As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2017 |
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. (230) |
[X] | ||
and/or | |||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | [X] | ||
Amendment No. (231) |
[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.
The CBOE Vest Family of Funds
PROSPECTUS
August 18, 2017
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund
Class A Shares (KNGAX)
Class C Shares (KNGCX)
This prospectus describes the CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund. The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund is authorized to offer 4 classes of shares, two of which are offered by this prospectus.
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
PAGE |
Fund Summary |
1 |
Investment Objective |
1 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
1 |
Portfolio Turnover |
2 |
Principal Investment Strategies |
2 |
Principal Risks |
4 |
Performance History |
7 |
Investment Adviser |
7 |
Portfolio Managers |
7 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
7 |
Tax Information |
8 |
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Intermediaries |
8 |
Additional Information About the Funds Investments |
9 |
Additional Information About Risk |
10 |
Management |
13 |
How to Buy Shares |
17 |
How to Sell Shares |
19 |
General Information |
20 |
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes |
22 |
Net Asset Value |
24 |
Share Class Alternatives |
25 |
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions |
28 |
Distribution Arrangements |
29 |
Financial Highlights |
30 |
For More Information |
31 |
FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective
The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index).
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 $50,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section Share Class Alternatives at page 25 of this prospectus and in the section Distribution at page 25 in the Funds Statement of Additional Information.
Shareholder Fees | Class A | Class C | ||||||
(fees paid directly from your investment) | Shares | Shares | ||||||
Maximum sales
charge (load) imposed on purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) |
5.75% | None | ||||||
Maximum deferred
sales charges (load)
(as a percentage of the NAV at time of purchase) |
None | None | ||||||
Redemption
Fee (as a percentage of the amount
redeemed on shares after holding them for 30 days or less) |
2.00% | 2.00% | ||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | ||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||
Management Fee | 0.75% | 0.75% | ||||||
Distribution (12b- 1) and Service Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | ||||||
Other Expenses (1) | 0.32% | 0.32% | ||||||
Shareholder Services Plan (1) | 0.05% | 0.05% | ||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.37% | 2.12% | ||||||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (2) | (0.17%) | (0.17%) | ||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||
(after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) (2) | 1.20% | 1.95% | ||||||
(1) | Other Expenses and Shareholder Services Plan fees are estimated for the Funds first full fiscal year. |
1
(2) |
CBOE Vest
SM
Financial LLC (the Adviser) has entered into a written expense
limitation agreement under which it has agreed to limit the total expenses of the
Fund (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) to an annual rate of 0.95% of the average daily
net assets of the Fund. The Adviser may not terminate this expense limitation agreement
prior to February 28, 2019. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser
is subject to repayment by the Fund within 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 | $968 |
Class C Shares | $198 | $648 |
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
The Fund employs an investment approach designed to track the performance of the Index before fees and expenses. The Index is designed with the primary goal of generating an annualized level of income that is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index and a secondary goal of generating price returns that are approximately equal to the price returns of the S&P 500 Index.
About the Indexs Strategy
The Index, constructed and maintained by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Index Calculation Agent and/or CBOE), an affiliate of the Adviser, is designed with the primary goal of generating an annualized level of income that is approximately 4% over the annual
2
dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index and a secondary goal of generating price returns that are approximately equal to the price returns of the S&P 500 Index. The Index investment strategy includes:
|
buying a portfolio
of 30 stocks of companies equally weighted (Stock Portfolio) that are
the top 30 members of the S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
®
Index (SPDAUDT
Index) by dividend yield and;
|
|
|
partially
writing hypothetical weekly U.S. exchange-traded covered call options (Call Options) on each of the 30 stocks.
|
Stock Portfolio : The Stock Portfolio in the Index is rebalanced to be equally weighted each January, April, July and October and is reconstituted on an annual basis by selecting 30 stocks that have options that trade on a national securities exchange and with the highest dividend yield from the SPDAUDT Index during the January rebalance. The SPDAUDT Index, constructed and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, targets companies that are currently members of the S&P 500 ® , have increased dividend payments each year for at least 25 years, and meet certain market capitalization and liquidity requirements. The SPDAUDT Index contains a minimum of 40 stocks, which are equally weighted, and no single sector is allowed to comprise more than 30% of the Index weight. If there are fewer than 40 stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth or if sector caps are breached, the SPDAUDT Index will include companies with shorter dividend growth histories.
Call Options : Each stock in the Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with an exchange traded-call option on that stock. Each exchange-traded call option included in the Index is a hypothetical European-style option ( i.e. , an option which can only be exercised at the strike price at its expiration) with an approximate term of 7-days (Term). The strike price ( i.e ., the price at which a call option can be exercised) of each call option included in the Index must be as close as possible to the closing price of the options underlying stock price as of the beginning of the Term, the last business day of the week. Each such option will automatically be deemed exercised on its expiration date if its underlying stock price is above its strike price. If the stock underlying the call option closes above the options strike price, a cash settlement payment in an amount equal to the difference between the strike price and the closing price of the stock is deemed to be made and the Index value is correspondingly reduced. If the underlying stock does not close below its strike price, then the option expires worthless and the entire amount of the premium payment is retained within the Index. The Call Options are rolled at the end of the Term, into a new set of Call Options with a new term of approximately 7 days. The Index is designed to vary the number of Call Options written over the Term such that Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with Call Options. The number of Call Options written are determined at the start of the Term such that total annualized income per unit of investment expressed as a percentage over the calendar year (Annualized Yield) from dividends received from the Stock Portfolio and the premiums received from the Call Options is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index. The Index may utilize FLexible EXchange ® Options (FLEX Options), which are customized equity or index option contracts that trade on an exchange, but unlike standardized exchange-traded options provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like exercise prices, styles and expiration dates.
3
The Index is published under the Bloomberg ticker symbol SPAI.
About the Funds Strategy
The Fund generally uses a representative sampling strategy to achieve its investment objective, meaning it generally will invest in a sample of the securities in the Index whose risk, return and other characteristics resemble the risk, return, and other characteristics of the Index as a whole. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities.
The Fund intends to invest in a sample of the securities in the Index with a view towards making quarterly distributions at an approximate rate of 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index, before fees and expenses.
The Fund may invest in the entire Stock Portfolio or a representative sample of the Stock Portfolio whose risk, return and other characteristics resemble the risk, return, and other characteristics of the Stock Portfolio as a whole. The Fund will seek to reconstitute and rebalance at or close to the same time as when the Stock Portfolio is rebalanced.
The Fund may sell European Style FLEX Options that reference the stock that the Fund may invest in. Like standardized exchange-traded options, FLEX Options are guaranteed for settlement by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), a market clearinghouse. The OCC guarantees performance by each of the counterparties to the FLEX Options, becoming the buyer for every seller and the seller for every buyer, protecting clearing members and options traders from counterparty risk. FLEX Options provide investors with the ability to customize key terms, while achieving price discovery in competitive, transparent auctions markets and avoiding the counterparty exposure of over-the-counter (OTC) options positions. OTC options are options that do not trade on an exchange.
The Fund is non-diversified.
Because of certain potential limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 associated with trading options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and any other exchanges owned or controlled by CBOE Holdings, Inc. (CBOE Exchanges), the Fund will not effect transactions in options that are traded on any CBOE Exchanges until such time that appropriate exemptive and/or no-action relief is obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and/or its staff by the Adviser, the CBOE and/or any mutual funds advised by the Adviser. This restriction shall not prevent the Adviser or the Fund from engaging in other transactions or receiving other services from the CBOE or for which the CBOE may receive a benefit, such as pricing services, provided such transactions and/or the receipt of such services is consistent with applicable statutes, rules, regulations and interpretive positions of the SEC and its staff.
Principal Risks
It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds net asset value (NAV) and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund,
4
and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet 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.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the Fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the Adviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares in the Fund may decrease.
Specific risks of investing in the Fund are described below. The risks may apply indirectly through the Funds investments in other investment companies.
Call Options Risk . Writing call options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Funds use of derivatives, such as call options, can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying stock, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. These risks are heightened when the Funds portfolio managers use options to enhance the Funds return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the Fund. When selling a call option, the Fund will receive a premium; however, this premium may not be enough to offset a loss incurred by the Fund if the price of the underlying stock is above the strike price by an amount equal to or greater than the premium. The value of an option may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller, and will be affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the stock subject to the option, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual and perceived volatility of the stock market and the common stock and the remaining time to expiration. Additionally, the value of an option does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying stock(s). The Funds use of options may reduce the Funds ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying stock(s).
FLEX Options Risk . The Fund expects to utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC. The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain other securities such as standardized options. In less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. FLEX Options are also subject to the Call Option Risk described above. No one can guarantee that a liquid secondary trading market will exist for the FLEX Options. Trading in the FLEX Options may be less deep and liquid than certain other securities. FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain non-customized options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, liquidating the FLEX Options may require the payment of a premium or acceptance of a discounted price and may take longer to complete. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the liquidation of a large number of options may more significantly impact the price. A less liquid trading market may adversely impact the value of the FLEX Options and your investment.
Equity Securities Risk . The Fund invests in equity securities. The value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the value of these equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as the current market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur.
5
Sector Concentration Risk . The Fund from time to time may be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers located in a single industry or sector. By concentrating its investments in an industry or sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or sectors.
Market Risk . Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Overall security values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.
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 their respective investment strategies, 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.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . The Funds strategy will frequently involve buying and selling Call Options to generate premium income. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Funds performance to be less than you expect.
Index Limitations Risk . The Index is designed to represent a proposed option writing strategy. The Index Calculation Agent uses an option valuation method to calculate the value of the portfolio of FLEX Options that are constituents of the Index. Failure by the Index Calculation Agent to fully comprehend and accurately model the constituent FLEX Options may cause the performance of the Index to vary from the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities or the performance of the Fund. Like many passive indexes, the Index does not take into account significant factors such as transaction costs and taxes and, because of factors such as these, the Funds portfolio should be expected to underperform the Index.
Newly Created Index Risk . The Index is newly created and has a limited history of performance. As such, it is uncertain how closely the Index may be able to track the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities that comprise the Index.
Tracking Error Risk . The Funds return may not match or achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the Index. A number of factors may affect the Funds ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. Failure to achieve a high degree of correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The factors that may adversely affect the Funds correlation with the Index include fees, expenses, transaction costs, income items, valuation methodology, accounting standards and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for the securities in which the Fund invests. While the Fund attempts to track the performance of the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the types of securities that make up the Index, at times, the Fund may not have investment exposure to all securities in the Index, or its weighting of investment exposure to securities may be different from that of the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities not included in
6
the Index. The Fund may take or refrain from taking positions in order to improve tax efficiency, or comply with regulatory restrictions, either of which may negatively affect the Funds correlation with the Index. The Fund may also be subject to movements of assets into and out of the Fund in sizes that may differ from the size of the FLEX Option contracts that constitute the Index, potentially resulting in the Fund being over- or underexposed to the Index and may be impacted by reconstitutions and rebalancing events. Any of these factors could decrease correlation between the performance of the Fund and the Index and may hinder the Funds ability to meet its investment objective.
Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified. The performance of a non-diversified fund may be more volatile than the performance of a diversified fund. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold fewer investments than a fund than is a diversified fund.
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. The Adviser and the portfolio managers have never managed this strategy in a mutual fund and this lack of experience may detract from the ability of the Fund to achieve its objective.
Performance History
The Fund has recently commenced operations and 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.cboevestfunds.com or by calling the Fund toll-free at 855-505-VEST (8378).
Investment Adviser
CBOE Vest SM Financial LLC is the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Karan Sood, Managing Director of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager to the Fund since its inception on August 18, 2017.
Jonathan Hale, a Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager to the Fund since its inception on August 18, 2017.
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 (CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205,
7
Richmond, VA 23235), by wire, or by calling toll free at 1-855-505-VEST (8378). Purchases and redemptions by telephone are only permitted if you previously established this option on your account. The minimum initial purchase or exchange into the Fund is $1,000 for Class A Shares and for Class C Shares. Subsequent investments must be in amounts of $100 or more. The Funds may waive minimums for purchases or exchanges through employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Tax Information
The Funds distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gain, 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. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Funds.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other 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.
8
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS INVESTMENTS
The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index).
The Funds investment objective may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.
The Fund employs an investment approach designed to track the performance of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index) before fees and expenses. Unlike an actively-managed fund that utilizes active management investment strategies to meet its investment objective, the Fund employs a passive approach to investing that is designed to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Index. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities.
The Fund employ various investment techniques that the Adviser believes should, in the aggregate, simulate the movement of the Index. The investment techniques utilized to simulate the movement of the Index are intended to enhance liquidity, maintain a tax-efficient portfolio and reduce transaction costs, while, at the same time, seeking to maintain high correlation with, and similar aggregate characteristics ( e.g . with respect to equity funds, market capitalization and industry weightings) to the Index. For example, the Fund may invest in or gain exposure to only a representative sample of the securities in the Index, which exposure is intended to have aggregate characteristics like those of the Index. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may invest in or obtain exposure to components not included in the Index or overweight or underweight certain components of the Index with the intent of obtaining exposure with aggregate characteristics like the Index, including, as applicable, the general credit profile of the Index. The Adviser does not invest the assets of the Fund in securities or financial instruments based on the Advisers view of the investment merit of a security, instrument, or company, other than for cash management purposes, nor does it conduct conventional investment research or analysis, or forecast market movement or trends, in managing the assets of the Fund. The Fund generally seeks to remain fully invested always in securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, provide exposure to the Index without regard to market conditions, trends, direction, or the financial condition of an issuer.
The Index, constructed and maintained by Chicago Board Options Exchange, tracks the value of:
|
a portfolio
of 30 stocks of companies (Stock Portfolio) that are the top 30 members
of the S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
®
Index (SPDAUDT Index)
by dividend yield and;
|
||
|
a portfolio
of written U.S. exchange-traded covered call options (Call Options)
on each of the 30 stocks.
|
Stock Portfolio : The Stock Portfolio in the Index is rebalanced to be equally weighted each January, April, July and October and is reconstituted by selecting 30 stocks with the highest
9
dividend yield from the SPDAUDT Index during the January rebalance. The SPDAUDT Index, constructed and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, targets companies that are currently members of the S&P 500 ® , have increased dividend payments each year for at least 25 years, and meet certain market capitalization and liquidity requirements. The SPDAUDT Index contains a minimum of 40 stocks, which are equally weighted, and no single sector is allowed to comprise more than 30% of the Index weight. If there are fewer than 40 stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth or if sector caps are breached, the SPDAUDT Index will include companies with shorter dividend growth histories.
Call Options : Each exchange-traded call option included in the Index is an European-style option ( i.e ., an option which can only be exercised at the strike price at its expiration) with a 7-day term. The strike price ( i.e ., the price at which a call option can be exercised) of each call option included in the Index must be as close as possible to the closing price of the options underlying stock price as of the beginning of each 7-day period. Each such option will automatically be deemed exercised on its expiration date if its underlying stock price is above its strike price. If the stock underlying the call option closes above the options strike price, a cash settlement payment in an amount equal to the difference between the strike price and the closing price of the stock is deemed to be made and the Index value is correspondingly reduced. If the underlying stock does not close below its strike price, then the option expires worthless and the entire amount of the premium payment is retained within the Index. The Index is designed to vary the number of Call Options written over each 7-day term such that total annualized income per unit of investment expressed as a percentage over the calendar year (Annualized Yield) from dividends received from the Stock Portfolio and the premiums received from the Call Options is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index. The Index is published under the Bloomberg ticker symbol SPEND.
The Fund may utilize FLexible EXchange ® Options (FLEX Options), which are customized equity or index option contracts that trade on an exchange, but that provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like exercise prices, styles and expiration dates. Like standardized exchange-traded options, FLEX Options are guaranteed for settlement by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), a market clearinghouse. The OCC guarantees performance by each of the counterparties to the FLEX Options, becoming the buyer for every seller and the seller for every buyer, protecting clearing members and options traders from counterparty risk. FLEX Options provide investors with the ability to customize key terms, while achieving price discovery in competitive, transparent auctions markets and avoiding the counterparty exposure of over-the-counter (OTC) options positions. OTC options are options that do not trade on an exchange.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds net asset value (NAV) and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet 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. The Fund does not attempt to, and should not be expected to, reflect the return of the Index.
10
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the Fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the Adviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares in the Fund may decrease.
Specific risks of investing in the Fund are described below. The risks may apply indirectly through the Funds investments in other investment companies.
Call Options Risk . For a call option on a security, the options buyer has the right to purchase, and the options seller (or writer) has the obligation to sell, a specified security at a specified price (exercise price or strike price) on or before a specified date (option expiration date). Writing call options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Funds use of derivatives, such as call options, can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying stock, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. The Fund could experience a loss if derivatives do not perform as anticipated, or are not correlated with the performance of other investments which are used to hedge or if the Fund is unable to liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.
For an index call option, the buyer has the right to receive from the seller a cash payment at the option expiration date equal to any positive difference between the value of the index at the contract expiration and exercise price. The buyer or a call option makes a cash payment (premium) to the seller of the option upon entering into the option contract.
| Options Risk. Option transactions in which the Fund may engage involve the following risks: | ||||
o | the writer of an option may be assigned an exercise at expiration date of the option; | ||||
o | disruptions in the markets for underlying instruments could result in losses for options investors; | ||||
o | the insolvency of a broker could present risks for the brokers customers; | ||||
o | market imposed restrictions may prohibit the exercise of certain options; and | ||||
o |
the seller
of an option is subject to the risk that the performance of its stock portfolio
will vary from the performance of the underlying index and the purpose of purchasing
the option will not be fully achieved.
|
||||
|
Call Options.
A call option is an option to buy assets at an agreed-upon
price on or before a particular date. The seller (writer) of a call option which
is covered (i.e., the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of
a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price
of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option.
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FLEX Options Risk. The Fund expects to utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC. The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain other securities such as standardized options. In less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. FLEX Options are also subject to the Call Option Risk described above. No one can guarantee that a liquid secondary trading market will exist for the FLEX Options. Trading in the FLEX Options may be less deep and liquid than certain other securities. FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain non-customized options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, liquidating the FLEX Options may require the payment of a premium or acceptance of a discounted price and may take longer to complete. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the liquidation of a large number of options may more significantly impact the price. A less liquid trading market may adversely impact the value of the FLEX Options and your investment.
Equity Securities Risk. The Fund invests in equity securities. The value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the value of these equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as the current market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur.
Sector Concentration Risk . The Fund from time to time may be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers located in a single industry or sector. By concentrating its investments in an industry or sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or sectors.
Market Risk . Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Overall security values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.
New Fund Risk . The Fund is recently formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that they may not be successful in implementing their respective investment strategies, 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.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Funds strategy will frequently involve buying and selling Call Options to generate premium income. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Funds performance to be less than you expect.
Index Limitations Risk . The Index is designed to represent a proposed option writing strategy. The Index Calculation Agent uses an option valuation method to calculate the value of the portfolio of FLEX Options that are constituents of the Index. Failure by the Index Calculation Agent to fully comprehend and accurately model the constituent FLEX Options may cause the performance of the Index to vary from the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities or the performance of the Fund. Like many passive indexes, the
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Index does not take into account significant factors such as transaction costs and taxes and, because of factors such as these, the Funds portfolio should be expected to underperform the Index.
Newly Created Index Risk . The Index is newly created and has a limited history of performance. As such, it is uncertain how closely the Index may be able to track the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities that comprise the Index.
Tracking Error Risk . The Funds return may not match or achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the Index. A number of factors may affect the Funds ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. Failure to achieve a high degree of correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The factors that may adversely affect the Funds correlation with the Index include fees, expenses, transaction costs, income items, valuation methodology, accounting standards and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for the securities in which the Fund invests. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities not included in the Index. The Fund may take or refrain from taking positions in order to improve tax efficiency, or comply with regulatory restrictions, either of which may negatively affect the Funds correlation with the Index. The Fund may also be subject to movements of assets into and out of the Fund in sizes that may differ from the size of the FLEX Option contracts that constitute the Index, potentially resulting in the Fund being over-or underexposed to the Index and may be impacted by reconstitutions and rebalancing events. Any of these factors could decrease correlation between the performance of the Fund and the Index and may hinder the Funds ability to meet its investment objective.
Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified. The performance of a non-diversified fund may be more volatile than the performance of a diversified fund. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold fewer investments than a fund than is a diversified fund.
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. The Adviser and the portfolio managers have never managed this strategy in a mutual fund and this lack of experience may detract from the ability of the Fund to achieve its objective.
MANAGEMENT
The Investment Adviser.
CBOE Vest SM Financial LLC, 1765 Greensboro Station Pl, 9 th Floor, McLean, VA 22102, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for management of the Funds investment portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for selecting the Funds investments according to the Funds investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Adviser was established in September 2012. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser is the investment adviser to 49 other funds in the Trust and Institutional sub-advised separately managed accounts. As of April 28, 2017, the Adviser had approximately $91.2 million in assets under management.
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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 calculated daily and payable monthly, at a rate of 0.75% of the Funds average daily net assets.
The Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement under which it has agreed to limit the total expenses of the Fund (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) to an annual rate of 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Adviser or the Trust at any time after February 28, 2019. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within 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 Board of Trustees approval of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund is available in the Funds annual report for the period ending October 31, 2017.
The Adviser is a subsidiary of CBOE Vest Group, Inc. (CBOEVG). CBOEVG is majority owned by CBOE ® Vest, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. The remaining portion of CBOEVG is owned by certain individuals who operate CBOEVG and the Adviser. CBOEVG was organized in 2012. CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE ® ) and other subsidiaries. CBOE ® is the largest U.S. options exchange and creator of listed options. CBOE ® offers equity, index and ETF options, including proprietary products, such as the S&P 500 ® Index options, which is the most actively traded U.S. index option, and these products may trade on CBOE ® affiliated exchanges resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . In the future and subject to the qualifications described in the principal investment strategies of the Fund, the Fund may trade options on CBOE ® , including options on the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will not pay, and the CBOE ® (and its parent and affiliates) will not receive any special compensation or consideration in connection with such transactions other than the typical costs that are associated with conducting such transactions by any other non-affiliated party. Certain option used by the Fund may trade on one or more CBOE ® affiliated exchanges, in some cases exclusively on these exchanges, resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . CBOE ® is a registered trademark of CBOE ® . Vest SM is a service mark of CBOEVG.
The Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed on a day-to-day basis by Karan Sood and Jonathan Hale.
Mr. Sood has twelve years of experience in derivative based investment strategy design and trading. Mr. Sood joined CBOE Vest Financial LLC in 2012. Prior to joining Vest, Mr. Sood worked as a senior manager in new product development at ProShares Advisors LLC. At ProShares he was instrumental in developing several first-to-market derivative based exchange traded funds. Prior to ProShares, Mr. Sood worked as a Vice President at Barclays Capital. Last based in New York, he was responsible for using derivatives to design structured
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investment strategies and solutions for the firms institutional clients in the Americas. Prior to his role in New York, Mr. Sood worked in similar capacity in London with Barclays Capitals European clients. Mr. Sood received a masters degree in Decision Sciences & Operations Research from London School of Economics & Political Science. He also holds a bachelors degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Mr. Hale has four years of experience in investment and securities valuation and analysis. Mr. Hale joined Vest in 2015. Prior to joining Vest, Mr. Hale worked as an investment banking analyst at Citigroup for two years, conducting quantitative analysis on corporations. Mr. Hale holds a bachelors degree in Mathematics and Economics from Stanford University.
The Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides additional information about each portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio managers ownership in the Fund.
The Trust
The Fund is a series of the World Funds 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 Plan
The Fund has adopted a shareholder service plan on behalf of its Class A and Class C Shares. Under a shareholder services plan, the Fund may pay an authorized firm up to 0.15% 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
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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.
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 Plan. For more information, please refer to the SAI.
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 SAI. 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.
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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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378). Financial Intermediaries 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.
Minimum Investments. The minimum initial investment for Class A and Class C Shares is $1,000. Subsequent investments must be in amounts of $100 or more. The Trust may waive the minimum initial investment requirement for purchases made by directors, officers and employees of the Trust, the Adviser or any of their respective affiliates. 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.
Customer Identification Program. Federal regulations require that the Trust obtain certain personal information about you when opening a new account. As a result, the Trust must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:
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Name; | ||
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Date of birth (for individuals); | ||
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Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and | ||
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Social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number. |
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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.
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, VA 23235 together with your check payable to the respective Fund. When you buy shares, be sure to specify the Fund and 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 Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378) 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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378) 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, by contacting any broker authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund, by contacting the Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378) or by contacting the Transfer Agent, at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 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.
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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 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.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests through cash holdings or cash equivalents and expect to use cash holdings or cash equivalents on a regular basis. To the extent cash holdings or cash equivalents are not available to meet redemption requests, the Fund will meet redemption requests by either (i) rebalancing their overweight securities or (ii) selling portfolio assets. In addition, if the Trustees determine that it would be detrimental to the best interest of the Funds remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the Fund may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution-in-kind of readily marketable securities.
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: CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income 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
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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, VA 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 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 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 the 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 redeem 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.
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.
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.
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. You should note that should such a redemption occur with regards to a non-retirement account, such redemption would be subject to taxation. Please refer to the section entitled Dividends, Distributions and Taxes below.
Automatic Investment Plan . Existing shareholders, who wish to make regular monthly investments in amounts of $100 or more, may do so through the Automatic Investment Plan. Under the Automatic Investment Plan, your designated bank or other financial institution debits a pre-authorized amount from your account on or about the 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. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Adviser manages 49 other funds in the Trust.
Frequent purchases and redemptions (Frequent Trading) (as discussed below) can adversely impact the Funds 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
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Trusts judgment, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with their 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, 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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378).
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.
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.
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Taxes . In general, the Fund distributions are taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gain. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares of the Fund or receive them in cash. Any long-term capital gain the Fund distributes are taxable to you as long-term capital gain no matter how long you have owned your shares. Other Fund distributions (including distributions attributable to short-term capital gain of the Fund) will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except that distributions that are designated as qualified dividend income will be taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. 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.
23
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.
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 attributable to the Funds Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, subtracting any liabilities attributable to the applicable class and then dividing by the total number of the applicable classes shares outstanding. Due to the fact that different expenses may be charged against shares of different classes of the Fund, the NAV of the different classes may vary.
Shares of the Fund are bought or exchanged at the public offering price per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form. The public offering price of the Funds Shares is equal to the NAV plus the applicable front-end sales charge, if any. Shares of the Fund held by you are sold or exchanged at the NAV per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form, less any applicable deferred sales charge. Any request received in proper form before the Valuation Time, will be processed the same business day. Any request received in proper form after the Valuation Time, will be processed the next business day.
The Funds securities are valued at current market prices. Investments in securities traded on national securities exchanges or included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last reported sale price. Other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sales are reported on a given date are valued at the last reported bid price. Debt securities are valued by appraising them at prices supplied by a pricing agent approved by the Trust, which prices may reflect broker-dealer supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Short-term debt securities (less than 60 days to maturity) are valued at their fair market value using amortized cost. Other assets for which market prices are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the administrator, in consultation with the adviser, 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.
24
The Trust has a policy that contemplates the use of fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund when market prices are unavailable as well as under special circumstances, such as: (i) if the primary market for a portfolio security suspends or limits trading or price movements of the security; and (ii) when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the security. Since most of the Funds investments are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, it is anticipated that the use of fair value pricing will be limited.
When the Trust uses fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund, securities will not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Board believes accurately reflects fair value. Any method used will be approved by the Board and results will be monitored to evaluate accuracy. The Trusts policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Funds NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing. However, fair values determined pursuant to the Trusts procedures may not accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing.
SHARE CLASS ALTERNATIVES
The Fund offers investors two different classes of shares through this prospectus. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and 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.
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 |
|||
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% | 5.00% | |||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.50% | 4.71% | 3.75% | |||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50% | 3.63% | 2.75% | |||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.50% | 2.56% | 2.00% | |||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 2.00% | 2.04% | 1.75% | |||
$1,000,000 or more | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
(1) The term Offering Price includes the front-end sales charge.
25
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).
Statement of Intention . A reduced sales charge on Class A Shares of the Funds 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).
26
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 a 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, or affiliates of the
Adviser, 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;
|
|
(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 Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378). All account information is subject to acceptance and verification by the Funds Distributor.
27
Class C Shares
Class C Shares are subject to a Distribution (12b-1) and Service Fee as described below under Rule 12b-1 Fees.
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 Class A and the Class C Shares of the Fund redeemed within 30 days of purchase as a percentage of amount redeemed. The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of long-term shareholders. The first in-first out (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you purchase shares on different days, the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies. The fee does not apply to Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and the Automatic Investment Plan or shares redeemed through the Systematic
Withdrawal Program. The Fund reserves the right to change the terms and amount of this fee upon at least a 30-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 if, as a result of this monitoring, the Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in frequent trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholders accounts. 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. To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, 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
28
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 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
29
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.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, no financial highlights are available. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.
30
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 August 18, 2017, 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, VA 23235, by calling the Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378), by e-mail at: mail@ccofva.com or on the Funds website at www.cboevestfunds.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)
31
The CBOE Vest Family of Funds |
PROSPECTUS |
August 18, 2017 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund |
Investor Class Shares (KNGLX) |
Institutional Class Shares (KNGIX) |
This prospectus describes the CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund. The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund is authorized to offer 4 classes of shares, two of which are offered by this prospectus.
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE |
Fund Summary |
1 |
Investment Objective |
1 |
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
1 |
Portfolio Turnover |
2 |
Principal Investment Strategies |
2 |
Principal Risks |
4 |
Performance History |
7 |
Investment Adviser |
7 |
Portfolio Managers |
7 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares |
7 |
Tax Information |
8 |
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Intermediaries |
8 |
Additional Information About the Funds Investments |
9 |
Additional Information About Risk |
11 |
Management |
14 |
How to Buy Shares |
17 |
How to Sell Shares |
19 |
General Information |
20 |
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes |
22 |
Net Asset Value |
24 |
Share Class Alternatives |
25 |
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions |
25 |
Distribution Arrangements |
27 |
Financial Highlights |
27 |
For More Information |
28 |
FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective
The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index).
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.
Shareholder
Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment) |
Investor
Class Shares |
Institutional
Class Shares |
|||||||
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases | None | None | |||||||
(as a percentage of offering price) | |||||||||
Maximum deferred sales charges (load) | None | None | |||||||
(as a percentage of the NAV at time of purchase) | |||||||||
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of the amount | |||||||||
redeemed on shares after holding them for 30 days or less) | 2.00% | None | |||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | |||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
|||||||||
Management Fee | 0.75% | 0.75% | |||||||
Distribution (12b-1) and Service Fees | 0.25% | None | |||||||
Other Expenses (1) | 0.32% | 0.32% | |||||||
Shareholder Services Plan (1) | 0.05% | 0.05% | |||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.37% | 1.12% | |||||||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (2) | (0.17%) | (0.17%) | |||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | |||||||||
(after fee waivers and expense reimbursements) (2) | 1.20% | 0.95% | |||||||
(1) |
Other Expenses
and Shareholder Services Plan fees are estimated for the Funds first full
fiscal year.
|
||
(2) |
CBOE Vest
SM
Financial LLC (the Adviser), has entered into a written expense
limitation agreement under which it has agreed to limit the total expenses of the
Fund (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) to an annual rate of 0.95% of the average daily
net assets of the Fund. The Adviser may not terminate this expense limitation agreement
|
1
prior to February
28, 2019. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to
repayment by the Fund within 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 |
Investor Class Shares | $122 | $417 |
Institutional Class Shares | $97 | $339 |
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
The Fund employs an investment approach designed to track the performance of the Index before fees and expenses. The Index is designed with the primary goal of generating an annualized level of income that is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index and a secondary goal of generating price returns that are approximately equal to the price returns of the S&P 500 Index.
About the Indexs Strategy
The Index, constructed and maintained by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Index Calculation Agent and/or CBOE), an affiliate of the Adviser, is designed with the primary goal of generating an annualized level of income that is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index and a secondary goal of generating price returns that are approximately equal to the price returns of the S&P 500 Index. The Index investment strategy includes:
|
buying a portfolio
of 30 stocks of companies equally weighted (Stock Portfolio) that are
the top 30 members of the S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
®
Index (SPDAUDT Index) by dividend yield and;
|
||
|
partially
writing hypothetical weekly U.S. exchange-traded covered call options (Call
Options) on each of the 30 stocks.
|
2
Stock Portfolio : The Stock Portfolio in the Index is rebalanced to be equally weighted each January, April, July and October and is reconstituted on an annual basis by selecting 30 stocks that have options that trade on a national securities exchange and with the highest dividend yield from the SPDAUDT Index during the January rebalance. The SPDAUDT Index, constructed and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, targets companies that are currently members of the S&P 500 ® , have increased dividend payments each year for at least 25 years, and meet certain market capitalization and liquidity requirements. The SPDAUDT Index contains a minimum of 40 stocks, which are equally weighted, and no single sector is allowed to comprise more than 30% of the Index weight. If there are fewer than 40 stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth or if sector caps are breached, the SPDAUDT Index will include companies with shorter dividend growth histories.
Call Options : Each stock in the Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with an exchange traded-call option on that stock. Each exchange-traded call option included in the Index is a hypothetical European-style option ( i.e ., an option which can only be exercised at the strike price at its expiration) with an approximate term of 7-days (Term). The strike price ( i.e ., the price at which a call option can be exercised) of each call option included in the Index must be as close as possible to the closing price of the options underlying stock price as of the beginning of the Term, the last business day of the week. Each such option will automatically be deemed exercised on its expiration date if its underlying stock price is above its strike price. If the stock underlying the call option closes above the options strike price, a cash settlement payment in an amount equal to the difference between the strike price and the closing price of the stock is deemed to be made and the Index value is correspondingly reduced. If the underlying stock does not close below its strike price, then the option expires worthless and the entire amount of the premium payment is retained within the Index. The Call Options are rolled at the end of the Term, into a new set of Call Options with a new term of approximately 7 days. The Index is designed to vary the number of Call Options written over the Term such that Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with Call Options. The number of Call Options written are determined at the start of the Term such that total annualized income per unit of investment expressed as a percentage over the calendar year (Annualized Yield) from dividends received from the Stock Portfolio and the premiums received from the Call Options is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index. The Index may utilize FLexible EXchange ® Options (FLEX Options), which are customized equity or index option contracts that trade on an exchange, but unlike standardized exchange-traded options provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like exercise prices, styles and expiration dates.
The Index is published under the Bloomberg ticker symbol SPAI.
About the Funds Strategy
The Fund generally uses a representative sampling strategy to achieve its investment objective, meaning it generally will invest in a sample of the securities in the Index whose risk, return and other characteristics resemble the risk, return, and other characteristics of the Index as a whole. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets
3
will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities.
The Fund intends to invest in a sample of the securities in the Index with a view towards making quarterly distributions at an approximate rate of 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index, before fees and expenses.
The Fund may invest in the entire Stock Portfolio or a representative sample of the Stock Portfolio whose risk, return and other characteristics resemble the risk, return, and other characteristics of the Stock Portfolio as a whole. The Fund will seek to reconstitute and rebalance at or close to the same time as when the Stock Portfolio is rebalanced.
The Fund may sell European Style FLEX Options that reference the stock that the Fund may invest in. Like standardized exchange-traded options, FLEX Options are guaranteed for settlement by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), a market clearinghouse. The OCC guarantees performance by each of the counterparties to the FLEX Options, becoming the buyer for every seller and the seller for every buyer, protecting clearing members and options traders from counterparty risk. FLEX Options provide investors with the ability to customize key terms, while achieving price discovery in competitive, transparent auctions markets and avoiding the counterparty exposure of over-the-counter (OTC) options positions. OTC options are options that do not trade on an exchange.
The Fund is non-diversified.
Because of certain potential limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 associated with trading options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and any other exchanges owned or controlled by CBOE Holdings, Inc. (CBOE Exchanges), the Fund will not effect transactions in options that are traded on any CBOE Exchanges until such time that appropriate exemptive and/or no-action relief is obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and/or its staff by the Adviser, the CBOE and/or any mutual funds advised by the Adviser. This restriction shall not prevent the Adviser or the Fund from engaging in other transactions or receiving other services from the CBOE or for which the CBOE may receive a benefit, such as pricing services, provided such transactions and/or the receipt of such services is consistent with applicable statutes, rules, regulations and interpretive positions of the SEC and its staff.
Principal Risks
It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds net asset value (NAV) and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet 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.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the Fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the Adviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares in the Fund may decrease.
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Specific risks of investing in the Fund are described below. The risks may apply indirectly through the Funds investments in other investment companies.
Call Options Risk . Writing call options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Funds use of derivatives, such as call options, can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying stock, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. These risks are heightened when the Funds portfolio managers use options to enhance the Funds return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the Fund. When selling a call option, the Fund will receive a premium; however, this premium may not be enough to offset a loss incurred by the Fund if the price of the underlying stock is above the strike price by an amount equal to or greater than the premium. The value of an option may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller, and will be affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the stock subject to the option, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual and perceived volatility of the stock market and the common stock and the remaining time to expiration. Additionally, the value of an option does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying stock(s). The Funds use of options may reduce the Funds ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying stock(s).
FLEX Options Risk . The Fund expects to utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC. The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain other securities such as standardized options. In less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. FLEX Options are also subject to the Call Option Risk described above. No one can guarantee that a liquid secondary trading market will exist for the FLEX Options. Trading in the FLEX Options may be less deep and liquid than certain other securities. FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain non-customized options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, liquidating the FLEX Options may require the payment of a premium or acceptance of a discounted price and may take longer to complete. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the liquidation of a large number of options may more significantly impact the price. A less liquid trading market may adversely impact the value of the FLEX Options and your investment.
Equity Securities Risk . The Fund invests in equity securities. The value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the value of these equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as the current market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur.
Sector Concentration Risk . The Fund from time to time may be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers located in a single industry or sector. By concentrating its investments in an industry or sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or sectors.
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Market Risk . Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Overall security values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.
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 their respective investment strategies, 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.
Portfolio Turnover Risk . The Funds strategy will frequently involve buying and selling Call Options to generate premium income. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Funds performance to be less than you expect.
Index Limitations Risk . The Index is designed to represent a proposed option writing strategy. The Index Calculation Agent uses an option valuation method to calculate the value of the portfolio of FLEX Options that are constituents of the Index. Failure by the Index Calculation Agent to fully comprehend and accurately model the constituent FLEX Options may cause the performance of the Index to vary from the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities or the performance of the Fund. Like many passive indexes, the Index does not take into account significant factors such as transaction costs and taxes and, because of factors such as these, the Funds portfolio should be expected to underperform the Index.
Newly Created Index Risk . The Index is newly created and has a limited history of performance. As such, it is uncertain how closely the Index may be able to track the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities that comprise the Index.
Tracking Error Risk . The Funds return may not match or achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the Index. A number of factors may affect the Funds ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. Failure to achieve a high degree of correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The factors that may adversely affect the Funds correlation with the Index include fees, expenses, transaction costs, income items, valuation methodology, accounting standards and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for the securities in which the Fund invests. While the Fund attempts to track the performance of the Index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the types of securities that make up the Index, at times, the Fund may not have investment exposure to all securities in the Index, or its weighting of investment exposure to securities may be different from that of the Index. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities not included in the Index. The Fund may take or refrain from taking positions in order to improve tax efficiency, or comply with regulatory restrictions, either of which may negatively affect the Funds correlation with the Index. The Fund may also be subject to movements of assets into and out of the Fund in sizes that may differ from the size of the FLEX Option contracts that constitute the Index, potentially resulting in the Fund being over- or underexposed to the Index and may be impacted by reconstitutions and rebalancing events. Any of these factors could decrease correlation between the performance of the Fund and the Index and may hinder the Funds ability to meet its investment objective.
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Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified. The performance of a non-diversified fund may be more volatile than the performance of a diversified fund. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold fewer investments than a fund than is a diversified fund.
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. The Adviser and the portfolio managers have never managed this strategy in a mutual fund and this lack of experience may detract from the ability of the Fund to achieve its objective.
Performance History
The Fund has recently commenced operations and 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.cboevestfunds.com or by calling the Fund toll-free at 855-505-VEST (8378).
Investment Adviser
CBOE Vest SM Financial LLC is the investment adviser to the Fund.
Portfolio Managers
Karan Sood, Managing Director of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager to the Fund since its inception on August 18, 2017.
Jonathan Hale, a Portfolio Manager of the Adviser, has served as a portfolio manager to the Fund since its inception on August 18, 2017.
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 (CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235), by wire, or by calling toll free at 1-855-505-VEST (8378). Purchases and redemptions by telephone are only permitted if you previously established this option on your account. The minimum initial purchase or exchange into the Fund is $1,000 for Investor Class Shares and $100,000 for Institutional Class Shares. Subsequent investments must be in amounts of $100 or more for Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares. The Fund may waive minimums for purchases or exchanges through employer-sponsored retirement plans.
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Tax Information
The Funds distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gain, 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. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Funds.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other 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 THE FUNDS INVESTMENTS
The CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund (the Fund) seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index). The Funds investment objective may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.
The Fund employs an investment approach designed to track the performance of the CBOE S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Index (the Index) before fees and expenses. Unlike an actively-managed fund that utilizes active management investment strategies to meet its investment objective, the Fund employs a passive approach to investing that is designed to track the performance, before fees and expenses, of the Index. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities.
The Fund employ various investment techniques that the Adviser believes should, in the aggregate, simulate the movement of the Index. The investment techniques utilized to simulate the movement of the Index are intended to enhance liquidity, maintain a tax-efficient portfolio and reduce transaction costs, while, at the same time, seeking to maintain high correlation with, and similar aggregate characteristics ( e.g . with respect to equity funds, market capitalization and industry weightings) to the Index. For example, the Fund may invest in or gain exposure to only a representative sample of the securities in the Index, which exposure is intended to have aggregate characteristics like those of the Index. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may invest in or obtain exposure to components not included in the Index or overweight or underweight certain components of the Index with the intent of obtaining exposure with aggregate characteristics like the Index, including, as applicable, the general credit profile of the Index. The Adviser does not invest the assets of the Fund in securities or financial instruments based on the Advisers view of the investment merit of a security, instrument, or company, other than for cash management purposes, nor does it conduct conventional investment research or analysis, or forecast market movement or trends, in managing the assets of the Fund. The Fund generally seeks to remain fully invested always in securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, provide exposure to the Index without regard to market conditions, trends, direction, or the financial condition of an issuer.
The Index, constructed and maintained by Chicago Board Options Exchange, an affiliate of the Adviser, is designed with the primary goal of generating an annualized level of income that is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index and a secondary goal of generating price returns that are approximately equal to the price returns of the S&P 500 Index. The Index investment strategy includes:
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buying a portfolio
of 30 stocks of companies equally weighted (Stock Portfolio) that are
the top 30 members of the S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
®
Index (SPDAUDT
Index) by dividend yield and;
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partially
writing hypothetical weekly U.S. exchange-traded covered call options (Call
Options) on each of the 30 stocks.
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Stock Portfolio : The Stock Portfolio in the Index is rebalanced to be equally weighted each January, April, July and October and is reconstituted on an annual basis by selecting 30 stocks that have options that trade on a national securities exchange and with the highest dividend yield from the SPDAUDT Index during the January rebalance. The SPDAUDT Index, constructed and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, targets companies that are currently members of the S&P 500 ® , have increased dividend payments each year for at least 25 years, and meet certain market capitalization and liquidity requirements. The SPDAUDT Index contains a minimum of 40 stocks, which are equally weighted, and no single sector is allowed to comprise more than 30% of the Index weight. If there are fewer than 40 stocks with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth or if sector caps are breached, the SPDAUDT Index will include companies with shorter dividend growth histories.
Call Options : Each stock in the Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with an exchange traded-call option on that stock. Each exchange-traded call option included in the Index is a hypothetical European-style option ( i.e ., an option which can only be exercised at the strike price at its expiration) with an approximate term of 7-days (Term). The strike price ( i.e ., the price at which a call option can be exercised) of each call option included in the Index must be as close as possible to the closing price of the options underlying stock price as of the beginning of the Term, the last business day of the week. Each such option will automatically be deemed exercised on its expiration date if its underlying stock price is above its strike price. If the stock underlying the call option closes above the options strike price, a cash settlement payment in an amount equal to the difference between the strike price and the closing price of the stock is deemed to be made and the Index value is correspondingly reduced. If the underlying stock does not close below its strike price, then the option expires worthless and the entire amount of the premium payment is retained within the Index. The Call Options are rolled at the end of the Term, into a new set of Call Options with a new term of approximately 7 days. The Index is designed to vary the number of Call Options written over the Term such that the Stock Portfolio is partially overwritten with Call Options. The number of Call Options written are determined at the start of the Term such that total annualized income per unit of investment expressed as a percentage over the calendar year (Annualized Yield) from dividends received from the Stock Portfolio and the premiums received from the Call Options is approximately 4% over the annual dividend yield of the S&P 500 ® Index. The Index may utilize FLexible EXchange ® Options (FLEX Options), which are customized equity or index option contracts that trade on an exchange, but unlike standardized exchange-traded options provide investors with the ability to customize key contract terms like exercise prices, styles and expiration dates.
The Index is published under the Bloomberg ticker symbol SPAI.
The Fund may sell European Style FLEX Options. Like standardized exchange-traded options, FLEX Options are guaranteed for settlement by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC), a market clearinghouse. The OCC guarantees performance by each of the counterparties to the FLEX Options, becoming the buyer for every seller and the seller for every buyer, protecting clearing members and options traders from counterparty risk. FLEX Options provide investors with the ability to customize key terms, while achieving price discovery in competitive, transparent auctions markets and avoiding the counterparty exposure of over-the-counter (OTC) options positions. OTC options are options that do not trade on an exchange.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT RISK
It is important that you closely review and understand the risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds net asset value (NAV) and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, and the Fund could underperform other investments. There is no guarantee that the Fund will meet 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.
Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the Fund invests can be worse than expected and investments may fail to perform as the Adviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares in the Fund may decrease.
Specific risks of investing in the Fund are described below. The risks may apply indirectly through the Funds investments in other investment companies.
Call Options Risk . For a call option on a security, the option buyer has the right to purchase, and the option seller (or writer) has the obligation to sell, a specified security at a specified price (exercise price or strike price) on or before a specified date (option expiration date). Writing call options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The Funds use of derivatives, such as call options, can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying stock, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. The Fund could experience a loss if derivatives do not perform as anticipated, or are not correlated with the performance of other investments which are used to hedge or if the Fund is unable to liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.
For an index call option, the buyer has the right to receive from the seller a cash payment at the option expiration date equal to any positive difference between the value of the index at the contract expiration and exercise price. The buyer or a call option makes a cash payment (premium) to the seller of the option upon entering into the option contract.
| Options Risk . Option transactions in which the Fund may engage involve the following risks: |
o |
the writer
of an option may be assigned an exercise at expiration date of the option;
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||
o |
disruptions
in the markets for underlying instruments could result in losses for options investors;
|
||
o |
the insolvency
of a broker could present risks for the brokers customers;
|
||
o |
market imposed
restrictions may prohibit the exercise of certain options; and
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||
o |
the seller
of an option is subject to the risk that the performance of its stock portfolio
will vary from the performance of the underlying index and the purpose of purchasing
the option will not be fully achieved.
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Call Options.
A call option is an option to buy assets at an agreed-upon price on or before
a particular date. The seller (writer) of a call option which is covered (i.e.,
the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of a decline in the market
price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security
less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying
security above the exercise price of the option.
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FLEX Options Risk. The Fund expects to utilize FLEX Options issued and guaranteed for settlement by the OCC. The Fund bears the risk that the OCC will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the FLEX Options contracts. Additionally, FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain other securities such as standardized options. In less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the Fund may have difficulty closing out certain FLEX Options positions at desired times and prices. FLEX Options are also subject to the Call Option Risk described above. No one can guarantee that a liquid secondary trading market will exist for the FLEX Options. Trading in the FLEX Options may be less deep and liquid than certain other securities. FLEX Options may be less liquid than certain non-customized options. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, liquidating the FLEX Options may require the payment of a premium or acceptance of a discounted price and may take longer to complete. In a less liquid market for the FLEX Options, the liquidation of a large number of options may more significantly impact the price. A less liquid trading market may adversely impact the value of the FLEX Options and your investment.
Equity Securities Risk. The Fund invests in equity securities. The value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the value of these equity securities. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, such as the current market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting the issuers occur.
Sector Concentration Risk . The Fund from time to time may be concentrated to a significant degree in securities of issuers located in a single industry or sector. By concentrating its investments in an industry or sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous industries or sectors.
Market Risk . Market risk is the risk that a particular security owned by the Fund in general may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic, political, regulatory or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Overall security values could decline generally or could underperform other investments.
New Fund Risk . The Fund is recently formed. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that they may not be successful in implementing their respective investment strategies, 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.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Funds strategy will frequently involve buying and selling Call Options to generate premium income. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying
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higher levels of transaction costs and generating greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Funds performance to be less than you expect.
Index Limitations Risk . The Index is designed to represent a proposed option writing strategy. The Index Calculation Agent uses an option valuation method to calculate the value of the portfolio of FLEX Options that are constituents of the Index. Failure by the Index Calculation Agent to fully comprehend and accurately model the constituent FLEX Options may cause the performance of the Index to vary from the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities or the performance of the Fund. Like many passive indexes, the Index does not take into account significant factors such as transaction costs and taxes and, because of factors such as these, the Funds portfolio should be expected to underperform the Index.
Newly Created Index Risk . The Index is newly created and has a limited history of performance. As such, it is uncertain how closely the Index may be able to track the performance of an actual portfolio of the constituent securities that comprise the Index.
Tracking Error Risk . The Funds return may not match or achieve a high degree of correlation with the return of the Index. A number of factors may affect the Funds ability to achieve a high degree of correlation with the Index, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve a high degree of correlation. Failure to achieve a high degree of correlation may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The factors that may adversely affect the Funds correlation with the Index include fees, expenses, transaction costs, income items, valuation methodology, accounting standards and disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for the securities in which the Fund invests. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Funds total assets will be invested in component securities of the Index and investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the economic characteristics of such component securities. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities not included in the Index. The Fund may take or refrain from taking positions in order to improve tax efficiency, or comply with regulatory restrictions, either of which may negatively affect the Funds correlation with the Index. The Fund may also be subject to movements of assets into and out of the Fund in sizes that may differ from the size of the FLEX Option contracts that constitute the Index, potentially resulting in the Fund being over-or underexposed to the Index and may be impacted by reconstitutions and rebalancing events. Any of these factors could decrease correlation between the performance of the Fund and the Index and may hinder the Funds ability to meet its investment objective.
Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified. The performance of a non-diversified fund may be more volatile than the performance of a diversified fund. As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may hold fewer investments than a fund than is a diversified fund.
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. The Adviser and the portfolio managers have never managed this strategy in a mutual fund and this lack of experience may detract from the ability of the Fund to achieve its objective.
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MANAGEMENT
The Investment Adviser .
CBOE Vest SM Financial LLC , 1765 Greensboro Station Pl, 9 th Floor, McLean, VA 22102, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for management of the Funds investment portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for selecting the Funds investments according to the Funds investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Adviser was established in September 2012. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser is the investment adviser to 49 other funds in the Trust and Institutional sub-advised separately managed accounts. As of April 28, 2017, the Adviser had approximately $91.2 million in assets under management.
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 calculated daily and payable monthly, at a rate of 0.75% of the Funds average daily net assets.
The Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement under which it has agreed to limit the total expenses of the Fund (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) to an annual rate of 0.95% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. This expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Adviser or the Trust at any time after February 28, 2019. Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by the Fund within 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 Board of Trustees approval of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund is available in the Funds annual report for the period ending October 31, 2017.
The Adviser is a subsidiary of CBOE Vest Group, Inc. (CBOEVG). CBOEVG is majority owned by CBOE ® Vest, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. The remaining portion of CBOEVG is owned by certain individuals who operate CBOEVG and the Adviser. CBOEVG was organized in 2012. CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE ® ) and other subsidiaries. CBOE ® is the largest U.S. options exchange and creator of listed options. CBOE ® offers equity, index and ETF options, including proprietary products, such as the S&P 500 ® Index options, which is the most actively traded U.S. index option, and these products may trade on CBOE ® affiliated exchanges resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . In the future and subject to the qualifications described in the principal investment strategies of the Fund, the Fund may trade options on CBOE ® , including options on the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will not pay, and the CBOE ® (and its parent and affiliates) will not receive any special compensation or consideration in connection with such transactions other than the typical costs that are associated with conducting such transactions by any other nonaffiliated party. Certain option used by the Fund may trade on one or more CBOE ® affiliated exchanges, in some cases exclusively on these exchanges, resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . CBOE ® is a registered trademark of CBOE ® . CBOE Vest SM is a service mark of CBOEVG.
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The Portfolio Managers
The Fund is managed on a day-to-day basis by Karan Sood and Jonathan Hale.
Mr. Sood has twelve years of experience in derivative based investment strategy design and trading. Mr. Sood joined CBOE Vest Financial LLC in 2012. Prior to joining Vest, Mr. Sood worked as a senior manager in new product development at ProShares Advisors LLC. At ProShares he was instrumental in developing several first-to-market derivative based exchange traded funds. Prior to ProShares, Mr. Sood worked as a Vice President at Barclays Capital. Last based in New York, he was responsible for using derivatives to design structured investment strategies and solutions for the firms institutional clients in the Americas. Prior to his role in New York, Mr. Sood worked in similar capacity in London with Barclays Capitals European clients. Mr. Sood received a masters degree in Decision Sciences & Operations Research from London School of Economics & Political Science. He also holds a bachelors degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Mr. Hale has four years of experience in investment and securities valuation and analysis. Mr. Hale joined Vest in 2015. Prior to joining Vest, Mr. Hale worked as an investment banking analyst at Citigroup for two years, conducting quantitative analysis on corporations. Mr. Hale holds a bachelors degree in Mathematics and Economics from Stanford University.
The Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides additional information about each portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio managers ownership in the Fund.
The Trust
The Fund is a series of the World Funds 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 Plan for the Funds Investor Class (the 12b-1 Plan) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan, 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 Investor Class Shares. 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 Plan, while primarily intended to compensation for shareholder services and expenses, was adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and it therefore may be used to pay for certain expenditures related to financing distribution related activities for the Fund.
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Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Fund has adopted a shareholder service plan on behalf of its Investor Class and Institutional Shares. Under a shareholder services plan, the Fund may pay an authorized firm up to 0.15% 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.
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 Plan. For more information, please refer to the SAI.
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
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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 SAI. 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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378). Financial Intermediaries 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.
Minimum Investments . The minimum initial investment for Investor Class Shares is $1,000 and Institutional Class Shares is $100,000. Subsequent investments must be in amounts of $100 or more. The Trust may waive the minimum initial investment requirement for purchases made by directors, officers and employees of the Trust, the Adviser or any of their respective affiliates. 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.
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Customer Identification Program . Federal regulations require that the Trust obtain certain personal information about you when opening a new account. As a result, the Trust must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:
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Name; | ||
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Date of birth (for individuals); | ||
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Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and | ||
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Social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number. |
You may also be asked for a copy of your drivers license, passport, or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.
After an account is opened, the Trust may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Trust also may close your account or take other appropriate action if it is unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time.
If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed.
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, VA 23235 together with your check payable to the respective Fund. When you buy shares, be sure to specify the Fund and 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 Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378) 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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378) 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, by contacting any broker authorized by the Distributor to sell shares of the Fund, by contacting the Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST
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(8378) or by contacting the Transfer Agent, at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 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 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.
The Fund typically expects to meet redemption requests through cash holdings or cash equivalents and expect to use cash holdings or cash equivalents on a regular basis. To the extent cash holdings or cash equivalents are not available to meet redemption requests, the Fund will meet redemption requests by either (i) rebalancing their overweight securities or (ii) selling portfolio assets. In addition, if the Trustees determine that it would be detrimental to the best interest of the Funds remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the Fund may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution-in-kind of readily marketable securities.
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: CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income 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
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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, VA 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 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 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 the 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 redeem 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.
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
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telephone redemption service, other than through your initial account application. Signature guarantees may be required for certain other reasons. For example, a signature guarantee may be required if you sell a large number of shares or if your address of record on the account has been changed within the last thirty (30) days.
In the case of redemption by mail, signature guarantees must appear on either: (1) the written request for redemption; or (2) a separate instrument of assignment (usually referred to as a stock power) specifying the total number of shares being redeemed. The Trust may waive these requirements in certain instances.
An original signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine so that you are protected from unauthorized account transactions. Notarization is not an acceptable substitute. Acceptable guarantors only include participants in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP2000). Participants in STAMP2000 may include financial institutions such as banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker-dealers and member firms of a national securities exchange.
Proper Form . Your order to buy shares is in proper form when your completed and signed account application and check or wire payment is received. 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.
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. You should note that should such a redemption occur with regards to a non-retirement account, such redemption would be subject to taxation. Please refer to the section entitled Dividends, Distributions and Taxes below.
Automatic Investment Plan . Existing shareholders, who wish to make regular monthly investments in amounts of $100 or more, may do so through the Automatic Investment Plan. Under the Automatic Investment Plan, your designated bank or other financial institution debits a pre-authorized amount from your account on or about the 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. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Adviser manages 49 other funds in the Trust.
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Frequent purchases and redemptions (Frequent Trading) (as discussed below) can adversely impact the Funds 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 their 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, 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 toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378).
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.
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.
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Unless you are investing through a tax deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, it is not to your advantage to buy shares of the Fund shortly before the next distribution, because doing so can cost you money in taxes. This is known as buying a dividend. To avoid buying a dividend, check the Funds distribution schedule before you invest.
Taxes . In general, the Fund distributions are taxable to you as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gain. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares of the Fund or receive them in cash. Any long-term capital gain the Fund distributes are taxable to you as long-term capital gain no matter how long you have owned your shares. Other Fund distributions (including distributions attributable to short-term capital gain of the Fund) will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income, except that distributions that are designated as qualified dividend income will be taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. 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.
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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.
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 attributable to the Funds Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, subtracting any liabilities attributable to the applicable class and then dividing by the total number of the applicable classes shares outstanding. Due to the fact that different expenses may be charged against shares of different classes of the Fund, the NAV of the different classes may vary.
Shares of the Fund are bought or exchanged at the public offering price per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form. The public offering price of the Funds Shares is equal to the NAV plus the applicable front-end sales charge, if any. Shares of the Fund held by you are sold or exchanged at the NAV per share next determined after a request has been received in proper form, less any applicable deferred sales charge. Any request received in proper form before the Valuation Time, will be processed the same business day. Any request received in proper form after the Valuation Time, will be processed the next business day.
The Funds securities are valued at current market prices. Investments in securities traded on national securities exchanges or included in the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last reported sale price. Other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sales are reported on a given date are valued at the last reported bid price. Debt securities are valued by appraising them at prices supplied by a pricing agent approved by the Trust, which prices may reflect broker-dealer supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Short-term debt securities (less than 60 days to maturity) are valued at their fair market value using amortized cost. Other assets for which market prices are not readily available are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the administrator, in consultation with the adviser, under procedures set by the Board. Generally, trading in corporate bonds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments is substantially completed each day at various times before the scheduled close of the NYSE. The value of these securities used in computing the NAV is determined as of such times.
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The Trust has a policy that contemplates the use of fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund when market prices are unavailable as well as under special circumstances, such as: (i) if the primary market for a portfolio security suspends or limits trading or price movements of the security; and (ii) when an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to have changed the value of the security. Since most of the Funds investments are traded on U.S. securities exchanges, it is anticipated that the use of fair value pricing will be limited.
When the Trust uses fair value pricing to determine the NAV per share of the Fund, securities will not be priced on the basis of quotations from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Board believes accurately reflects fair value. Any method used will be approved by the Board and results will be monitored to evaluate accuracy. The Trusts policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Funds NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing. However, fair values determined pursuant to the Trusts procedures may not accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing.
SHARE CLASS ALTERNATIVES
The Fund offers investors two different classes of shares through this prospectus. The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and 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.
Investor Class Shares
Investor Class Shares are offered with no front-end or contingent deferred sales charge and are subject to a 0.25% Rule 12b-1 fee.
Institutional Class Shares
Institutional Class Shares are offered with no front-end or contingent deferred sales charge and are not subject to any Rule 12b-1 fees.
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
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investments across broader ranges of industries as sector-specific market or economic developments may make it more difficult to sell a significant amount of shares at favorable prices to meet redemptions. Frequent Trading may also increase portfolio turnover, which may result in increased capital gains taxes for shareholders of the Fund. These capital gains could include short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
The Fund will assess a 2.00% redemption fee of Investor Class Shares of the Fund redeemed within 30 days of purchase as a percentage of amount redeemed. The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of long-term shareholders. The first in-first out (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you purchase shares on different days, the shares you held longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies. The fee does not apply to Fund shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends and the Automatic Investment Plan or shares redeemed through the Systematic Withdrawal Program. The Fund reserves the right to change the terms and amount of this fee upon at least a 30-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 if, as a result of this monitoring, the Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in frequent trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholders accounts. 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. To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, 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
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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 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.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, no financial highlights are available. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.
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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 August 18, 2017 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, VA 23235, by calling the Fund toll free at 855-505-VEST (8378), by e-mail at: mail@ccofva.com or on the Funds website at www.cboevestfunds.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)
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
August 18, 2017 |
The CBOE VEST Family of Funds |
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205 |
Richmond, Virginia 23235 |
855-505-VEST (8378) |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund | |
Class A Shares (VDDAX) | Class A Shares (BUAUX) | |
Class C Shares (VDDCX) | Class C Shares (BUCUX) | |
Investor Class Shares (VDDLX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMUX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (VDDIX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUIUX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUAGX) | Class A Shares (BUALX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCGX) | Class C Shares (BUCLX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMGX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMLX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIGX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUILX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUAJX) | Class A Shares (BUATX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCJX) | Class C Shares (BUCTX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMJX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMTX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIJX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUITX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUAFX) | Class A Shares (BUASX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCFX) | Class C Shares (BUCSX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMFX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMSX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIFX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUISX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUMAX) | Class A Shares (BUAOX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCMX) | Class C Shares (BUCOX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMMX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMOX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIMX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUIOX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUAAX) | Class A Shares (BUANX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCAX) | Class C Shares (BUCNX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMAX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMNX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIAX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUINX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund | |
Class A Shares (BUAYX) | Class A Shares (BUADX) | |
Class C Shares (BUCYX) | Class C Shares (BUCDX) | |
Investor Class Shares (BUMYX) | Investor Class Shares (BUMDX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (BUIYX) | Institutional Class Shares (BUIDX) |
CBOE VEST Family of Funds |
Continued On Next Page |
The CBOE VEST Family of Funds |
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205 |
Richmond, Virginia 23235 |
855-505-VEST (8378) |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENGAX) | Class A Shares (ENALX) | |
Class C Shares (ENGCX) | Class C Shares (ENCLX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENGLX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMLX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENGIX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENMIX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAJX) | Class A Shares (ENATX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCJX) | Class C Shares (ENCTX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMJX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMTX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIJX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENITX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAFX) | Class A Shares (ENASX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCFX) | Class C Shares (ENCSX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMFX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMSX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIFX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENISX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAMX) | Class A Shares (ENAOX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCMX) | Class C Shares (ENCOX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMMX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMOX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIMX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENIOX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAAX) | Class A Shares (ENANX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCAX) | Class C Shares (ENCNX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMAX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMNX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIZX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENINX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAYX) | Class A Shares (ENADX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCZX) | Class C Shares (ENCDX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMYX) | Investor Class Shares (ENMDX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIYX) | Institutional Class Shares (ENIDX) | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund | CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund | |
Class A Shares (ENAUX) | Class A (KNGAX) | |
Class C Shares (ENCUX) | Class C Shares (KNGCX) | |
Investor Class Shares (ENMUX) | Investor Class Shares (KNGLX) | |
Institutional Class Shares (ENIUX) | Institutional Class Shares (KNGIX) |
This Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the current prospectuses for the CBOE Vest Funds each dated August 18, 2017 as they 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 Funds 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 855-505-VEST (8378).
TABLE OF CONTENTS | Page |
THE TRUST | 1 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES | 2 |
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS | 2 |
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS | 9 |
INVESTMENT ADVISER | 12 |
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS | 13 |
SERVICE PROVIDERS | 15 |
TRUSTEES & OFFICERS OF THE TRUST | 18 |
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SECURITIES HOLDERS | 23 |
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE | 25 |
DISTRIBUTION | 26 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASES AND SALES | 29 |
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES | 31 |
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES | 31 |
TAXES | 33 |
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES | 47 |
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES HOLDINGS | 49 |
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES | 53 |
PROXY VOTING | 54 |
CODE OF ETHICS | 55 |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 55 |
EXHIBIT A (PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF ADVISER) | 56 |
EXHIBIT B (WORLD FUNDS TRUST PROXY VOTING POLICIES) | 59 |
EXHIBIT C (NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER | 61 |
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 mutual funds within the Trust, other than the Funds, are described in separate prospectuses and statements of additional information.
The Funds . This SAI relates to: (i) CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund (Defined Distribution Strategy Fund); (ii) CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund (Buffer Protect Strategy Fund), CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® , (April) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund (collectively the Funds within this category (ii) may be referred to herein as the Buffer Protect Funds or in the case of the Monthly Funds, the Buffer Protect Monthly Funds); and (iii) CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund (the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund), CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund, and CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund (collectively the Funds within this category (iii) may be referred to herein as the Enhanced Growth Funds or in the case of the Monthly Funds, as the Enhanced Growth Monthly Funds); and (iv) CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Aristocrats Inflation Target Income Fund (the Aristocrats Target Income Fund). The
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Buffer Protect Monthly Funds and the Enhanced Growth Monthly Funds may be referred to collectively as the CBOE Vest Monthly Funds; the CBOE Vest Monthly Funds along with the Defined Distribution Fund, the Buffer Protect Strategy Fund, the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund, and the Aristocrats Target Income Fund may be referred to herein as the CBOE Vest Funds or the Funds).
This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses the Funds. This SAI is incorporated by reference into the Funds prospectuses. No investment in shares should be made without reading the prospectuses. The Funds are separate investment portfolios or series of the Trust. Each of the Funds is non-diversified as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and the interpretations thereof.
Description of Multiple Classes of Shares . The Funds are authorized to issue four classes of shares: Class A Shares imposing a front-end sales charge up to a maximum of 5.75% and charging a 0.25% 12b-1 fee, Class C Shares imposing no front-end sales charge, and charging a 1.00% 12b-1 and service fee, Investor Class Shares imposing no front-end or deferred sales charges and a 0.25% 12b-1 fee; and Institutional Class Shares imposing no front-end or deferred sales charges and no 12b-1 fee. Each of the classes of shares is authorized to pay up to 0.15% to third parties for the provision of shareholder services, including sub-accounting and sub-transfer agency fees.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES |
The Funds investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see Description of Permitted Investments in this SAI.
Portfolio Turnover . Average annual portfolio turnover rate is the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio securities owned during the year, excluding from both the numerator and the denominator all securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. A higher portfolio turnover rate involves greater transaction expenses to the Fund and may result in the realization of net capital gains, which would be taxable to shareholders when distributed. The Funds Adviser makes purchases and sales for the Funds portfolio whenever necessary, in the Advisers opinion, to meet each 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 Funds may invest in any type of security whose characteristics are consistent with its investment programs described below. The Funds may invest in other investment companies and ETFs (defined below) (collectively Underlying Funds) to
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the extent any of the investments or techniques are described, they may indicate the investments and techniques that the Funds generally will do directly or indirectly through investments in Underlying Funds.
Equity Securities . Equity securities in which the Funds invest include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.
United States Government Obligations . These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agencys or instrumentalitys right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agencys or instrumentalitys own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association). On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the FHFA) announced that FNMA and FHLMC had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both FNMA and FHLMC to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of FNMA and FHLMC.
Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
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FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (PCs), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMCs national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.
Securities of Other Investment Companies . Each Funds investments in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the Underlying Fund. Generally, the Funds will not purchase securities of another investment company if, as a result: (i) more than 10% of the Funds total assets would be invested in securities of other investment companies, (ii) such purchase would result in more than 3% of the total outstanding voting securities of any such investment company being held by the Funds, or (iii) more than 5% of the Funds total assets would be invested in any one such investment company. However, many ETFs have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs shares beyond the above statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the particular ETF and the investing fund. A Fund may rely on these exemptive orders to invest in unaffiliated ETFs. In the alternative, the Funds intends to rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by FINRA for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Funds may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded closed-end funds, within the limitations described above.
Securities Options . The Funds may purchase and write ( i.e. , sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (the OCC). Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.
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A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poors 500 ® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poors 100 ® . Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
Each Funds obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Funds execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series ( i.e ., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Funds will have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.
If an option purchased by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If a Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it,
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the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by a Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by a Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Certain Risks Regarding Options . There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are 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 objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, 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 or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; 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 the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Successful use by the Funds of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, a funds ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Funds. Inasmuch as the Funds securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Funds bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative correlation between the index and the Funds securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Funds.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options
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involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Funds in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Funds are unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Funds may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Funds are unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Cover for Options Positions . Transactions using options (other than options that the Funds has purchased) expose the Funds to an obligation to another party. The Funds will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (covered) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Funds will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Funds custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Funds will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Funds writes or sells options.
Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Funds assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Funds ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Options on Futures Contracts . The Funds may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the accumulated balance in the writers futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.
Dealer Options . The Funds may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Funds might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Funds were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the
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option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Funds as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Funds may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Funds writes a dealer option, it 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 Funds originally wrote the option. While the Funds will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Funds, there can be no assurance that the Funds will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Funds, as a covered dealer 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 Funds may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Funds, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Funds. For example, because the Funds must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Funds 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 Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Funds may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Funds may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer 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 Funds will treat dealer options as subject to the Funds limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Funds will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.
Short Sales . The Funds may sell securities short as an outright investment strategy and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which the Funds sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.
When the Funds makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Funds are required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Funds may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.
If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Funds covers its short position, the Funds will incur a loss; conversely, if the price
8
declines, the Funds will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
To the extent the Funds sells securities short, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales against the box) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with its custodian in a segregated account in an amount at least equal to the difference between the current market value of the securities sold short and any amounts required to be deposited as collateral with the selling broker (not including the proceeds of the short sale). The Funds do not intend to enter into short sales (other than short sales against the box) if immediately after such sales the aggregate of the value of all collateral plus the amount in such segregated account exceeds 30% of the value of the Funds net assets. This percentage may be varied by action of the Board of Trustees. A short sale is against the box to the extent the Funds contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short.
Temporary Investments . To maintain cash for redemptions and distributions and for temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may invest in money market mutual funds and in investment grade short-term fixed income securities including short-term U.S. government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers acceptances and repurchase agreements.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS |
Fundamental . The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Funds and are fundamental (Fundamental), i.e , they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Funds. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the term majority of the outstanding shares of the Funds 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 a Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a 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).
Each of The Funds:
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.
|
9
3. |
May not underwrite
securities issued by others except to the extent the Funds 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.
This restriction does not limit a Funds investments in: (i) obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities; or (ii)
tax-exempt obligations issued by governments or political subdivisions of governments.
In complying with this restriction, the Fund will not consider a bank-issued guaranty
or financial guaranty insurance as a separate security
|
||
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.
|
Except with respect to borrowing and circumstances where the Funds are required to cover their 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 Funds are 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 a Fund from a bank. If borrowings exceed this 300% asset coverage requirement by reason of a decline in net assets of a 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 the Funds to borrow for temporary purposes only in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time when the loan is made. A loan shall be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed. To the extent outstanding borrowings of a Fund exceed 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund, the Fund will not make additional purchases of securities the foregoing shall not be construed to prevent the Fund from settling portfolio transactions or satisfying shareholder redemptions orders. The 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.
10
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 Funds 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 Funds are a series of the Trust) and to divide those series into separate classes. Individual class and institutional class are separate classes. The Funds have 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 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 the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within ninety days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.
INVESTMENT ADVISER |
Adviser CBOE Vest Financial LLC, 1765 Greensboro Station Pl, 9 th Floor, McLean, Virginia 22102 (the Adviser) is the investment adviser to each Fund. The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a Delaware limited liability company. As of April 28, 2017, the Adviser had approximately $91.2 million in assets under management. The Adviser, which is majority owned by CBOE ® Vest, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. is effectively controlled by CBOE Holdings, Inc.
The Adviser currently provides investment advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement). Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser manages the investment portfolio of each Fund, subject to the policies adopted by the Trusts Board of Trustees. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, at its own expense and without reimbursement from the Trust, furnishes office space and all necessary office facilities, equipment and executive personnel necessary for managing the assets of the Funds. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser assumes and pays all ordinary expenses of the Funds, except that the Fund pays all management fees, brokerage fees and commissions, taxes,
11
interest expense, underlying fund fees and expenses, all expenses which it is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and extraordinary or non-recurring expenses.
For its services with respect to each of the Funds, other than the Aritocrats Target Income Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual management fee calculated daily and payable monthly (and deducted proportionately from each class of Shares), as a percentage of the Funds average daily net assets according to the following schedule.
Asset Level | Fee Rate | |
$0 $249,999,999.99 | 0.75% | |
$250,000,000 $749,999,999.99 | 0.65% | |
$750,000,000 $1,499,999,999.99 | 0.60% | |
$1,500,000,000 $4,999,999,999.99 | 0.55% | |
>$5,000,000,000 | 0.50% |
For its services to the Aristocrats Target Income Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual management fee calculated daily and payble montly (and deducted proportionately from each class of Shares), at the rate of 0.75% of the Aristocrats Target Income Funds average daily net assets.
To the extent the Buffer Protect Strategy Fund or the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund invests in any of the CBOE Vest Monthly Funds, the Adviser will waive the portion of its advisory fees that it is entitled to under the advisory agreement with respect to the Buffer Protect Strategy Fund or the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund in an amount equate to the fee that it earns from the particular CBOE Vest Monthly Fund.
The Adviser received the following fees for advisory services to the Funds for the period ended October 31, 2016:
CBOE Vest Fund: | Gross Advisory Fee | Waiver | Net Advisory Fee |
S&P 500
Buffer Protect Strategy
(from inception date 8/23/2016) |
$371 | ($371) | $ 0 |
Defined Distribution
Strategy
(from inception date 9/14/2016) |
36 | (36) | 0 |
The Advisers retains the right to use the name CBOE Vest 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 CBOE Vest 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
12
were prohibited from continuing to perform all or a part of such services, management of the Funds believes that there would be no material impact on the Funds or their 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 Funds may from time to time purchase securities issued by financial institutions that provide such services; however, in selecting investments for the Funds, no preference will be shown for such securities.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, fees payable pursuant to Rule 12b-1 Plans, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 1.25% for each of the Funds until February 28, 2018 (except for Aristocrats Target Income Fund which is February 28, 2019). Each waiver or reimbursement of an expense by the Adviser is subject to repayment by a Fund within 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 is a subsidiary of CBOE Vest Group, Inc. (CBOEVG). CBOEVG is majority owned by CBOE ® Vest, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. The remaining portion of CBOEVG is owned by certain individuals who operate CBOEVG and the Adviser. CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE ® ) and other subsidiaries. CBOE ® is the largest U.S. options exchange and creator of listed options. Please refer to Conflicts of Interest section for information relating to the relationship of the Adviser and CBOE ® .
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS |
Portfolio Managers - As described in the prospectus, Messrs. Karan Sood and Jonathan Hale serve as Portfolio Managers responsible for the day-to-day investment management of the Funds.
This section includes information about the Portfolio Managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.
In addition to the Funds, the Portfolio Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. The information below is provided as of March 31, 2017:
13
Conflicts of Interests . Each Portfolio Managers management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his management of a Funds investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Funds. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a Portfolio Manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the Portfolio Managers knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a Portfolio Manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Funds. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.
As noted above, the Adviser is a subsidiary of CBOEVG, which is majority owned by CBOE ® Vest, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. The remaining portion of CBOEVG is owned by certain individuals who operate CBOEVG and the Adviser. CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Incorporated (CBOE ® ) and other subsidiaries. CBOE ® is the largest U.S. options exchange and creator of listed options. CBOE ® offers equity, index and ETF options, including proprietary products, such as the S&P 500 options, the most active U.S. index option, and these products may trade on CBOE ® affiliated exchanges resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . In the future and subject to the qualifications set forth below, the Funds may trade options on CBOE ® , including options on the S&P 500 ® Index. The Fund will not pay, and the CBOE ® (and its parent and affiliates) will not receive any special compensation or consideration in connection with such transactions other than the typical costs that are associated with conducting such transactions by any other non-affiliated party. Certain options used by the Fund may trade on one or more CBOE ® affiliated exchanges, in some cases exclusively on these exchanges, resulting in transaction and other revenues accruing to CBOE ® . Additionally, CBOE ® Holdings, Inc. owns a minority interest in the OCC, and the securities in which the Funds may take positions are cleared by the OCC. In this regard, the OCC may receive a benefit as a result of the positions taken (i.e., the securities purchased) by the Funds, and, as a result, CBOE ® Holdings may indirectly benefit. Additionally, the pricing for certain options positions held by the Funds may be obtained directly or indirectly from CBOE, and CBOE receives a fee for that service. See Use of Third-Party Pricing Agents later in this SAI for more information on the CBOE pricing services. The Trust and the Adviser have adopted procedures to ensure that any transactions of the Funds are consistent with applicable regulatory and statutory restrictions on affiliated transactions and are done in a manner that is subject to the oversight of the Trusts Board of Trustees and is fair and equitable to the Funds. CBOE ® is a registered trademark of CBOE ® Vest SM is a service mark of CBOEVG.
Because of certain potential limitations of the Investment Company Act of 1940 associated with trading options on CBOE and any other exchanges owned or controlled by CBOE Holdings, Inc. (CBOE Exchanges), the Funds will not effect transactions in options that are traded on any CBOE Exchanges until such time that appropriate exemptive and/or no-action relief is obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and/or its staff by the Adviser, CBOE and/or any mutual funds advised by the Adviser. This restriction shall not prevent the Adviser or the Funds from engaging in other transactions or receiving other services from CBOE or for
14
which CBOE may receive a benefit, such as pricing services, provided such transactions and/or the receipt of such services is consistent with applicable statutes, rules, regulations and interpretive positions of the SEC and its staff. Additionally, the restrictions described in this paragraph do not prevent the Funds from engaging in options transactions on exchanges other than CBOE Exchanges where the OCC guarantees performance of such transactions.
Compensation . The Portfolio Managers do not receive compensation that is based upon the Funds, any separate account strategy, partnership or any other commingled accounts, or any private accounts pre- or after-tax performance, or the value of the assets held by such entities. The Portfolio Managers do not receive any special or additional compensation from the Adviser for their service as Portfolio Managers. The Portfolio Managers receive a salary from the Adviser. In addition to base salary, the Portfolio Managers may receive additional bonus compensation which is tied to the overall financial operating results of the Advisers parent company, CBOEVG.
Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Managers in the Fund as of October 31, 2016.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Funds / Name of Fund |
Karan Sood | None |
Jonathan Hale | None |
SERVICE PROVIDERS |
Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent . Pursuant to a Fund Services Agreement, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (CFS), 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235, serves as each Funds administrator, transfer agent and accounting agent.
In its capacity as administrator, CFS supervises all aspects of the operations of the Funds 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 Funds, will provide shareholder, recordkeeping, administrative and blue-sky filing services.
As transfer agent, CFS provides certain shareholder and other services to the Funds, 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.
15
CFS also provides accounting services to the Funds. CFS will be responsible for accounting relating to the Funds and their investment transactions; maintaining certain books and records of the Fund; determining daily the net asset value per share of the Funds; and preparing security position, transaction and cash position reports. CFS also monitors periodic distributions of gains or losses on portfolio sales and maintains a daily listing of portfolio holdings. CFS is responsible for providing expenses accrued and payment reporting services, tax-related financial information to the Trust, and for monitoring compliance with the regulatory requirements relating to maintaining accounting records.
CFS receives, for administrative services, an asset-based fee based computed daily and paid monthly on the average daily net assets of each Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for transfer agency services, per account fees computed daily and paid monthly, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses. CFS receives, for fund accounting services, an asset-based fee, computed daily and paid monthly on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to a minimum fee plus out-of-pocket expenses.
The following table provides information regarding transfer agent, fund accounting and administrative services fees paid by the Funds for the period ended October 31, 2016:
CBOE Vest Fund*: |
Fees Paid
for
Transfer Agent Services |
Fees Paid
for
Accounting Services |
Fees Paid
for
Administrative Services |
S&P 500
Buffer Protect Strategy
(from inception 8/23/2016) |
$1,701 | $ 2,365 | $ 2,363 |
Defined Distribution Strategy
(from inception 9/14/2016) |
1,184 | 1,644 | 1,644 |
*The Buffer Protect Monthly Funds, Enhanced Growth Monthly Funds and the Aristocrats Target Income Fund have not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.
Custodian . Fifth Third Bank (the Custodian), 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, serves as the custodian of the Funds assets. The Custodian has entered into a foreign sub-custody arrangement with The Bank of New York, as the approved foreign custody manager (the Delegate) to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of the Funds assets outside of the United States of America. The Delegate shall place and maintain the Funds assets with an eligible foreign custodian; provided that, the Delegate shall be required to determine that the Funds assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market.
Distributor and 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 Funds pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the Distribution Agreement). Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor serves as the Funds principal underwriter and acts as exclusive agent for the Funds in selling their shares to the public on a best efforts basis and then only in respect to orders placed that is, the Distributor is under no obligations to sell any specific number of
16
Shares. 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 each 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.
The Distributor received no compensation as a result of the sale of each of the Funds shares. For its underwriting services the Distributor may receive compensation from the Funds 12b-1 plans to the extent that such plans generate sufficient fees to compensate for these services; otherwise, the Funds Adviser is responsible for payment for such underwriting services.
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 Funds.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . The Trustees have selected the firm of Cohen & Company, Ltd., 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115 to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds for the current fiscal year and to audit the annual financial statements of the Funds, and prepare each Funds federal, state, and excise tax returns. The independent registered public accounting firm will audit the financial statements of the Funds at least once each year. Shareholders will receive annual audited and semi-annual (unaudited) reports when published and written confirmation of all transactions in their account. A copy of the most recent Annual Report will accompany the SAI whenever a shareholder or a prospective investor requests it.
Index Provider . The CBOE ® S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Index Series and The CBOE ® S&P 500 ® Enhance Growth Index Series, and the CBOE® S&P® Dividend Aristocrats® Target Income Index (the Index Series) are based on CBOE methodologies, which is the property of CBOE, and has been licensed for use by the Adviser. CBOE is located at 400 South LaSalle Street, Chicago Illinois 60605. S&P ® and Aristocrats® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC (S&P); Dow Jones ® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones); CBOE ® is a registered trademarks of the CBOE. The CBOE methodology and the trademarks have been licensed for use by the Adviser, including for use by the Buffer Protect Strategy Fund, the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund and/or the CBOE VEST Monthly Funds (collectively the License Based Funds solely for purposes of this section Index Provider) and the Aristocrats Target Income Fund, at no cost to the Funds as long as the Adviser serves as investment adviser to the License Based Funds.
17
The License Based Funds, which are based on the Index Series, are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI), Dow Jones, S&P, any of their respective affiliates (collectively, S&P Dow Jones Indices) or CBOE. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor CBOE make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the License Based Funds or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in Funds particularly or the ability of the Index Series or the CBOE methodology to track general market performance. The only relationship of S&P Dow Jones Indices to the Adviser with respect to the Index Series is the licensing of certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices and/or its licensors. CBOE is an affiliate of the Adviser; however, the only relationship of CBOE to the Adviser with respect to the Index Series is the licensing of the Index Series, CBOE methodology and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of CBOE and/or its affiliates. The Index Series is determined, composed and calculated by CBOE without regard to the Adviser or the License Based Funds. S&P Dow Jones Indices and CBOE have no obligation to take the needs of the Adviser or the investors in the License Based Funds into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index Series. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor CBOE are responsible for and neither have participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the License Based Funds or the timing of the issuance or sale of the License Based Funds or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which any of the License Based Funds is to be converted into cash, surrendered or redeemed, as the case may be, except that CBOE may make algorithmically derived prices for FLEX Options available to the License Based Fund for use in the calculation of the Funds Net Asset Value, at which the shares of the License Based Funds may be redeemed. S&P Dow Jones Indices and CBOE have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the License Based Funds. There is no assurance that investment products based on the Index Series will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC nor CBOE is an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices or CBOE to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.
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 business persons who meet throughout the year to oversee the Trusts activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Funds 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 business experience as a practicing tax
18
accountant since 1996 and, as such, brings tax, budgeting and financial reporting skills to the Board. Mr. Theo H. Pitt has experience as an investor, including his role as trustee of several other investment companies and business experience as Senior Partner of a financial consulting company, as a partner of a real estate partnership and as an Account Administrator for a money management firm. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustees qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The Chairman of the Board 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 that allows the Board to access the expertise necessary of oversee the Trust, identify risks, recognize shareholder concerns and needs and highlight opportunities. The Audit Committee is able to focus Board time and attention to matters of interest to shareholders and, through its private sessions with the Trusts auditor, Chief Compliance Officer and legal counsel, stay fully informed regarding management decisions.
Mutual funds face a number of risks, including investment risk, compliance risk and valuation risk. The Board oversees management of the Funds risks directly and through its officers. While day-to-day risk management responsibilities rest with the each Funds Chief Compliance Officer, investment advisers and other service providers, the Board monitors and tracks risk by: (1) receiving and reviewing quarterly reports related to the performance and operations of the Funds; (2) reviewing and approving, as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust, including the Trusts valuation policies and transaction procedures; (3) periodically meeting with the portfolio manager to review investment strategies, techniques and related risks; (4) meeting with representatives of key service providers, including the Funds investment advisers, administrator, distributor, transfer agent and the independent registered public accounting firm, to discuss the activities of the Funds; (5) engaging the services of the Chief Compliance Officer of the each Fund to monitor and test the compliance procedures of the Trust and its service providers; (6) receiving and reviewing reports from the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm regarding the Funds financial condition and the Trusts internal controls; and (7) receiving and reviewing an annual written report prepared by the Chief Compliance Officer reviewing the adequacy of the Trusts compliance policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. The Board has concluded that its general oversight of the investment advisers and other service providers as implemented through the reporting and monitoring process outlined above allows the Board to effectively administer its risk oversight function.
Following is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust and their principal occupation over the last five years. The mailing address of each Trustee and officer is 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond VA, 23235, unless otherwise indicated.
19
NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES
NAME, AGE AND POSITION 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
(62) 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. | 50 | None |
Mary Lou H.
Ivey
(59) Trustee |
Indefinite,
Since
June 2010 |
Accountant, Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C., accounting firm, since 2008. | 50 | None |
Theo H. Pitt,
Jr.
(82) Trustee |
Indefinite;
Since
August 2013 |
Senior Partner, Community Financial Institutions Consulting (bank consulting) since 1997 to present. | 50 | Independent Trustee of Gardner Lewis Investment Trust for the one 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 17 series of that trust; (all registered investment companies). |
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES
NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH AND POSITION(S) 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
(72) President and Principal Executive Officer |
Indefinite,
Since June 2010 |
President, Treasurer and Director of Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. (CFS), the Trusts Administrator, Transfer Agent, Disbursing Agent, and 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
(53) Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
Indefinite,
Since June 2008 |
Managing Director of Business Development, Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc., 2003 to present. | N/A | N/A |
David Bogaert
(53) 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
(62) 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
(48) Secretary |
Indefinite,
Since November 2013 |
Attorney, The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc. (law firm), March 2010 to present. | N/A | N/A |
20
NAME,
YEAR OF
BIRTH AND POSITION(S) 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 |
Holly B. Giangiulio
(54) Assistant Secretary |
Indefinite,
Since November 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
(48) Chief Compliance Officer |
Indefinite,
Since August 2013. |
Managing Member of Watermark Solutions, LLC (investment compliance and consulting) since March 2007. | N/A | N/A |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees oversees the Trust and certain aspects of the services provided by 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 Funds most recent period ended October 31, 2016, the Audit Committee met eight 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 Funds most recent period ended October 31, 2016, 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 Funds most recent period ended October 31, 2016, 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 Funds most recent period ended October 31, 2016, the Committee did not meet.
21
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 receives an annual retainer of $18,000. Effective April 1, 2016, each Trustee receives a retainer fee at the annualized rate of $22,000. Effective October 1, 2016, each Trustee will receive a retainer fee at the annualized rate of $26,000. Effective January 1, 2017, each Trustee will receive a retainer fee at the annualized rate of $35,000.
Compensation received from the Trust for the Funds fiscal year ended October 31, 2016 is as follows:
Name of
Person / Position |
Aggregate
Compensation From Funds |
Pension
or
Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Funds Expenses |
Estimated
Annual Benefits upon Retirement |
Total
Compensation
From Fund and Fund Complex Paid To Trustees (*) (1) |
David J. Urban,
Trustee Mary Lou H. Ivey, Trustee Theo H. Pitt, Jr., Trustee |
$0
$0 $0 |
$0
$0 $0 |
$0
$0 $0 |
$16,167
$16,167 $16,167 |
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares The table below shoes for each Trustee, the amount of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Funds of the Trust, as of December 31, 2016, and stated as one of the following ranges: A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000.
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Name of Trustee |
Dollar
Range of Equity
Securities in the Funds |
Aggregate
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities in all Registered Investment Companies Overseen by the Trustees in Family of Investment Companies |
Non-Interested Trustees | ||
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 Funds, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics, pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that permit investment personnel, subject to their particular code of ethics, to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, for their own account.
The Codes of Ethics are on file with, and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D. C. In addition, the Codes of Ethics are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs Internet website at http://www.sec.gov .
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 a Fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of a 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 a Funds fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.
As of the date of this SAI, only the Buffer Protect Strategy Fund, the Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund and the Defined Distribution Strategy Fund have commenced operations. None of the other Funds have commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI and therefore the Funds do not have any shareholders who beneficially own of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund. As of June 30, 2017, the Trustees and officers owned less than 1% of each Funds shares.
23
As of June 30, 2017, the following persons were deemed to be control persons or principal shareholders of the Funds:
* The Buffer Protect Monthly Funds, Enhanced Growth Monthly Funds and the Aristocrats Target Income Fund have not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI.
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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE
General Policy . The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rule 2a-4 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith 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 a Funds pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trusts Board of Trustees.
Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities . If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each 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 Pricing Agents . Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, market prices for securities held by the Funds are generally provided daily by third-party independent pricing agents that are approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust. With respect to options, including the FLEX Options, the pricing may be obtained from an independent third-party pricing agent that, in turn, could obtain such pricing from the CBOE Customized Options Pricing Service (COPS). COPS pricing services may also be obtained directly from CBOE by
25
the Administrator for the Funds COPS prices generally are derived as average of values supplied by third parties, and are not actual prices, bids or offers posted in any market. Options pricing, including FLEX Options, may also be obtained through other services offered by CBOE or a CBOE affiliate. These other pricing services may include algorithmically derived prices and therefore would also not be reflective of actual prices, bids or offers posted in any market. These other pricing services may be provided by CBOE or a CBOE affiliate through an independent third-party pricing agent or directly to the Funds Administrator. All valuations provided to the Administrator are reviewed daily by the Administrator. COPS and any other pricing services are paid services. As a result, all or a portion of the fees that are paid by the Funds for these pricing services will be paid to CBOE (either directly or indirectly through an independent third-party).
DISTRIBUTION
The Distributor may from time to time offer incentive compensation to dealers (which sell shares of the Funds 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 a Funds shares.
In connection with promotion of the sales of the Funds, 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 $50,000 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 0.00% 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 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
26
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 Funds 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
$50,000 |
$50,000
but less than $100,000 |
$100,000
but less than $250,000 |
$250,000
but less than $500,000 |
$500,000
but less than $1,000,000 |
$1,000,000
and over |
5.00% | 3.75% | 2.75% | 2.0% | 1.75% | None |
Plan of Distribution . The Funds have a Distribution and Service Plan (each a Plan and together the Plans) for their Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Investor Class Shares under which they 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 Plan in accordance with its terms and with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules concerning sales charges.
The Plans provide that the Funds 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 Investor Class 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 Funds 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 provides that it may not be amended to increase materially the costs which shares of the Funds may bear for distribution pursuant to the Plans 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 Plans 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.
27
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 Plans.
The Board has concluded that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plans will benefit each Fund. It is anticipated that the Plans will benefit shareholders because an effective sales program typically is necessary for the Funds 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 a 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 a 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 Funds, 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 Funds; (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 Funds 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 Funds, 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 Funds, forwarding communications from the Funds 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 Funds or their 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 Funds, including the performance of the Funds; (g) obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and
28
promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, deem advisable. During the fiscal period ended October 31, 2016 there were no 12b-1 expenses incurred.
Shareholder Servicing Plan . The Funds have adopted a shareholder service plan on behalf of its Investor Class Shares, Class A Shares and Class C Shares. Under a shareholder services plan, the Funds may pay an authorized firm up to 0.15% 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 Funds have adopted the shareholder services plan to compensate authorized firms for providing the types of services described above, the Funds believe the shareholder services plan is not covered by Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which relates to payment of distribution fees. The Funds, however, follow 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 Funds 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 Funds do not monitor the actual services being performed by an authorized firm under the plan and related service agreement. The Funds also do 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Funds to your authorized institution. The offering price per share is equal to the NAV next determined after the Funds or authorized institution receives your purchase order, plus any applicable sales charge.
Your authorized institution is responsible for transmitting all subscription and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Funds on time. Certain
29
authorized institutions have agreements with the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase order and to suspend the offering of shares. Under certain circumstances the Trust or the Adviser may waive the minimum initial investment for purchases by officers, trustees, and employees of the Trust and its affiliated entities and for certain related advisory accounts and retirement accounts (such as IRAs). The Fund may also change or waive policies concerning minimum investment amounts at any time.
Exchanging Shares . If you request the exchange of the total value of your account from one fund to another, we will reinvest any declared but unpaid income dividends and capital gain distributions in the new fund at its net asset value. Backup withholding and information reporting may apply. Information regarding the possible tax consequences of an exchange appears in the tax section in this SAI.
If a substantial number of shareholders sell their shares of a 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 a 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 a 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 Funds 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 Funds next computed after your request for exchange is received in proper form.
Eligible Benefit Plans . An eligible benefit plan is an arrangement available to the employees of an employer (or two or more affiliated employers) having not less than 10 employees at the plans inception, or such an employer on behalf of employees of a trust or plan for such employees, their spouses and their children under the age of 21 or a trust or plan for such employees, which provides for purchases through periodic payroll deductions or otherwise. There must be at least 5 initial participants with accounts investing or invested in Fund shares and/or certain other funds.
The initial purchase by the eligible benefit plan and prior purchases by or for the benefit of the initial participants of the plan must aggregate not less than $2,500 and subsequent purchases must be at least $50 per account and must aggregate at least $250. Purchases by the eligible benefit plan must be made pursuant to a single order paid for by a single check or federal
30
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 . If you are in a category of investors who may purchase Class A Shares without a front-end sales charge, a one percent (1.00%) deferred sales charge payable to the Distributor is deducted from the proceeds of a Funds Class A Shares if redeemed within one year after purchase.
You may sell your shares by giving instructions to the Transfer Agent by mail or by telephone. The Funds 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.
ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
The Adviser and/or the Distributor and their respective affiliates may, out of their own resources and without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders, make payments (sometimes referred to as revenue sharing) to solicitors, brokers, dealers, and/or other financial intermediaries (collectively, referred to herein as Financial Intermediary). These payments may be in addition to payments made by the Funds to the Financial Intermediary under the Funds Rule 12b-1 Plans and other shareholder servicing plans.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
As described briefly in the applicable prospectus, the Funds offer 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.
31
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 Funds employ 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 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 Funds 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 Funds. 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 Funds 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 855-505-VEST (8378). Each plans custodian charges nominal fees in connection with plan establishment and maintenance. These fees are detailed in the plan documents. You may wish to consult with your attorney or other tax adviser for specific advice concerning your tax status and plans.
Exchange Privilege . To the extent that the Adviser manages other funds in the Trust, shareholders may exchange their shares for shares of any other series of the Trust managed by the Adviser, provided the shares of the Fund the shareholder is exchanging into are registered for sale in the shareholders state of residence. Each account must meet the minimum investment requirements. As of the date of this prospectus, the Adviser does not manage any other funds in the Trust. 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
32
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.
TAXES
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and their 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 Funds and their shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Funds). 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 Funds.
The Funds are diversified series as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).
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 Funds 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 Funds that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
|
a citizen
or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and
former long-term residents);
|
|
|
a corporation
or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the
District of Columbia;
|
|
|
an estate,
the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its
source; or
|
|
|
a trust with
respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision
over its administration and one or more U.S. shareholders have the authority to
control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election
in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
|
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A Non-U.S. shareholder is a beneficial owner of shares of the Funds 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 Funds, 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.
Taxation as a RIC. The Funds intend to qualify and remain qualified as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code). A 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, a 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 Funds in the same manner as realized by the partnership or trust.
The Funds intend to invest in ETFs that are taxable as RICs under the Code. Accordingly, the income the Funds receive from such ETFs should be qualifying income for purposes of the Fund satisfying the 90% Test described above. However, the Funds 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 Funds anticipate monitoring their 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 Funds to inadvertently fail the 90% Test thereby causing the Funds to fail to qualify as a RIC. In such a case, the Funds 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 Funds must diversify their 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
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securities of other RICs and other securities, if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of the Funds total assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Funds total assets is invested in the securities other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs of (a) one issuer, (b) two or more issuers that are controlled by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (c) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
If a RIC fails this asset-diversification test, such RIC, in addition to other cure provisions previously permitted, has a 6-month period to correct any failure without incurring a penalty if such failure is de minimis, meaning that the failure does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the RICs assets, or $10 million. Such cure right is similar to that previously and currently permitted for a REIT.
Similarly, if a RIC fails this asset-diversification test and the failure is not de minimis, a RIC can cure failure if: (a) the RIC files with the Treasury Department a description of each asset that causes the RIC to fail the diversification tests; (b) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect; and (c) the failure is cured within six months (or such other period 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 Funds qualify as a RIC and distribute to their 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 Funds will be relieved of U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Funds, including long-term capital gains, distributed to shareholders. However, any ordinary income or capital gain retained by the Funds will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate federal income tax rates (currently at a maximum rate of 35%). The Funds intend to distribute at least annually substantially all of their investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt interest, and net capital gain.
The Funds 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 a Funds ordinary income (computed on a calendar year basis), (ii) 98.2% of a 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 Funds generally intend to make distributions in a timely manner in an amount at least equal to the required minimum distribution and therefore, under normal market conditions, does not expect to be subject to this excise tax.
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The Funds may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which it does not receive cash. For example, if the Funds hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with payment in kind interest or, in certain cases, with increasing interest rates or that are issued with warrants), the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds have capital loss carryforwards from prior tax years, those carryforwards will reduce the net capital gains that can support a Funds distribution of Capital Gain Dividends. If the Funds use net capital losses incurred in taxable years beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (pre-2011 losses), those carryforwards will not reduce a Funds current earnings and profits, as losses incurred in later years will. As a result, if the Funds 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 Funds. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Funds retain or distribute 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 Funds, 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 Funds are unable to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement or otherwise fail to qualify as a RIC in any year, they 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 a Funds shareholders of such income and gain will not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income. In such event, a 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.
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Distributions in excess of a Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholders tax basis in their Fund shares, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. To qualify as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds would be subject to tax on any unrealized built-in gains in the assets held by it during the period in which the Funds failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC that are recognized within the subsequent 10 years, unless the Funds 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 a 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 Funds, are taxable to such shareholder as long-term capital gain if they have been properly designated by the Funds, regardless of the length of time such shareholder owned the shares of the Funds. The maximum tax rate on capital gain dividends received by individuals is generally 20%. Distributions in excess of a 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 Funds are 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 Funds will be subject to the AMT, but any items that are treated differently for AMT purposes must be apportioned between the Funds and the shareholders and this may affect the shareholders AMT liabilities. The Funds intend 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 Funds 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 Funds make 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 Funds 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 Funds intend to distribute all realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If, however, the Funds were to retain any net capital gain, the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds are 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 Funds 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 Funds 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
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loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gain of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income of corporations. For non-corporate taxpayers, short-term capital gain will currently be taxed at the rate applicable to ordinary income, while long-term capital gain generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. Capital losses are subject to certain limitations.
Federal law requires that mutual fund companies report their shareholders cost basis, gain/loss, and holding period to the Internal Revenue Service on the Funds shareholders Consolidated Form 1099s when covered securities are sold. Covered securities are any regulated investment company and/or dividend reinvestment plan shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012.
The Funds have chosen average cost as the standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders. A tax lot identification method is the way the Funds will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing net asset values, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Funds have 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 Funds are responsible for maintaining accurate cost basis and tax lot information for tax reporting purposes. The Funds are not responsible for the reliability or accuracy of the information for those securities that are not covered. The Funds and their 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 Funds 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 Funds.
Straddles. When a Fund enters into an offsetting position to limit the risk on another position, the straddle rules usually come into play. An option or other position entered into or held by a Fund in conjunction with any other position held by the Funds may constitute a straddle for Federal income tax purposes. In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the character and timing of the Funds gains and losses with respect to straddle positions. The key features of the straddle rules are as follows:
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A Fund may have to wait to deduct any losses . If a Fund has a capital gain in one position of a straddle and a capital loss in the other, the Funds may not recognize the loss for federal income tax purposes until the Fund disposes of both positions. This might occur, for example, if the Fund had a highly appreciated stock position and the Fund purchased protective put options (which give the Fund the right to sell the stock to someone else for a period of time at a predetermined price) to offset the risk. If the stock continued to increase in value and the put options expired worthless, the Fund must defer recognition of the loss on its put options until the Fund sells and recognizes the gain on the original, appreciated position.
A Funds capital gain holding period may get clipped . The moment a Fund enters into a typical straddle, the capital gains holding period on its offsetting positions is frozen. If a Fund held the original position for one year or less (thus not qualifying for the long-term capital gains rate), not only is the holding period frozen, it starts all over again when the Fund disposes of the offsetting position.
Losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions that would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses may be treated as long-term capital losses . This generally has the effect of reducing the tax benefit of such losses.
A Fund may not be able to deduct any interest expenses or carrying charges . During the offsetting period, any interest or carrying charges associated with the straddle are not currently tax deductible, but must be capitalized (added to cost basis).
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 Funds 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 a Funds taxable income (and required to be distributed by the Funds) over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security.
Some debt obligations (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Funds 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 Funds may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Funds will be required to include the accrued market discount in a 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 a Funds income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual
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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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
If the Funds hold the foregoing kinds of securities, they 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 Funds actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of a Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Funds may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Funds realize net capital gains from such transactions, their 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 Funds, the Funds 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 Funds. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Funds may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. In limited circumstances, it may also not be clear whether the Funds should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, and if so, what amount of market discount the Funds should recognize. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.
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Interest paid on debt obligations owned by the Funds, 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 Funds if shares in the Funds 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 Funds recognize 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 Funds exceeds a 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 Funds that recognize 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 Funds that recognize 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 Funds may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholders distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholders interest in the Funds. The Funds have 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 Funds.
Foreign Taxation. Income received by the Funds 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 Funds invest 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 Funds invest 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
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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 Funds, 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 Funds satisfy this requirement or if they meet certain other requirements, which include a requirement that more than 50% of the value of a Funds total assets at the close of its taxable year consist of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, then the Funds 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 Funds, subject to certain limitations.
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 Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds invest in an underlying fund that pays such distributions to the Funds, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Funds to foreign persons.
The Funds are permitted to report such part of their 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.
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In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Funds report 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 Funds or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests (USRPIs) apply to the foreign shareholders sale of shares of the Funds or to the Capital Gain Dividend the foreign shareholder received (as described below).
Special rules would apply if the Funds 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 Funds were a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the exceptions referred to above, any distributions by the Funds to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Funds in redemption of its shares) attributable to gains realized by the Funds on the disposition of USRPIs or to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier regulated investment company or REIT that the Funds are 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 Funds. 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 Funds 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.
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Whether or not the Funds are characterized as a USRPHC will depend upon the nature and mix of a Funds assets. The Funds do not expect to be a USRPHC. Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Funds.
If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a foreign shareholder has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the beneficial holders conduct of that trade or business, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by that beneficial holder in the United States.
To qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-US status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). Foreign shareholders in the Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard.
A beneficial holder of Fund shares who is a foreign shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal tax on income referred to above.
Backup Withholding. The Funds generally are 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 Funds with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Funds 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 a 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.
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Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Financial Assets. Certain individuals (and, if provided in future guidance, certain domestic entities) must disclose annually their interests in specified foreign financial assets on IRS Form 8938, which must be attached to their U.S. federal income tax returns for taxable years beginning after March 18, 2010. The IRS has not yet released a copy of the Form 8938 and has suspended the requirement to attach Form 8938 for any taxable year for which an income tax return is filed before the release of Form 8938. Following Form 8938s release, individuals will be required to attach to their next income tax return required to be filed with the IRS a Form 8938 for each taxable year for which the filing of Form 8938 was suspended. Until the IRS provides more details regarding this reporting requirement, including in Form 8938 itself and related Treasury regulations, it remains unclear under what circumstances, if any, a shareholders (indirect) interest in the Funds specified foreign financial assets, if any, will be required to be reported on this Form 8938.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements. Rules enacted in March 2010 require the reporting to the IRS of direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts and foreign entities by U.S. persons. Failure to provide this required information can result in a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (withholdable payments) made after December 31, 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 Funds 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 Funds with such certifications or other documentation, including, to the extent required, with regard to such shareholders direct and indirect owners, as the Funds require to comply with the new rules. Persons investing in the Funds through an intermediary should contact their intermediary regarding the application of the new reporting and withholding regime to their investments in the Funds.
Shareholders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding this new reporting and withholding regime, in light of their particular circumstances.
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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 Funds as an investment through such plans, and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.
FATCA. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (FFI) or a non-financial foreign entity (NFFE) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by a Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by a Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA
The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations in effect as they directly govern the taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. 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 Funds execute 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 Funds as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers, but may place portfolio transactions with brokers and dealers that promote or sell a Funds shares
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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 Funds 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 Funds 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.
Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Funds to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, 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 Funds.
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
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Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.
From time to time, the Funds may purchase new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The 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 Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds, the Adviser or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the 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 Funds for exchange transactions not exceed usual and customary brokerage commissions. The rules define usual and customary commissions to include amounts which are reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time. The Trustees, including those who are not interested persons of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.
Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers The Funds are required to identify any securities of its regular brokers and dealers (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which the Funds 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 Funds are concerned. In other cases, however, the ability to participate in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Funds. 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 other service providers assisting with materials utilized in the Boards 15c process, that require portfolio holdings information in order to perform those services, may receive non-standard disclosure. Non-standard disclosure of portfolio holdings information may also be provided to a third-party when the Trust has a legitimate business purpose for doing so. The Trust has the following ongoing arrangements with certain third parties to provide the Funds portfolio holdings information:
1. |
to the Trusts auditors within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period or other
periods as necessary for use in providing audit opinions and other advice related
to financial, regulatory, or tax reporting;
|
2. |
to financial
printers within sixty (60) days after the applicable fiscal period for the purpose
of preparing Trust regulatory filings; and
|
3. |
to the Trusts administrator, custodian, transfer agent and accounting services provider
on a daily basis in connection with their providing services to the Fund.
|
The Trusts service providers may also disclose non-public portfolio holdings information if such disclosure is required by applicable laws, rules or regulations, or by regulatory authorities. Additionally, 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.
|
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. Additionally, the Adviser may disclose periodically on the Funds website for each of the Buffer Protect Fund, Buffer Protect Monthly Funds, Enhanced Growth Fund, and Enhanced Growth Monthly Funds, updated tranche data for the tranche or month that just expired and was rolled into a new annual tranche. Further, regarding the Defined Distribution Fund, the Adviser may disclose periodically on the Funds website historical data, including portfolio statistics, data regarding the boundaries of the strategy for that fund for the prior month. Further, regarding the Aristocrats Target Income Fund, the Adviser may disclose periodically on that Funds website historical data, including portfolio statistics, data regarding the average percentage overwrite for that Fund and premium income collected for the prior month. 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.
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Additionally, employees of the Adviser may disclose one or more of the portfolio securities of the Fund when purchasing and selling securities through broker-dealers, requesting bids on securities, obtaining price quotations on securities, or in connection with litigation involving the Funds portfolio securities. The Adviser does not enter into formal non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements in connection with these situations; however, the Fund would not continue to conduct business with a person who the Adviser believed was misusing the disclosed information.
The Adviser or its affiliates may manage products sponsored by companies other than itself, including investment companies, offshore funds, and separate accounts and affiliates of the Adviser may provide investment related services, including research services, to other companies, including other investment companies, offshore funds, institutional investors and other entities. In each of these instances, the sponsors of these other companies and the affiliates of the Adviser may receive compensation for their services. In many cases, these other products 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.
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Affiliated persons of the Trust who receive non-standard disclosure are subject to restrictions and limitations on the use and handling of such information, including requirements to maintain the confidentiality of such information, pre-clear securities trades and report securities transactions activity, as applicable. Except as provided above, 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.
The Funds are is authorized to issue four classes of shares: Class A Shares imposing a front-end sales charge up to a maximum of 5.75% and charging a 0.25% 12b-1 fee, Class C Shares imposing no front-end sales charge, and charging a 1.00% 12b-1 and service fee, Investor Class Shares imposing no front-end or deferred sales charges and a 0.25% 12b-1 fee; and Institutional Class Shares imposing no front-end or deferred sales charges and no 12b-1 fee.
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
53
affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each fund in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the fund. Under the Rule, the approval of an investment management agreement or any change in an investment objective, if fundamental, or in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a fund only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such fund. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts and the election of trustees may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series or class.
The Trust does not presently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Upon the written request of shareholders owning at least 25% of the Trusts shares, the Trust will call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more trustees and other certain matters. To the extent required by law, the Trust will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.
The Board has full power and authority, in its sole discretion, and without obtaining shareholder approval, to divide or combine the shares of any class or series thereof into a greater or lesser number, to classify or reclassify any issued shares or any class or series thereof into one or more classes or series of shares, and to take such other action with respect to the Trusts shares as the Board may deem desirable. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust authorizes the trustees, without shareholder approval, to cause the Trust to merge or to consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or other organization in order to change the form of organization and/or domicile of the Trust or to sell or exchange all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust, or any series or class thereof, in dissolution of the Trust, or any series or class thereof. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits the termination of the Trust or of any series or class of the Trust by the trustees without shareholder approval. However, the exercise of such authority by the Board without shareholder approval may be subject to certain restrictions or limitations under the 1940 Act.
PROXY VOTING
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Exhibit A to this SAI. The Board of Trustees will periodically review the Funds proxy voting record. The proxy voting policies and procedures of the Trust are included as Exhibit B to this SAI.
The Trust is required to disclose annually each Funds complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX. Any material changes to the proxy policies and procedures will be submitted to the Board for approval. Information regarding how the Funds 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 855-505-VEST (8378) or by writing to the Fund at 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA 23235; and (2) on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov .
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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 and Distributor and Administrator have each adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (access persons). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The personnel subject to the Codes are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements, or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public 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 Funds by contacting the Funds directly at:
The CBOE
VEST Family of Funds
c/o World Funds Trust
8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite
205
Richmond, Virginia 23235
Telephone: 855-505-VEST (8378)
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EXHIBIT A
Vest Proxy Voting Policy
2016-04-13
Policy . The Firm does not intend to have discretion to vote proxies for its Clients. However, if such discretion is obtained, it is the Firms policy generally to vote against any management proposals that the Firm believes could prevent companies from realizing their maximum market value, or would insulate companies or their management, from accountability to shareholders or prudent regulatory compliance.
Business Operations . The Firm generally will vote in favor of proposals that are a standard and necessary aspect of business operations and that the Firm believes will not typically have a significant effect on the value of the investment. Factors considered in reviewing these proposals include the financial performance of the company, attendance and independence of board members and committees, and enforcement of strict accounting practices. Such proposals include:
| Name changes; | |
| Election of directors; | |
| Ratification of auditors; | |
| Maintaining current levels of directors indemnification and liability; | |
| Increase in authorized shares (common stock only) if there is no intention to significantly dilute shareholders proportionate interest; and | |
| Employee stock purchase or ownership plans. |
Change in Status . Proposals that change the status of the corporation, its individual securities, or the ownership status of the securities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Changes in status include proposals regarding:
| Mergers, acquisitions, restructurings; | |
| Reincorporations; and | |
| Changes in capitalization. |
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Shareholder Democracy . The Firm generally will vote against any proposal that attempts to limit shareholder democracy in a way that could restrict the ability of the shareholders to realize the value of their investment. This would include proposals endorsing or facilitating:
| Increased indemnification protections for directors or officers; | |
| Certain supermajority requirements; | |
| Unequal voting rights; | |
| Classified boards; | |
| Cumulative voting; | |
| Authorization of new securities if the intention appears to be to unduly dilute the shareholders proportionate interest; and | |
| Changing the state of incorporation if the intention appears to disfavor the economic interest of the shareholders. |
The Firm generally supports proposals that maintain or expand shareholder democracy such as:
| Annual elections; | |||
| Independent directors; | |||
| Confidential voting; and | |||
| Proposals that require shareholder approval for: | |||
| Adoption or retention of poison pills or golden parachutes; | |||
| Elimination of cumulative voting or preemptive rights; and | |||
| Reclassification of company boards. |
The Firm believes reasonable compensation is appropriate for directors, executives and employees. Compensation should be used as an incentive and to align the interests of the involved parties with the long-term financial success of the company. It should not be excessive or utilized in a way that compromises independence or creates a conflict of interest. Among the factors the Firm considers when reviewing a compensation proposal is whether it potentially dilutes the value of outstanding shares, whether a plan has broad-based participation and whether a plan allows for the re-pricing of options. Each proposal is reviewed individually.
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A record of all proxy decisions and the rationale for voting will be retained and available for inspection by Clients at any time in accordance with the procedures listed below.
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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 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
59
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
60
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.
|
61
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 |
62
APPENDIX A TO THE NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
PROCEDURES WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES TO THE BOARD
I. |
Identification
of Candidates
. When a vacancy on the Board of Trustees exists or is anticipated,
and such vacancy is to be filled by an Independent Trustee, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee shall identify candidates by obtaining referrals from such
sources as it may deem appropriate, which may include current Trustees, management
of the Trust, counsel and other advisors to the Trustees, and shareholders of the
Trust who submit recommendations in accordance with these procedures. In no event
shall the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consider as a candidate
to fill any such vacancy an individual recommended by any investment adviser of
any series portfolio of the Trust, unless the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee has invited management to make such a recommendation.
|
|
II. |
Shareholder
Candidates.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall, when identifying
candidates for the position of Independent Trustee, consider any such candidate
recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation contains: (i) sufficient background
information concerning the candidate, including evidence the candidate is willing
to serve as an Independent Trustee if selected for the position; and (ii) is received
in a sufficiently timely manner as determined by the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee in its discretion. Shareholders shall be directed to address any such
recommendations in writing to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, c/o the Secretary of the Trust. The Secretary shall retain copies of
any shareholder recommendations which meet the foregoing requirements for a period
of not more than 12 months following receipt. The Secretary shall have no obligation
to acknowledge receipt of any shareholder recommendations.
|
|
III. |
Evaluation
of Candidates
. In evaluating a candidate for a position on the Board of Trustees,
including any candidate recommended by shareholders of the Trust, the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee shall consider the following: (i) the candidates knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience
possessed by the candidate as a director or senior officer of public companies;
(iii) the candidates educational background; (iv) the candidates reputation
for high ethical standards and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial,
technical or other expertise possessed by the candidate, and the extent to which
such expertise would complement the Boards existing mix of skills, core competencies
and qualifications; (vi) the candidates perceived ability to contribute to
the ongoing functions of the Board, including the candidates ability and commitment
to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the
Board; (vii) the candidates ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee and
any other actual or potential conflicts of interest involving the candidate and
the Trust; and (viii) such other factors as the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee determines to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the
Board and any anticipated vacancies. Prior to making a final recommendation to the
Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall conduct personal
interviews with those candidates it concludes are the most qualified candidates.
|
63
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.
32
|
|
(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.
32
|
|
(d)(3) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
13
|
|
(d)(4) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher &
Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM All-Cap Value Fund.
8
|
|
(d)(5) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher &
Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund.
8
|
|
(d)(6) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher &
Co., LLC with respect to the DGHM MicroCap Value Fund.
40
|
|
(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.
31
|
|
(d)(8) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador International Fund.
15
|
|
(d)(9) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Core Fund.
28
|
|
(d)(10) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Explorer Fund.
28
|
|
(d)(11) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading,
LLC with respect to the Toreador Select Fund.
42
|
|
(d)(12) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC
with respect to the Global Strategic Income Fund.
16
|
|
(d)(13) |
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC and Shikiar
Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Global Strategic Income Fund.
37
|
|
(d)(14) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services Group,
LLC with respect to the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
10
|
(d)(15) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC
with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
17
|
|
(d)(16) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services, LLC
with respect to the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
18
|
|
(d)(17) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Clifford Capital Partners, LLC with
respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
34
|
|
(d)(18) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with
respect to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
35
|
|
(d)(19) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer
Protect Strategy Fund, CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P
500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer
Protect Strategy (June) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect
Strategy (July) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy
(August) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (September)
Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund,
CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund and
CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund (collectively
the CBOE Vest Funds).
44
|
|
(d)(20) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced
Growth Strategy Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy
(January) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund,
CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund, CBOE
Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced
Growth Strategy (August) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth
Strategy (September) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth
Strategy (October) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy
(November) Fund, CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (December)
Fund (collectively the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds).
46
|
|
(d)(21) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, with respect
to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(d)(22) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Systelligence, LLC with respect to
The E-Valuator Very Conservative RMS Fund, The E-Valuator Conservative RMS Fund,
The E-Valuator Tactically Managed RMS Fund, The E-Valuator Moderate RMS Fund, The
E-Valuator Growth RMS Fund and The E-Valuator Aggressive Growth RMS Fund (collectively
The E-Valuator Funds).
39
|
|
(e)(1) |
Principal
Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant and First Dominion
Capital Corp.
35
|
|
(e)(2) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the Union Street Value Fund.
49
|
|
(e)(3) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
48
|
(e)(4) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the Perkins Discovery Fund.
43
|
|
(e)(5) |
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.
35
|
|
(e)(6) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp. with respect to the B. Riley Diversified Equity
Fund.
36
|
|
(e)(7) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp. with respect to the Global Strategic Income Fund.
37
|
|
(e)(8) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated February 18, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp. with respect to the REMS International Real Estate
Value-Opportunity Fund, the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund and the REMS Real
Estate Value-Opportunity Fund (collectively the REMS Funds).
38
|
|
(e)(9) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated April 21, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the DGHM All-Cap Value Fund, the
DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund and the DGHM MicroCap Value Fund (collectively the
DGHM Funds).
40
|
|
(e)(10) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated April 21, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(e)(11) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated August 24, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
46
|
|
(e)(12) |
Amended Principal
Underwriter Agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Registrant and First Dominion
Capital Corp with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(e)(13) |
Schedule A
to the Principal Underwriter Agreement dated April 21, 2016 between the Registrant
and First Dominion Capital Corp with respect to The E-Valuator Funds.
39
|
|
(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 Toreador International Fund,
the Toreador Core Fund the Toreador Explorer Fund and the Toreador Select Fund (collectively
the Toreador Funds).
42
|
|
(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 July 30, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
13
|
|
(g)(3) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Perkins Discovery Fund.
13
|
|
(g)(4) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C to the Custody Agreement, dated July 30, 2008, between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
13
|
(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.
22
|
|
(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.
22
|
|
(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.
17
|
|
(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.
18
|
|
(g)(9) |
Amended Appendix
B and revised Appendix C dated January 26, 2016 to the Custody Agreement between
the Registrant and UMB Bank, N.A., to include the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
58
|
|
(g)(10) |
Custody Agreement
between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf of certain portfolio series.
28
|
|
(g)(11) |
Amended Exhibit
A to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf
of certain portfolio series.
57
|
|
(h)(1) |
Fund Services
Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services,
Inc.
35
|
|
(h)(2) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
49
|
|
(h)(3) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Perkins Discovery Fund.
43
|
|
(h)(4) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
36
|
|
(h)(5) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Global Strategic Income Fund.
37
|
|
(h)(6) |
Amendment
No. 1 to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant
and Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Global Strategic Income Fund.
53
|
|
(h)(7) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the REMS Funds.
38
|
|
(h)(8) |
Fund Services
Agreement dated November 10, 2015 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund Services,
Inc. on behalf of the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
34
|
|
(h)(9) |
Exhibit 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.
35
|
|
(h)(10) |
Amended Fund
Services Agreement dated March 1, 2017 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Services, Inc. on behalf of the DGHM Funds.
55
|
(h)(11) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(h)(12) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated August 24, 2016 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
46
|
|
(h)(13) |
Amended Fund
Services Agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Services, Inc. on behalf of the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(h)(14) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of The E-Valuator Funds.
39
|
|
(h)(15) |
Exhibit A
to the Fund Services Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between the Registrant and
Commonwealth Fund Services, Inc. on behalf of the Toreador Funds.
42
|
|
(h)(16) |
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.
22
|
|
(h)(17) |
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.
22
|
|
(h)(18) |
Amended and
Restated Schedule A dated October 31, 2014 to the Accounting Services Agreement
between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. with respect to REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
19
|
|
(h)(19) |
Amended and
Restated Schedule A dated January 26, 2016 to the Accounting Services Agreement
between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. with respect to Strategic Global
Long/Short Fund.
58
|
|
(h)(20) |
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.
5
|
|
(h)(21) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Perkins Capital Management, Inc. with respect
to shares of the Perkins Discovery Fund.
43
|
|
(h)(22) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co.,
LLC with respect to the DGHM Funds.
55
|
|
(h)(23) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co.,
LLC with respect to the DGHM MicroCap Value Funds.
40
|
|
(h)(24) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC
with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund, and REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
54
|
|
(h)(25) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC
with respect to the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
54
|
|
(h)(26) |
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.
52
|
|
(h)(27) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Toreador Research & Trading, LLC with
respect to the Toreador International Fund, the Toreador Core Fund, Toreador Explorer
Fund, and the Toreador Select Fund.
58
|
(h)(28) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC with respect
to the Global Strategic Income Fund.
53
|
|
(h)(29) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. with respect
to the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
35
|
|
(h)(30) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Vest
SM
Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company with respect to the CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(h)(31) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company
with respect to the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
46
|
|
(h)(32) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company
with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target
Income Fund.
57
|
|
(h)(33) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and Systelligence, LLC, with respect to The E-Valuator
Funds.
47
|
|
(h)(34) |
Shareholder
Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
2
|
|
(h)(35) |
Revised Schedule
A to the Shareholder Services Plan dated October 1, 2008.
3
|
|
(h)(36) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated August 2, 2013 as amended April 21, 2016, with respect to Investor
Class Shares of the DGHM Funds.
40
|
|
(h)(37) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated April 21, 2016, with respect to the CBOE Vest Funds Class A
Shares and Class C Shares.
44
|
|
(h)(38) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated August 24, 2016, with respect to the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth
Funds Class A Shares and Class C Shares.
46
|
|
(h)(39) |
Amended Shareholder
Services Plan, dated July 14, 2017, with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund Class A Shares, Class C Shares,
Institutional and Investor Class Shares.
57
|
|
(h)(40) |
Amended Shareholder
Services Plan with respect to the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund, REMS Real
Estate Value-Opportunity Fund and the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity
Fund.
56
|
|
(h)(41) |
Administrative
Services Plan with respect to the Retail Class Shares of the Toreador Core Fund.
28
|
|
(h)(42) |
Shareholder
Services Plan, dated April 21, 2016, with respect to The E-Valuator Funds Investor
Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares.
39
|
|
(i)(1) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
4
|
|
(i)(2) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
49
|
|
(i)(3) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund.
7
|
|
(i)(4) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Perkins Discovery Fund.
43
|
|
(i)(5) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for DGHM Funds.
9
|
|
(i)(6) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for DGHM Funds.
55
|
|
(i)(7) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for DGHM MicroCap Value Fund.
40
|
(i)(8) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
52
|
|
(i)(9) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Toreador International Fund, Toreador Core Fund, Toreador Explorer
Fund and the Toreador Select Fund.
58
|
|
(i)(10) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for Toreador International Fund.
24
|
|
(i)(11) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Toreador Core Fund.
24
|
|
(i)(12) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for Toreador Core Fund.
24
|
|
(i)(13) |
Opinion and
Consent of Counsel regarding tax matters for the Toreador Core Fund.
27
|
|
(i)(14) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Toreador Explorer Fund.
23
|
|
(i)(15) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Toreador Select Fund.
42
|
|
(i)(16) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for the Global Strategic Income Fund.
53
|
|
(i)(17) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for the European Equity Fund.
21
|
|
(i)(18) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
10
|
|
(i)(19) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
29
|
|
(i)(20) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
17
|
|
(i)(21) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund.
21
|
|
(i)(22) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
18
|
|
(i)(23) |
Opinion of
Legal Counsel for REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
21
|
|
(i)(24) |
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.
56
|
|
(i)(25) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
34
|
|
(i)(26) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
48
|
|
(i)(27) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
35
|
|
(i)(28) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
50
|
|
(i)(29) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(i)(30) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
46
|
|
(i)(31) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for CBOE Vest Funds and CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
51
|
|
(i)(32) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(i)(33) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for The E-Valuator Funds.
39
|
|
(i)(34) |
Consent of
Legal Counsel for The E-Valuator Funds.
47
|
|
(j)(1) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Union Street Partners Value Fund.
49
|
(j)(2) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Perkins Discovery Fund.
43
|
|
(j)(3) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for DGHM Funds.
55
|
|
(j)(4) |
Consent of
Independent Certified Public Accountants, Grant Thornton LLP for the DGHM MicroCap,
G.P.
40
|
|
(j)(5) |
Consent of
Independent Certified Public Accountants, Grant Thornton LLP for the DGHM MicroCap,
G.P.
55
|
|
(j)(6) |
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.
56
|
|
(j)(7) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
52
|
|
(j)(8) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Toreador International Fund, Toreador Core Fund,
Toreador Explorer Fund and the Toreador Select Fund.
45
|
|
(j)(9) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for the Global Strategic Income Fund.
53
|
|
(j)(10) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
48
|
|
(j)(11) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy
Fund and CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund.
51
|
|
(j)(12) |
Consent of
auditor for The E-Valuator CIF Financial Statements.
47
|
|
(j)(13) |
Consent of
auditor for The E-Valuator Funds.
47
|
|
(j)(14) |
Consent of
independent public accountants for Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
50
|
|
(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) |
Amended Schedule
A to the Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Union Street Partners Value
Fund.
19
|
|
(m)(3) |
Fixed Compensation
Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Perkins Discovery Fund.
13
|
|
(m)(4) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for the Investor Class Shares and Class C Shares of the
DGHM Funds.
40
|
|
(m)(5) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 26, 2013, for the Investor Class Shares
of the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
14
|
|
(m)(6) |
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.
15
|
|
(m)(7) |
Distribution
and Service Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated January 27, 2015, for the Investor
Class Shares of the Toreador Explorer Fund.
28
|
|
(m)(8) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 18, 2016, for the Investor Class Shares
of the Toreador Select Fund.
42
|
(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.
16
|
|
(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.
17
|
|
(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.
18
|
|
(m)(12) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated May 16, 2017, for the Platform Class Shares of
the REMS International Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
56
|
|
(m)(13) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated May 16, 2014, for the Class A Shares, of the
B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
14
|
|
(m)(14) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated November 10, 2015, for the Clifford Capital Partners
Fund.
34
|
|
(m)(15) |
Amended Distribution
and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated February 18, 2016, for
the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
35
|
|
(m)(16) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated July 6, 2016, for the CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(m)(17) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated August 24, 2016, for the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth
Funds.
46
|
|
(m)(18) |
Amended Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated July 14, 2017 for the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(m)(19) |
Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated April 21, 2016, for The E-Valuator Funds.
39
|
|
(n)(1) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Union Street Partners Value Fund.
32
|
|
(n)(2) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the DGHM Funds.
55
|
|
(n)(3) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the B. Riley Diversified Equity Fund.
52
|
|
(n)(4) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Toreador International Fund.
15
|
|
(n)(5) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Toreador Core Fund.
42
|
|
(n)(6) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Toreador Explorer Fund.
28
|
|
(n)(7) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Toreador Select Fund.
42
|
|
(n)(8) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Global Strategic Income Fund.
53
|
|
(n)(9) |
Amended Rule
18f-3 Multiple Class Plan for the REMS Real Estate Income 50/50 Fund, REMS International
Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund and the REMS Real Estate Value-Opportunity Fund.
56
|
|
(n)(10) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Clifford Capital Partners Fund.
34
|
|
(n)(11) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the Strategic Global Long/Short Fund.
35
|
|
(n)(12) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the CBOE Vest Funds.
44
|
|
(n)(13) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for the CBOE Vest Enhanced Growth Funds.
46
|
(n)(14) |
Amended Rule
18f-3 Multiple Class Plan for the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend
Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
57
|
|
(n)(15) |
Rule 18f-3
Multiple Class Plan for The E-Valuator Funds.
39
|
|
(o) |
Reserved.
|
|
(p)(1) |
Code of Ethics
for the Registrant.
58
|
|
(p)(2) |
Code of Ethics
for Union Street Partners, LLC.
4
|
|
(p)(3) |
Code of Ethics
for McGinn Investment Management, Inc.
17
|
|
(p)(4) |
Code of Ethics
for Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
6
|
|
(p)(5) |
Code of Ethics
for Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC.
56
|
|
(p)(6) |
Code of Ethics
for B. Riley Asset Management, a division of B. Riley Capital Management, LLC.
11
|
|
(p)(7) |
Code of Ethics
for Toreador Research & Trading, LLC.
20
|
|
(p)(8) |
Code of Ethics
for Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC.
16
|
|
(p)(9) |
Code of Ethics
for Shikiar Asset Management, Inc.
53
|
|
(p)(10) |
Code of Ethics
for Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC.
12
|
|
(p)(11) |
Code of Ethics
for Strategic Asset Management, Ltd.
19
|
|
(p)(12) |
Code of Ethics
for Clifford Capital Partners, LLC.
34
|
|
(p)(13) |
Code of Ethics
for Vest
SM
Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company
44
|
|
(p)(14) |
Code of Ethics
for Systelligence, LLC
39
|
|
(q) |
Powers of
Attorney.
25
|
|
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
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
25, 2008 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
4. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
13, 2010 (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
5. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
7, 2011 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
6. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
17, 2012 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
7. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
29, 2012 (file Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172)
|
|
8. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
9, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
9. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
23, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
10. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
26, 2013. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
11. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
10, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
12. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
30, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
13. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
14. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
1, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
15. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
16. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
17. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
18. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
15, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
19. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on October
31, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
20. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
29, 2014. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
21. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
28, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
22. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on March
31, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
23. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
24. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May
8, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
25. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
26. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
27. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
6, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
28. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
28, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
29. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September
16, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
30. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September
22, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
31. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
6, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
32. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November
20, 2015. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
33. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
28, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
34. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
8, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
35. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
23, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
36. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
29, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
37. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
29, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
38. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
29, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
39. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May
26, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
40. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May
31, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
41. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
28, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
42. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
30, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
43. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July
29, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
44. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
23, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
45. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August
30, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
46. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
12, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
47. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December
23, 2016. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
48. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
30, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
49. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
30, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
50. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on January
30, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
51. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February
28, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
52. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
28, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
53. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
28, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
54. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on April
28, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
55. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
28, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
56. |
Incorporated
by reference to Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June
29, 2017. (File Nos. 333-148723 and 811-22172).
|
|
57. |
Filed herewith.
|
|
58 |
To be filed
by Amendment.
|
Item 29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With Registrant
None.
Item 30. Indemnification
See Article VIII, Section 2 of the Registrants Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the section titled Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Other Agents in the Registrants By-Laws.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful
defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
Item 31. Business and other Connections of the Investment Adviser
The list required by this Item 31 as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each of the investment advisers and sub-advisers, and each director, officer or partner of such investment advisers or sub-advisers, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is incorporated herein by reference to Schedules A and D of each investment advisers or sub-advisers Form ADV listed opposite such investment advisers or sub-advisers name below, which is currently on file with the SEC as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
Name of Investment Adviser / Sub-Adviser | Form ADV File No. |
Union Street Partners, LLC | 801-72120 |
McGinn Investment Management, Inc. | 801-40578 |
Dalton, Greiner, Hartman, Maher & Co., LLC | 801-62895 |
Perkins Capital Management, Inc. | 801-22888 |
B. Riley Asset
Management, a division of B. Riley
Capital Management, LLC |
801-78852 |
Real Estate Management Services Group, LLC | 801-61061 |
Commonwealth Capital Management, LLC | 801-60040 |
Shikiar Asset Management, Inc. | 801-44062 |
Toreador Research & Trading, LLC | 801-66461 |
Strategic Asset Management, Ltd. | 801-70903 |
Clifford Capital Partners, LLC | 801-78911 |
Vest SM Financial LLC, a CBOE ® company | 801-77463 |
Systelligence, LLC | 801-107695 |
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
a) |
First Dominion
Capital Corp. also acts as underwriter to The World Funds, Inc.
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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).
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c) |
Not applicable.
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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) | First Dominion Capital Corporation, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, Virginia 23235 (records relating to its function as distributor to the Funds). | |
c) | 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). | |
d) | 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). | |
e) | 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). | |
f) | 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). | |
g) | 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). | |
h) | 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). | |
i) | 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). | |
j) | 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). | |
k) | 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 ). | |
l) | 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). | |
m) | 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). | |
n) | Vest SM Financial LLC, a CBOE company, 1765 Greensboro Station Pl, 9th Floor, McLean, Virginia 22102 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to the CBOE Vest Funds). | |
o) | Systelligence, LLC, 7760 France Avenue South, Suite 810, Bloomington, Minnesota 55435 (records relating to its function as the investment adviser to The E-Valuator Funds). |
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. 230 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 25 th day of July, 2017
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. 225 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
*David J. Urban | Trustee | July 25, 2017 | ||
*Mary Lou H. Ivey | Trustee | July 25, 2017 | ||
*Theo H. Pitt | Trustee | July 25, 2017 | ||
/s/ John Pasco, III | President and Principal Executive Officer | July 25, 2017 | ||
/s/ Karen M. Shupe | Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer | July 25, 2017 |
*By: Karen M. Shupe
*Attorney-in-fact pursuant to Powers of Attorney
EXHIBITS
(d)(21) |
Investment
Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, with respect
to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
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(e)(12) |
Amended Principal
Underwriter Agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Registrant and First Dominion
Capital Corp with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
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(g)(11) |
Amended Exhibit
A to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Fifth Third Bank on behalf
of certain portfolio series.
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(h)(13) |
Amended Fund
Services Agreement dated July 14, 2017 between the Registrant and Commonwealth Fund
Services, Inc. on behalf of the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
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(h)(32) |
Expense Limitation
Agreement between the Registrant and CBOE Vest Financial LLC, a CBOE
®
company
with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target
Income Fund.
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(h)(39) |
Amended Shareholder
Services Plan, dated July 14, 2017, with respect to the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund Class A Shares, Class C Shares,
Institutional and Investor Class Shares.
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(i)(32) |
Opinion and
Consent of Legal Counsel for CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats
Target Income Fund.
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(m)(18) |
Amended Distribution
Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, dated July 14, 2017 for the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
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(n)(14) |
Amended Rule
18f-3 Multiple Class Plan for the CBOE Vest S&P 500
®
Dividend
Aristocrats Target Income Fund.
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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made 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 CBOE Vest Financial LLC (the Adviser), a Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business in McLean, Virginia. This Agreement is made effective as to each Fund (defined below) as of the date set forth on the set of schedules to this Agreement identified as Schedule A and then numerically designated (e.g., Schedule A-1) attached hereto as of the Effective Date noted on each Schedule A with respect to each of the Funds.
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 and collectively, the Funds, 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.
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(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 Adviser shall use its best efforts to cause the Fund to comply
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1
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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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
copy of the Advisers Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time, and any
proposed 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
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2
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) |
Transaction
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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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
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3
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. |
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. |
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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(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 Names Vest and CBOE
. The Adviser has the right
to use the names Vest and CBOE 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 Vest and CBOE 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 Vest and CBOE that it has not otherwise
disclosed to the Board
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4
(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
NAMES VEST AND CBOE
. The Adviser grants to the Trust
a license to use the names Vest and CBOE (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 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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5
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. | ||
12. |
DURATION
AND TERMINATION
.
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(a)
|
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date executed with respect to a particular Fund 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: | ||
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 with respect
to a particular Fund 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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(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.
|
||
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 Companies, 8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 205, Richmond, VA, 23235 Attention: President; and notices to the Adviser shall be directed to 8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, Virginia 22102, Attention: President. | ||
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. | ||
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. |
6
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
Signature Page to Follow |
7 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on the Schedule As attached hereto.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
/s/ John Pasco III | ||
Signature | ||
By: John Pasco III | ||
Title: President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL LLC | ||
/s/ J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Signature | ||
By: J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Title: Senior Managing Director |
8
SCHEDULE A-1
Investment
Advisory Agreement
between
World Funds Trust (the Trust) and
CBOE
Vest Financial LLC (the Adviser)
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:
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
/s/ John Pasco III | ||
Signature | ||
By: John Pasco III | ||
Title: President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL LLC | ||
/s/ J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Signature | ||
By: J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Title: Senior Managing Director |
9
SCHEDULE A-2
Investment Advisory Agreement
between
World Funds Trust (the Trust) and
CBOE Vest Financial LLC (the Adviser)
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 | Asset Breakpoint | Rate | Effective Date |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy Funds*
*CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Funds include: CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund |
$0 - $249,999,999
$250,000,000 - $749,999,999 $750,000,000 - $1,499,999,999 $1,500,000,000 $4,999,999,999 >$5,000,000,000 |
0.75%
0.65% 0.60% 0.55% 0.50% |
August 24, 2016 |
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
/s/ John Pasco III | ||
Signature | ||
By: John Pasco III | ||
Title: President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL LLC | ||
/s/ J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Signature | ||
By: J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Title: Senior Managing Director |
10
SCHEDULE A-3
Investment Advisory Agreement
between
World Funds Trust (the Trust) and
CBOE Vest Financial LLC
(the Adviser)
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 | Asset Breakpoint | Rate | Effective Date |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund |
$0 - $249,999,999.99
$250,000,000 - $749,999,999.99 $750,000,000 - $1,499,999,999.99 $1,500,000,000 $4,999,999,999.99 >$5,000,000,000 |
0.75%
0.65% 0.60% 0.55% 0.50% |
July 14, 2017 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund |
$0 - $249,999,999.99
$250,000,000 - $749,999,999.99 $750,000,000 - $1,499,999,999.99 $1,500,000,000 $4,999,999,999.99 >$5,000,000,000 |
0.75%
0.65% 0.60% 0.55% 0.50% |
July 14, 2017 |
The CBOE Vest
Digital Coin Fund
|
None | 1.50% | July 14, 2017 |
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
/s/ John Pasco III | ||
Signature | ||
By: John Pasco III | ||
Title: President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL LLC | ||
/s/ J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Signature | ||
By: J. Steven Neamtz | ||
Title: Senior Managing Director |
11
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the date(s) noted above, 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.
|
||||
2. | Sale and Repurchase of Shares. | |||
(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 therefore 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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
(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.
|
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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
3. | Sale of Shares by the Fund. | |||
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. | ||||
4. | Basis of Sale of Shares. | |||
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. | ||||
5. | Rules of FINRA, etc. | |||
(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.
|
|||
(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.
|
|||
(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 statement of additional information and any such printed supplemental information will be
supplied to FDCC in reasonable quantities upon request.
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 2 |
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 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.
|
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 3 |
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/ Karen M. Shupe | Date: July 14, 2017 | ||
Print Name: Karen M. Shupe | |||
Title: Treasurer | |||
FIRST DOMINION CAPITAL CORP. | |||
By: /s/ John Pasco, III | Date: July 14, 2017 | ||
Print Name: John Pasco, III | |||
Title: President |
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 6 |
Schedule A
To the
Underwriter Agreement
Amended As of July 14, 2017
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund |
CBOE Vest Digital Coin Fund |
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 7 |
Schedule B
To the
Underwriter Agreement
Services
First Dominion Capital Corp. | World Funds Trust 8 |
Dated: July 14, 2017
EXHIBIT A |
TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT |
BETWEEN WORLD FUNDS TRUST |
AND FIFTH THIRD BANK |
April 22, 2015 |
Amended as of July 14, 2017 |
Name of Fund | Date | |
Toreador Core Fund | April 22, 2015 | |
Toreador Explorer Fund | April 22, 2015 | |
Clifford Capital Partners Fund | November 10, 2015 | |
Toreador Select Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
DGHM MicroCap Value Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
DGHM All-Cap Value Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
DGHM V2000 SmallCap Value Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund | August 24, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Very Conservative RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Conservative RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Tactically Managed RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Moderate RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Growth RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
The E-Valuator Aggressive Growth RMS Fund | April 21, 2016 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund | July 14, 2017 | |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund | July 14, 2017 |
Signatures: | ||
WORLD FUNDS TRUST | ||
By: /s/ John Pasco, III | ||
Its: President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
FIFTH THIRD BANK | ||
By: /s/ Ryan Henrich | ||
Its: Vice President |
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
August 24, 2016
Amended as of July 14, 2017
AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of the date(s) noted above 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.
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(ii)
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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.
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(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.
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(iv)
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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.
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(v)
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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.
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(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.
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(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).
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(viii)
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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.
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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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
*
|
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|
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|
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Signature Page Follows | |||||||||
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|
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|
* | * | * | * | * |
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/ David A. Bogaert
|
Date: July 14, 2017
|
|
Print Name:
David A. Bogaert
|
||
Title:
Managing Director, Business Development
|
||
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
WITH RESPECT TO THE FUNDS IDENTIFIED ON EXHIBIT A |
||
By:
/s/ John Pasco III
|
Date: July
14, 2017
|
|
Print Name:
John Pasco III
|
||
Title:
President and Principal Executive Officer
|
EXHIBIT A
to
Fund Services Agreement
List of Funds
Amended as of July 14, 2017
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 masterfeeder 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
|
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.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
THIS EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT , is made by and between CBOE Vest Financial, LLC (the Adviser) and World Funds Trust (the Trust) (Agreement), on behalf of the series of the Trust set forth in the set of schedules to this Agreement identified as Schedule A and then numerically designated (e.g., Schedule A-1) attached hereto (each a Fund, and collectively, the Funds) as of the Effective Date noted on each Schedule A with respect to each Fund.
WHEREAS, the Trust is a Delaware statutory trust, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act), as an open-end management 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 July 6, 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 each 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 of every 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 Operating Expense Limit with
respect to each Fund shall be the amount specified in each 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 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
|
1
amount
no higher than the lowest Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit applicable to a
particular class of shares of a Fund. 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 the appropriate party in order
that the amount of the investment advisory fees waived or reduced and other payments
remitted by the Adviser to the Fund or Funds 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 month in which the Advisory Agreement is still in effect,
the estimated aggregate Fund Operating Expenses of a class of shares of such Fund
for the fiscal month are less than the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit for
that month, 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 with respect to a particular class of
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 with respect to a particular
class, 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.a, 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.a, such reimbursement shall not
cause the Fund Operating Expenses to exceed the Maximum Annual Operating Expense
Limit that was in place with respect to each class of a Fund at the time the Adviser
waived or reduced its advisory fees or reimburse other expenses for such class of
the Fund.
|
|
b. |
Method
of Computation
. To determine each Funds accrual (with respect to each
class), if any, to reimburse the Adviser for the Reimbursement Amount, each month
the Fund Operating Expenses of each class of shares of the Fund shall be annualized
as of the last day of the month. If the annualized Fund Operating Expenses of a
class of shares of the Fund for any month are less than the Maximum Annual Operating
Expense Limit of such class of shares of such Fund, such Fund shall accrue with
respect to the particular class 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 the particular
class of shares 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.
|
|
c. |
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.
|
2
3. Term and Termination of Agreement.
a. |
This Agreement
shall continue in effect with respect to the Fund until such date as noted on each
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
* * * * * |
3
IN WITNESS,
WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their
behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on the Schedule as
attached hereto.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
On behalf of
the
Funds Noted on the Schedules to this Agreement
By: | /s/ John Pasco III |
Name: | John Pasco III |
Title: | President and Principal Executive Officer |
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL, LLC | |
By: | /s/ Steven Neamtz |
Name: | J. Steven Neamtz |
Title: | Senior Managing Director |
4
SCHEDULE A-1
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
(the Agreement)
between
WORLD FUNDS TRUST (the Trust)
and
CBOE Vest
Financial, LLC
This Agreement relates to the following Funds of the Trust:
Fund |
Maximum
Annual Operating Expense Limit |
Effective
Date |
Expiration
Date |
CBOE Vest
Defined Distribution Fund
The following classes of shares of each of the foregoing Funds shall be subject to the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit noted in this schedule: Class A Shares Class C Shares Investor Class Shares Institutional Class Shares |
1.25%
1.25% 1.25% 1.25% |
February
18, 2016
February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 |
February
28, 2018
February 28, 2018 February 28, 2018 February 28, 2018 |
IN WITNESS,
WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their
behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on this Schedule.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST |
On behalf of the |
Funds noted on this Schedules to the Agreement |
By: | /s/ John Pasco III |
Name: | John Pasco III |
Title: | President and Principal Executive Office |
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL, LLC | |
By: | /s/ J. Steven Neamtz |
Name: | J. Steven Neamtz |
Title: | Senior Managing Director |
5
SCHEDULE A-2
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
(the Agreement)
between
WORLD FUNDS TRUST (the Trust)
and
CBOE Vest
Financial, LLC
Fund |
Maximum
Annual
Operating Expense Limit |
Effective
Date |
Expiration
Date |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Buffer Protect Strategy Fund
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund The following classes of shares of each of the foregoing Funds shall be subject to the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit noted in this schedule: Class A Shares Class C Shares Investor Class Shares Institutional Class Shares |
0.95%
0.95% 0.95% 0.95% |
July 14,
2017
July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 |
February
28, 2019
February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 |
IN WITNESS,
WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their
behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on this Schedule.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
On behalf of
the
Funds noted on this Schedules to the Agreement
By: | /s/ John Pasco III |
Name: | John Pasco III |
Title: | President and Principal Executive Office |
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL, LLC | |
By: | /s/ J. Steven Neamtz |
Name: | J. Steven Neamtz |
Title: | Senior Managing Director |
6
SCHEDULE A-3
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
(the Agreement)
between
WORLD FUNDS TRUST (the Trust)
and
CBOE Vest
Financial, LLC
Fund |
Maximum
Annual
Operating Expense Limit |
Effective
Date |
Expiration
Date |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund The following classes of shares of each of the foregoing Funds shall be subject to the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit noted in this schedule: Class A Shares Class C Shares Investor Class Shares Institutional Class Shares |
0.95%
0.95% 0.95% 0.95% |
July 14,
2017
July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 |
February
28, 2019
February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 |
IN WITNESS,
WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their
behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on this Schedule.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
On behalf of
the
Funds noted on this Schedules to the Agreement
By: | /s/ John Pasco III |
Name: | John Pasco III |
Title: | President and Principal Executive Office |
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL, LLC | |
By: | /s/ J. Steven Neamtz |
Name: | J. Steven Neamtz |
Title: | Senior Managing Director |
7
SCHEDULE A-4
to the
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
(the Agreement)
between
WORLD FUNDS TRUST (the Trust)
and
CBOE Vest
Financial, LLC
Fund |
Maximum
Annual Operating Expense Limit |
Effective
Date |
Expiration
Date |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund
The following classes of shares of each of the foregoing Funds shall be subject to the Maximum Annual Operating Expense Limit noted in this schedule: Class A Shares Class C Shares Investor Class Shares Institutional Class Shares Class Y Shares |
0.95%
0.95% 0.95% 0.95% 0.70% |
July 14,
2017
July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 July 14, 2017 |
February
28, 2019
February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 February 28, 2019 |
IN WITNESS,
WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be executed on their
behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the dates noted on this Schedule.
|
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
On behalf of
the
Funds noted on this Schedules to the Agreement
By: | /s/ John Pasco III |
Name: | John Pasco III |
Title: | President and Principal Executive Office |
CBOE VEST FINANCIAL, LLC | |
By: | /s/ J. Steven Neamtz |
Name: | J. Steven Neamtz |
Title: | Senior Managing Director |
8
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
AMENDED SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN
CBOE Vest Funds
WHEREAS , the World Funds Trust (the Trust) is engaged in business as a diversified, open- end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and the Trust desires to compensate service providers (Service Providers) that provide the services described herein to clients (the Clients) who from time to time beneficially own shares of beneficial interest (the Shares) of any series and class of the Trust listed in Schedule A to this Shareholder Services Plan (each a Fund, and collectively, the Funds); and
WHEREAS , the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Trustees or the Board) have determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of its fiduciary duties, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Shareholder Services Plan (the Plan) will benefit the Funds and the Clients owning the Shares of such Funds;
NOW, THEREFORE , the Trustees hereby set forth the terms and conditions under which the Trust may compensate Service Providers for providing shareholder services as described herein.
Section 1. The Trust has adopted this Plan to enable the Trust to directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the provision of certain shareholder services to certain series and classes of the Trust, as listed in Schedule A to this Plan.
Section 2. The Trust will pay Service Providers a fee, up to the amount specified in Schedule A to this Plan, with respect to the average daily net asset value of shares owned of record or beneficially by clients with whom the Service Provider has a service relationship for shareholder services. Services for which this fee may be paid include, but are not limited to, (i) maintaining accounts relating to Clients that invest in Shares; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to Client inquiries relating to the services performed by Service Providers; (iv) responding to inquiries from Clients concerning their investment in Shares; (v) assisting Clients in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to Clients showing their position in Shares; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Funds such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend distribution and tax notices to Clients; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from Clients and placing orders with the Funds or their service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting with respect to Shares beneficially owned by Clients; and (x) processing dividend payments from the Funds on behalf of Clients. Service Providers may also use this fee for payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies and investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund supermarkets and the Service Providers affiliates and subsidiaries as compensation for such services as are described herein.
1
Section 3. This Plan shall, with respect to any Fund and class thereof be approved, together with any related agreements, by votes of the majority of both (i) the Trustees of the Trust and (ii) the Qualified Trustees (as defined in Section 8 herein).
Section 4. This Plan shall, unless terminated as hereinafter provided, continue in effect for a period of more than one year after it takes effect, only for so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually in the manner provided in Section 3 herein for the approval of this Plan.
Section 5. During the existence of this Plan, the Trust shall require the Distributor, or any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Trust pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement, shall provide to the Trustees, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for which such expenditures were made with respect to each Fund, and shall furnish the Trustees with such other information as the Board of Trustees may reasonably request in connection with payments made under the Plan.
Section 6. This Plan may be terminated at any time, with respect to Shares of any Fund listed in Schedule A, without payment of any penalty, at any time by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees as defined in Section 8 herein.
Section 7. All agreements with any person relating to the implementation of this Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall provide (a) that such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the Qualified Trustees (as defined in Section 8 herein), on not more than 60 days written notice to any other party to the agreement.
Section 8. As used in this Plan, (a) the term Qualified Trustees shall mean those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms assignment and interested person shall have the respective meanings specified in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exemptions as may be granted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 9. While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, shall be committed to the discretion of the Trustees then in office who are not interested persons of the Trust.
Section 10. This Plan shall not obligate the Trust or any other party to enter into an agreement with any particular person.
Section 11. This Plan may be amended at any time by the Board, provided that any material amendment of this Plan shall be effective only upon approval in the manner provided in Section 3 herein.
Section 12. Consistent with the limitation of shareholder and trustee liability as set forth in the Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, each as amended and
2
supplemented, any obligations assumed by the Trust, a class thereof pursuant to this Plan and any agreements related to this Plan shall be limited in all cases to the proportionate ownership of the class of the affected series and its assets, and shall not constitute obligations of any shareholder of any other class of the affected series or any other class or series of the Trust.
Section 13. If any provision of this Plan shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Plan shall not be affected thereby.
Dated: April 21, 2016
Amended: August 24, 2016
Amended: July 14, 2017
3
SCHEDULE A
to the SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES PLAN
Dated as of April 21, 2016
Amended as of August 24, 2016
Amended as of July 14,
2017
Fund Name | Class | Fee | Date Added |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
A-1
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund |
Investor,
A and C Classes |
0.25% | 04-21-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund | Institutional Class | 0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
A-1
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 08-24-2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 07/14/2017 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 07/14/2017 |
CBOE Vest Digital Coin Fund |
Institutional,
Investor, A and C Classes |
0.25% | 07/14/2017 |
A-1
|
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 |
July 25, 2017
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 a new series portfolios of the Trust the CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund (the Fund). 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
July 25, 2017
We have also assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:
(a) |
all documents
submitted to us as originals are authentic; all documents submitted to us as certified
or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all documents
submitted to us for examination are genuine; and all documents and public records
reviewed are accurate and complete; and
|
|
(b) |
all representations,
warranties, certifications and statements with respect to matters of fact and other
factual information (i) made by public officers; or (ii) made by officers or representatives
of the Trust are accurate, true, correct and complete in all material respects.
|
The Delaware Statutory Trust Act provides that shareholders of the Trust shall be entitled to the same limitation on personal liability as is extended under the Delaware General Corporation Law to stockholders of private corporations for profit. There is a remote possibility, however, that, under certain circumstances, shareholders of a Delaware statutory trust may be held personally liable for that trusts obligations to the extent that the courts of another state which does not recognize such limited liability were to apply the laws of such state to a controversy involving such obligations. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any shareholder, or to call upon any shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the shareholder may at any time agree to pay. Therefore, the risk of any shareholder incurring financial loss beyond his investment due to shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund is unable to meet its obligations and the express limitation of shareholder liabilities is determined not to be effective.
Based on our review of the foregoing and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter:
(a) |
The Shares
to be offered for sale pursuant to the Prospectus are duly and validly authorized
by all necessary actions on the part of the Trust; and
|
|
(b) |
The Shares,
when issued and sold by the Trust for consideration pursuant to and in the manner
contemplated by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trusts Registration
Statement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, subject to
compliance with the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, and the applicable state laws
regulating the sale of securities
|
We express no opinion as to any other matters other than as expressly set forth above and no other opinion is intended or may be inferred herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are given as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation and hereby disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change after the date of this opinion pertaining to any matter referred to herein.
We are members of the Bar of the District of Columbia and do not hold ourselves out as being conversant with the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal laws of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. We note that we are not licensed to practice law in the State of Delaware, and to the extent that any opinions herein involves the laws of the State of Delaware, such opinions should be understood to be based solely upon our review of the documents referred to above and the published statutes and case law of the State of Delaware.
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.
World Funds Trust
July 25, 2017
/s/ John H. Lively
On behalf of The Law Offices of John H. Lively & Associates, Inc.
WORLD FUNDS TRUST
DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
For Funds Advised by CBOE Vest Financial, LLC
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 fund(s) (a Fund) listed in Schedule A attached hereto; 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:
(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.
|
||
(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.
|
||
(3) |
Investor Shares
. For the Investor Shares of the Funds, the Funds may pay an amount calculated at
the rate of up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Investor
Shares of the Funds for each year or portion thereof included in the period for
which the computation is being made, elapsed since the commencement of operations
of the Investor Shares to the date of such expenditures.
|
(b) Allocation of Class Expenses . Only distribution expenditures properly attributable to the sale of a particular class may be used to support the 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.
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 August 24, 2016 and as Amended as of July 14, 2017.
SCHEDULE A
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund |
CBOE Vest Digital Coin Fund |
WORLD FUNDS TRUST RULE 18F-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN
For Funds Advised by CBOE Vest Financial, LLC
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 series (each a Fund) identified on Schedule A to this Plan.
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 a 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.
Each Fund is authorized, as indicated below in the section Class Arrangements, to issue the following Classes of Shares representing interests in a Fund:
Class A Shares,
Class C Shares,
Investor Shares,
Institutional Shares and
Class Y Shares.
Each Class of Shares will represent interests in the same portfolio of a 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 a 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 a 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 a Funds service providers as
being attributable to such Class of Shares;
|
||
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;
|
c.
|
Blue sky registration
or qualification fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
|
||
d.
|
Securities
and Exchange Commission registration fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
|
||
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
|
||
f.
|
support the
shareholders of such Class of Shares;
|
||
g.
|
Litigation
or other legal expenses relating solely to such Class of Shares;
|
||
h.
|
Fees of the
Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues particularly relating to such
Class of Shares;
|
||
i.
|
Independent
registered public accountants fees relating solely to such Class of
|
||
j.
|
Shares; and
|
||
k.
|
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
|
||
l.
|
different
kind or to a different degree than with respect to one or more other Classes of
Shares.
|
The 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 and/or ratified 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 a 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 a Fund entitles the shareholder of record to one vote (or fraction thereof). Each Class of Shares of a 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 a Fund. Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in a Funds current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
2
(a)
|
Class A Shares.
|
||||
1.
|
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): 5.75%.
|
||||
2.
|
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None.
|
||||
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.
|
||||
4.
|
Conversion
Features: None.
|
||||
5.
|
Redemption
Fee: 2.00% (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 30 days of purchase).
|
||||
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.
|
||||
7.
|
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund.
|
||||
(b)
|
Class C Shares.
|
||||
1.
|
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): None.
|
||||
2.
|
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None.
|
||||
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.
|
||||
4.
|
Conversion
Features: None.
|
||||
5.
|
Redemption
Fee: 2.00% (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 30 days of purchase).
|
3
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.
|
||||
7.
|
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund.
|
||||
(c)
|
Investor Shares.
|
||||
1.
|
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): None.
|
||||
2.
|
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None.
|
||||
3.
|
Rule 12b-1
Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: Pursuant to a Distribution and Service
Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 the 12b-1 Plan), Investor 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 Investor Shares.
|
||||
4.
|
Conversion
Features: None.
|
||||
5.
|
Redemption
Fee: 2.00% (as a percentage of amount redeemed within 30 days of purchase).
|
||||
6.
|
Exchange Privileges:
Investor Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Investor Shares of any other series
of the Trust advised by the same investment adviser at net asset value.
|
||||
7.
|
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund.
|
||||
(d)
|
Institutional Shares.
|
||||
1.
|
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): None.
|
||||
2.
|
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None.
|
||||
3.
|
Rule 12b-1
Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None.
|
||||
4.
|
Conversion
Features: None.
|
||||
5.
|
Redemption
Fee: None.
|
||||
6.
|
Exchange Privileges:
Institutional Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Institutional Shares of any
other series of the Trust advised by the same investment adviser at net asset value.
|
||||
7.
|
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund
|
||||
(e)
|
Class Y Shares.
|
||||
1.
|
Maximum Initial
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price): None.
|
4
2.
|
Maximum Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge: None.
|
||||
3.
|
Rule 12b-1
Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees: None.
|
||||
4.
|
Conversion
Features: None.
|
||||
5.
|
Redemption
Fee: None.
|
||||
6.
|
Exchange Privileges:
Y Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for YShares of any other series of the Trust
advised by the same investment adviser at net asset value.
|
||||
7.
|
Other Shareholder
Services: As described in the current Prospectus for the Fund
|
5
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 a 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
As amended:
August 24, 2016
As amended: July 14, 2017
6
SCHEDULE A |
to the |
RULE 18F-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN |
For Funds Advised by CBOE Vest Financial, LLC |
Fund | Share Class | Effective Date |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (January) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (February) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (March) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (April) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (May) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (June) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (July) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (August) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (September) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (October) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (November) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Buffer Protect Strategy (December) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest Defined Distribution Strategy Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
February 18, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (January) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (February) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (March) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (April) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (May) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (June) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest S&P 500 ® Enhanced Growth Strategy (July) Fund |
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
7
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (August) Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (September) Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (October) Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (November) Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Enhanced Growth Strategy (December) Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class and Institutional Class |
August 24, 2016 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500
®
Dividend Aristocrats Target Income Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class, Institutional Class, and Super Institutional Class |
July 14, 2017 |
CBOE Vest
S&P 500 Monthly Range Capture Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class, Institutional Class, and Super Institutional Class |
July 14, 2017 |
CBOE Vest
Digital Coin Fund
|
Class A, Class
C, Investor
Class, Institutional Class |
July 14, 2017 |
8