay distribution and shareholder servicing fees of up to 0.25% per annum
of the average daily net assets of any such Class A Shares.
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4. |
Conversion
Features: None.
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5. |
Redemption
Fee: 2.00% (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 60 days of purchase).
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6. |
Exchange Privileges:
Class A Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class A Shares of any other series
of the Trust advised by the same investment adviser at net asset value.
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7. |
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund.
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(b) | Class C Shares. |
1. |
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): None.
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2. |
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: A 2.00% contingent deferred sales charge will apply to redemptions
effected within one year of any purchase.
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3. |
Rule 12b-1
Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution and Service
Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 (the 12b-1 Plan), Class C Shares of the
Fund may pay distribution and shareholder servicing fees of up to 1.00% per annum
of the average daily net assets of any such Class C Shares.
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4. |
Conversion
Features: None.
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5. |
Redemption
Fee: 2.00% (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 60 days of purchase).
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6. |
Exchange Privileges:
Class C Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class C Shares of any other series of
the Trust advised by the same investment adviser at net asset value.
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7. |
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund.
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VI. Board Review.
The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall review this Plan as frequently as they deem necessary. Prior to any material amendment(s) to this Plan, the Trusts Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees that are not interested persons of the Trust, shall find that the Plan, as proposed to be amended (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating Class and/or Fund expenses), is in the best interest of each Class of Shares individually and in the Fund as a whole. In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.
Adopted: February 18, 2016
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