File No. 333-178600

File No. 811-22648

U.S. 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. 27 (X)  
     
  and/or  
     
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 (X)
  AMENDMENT NO. 30 (X)  

 

ASPIRIANT TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard

Suite 600

Los Angeles, California 90025

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

 

(310) 806-4000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

Robert J. Francais

Aspirant Trust

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard

Suite 600

Los Angeles, California 90025

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

W. John McGuire

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[   ] Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[X] On July 1, 2019 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)
[   ] 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.

 

 

 

ASPIRIANT TRUST

 

PROSPECTUS

July 1, 2019

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund

Advisor Shares (Ticker RMEAX)

Institutional Shares (Ticker RMEIX)*

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund

(Ticker RMMBX)

 

Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund

(Ticker RMDFX)

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund

(Ticker RMTBX)

 

* As of the date of this prospectus, Institutional Shares are not available for purchase.

 

The Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund, the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund, the Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund, and the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund (each, a “Fund”) are series of the Aspiriant Trust (the “Trust”) and are advised by Aspiriant, LLC (the “Adviser”).

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of the Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website (www.aspiriantfunds.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

 

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Funds electronically any time by contacting your client service team or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-877-997-9971.

 

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge at any time by contacting your client service team or, if you are a direct investor, by calling 1-877-997-9971. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, to all your directly held Aspiriant Funds.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Fund Summary 1
Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund 1
Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund 7
Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund 14
Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund 21
Additional Information about Investment Strategies and Related Risks of the Funds 27
Management of the Funds 43
Valuing Shares 47
Purchasing Shares 48
Redeeming Shares 50
Distribution of Fund Shares 52
Shareholder Services Plan 53
Dividends and Distributions 53
Tax Information 53
Financial Highlights 56

 

 

 

FUND SUM MARY

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund

 

Investment Objective

The Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund (the “Fund” or “Equity Allocation Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation while considering federal tax implications of investment decisions.

 

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

 

 

Advisor

Shares

Institutional

Shares

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as percentage of offering price)

NONE NONE
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of net asset value) NONE NONE
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends NONE NONE

Redemption Fee (as percentage of amount redeemed)

(on shares held for 90 days or less)

NONE 2.00%

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

 

Advisor

Shares

Institutional

Shares (1)

Management Fees 0.24% 0.24%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees NONE 0.25%
Other Expenses 0.14% 0.14%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2) 0.28% 0.28%
Total Annual Operating Expenses 0.66% 0.91%
Fee Waiver (3) (0.08%) (0.08%)
Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver 0.58% 0.83%

 

(1) Estimated for current fiscal year.
(2) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses represent fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of its investment in other investment companies.  Total Annual Operating Expenses and Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver in this table may not correlate to the gross and net ratios of expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
(3) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.24% to 0.16% through June 30, 2020. This arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

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 the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 

 

  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Advisor Shares $59 $203 $360 $815
Institutional Shares $85 $282 $496 $1,112

 

1

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Equity Allocation 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 shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 79% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal conditions, the Equity Allocation Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The types of equity securities the Fund may invest in include common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts. The Fund also may invest in securities that provide exposure to equity securities ( i.e. , rights, warrants, and investment company shares). The Fund will hold a broad and diverse group of equity securities of companies in countries with developed and emerging markets, which are considered developed or emerging based upon the market definition used by the MSCI ACWI Index (the “MSCI Index”). The Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization.

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in securities that the Adviser believes offer the most attractive return vs. risk opportunities. The Fund’s assets are allocated to various sub-advisers and invested directly in other investment companies or pooled investment vehicles (“Underlying Funds”, such as open-end and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and private funds) based on asset class forecasts used by the Adviser and its assessment of the risks of such asset classes. A key component of those forecasts is the Adviser’s expectation that valuations ultimately revert to their fundamental fair value. The Adviser changes the Fund’s allocations in response to changes in the Adviser’s investment outlook and in financial market valuations. The Adviser and sub-advisers generally will consider selling securities when other securities are identified that may result in a better opportunity.

 

For a portion of its investments, the Fund may seek to reduce the volatility of its net asset value relative to the MSCI Index, with respect to global securities, or to the S&P 500 Index (the “S&P 500” and with the MSCI Index, the “Benchmarks”), with respect to domestic securities, by using a global or domestic low volatility strategy that focuses on lower volatility equities through the use of risk models. The use of risk models refers to the use of a consistent process based on Models and Data (described below) to invest in securities that exhibit below average forecasted risk characteristics in order to achieve market-like returns with less volatility than the relevant Benchmark over a full market cycle. The Adviser considers a full market cycle to be the period between two peaks, which includes both a bear and a bull market and generally spans 7 to 10 years.

 

The Fund also pursues low volatility strategies by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility and achieve market-like returns by investing in equity securities believed to exhibit lower volatility than the relevant Benchmark over a full market cycle.

 

In addition, the Fund may use a portion of its assets to seek to reduce volatility relative to the MSCI Index, with respect to global securities, or to the S&P 500 Index, with respect to domestic securities, by using a global or domestic quality strategy that focuses on lower risk and high quality equities. The global quality strategy seeks to provide diversified exposure to high quality global companies, while the domestic quality strategy seeks to provide diversified exposure to high quality U.S. companies. The quality strategy would tilt a portion of the Fund’s portfolio toward stocks that have lower volatility, lower earnings variation, lower leverage, and higher earnings yield versus the MSCI Index for the global quality strategy and the S&P 500 for the domestic quality strategy.

 

The Fund also pursues a quality strategy by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility by investing in equity securities believed to be of high quality.

 

In addition, the Fund pursues a long/short equity strategy by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility and achieve capital appreciation over a full market cycle by investing long and short in domestic and global equity securities.

 

2

 

When investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses.

 

Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Equity Allocation Fund, certain of the sub-advisers rely heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the sub-adviser and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments by helping to determine the expected returns of securities.

 

In constructing the Fund’s investment portfolio, certain sub-advisers consider federal tax implications when making investment decisions with respect to individual securities to seek to provide a tax advantage. This approach is commonly referred to as a tax-managed approach and aims to limit the effect of federal income tax on investment returns by delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains and by maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature. This tax-managed approach may only apply to a portion of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Principal Risks

Because the value of your investment in the Equity Allocation Fund will fluctuate, you may lose money and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Fund.

 

Asset Allocation Risk: The Fund is subject to different levels and combinations of risks based on its actual allocation among various asset classes and underlying investments. The Fund will be exposed to risks of the asset classes, underlying investments, and financial markets in which it invests. The potential impact of the risks related to an asset class depends on the size of the Fund’s investment allocation to it at any point in time.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign markets. These less developed markets can be subject to greater social, economic, regulatory, and political uncertainties and can be extremely volatile.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: The prices of foreign securities, including depositary receipts, may decline or fluctuate because of (i) economic or political actions of foreign governments and/or (ii) less regulated or liquid securities markets. These risks are greater for emerging markets than for more developed foreign markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk, which is the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk : The risk that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

 

Investment Style Risk: The risk that securities selected as part of a low volatility strategy and quality strategy may underperform other segments of the equity markets or the equity markets as a whole. Low volatility and quality investing tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic conditions. As a result, the Fund’s performance may at times be worse than the performance of other mutual funds that invest more broadly or in securities of a different investment style.

 

Management and Operational Risk: The Fund runs the risk that investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund also runs the risk that the assessment of an investment (including a company’s fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value) may be wrong or that deficiencies in adviser’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund’s operations.

 

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that returns from the securities in which a fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.

 

Models and Data Risk: When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose the Fund to potential risks. Some of the models used by a sub-adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data.

 

3

 

Political and Economic Risks: The values of securities may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers.

 

Small and Mid-Cap Company Risk: Smaller capitalization companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources. Securities of small and mid-cap companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell such securities at a desired time or price.

 

Tax-Managed Investment Risk: Market conditions may limit the Fund’s ability to implement its tax-managed approach. For example, market conditions may limit the Fund’s ability to generate tax losses or to generate qualified dividend income, which is generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at favorable rates. The Fund’s ability to utilize various tax-management techniques may be curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulation. Although the Fund expects that a smaller portion of its total return will consist of taxable distributions to shareholders as compared to non-tax managed funds, there can be no assurance about the size of taxable distributions to shareholders. The performance of the Fund may deviate from that of non-tax managed funds and may not provide as high a return before or after consideration of federal income tax consequences as non-tax managed funds.

 

Underlying Fund Risk: The actual cost of investing in Underlying Funds may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that only invests directly in individual securities. The Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses. By investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Underlying Funds’ investments. The Fund’s investment performance is directly tied to the performance of the Underlying Funds and other investments in which the Fund invests. If one or more of the Underlying Funds fails to meet its investment objective, or otherwise performs poorly, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. With respect to an Underlying Fund whose shares trade on an exchange (for example, an exchange-traded fund) , its shares may trade below their net asset value or at a discount, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices.

 

Principal Risks of Underlying Funds

Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Equity Allocation Fund as a result of its investments in the Underlying Funds. References in this section to a “fund” are to the Underlying Funds in which the Fund may invest and references to investments and securities are to those held directly by the Underlying Funds.

 

Counterparty Risk: Transactions involving a counterparty or third party (other than the issuer of the instrument) are subject to the counterparty’s or third party’s credit risk and ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

 

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives by a fund can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty, or due to tax or regulatory constraints. In addition, the successful use of derivatives depends in part on the future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the underlying securities. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular derivative at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of a fund’s derivate strategies and, for these and other reasons, a fund’s derivative strategies may not reduce the fund’s volatility to the extent desired. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position or security held by a fund. Derivatives may create economic leverage in a fund, which magnifies the fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. As a result, the loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Derivatives that are traded “over the counter” also present credit risk (the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default).

 

4

 

Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in a limited number of countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers (or in sectors within a country or region) that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. If a fund invests in the securities of a limited number of issuers, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the fund may affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund invested in the securities of a larger number of issuers.

 

Large Shareholder Risk: To the extent that a large number of shares of the Underlying Fund is held by a single shareholder or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Underlying Fund shares will require the Underlying Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices or otherwise disrupt the Underlying Fund’s operations.

 

Leverage Risk : Investments in futures, swaps, and other derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If a fund uses leverage through activities such as purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, it has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the fund. The net asset value of a fund when employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires a fund to pay interest.

 

Short Sale Risk: The risk that the price of a security sold short will increase in value between the time of the short sale and the time a fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The fund’s potential loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case where the fund is unable, for any reason, to close out its short position.

 

Performance Information

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Equity Allocation Fund’s Advisor Shares. Updated performance information is available at www.aspiriantfunds.com or by calling the Fund at 1-877-997-9971. Performance of the Institutional Shares is not shown because it has not commenced operations. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

The bar chart below will show changes in the Fund’s Advisor Shares’ performance from year-to-year.

 

Calendar Year Total Returns for Advisor Shares*

 

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
(3.52%) 21.78% 4.51% (0.25%) 1.64%

 

* Advisor Shares year-to-date total return as of March 31, 2019 was 8.22%.

 

Best Quarter:  6.91%   March 31, 2017
Worst Quarter: (7.65%) December 31, 2018

 

The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who are exempt from tax or hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRA”).

 

5

 

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2018)

 

  1 Year 5 Years

Since Inception

(April 4, 2013)

Advisor Shares      
Total Return Before Taxes (3.52%) 4.48% 5.63%
Return After Taxes on Distribution (4.62%) 3.80% 5.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (1.39%) 3.35% 4.29%
MSCI ACWI (reflects no deduction of fees, expenses or taxes) (9.42%) 4.26% 6.48%

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser

Aspiriant, LLC serves as the Equity Allocation Fund’s investment adviser.

 

Sub-Advisers

Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) serves as the sub-adviser for the global low volatility strategy of the Fund. Aperio Group, LLC (“Aperio”) serves as the sub-adviser for the quality strategy of the Fund.

 

Portfolio Managers

John Allen, CFA, CAIA, Chief Investment Officer at the Adviser, Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, and David Grecsek, CFA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, have co-managed the Fund since October 2015.

 

Brendan O. Bradley, Ph.D. , Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Acadian , Ryan D. Taliaferro, Ph.D. , Senior Vice President and Director of Equity Strategies at Acadian , Mark J. Birmingham, CFA, Senior Vice President and Lead Portfolio Manager for Managed Volatility strategies at Acadian, and Dan M. Le, CFA, Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Acadian , have co-managed the assets of the Fund allocated to Acadian since February 2017.

 

Ran Leshem, Chief Investment Officer at Aperio and Robert Tymoczko, Director of Portfolio Management at Aperio, have co-managed the assets of the Fund allocated to Aperio since December 2014. Brian Ko, Portfolio Manager at Aperio, has co-managed the assets of the Fund allocated to Aperio since November 2017.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day the NYSE is open. Advisor Shares are only available to the Adviser’s clients, charitable organizations that the Adviser’s clients wish to designate as recipients of shares, the Adviser’s employees (including their spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law and siblings-in-law), current and former owners of the Adviser, members of the Adviser’s board, and members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). For Institutional Shares, you may purchase or sell shares by written request, telephone, or wire transfer. The minimum initial investment in Institutional Shares of the Fund is $100,000. There is no minimum initial investment for Advisor Shares.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over anotherinvestment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

6

 

FUND SUM MARY

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

The Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund (the “Fund” or “Municipal Bond Fund”) seeks total return on investment through income exempt from regular federal income taxes and through capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) NONE
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of net asset value) NONE
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends NONE
Redemption Fee (as percentage of amount redeemed) NONE

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

Management Fees 0.27%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees NONE
Other Expenses 0.12%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) 0.18%
Total Annual Operating Expenses 0.57%
Fee Waiver (2) (0.06%)
Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver 0.51%

 

(1) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses represent fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of its investment in other investment companies. Total Annual Operating Expenses and Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver in this table may not correlate to the gross and net ratios of expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
(2) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.27% to 0.21% through June 30, 2020. This arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

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 the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$52 $177 $312 $708

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Municipal Bond 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 shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

7

 

Principal Investment Strategies

To achieve its investment objective, under normal market conditions, the Municipal Bond Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that pay income that is exempt from regular federal personal income tax. These municipal securities include obligations issued by U.S. states and their subdivisions, authorities, instrumentalities, and corporations, as well as obligations issued by U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), which may include a focus on the California municipal securities market. The Fund may invest without limit in securities that generate income subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders . The Fund may invest in bonds of any maturity and duration.

 

The Fund may invest significantly in high yield municipal securities, which are securities rated below investment grade (BB/Ba or lower at the time of purchase) or, if unrated, judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s sub-advisers. High yield securities are commonly referred to as junk bonds and are considered speculative.

 

The Fund also invests in investment grade municipal and other securities, preferred securities, taxable municipals, and pooled investment vehicles (such as open-end and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and private funds) that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, for hedging purposes, the Fund may invest in structured notes and other derivatives such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps and credit default swaps), and options on swap agreements.

 

The Fund may invest in all types of municipal securities, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and participation interests in municipal leases. The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds, which are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity and pay no cash income to their holders until they mature. The Fund may also invest in municipal forwards, which are contracts to purchase municipal securities for a specified price at a future date later than the normal settlement date.

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in municipal securities whose interest payments vary inversely with changes in short-term tax-exempt interest rates (“inverse floaters”). Inverse floaters are derivative securities that provide leveraged exposure to underlying municipal bonds. The Fund’s investments in inverse floaters are designed to increase the Fund’s income and returns through this leveraged exposure. These investments are speculative, however, and also create the possibility that income and returns will be diminished. Holders of inverse floaters are exposed to all of the gains or losses on the underlying municipal bonds, despite the fact that their net cash investment is significantly less than the value of those bonds. This multiplies the positive or negative impact of the underlying bonds’ price movements on the value of the inverse floaters, thereby creating effective leverage. The Fund may invest in inverse floaters that create effective leverage of up to 30% of the Fund’s total investment exposure. The Fund will only invest in inverse floating rate securities whose underlying bonds are rated A or higher.

 

The sub-advisers use a research-intensive investment process to identify higher-yielding and undervalued municipal bonds that offer above-average total return. The sub-advisers’ allocation within the municipal markets and among non-municipal markets is based on its macroeconomic outlook, relative valuation estimates among the various markets, and tax-adjusted total return estimates among alternative investment opportunities. The sub-advisers may choose to sell municipal bonds with deteriorating credit or limited upside potential compared to other available bonds.

 

The Adviser may change the Fund’s exposures from time-to-time, which in turn results in higher or lower levels of risk.  In managing the Fund’s exposures, the Adviser considers a number of economic factors including valuation levels of publicly traded securities.  For example, the Fund’s exposure to investment grade securities and high yield securities will vary depending on the market environment.  In addition to varying its exposures, the Fund may also hold certain derivative positions intended to increase or decrease the risk of the Fund.  For example, the Fund may enter into an interest rate swap designed to increase or decrease its sensitivity to prevailing interest rate levels.

 

8

 

Principal Risks

 

Because the value of your investment in the Municipal Bond Fund will fluctuate, you may lose money and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Fund.

 

Call Risk: If an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, performance could be adversely

impacted.

 

Counterparty Risk : Transactions involving a counterparty or third party (other than the issuer of the instrument) are subject to the counterparty’s or third party’s credit risk and ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and

principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Because the Fund may significantly invest in high yield securities, the Fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment grade securities.

 

Defaulted Securities Risk: The risk of the uncertainty of repayment of defaulted securities ( e.g. , a security on which a principal or interest payment is not made when due) and obligations of distressed issuers.

 

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives by the Fund can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty, or due to tax or regulatory constraints. In addition, the successful use of derivatives depends in part on the future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the underlying securities. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular derivative at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of the Fund’s derivate strategies and, for these and other reasons, the Fund’s derivative strategies may not reduce the Fund’s volatility to the extent desired. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position or security held by the Fund. Derivatives may create economic leverage in the Fund, which magnifies the Fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. As a result, the loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Derivatives that are traded “over the counter” also present credit risk (the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default).

 

Extension Risk: The risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.

 

High Yield Securities Risk: High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid, and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities. Defaulted bonds are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in high yield securities that have not defaulted. The Fund generally will not receive interest payments on the defaulted bonds and there is a substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a defaulted bond, the Fund may lose its entire investment.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk : The risk that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

 

Income Risk: The Fund’s income could decline during periods of falling interest rates.

 

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Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Fund’s portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities.

 

Inverse Floaters Risk: The use of inverse floaters by the Fund creates effective leverage. Due to the leveraged nature of these investments, they will typically be more volatile and involve greater risk than the fixed rate municipal bonds underlying the inverse floaters. An investment in certain inverse floaters will involve the risk that the Fund could lose more than its original principal investment. Distributions on inverse floaters bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal bond interest rates. Thus, distributions paid to the Fund on its inverse floaters will be reduced or even eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal bonds in a rising interest rate environment.

 

Leverage Risk: Investments in futures, swaps, and other derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If the Fund uses leverage through activities such as purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, it has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund when employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest.

 

Management and Operational Risk: The Fund runs the risk that investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund also runs the risk that the assessment of an investment (including a company’s fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value) may be wrong or that deficiencies in adviser’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund’s operations.

 

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that returns from the securities in which a fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.

 

Municipal Lease Obligations Risk: Participation interests in municipal leases pose special risks because many leases and contracts contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for this purpose by the appropriate legislative body.

 

Political and Economic Risks: The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. Because the Fund may invest significantly in municipal bonds from California and may invest in municipal bonds from U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, the Fund is more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers in those locations. California’s credit rating is among the worst of any state in the country and certain municipal bond issuers in Puerto Rico have recently experienced financial difficulties and rating agency downgrades.

 

Preferred Securities Risk: Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

 

Prepayment Risk: The risk that the issuer of a debt security, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, repays all or a portion of the principal prior to the security’s maturity. In times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that a fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid with the fund being unable to reinvest the proceeds in an investment with as great a yield. Prepayments can therefore result in lower yields to shareholders of a fund.

 

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Restricted Securities Risk: A fund may hold securities that are restricted as to resale under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices or at all. A fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the values of restricted securities may have significant volatility.

 

Tax Risk: Interest from municipal bonds held by the Fund could become subject to regular federal income tax because of, among other things, unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by regulatory authorities, or noncompliant conduct by bond issuers.

 

Underlying Fund Risk: The actual cost of investing in a mutual fund that invests in other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that only invests directly in individual securities. The Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses. By investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Underlying Funds’ investments. The Fund’s investment performance is directly tied to the performance of the Underlying Funds and other investments in which the Fund invests. If one or more of the Underlying Funds fails to meet its investment objective, or otherwise performs poorly, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. With respect to an Underlying Fund whose shares trade on an exchange (for example, an exchange-traded fund) , its shares may trade below their net asset value or at a discount, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds Risk: Zero coupon bonds do not pay interest on a current basis and may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such bonds generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause the Fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by tax laws.

 

Principal Risks of Underlying Funds

Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Municipal Bond Fund as a result of its investments in the Underlying Funds. References in this section to a “fund” are to the Underlying Funds in which the Fund may invest and references to investments and securities are to those held directly by the Underlying Funds.

 

Short Sale Risk: The risk that the price of a security sold short will increase in value between the time of the short sale and the time a fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The fund’s potential loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case where the fund is unable, for any reason, to close out its short position.

 

Performance Information

The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and how the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Updated performance information is available at www.aspiriantfunds.com or by calling the Fund at 1-877-997-9971. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

On July 1, 2015, simultaneous with the commencement of the Fund’s investment operations, the Advanced Capital Intelligence Global Income Opportunities Fund, L.P. (the “Private Fund”), a privately offered investment fund managed by the Adviser with investment policies, objectives, guidelines, and restrictions that were in all material respects equivalent to those of the Fund, converted into the Fund. The performance information shown below prior to July 1, 2015 is that of the Private Fund. The performance information for the Private Fund reflects the maximum fees and expenses that could have been charged to the Private Fund. The Private Fund was not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and was not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected its performance.

 

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Calendar Year Total Returns*

 

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
1.46% 5.65% 0.38% 3.44% 13.01% (3.61%) 13.47% 11.99% 2.57% 18.81%

 

* Year-to-date total return as of March 31, 2019 was 2.62%.

 

Best Quarter:  9.57%   September 30, 2009
Worst Quarter: (4.72%) December 31, 2010

  

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2018)

 

  1 Year 5 Years 10 years
Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund      
Total Return Before Taxes 1.46% 4.69% 6.50%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 1.46% 4.68% 6.50%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

2.19% 4.17% 5.53%
Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction of fees, expenses or taxes) 1.28% 3.82% 4.85%

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who are exempt from tax or hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or IRAs.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser

Aspiriant, LLC serves as the Municipal Bond Fund’s investment adviser.

 

Sub-Advisers

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen”) and WellsCap serve as the Municipal Bond Fund’s sub-advisers.

 

Portfolio Managers

John Allen, CFA, CAIA, Chief Investment Officer at the Adviser, Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, and David Grecsek, CFA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, have co-managed the Fund since October 2015.

 

John V. Miller, CFA, Senior Managing Director and Head of Nuveen Municipals, Paul L. Brennan, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen, and Douglas M. Baker, CFA, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen have co-managed the assets of the Fund since July 2015.

 

Robert Miller, Senior Portfolio Manager, Tax-Exempt Fixed Income team at WellsCap has co-managed the assets of the Fund since May 2016, Wendy Casetta, Senior Portfolio Manager, Tax-Exempt Fixed Income team at WellsCap, and Terry J. Goode, Senior Portfolio Manager, Tax-Exempt Fixed Income team at WellsCap have co-managed the assets of the Fund since June 2019.

 

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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day. Shares of the Fund are only available to the Adviser’s clients, charitable organizations that the Adviser’s clients wish to designate as recipients of shares, the Adviser’s employees (including their spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law and siblings-in-law), current and former owners of the Adviser, members of the Adviser’s board, and members of the Board. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that are primarily exempt from regular federal income tax. All or a portion of the Fund’s distributions, however, may be subject to such tax, the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders, and/or state and local taxes.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund’s related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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FUND SUMMARY

Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund

 

Investment Objective

The Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund (the “Fund” or “Defensive Allocation Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term investment returns with lower risk and lower volatility than the stock market, and with relatively low correlation to stock and bond market indexes.

 

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) NONE
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of net asset value) NONE
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends NONE
Redemption Fee (as percentage of amount redeemed) NONE

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment): 

Management Fees 0.10%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees NONE
Other Expenses 0.09%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) 0.82%
Total Annual Operating Expenses 1.01%

 

(1) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses represent fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of its investment in other investment companies.  Total Annual Operating Expenses in this table may not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Financial Highlights section of this prospectus, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

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 the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$103 $322 $558 $1,236

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Defensive Allocation 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 shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 29% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

The Defensive Allocation Fund is a “fund-of-funds” that seeks to provide an investment return that has lower volatility than traditional asset classes (i.e. , public equity and investment grade bonds) by combining several non-traditional or alternative asset class exposures, including investments that focus on a specialized asset class such as long-short strategies. Non-traditional or alternative asset classes have tended over time to have a lower correlation with the broad U.S. stock and bond markets. The Fund allocates its assets among a variety of non-traditional or alternative asset classes so as to capture diversifying returns from these non-traditional or alternative sources. The Defensive Allocation Fund invests primarily in Underlying Funds and may, to a limited extent, invest in separately managed accounts (“SMAs”), which are private portfolios of securities for individual accounts.

 

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The Fund intends to allocate its assets among a range of investment strategies. At any point in time, the Fund ’s exposures may include global equities, global fixed income, market neutral, global macro, managed futures, relative value, long/short equity, long/short debt, merger arbitrage, convertible arbitrage, security arbitrage, managed futures and other non-traditional strategies. In selecting Underlying Funds and asset class exposures, the Adviser will take asset diversification and potential volatility of return into account. The Underlying Funds include, among others, unaffiliated mutual funds, unaffiliated exchange traded funds, and unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds. At any time, investments in hedge funds will not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. The Underlying Funds may invest in derivatives ( e.g. , futures, forwards, options, swaps or swaptions). A derivative is a contract whose value is based on performance of an underlying financial asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure.

 

In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective and preserve capital, the Adviser may invest a significant portion of the Fund’s net assets in cash and cash equivalents.

 

Principal Risks

Because the value of your investment in the Defensive Allocation Fund will fluctuate, you may lose money and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Fund as a result of its direct investments.

 

Asset Allocation Risk: The Fund is subject to different levels and combinations of risks based on its actual allocation among various asset classes and underlying investments. The Fund will be exposed to risks of the asset classes, underlying investments and financial markets in which it invests. The potential impact of the risks related to an asset class depends on the size of the Fund’s investment allocation to it at any point in time.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk : The risk that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

 

Management and Operational Risk: The Fund runs the risk that investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund also runs the risk that the assessment of an investment (including a company’s fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value) may be wrong or that deficiencies in adviser’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund’s operations.

 

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that returns from the securities in which a fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.

 

Political and Economic Risks: The values of securities may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers.

 

Underlying Fund Risk: The actual cost of investing in a mutual fund that invests in other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that only invests directly in individual securities. The Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses. By investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Underlying Funds’ investments. The Fund’s investment performance is directly tied to the performance of the Underlying Funds and other investments in which the Fund invests. If one or more of the Underlying Funds fails to meet its investment objective, or otherwise performs poorly, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. With respect to an Underlying Fund whose shares trade on an exchange (for example, an exchange-traded fund), its shares may trade below their net asset value or at a discount, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices.

 

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Principal Risks of Underlying Funds and SMAs

Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Defensive Allocation Fund as a result of its investments in the Underlying Funds and SMAs. References in this section to a “fund” are to the Underlying Funds and SMAs in which the Fund may invest and references to investments and securities are to those held directly by the Underlying Funds and SMAs.

 

Alternative Strategies Risk: The performance of a fund that pursues alternative strategies is linked to the performance of highly volatile traditional and alternative asset classes ( e.g. , equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities). To the extent the Fund invests in such fund, the Fund’s share price will be exposed to potentially significant fluctuations in value. In addition, a fund that employs alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially substantial losses to the fund. Furthermore, alternative strategies may employ leverage, involve extensive short positions and/or focus on narrow segments of the market, which may magnify the overall risks and volatility associated with such fund’s investments. Depending on the particular alternative strategies used by a fund, it may be subject to risks not associated with more traditional investments.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that the impairment of the value of the collateral underlying the security in which a fund invests, such as non-payment of loans, will result in a reduction in the value of the security.

 

Call Risk: If an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by a fund, performance could be adversely impacted.

 

Commodity Risk: The value of commodities may be more volatile than the value of equity securities or debt instruments and their value may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity. The price of a commodity may be affected by demand/supply imbalances in the market for the commodity.

 

Counterparty Risk: Transactions involving a counterparty or third party (other than the issuer of the instrument) are subject to the counterparty’s or third party’s credit risk and ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

 

Covered Calls and Equity Collars : With respect to call options on individual equity securities, while a fund generally will write only covered call options, it may sell the instrument underlying a call option prior to entering into a closing purchase transaction on up to 10% of the fund’s net assets, provided that such sale will not occur more than three days prior to the option buy back. In an equity collar, a fund simultaneously writes a call option and purchases a put option on the same instrument. With respect to call options on equity indexes, the holdings of individual securities underlying the index is deemed by the investment adviser to be covering the call option sold. A fund may invest in uncovered call options when the security has been sold before the option expires.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Because a fund may significantly invest in high yield securities, the fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment grade securities.

 

Defaulted Securities Risk: The risk of the uncertainty of repayment of defaulted securities ( e.g. , a security on which a principal or interest payment is not made when due) and obligations of distressed issuers.

 

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives by a fund can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty, or due to tax or regulatory constraints. In addition, the successful use of derivatives depends in part on the future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the underlying securities. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular derivative at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of a fund’s derivate strategies and, for these and other reasons, a fund’s derivative strategies may not reduce the fund’s volatility to the extent desired. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position or security held by a fund. Derivatives may create economic leverage in a fund, which magnifies the fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. As a result, the loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Derivatives that are traded “over the counter” also present credit risk (the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default).

 

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Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign markets. These less developed markets can be subject to greater social, economic, regulatory, and political uncertainties and can be extremely volatile.

 

Extension Risk: The risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.

 

Floating Rate Loan Risk: Floating rate loans generally are subject to restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans sometimes trade infrequently in the secondary market. As a result, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult, and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed. Difficulty in selling a floating rate loan can result in a loss.  In addition, a floating rate loan may not be fully collateralized, which may cause the floating rate loan to decline significantly in value. Floating rate loans issued by banks may be subject to extended trade settlement periods longer than seven days, which may delay a fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds during a period of high volume shareholder redemptions. Such loans may not be considered securities and, therefore, may not be afforded the protections of the federal securities laws.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: The prices of foreign securities, including depositary receipts, may decline or fluctuate because of (i) economic or political actions of foreign governments and/or (ii) less regulated or liquid securities markets. These risks are greater for emerging markets than for more developed foreign markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk, which is the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar.

 

High Yield Securities Risk: High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for a fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid, and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities. Defaulted bonds are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in high yield securities that have not defaulted. A fund generally will not receive interest payments on the defaulted bonds and there is a substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a defaulted bond, a fund may lose its entire investment.

 

Income Risk: A fund’s income could decline during periods of falling interest rates.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. A fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities.

 

Inverse Floaters Risk: The use of inverse floaters by a fund creates effective leverage. Due to the leveraged nature of these investments, they will typically be more volatile and involve greater risk than the fixed rate municipal bonds underlying the inverse floaters. An investment in certain inverse floaters will involve the risk that a fund could lose more than its original principal investment. Distributions on inverse floaters bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal bond interest rates. Thus, distributions paid to the fund on its inverse floaters will be reduced or even eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal bonds in a rising interest rate environment.

 

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Large Shareholder Risk: To the extent that a large number of shares of the Underlying Fund is held by a single shareholder or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Underlying Fund shares will require the Underlying Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices or otherwise disrupt the Underlying Fund’s operations.

 

Leverage Risk : Investments in futures, swaps, and other derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If a fund uses leverage through activities such as purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, it has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the fund. The net asset value of a fund when employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires a fund to pay interest.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that borrowers may default on their mortgage obligations or the guarantees underlying the mortgage-backed securities will default or otherwise fail and that, during periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-backed securities will be called or prepaid, which may result in a fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of a mortgage-backed security may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, or the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults. The values of certain types of mortgage-backed securities, such as inverse floaters and interest-only and principal-only securities, may be extremely sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates.

 

Preferred Securities Risk: Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

 

Prepayment Risk: The risk that the issuer of a debt security, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, repays all or a portion of the principal prior to the security’s maturity. In times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that a fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid with the fund being unable to reinvest the proceeds in an investment with as great a yield. Prepayments can therefore result in lower yields to shareholders of a fund.

 

REIT and Real Estate Risk: Investment in REITs and real estate involves the risks that are associated with direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general.  These risks include risks related to general, regional and local economic conditions; fluctuations in interest rates; property tax rates, zoning laws, environmental regulations and other governmental action; cash flow dependency; increased operating expenses; lack of availability of mortgage funds; losses due to natural disasters; changes in property values and rental rates; and other factors.

 

Restricted Securities Risk: A fund may hold securities that are restricted as to resale under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices or at all. A fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the values of restricted securities may have significant volatility.

 

Sector Risk: At times, a fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

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Short Sale Risk: The risk that the price of a security sold short will increase in value between the time of the short sale and the time a fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The fund’s potential loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case where the fund is unable, for any reason, to close out its short position.

 

Small and Mid-Cap Company Risk: Smaller capitalization companies may be more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources. Securities of small and mid-cap companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell such securities at a desired time or price.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds Risk: Zero coupon bonds do not pay interest on a current basis and may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such bonds generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by tax laws.

 

Performance Information

The accompanying bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and how the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Updated performance information is available at www.aspiriantfunds.com or by calling the Fund at 1-877-997-9971. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Calendar Year Total Returns *

 

2018 2017 2016
(4.90%) 9.41% 1.36%

 

* Year-to-date total return as of March 31, 2019 was 4.89%.

 

Best Quarter: 2.89% March 31, 2017
Worst Quarter: (4.27%) December 31, 2018

 

The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who are exempt from tax or hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or IRAs.

 

Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended December 31, 2018)

 

  1 Year

Since Inception

(December 14, 2015)

Advisor Shares    
Total Return Before Taxes (4.90%) 1.80%
Return After Taxes on Distribution (5.99%) 1.05%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares (2.46%) 1.21%
HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index (reflects no deduction of fees, expenses or taxes) (3.48%) 1.30%

 

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Management

 

Investment Adviser

Aspiriant, LLC serves as the Defensive Allocation Fund’s investment adviser.

 

Portfolio Managers

John Allen, CFA, CAIA, Chief Investment Officer at the Adviser, Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, and David Grecsek, CFA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, have co-managed the Fund since December 2015.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day. Shares of the Fund are only available to the Adviser’s clients, charitable organizations that the Adviser’s clients wish to designate as recipients of shares, the Adviser’s employees (including their spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law and siblings-in-law), current and former owners of the Adviser, members of the Adviser’s board, and members of the Board. There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund’s related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information. 

 

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FUND SUMMARY

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund

 

Investment Objective

The Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund (the “Fund” or “Taxable Bond Fund”) seeks to maximize long-term total return.

 

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price) NONE
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of net asset value) NONE
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends NONE
Redemption Fee (as percentage of amount redeemed) NONE

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment): 

Management Fees 0.25%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees NONE
Other Expenses 0.28%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) 0.35%
Total Annual Operating Expenses 0.88%
Fee Waiver (2) (0.17%)
Total Annual Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver 0.71%

 

(1) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses represent fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund as a result of its investment in other investment companies.
(2) The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.25% to 0.08% through June 30, 2020. This arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

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 the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$73 $264 $471 $1,069

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Taxable Bond 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 shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. For the period March 29, 2018 throu gh the most recent fiscal year end, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

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Principal Investment Strategies

The Taxable Bond Fund is a “fund-of-funds” that seeks to maximize long-term total return. The Fund invests primarily in Underlying Funds and may, to a limited extent, invest in SMAs, which are private portfolios of securities for individual accounts. To achieve its investment objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests through Underlying Funds and SMAs at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other fixed income securities.

 

The Taxable Bond Fund intends to allocate its assets to Underlying Funds and SMAs that primarily invest in various types of bonds and other securities, typically government and agency bonds, corporate bonds, notes, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, zero coupon bonds, bank loans, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, swaps, futures, options, credit default swaps, private placements and restricted securities. These investments may have interest rates that are fixed, variable or floating. The Underlying Funds and SMAs may invest in the U.S. and abroad, including international and emerging markets, and may purchase securities of any credit rating and varying maturities issued by domestic and foreign corporations, entities and governments.

 

In selecting Underlying Funds and SMAs, the Adviser will take asset diversification and potential volatility of return into account. The portfolio management team expects to actively evaluate each Underlying Fund and SMA based on its potential return, its risk level, and how it fits within the Fund’s overall portfolio in determining whether to buy or sell investments. The Adviser will also actively manage the Fund’s risks on an on-going basis to mitigate the risk of excessive losses by the portfolio overall.

 

The Underlying Funds consist of unaffiliated mutual funds, unaffiliated exchange-traded funds, and unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds. Because investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid, the Fund will not make any such investment if, immediately after making the investment, the Fund would not hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments.

 

Principal Risks

Because the value of your investment in the Taxable Bond Fund will fluctuate, you may lose money and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Fund.

 

Asset Allocation Risk: The Fund is subject to different levels and combinations of risks based on its actual allocation among the various Underlying Funds and SMAs. The Fund will be exposed to risks of the asset classes, underlying investments and financial markets in which it invests . The potential impact of the risks related to an asset class depends on the size of the Fund’s investment allocation to it at any point in time.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk : The risk that the Fund may not be able to sell a security in a timely manner at a desired price.

 

Management and Operational Risk: The Fund runs the risk that investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. The Fund also runs the risk that the assessment of an investment (including a company’s fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value) may be wrong or that deficiencies in adviser’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the Fund or impair Fund’s operations.

 

Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that returns from the securities in which a fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.

 

Political and Economic Risks: The values of securities may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers.

 

Underlying Fund Risk: The actual cost of investing in a mutual fund that invests in other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that only invests directly in individual securities. The Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses. By investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with the Underlying Funds’ investments. The Fund’s investment performance is directly tied to the performance of the Underlying Funds and other investments in which the Fund invests. If one or more of the Underlying Funds fails to meet its investment objective, or otherwise performs poorly, the Fund’s performance could be negatively affected. With respect to an Underlying Fund whose shares trade on an exchange (for example, an exchange-traded fund) , its shares may trade below their net asset value or at a discount, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund’s investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices.

 

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Principal Risks of Underlying Funds and SMAs

Below is a summary of the principal risks of investing in the Taxable Bond Fund as a result of its investments in the Underlying Funds and SMAs. References in this section to a “fund” are to the Underlying Funds and SMAs in which the Fund may invest and references to investments and securities are to those held directly by the Underlying Funds and SMAs.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that the impairment of the value of the collateral underlying the security in which a fund invests, such as non-payment of loans, will result in a reduction in the value of the security.

 

Call Risk: If an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by a fund, performance could be adversely impacted.

 

Counterparty Risk : Transactions involving a counterparty or third party (other than the issuer of the instrument) are subject to the counterparty’s or third party’s credit risk and ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Because a fund may significantly invest in high yield securities, the fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment grade securities.

 

Defaulted Securities Risk: The risk of the uncertainty of repayment of defaulted securities ( e.g. , a security on which a principal or interest payment is not made when due) and obligations of distressed issuers.

 

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives by a fund can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty, or due to tax or regulatory constraints. In addition, the successful use of derivatives depends in part on the future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the underlying securities. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular derivative at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of a fund’s derivate strategies and, for these and other reasons, a fund’s derivative strategies may not reduce the fund’s volatility to the extent desired. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position or security held by a fund. Derivatives may create economic leverage in a fund, which magnifies the fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. As a result, the loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Derivatives that are traded “over the counter” also present credit risk (the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default).

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Emerging markets involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign markets. These less developed markets can be subject to greater social, economic, regulatory, and political uncertainties and can be extremely volatile.

 

Extension Risk: The risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.

 

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Floating Rate Loan Risk: Floating rate loans generally are subject to restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans sometimes trade infrequently in the secondary market. As a result, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult, and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed. Difficulty in selling a floating rate loan can result in a loss. In addition, a floating rate loan may not be fully collateralized, which may cause the floating rate loan to decline significantly in value. Floating rate loans issued by banks may be subject to extended trade settlement periods longer than seven days, which may delay a fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds during a period of high volume shareholder redemptions. Such loans may not be considered securities and, therefore, may not be afforded the protections of the federal securities laws.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: The prices of foreign securities, including depositary receipts, may decline or fluctuate because of (i) economic or political actions of foreign governments and/or (ii) less regulated or liquid securities markets. These risks are greater for emerging markets than for more developed foreign markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk, which is the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar.

 

High Yield Securities Risk: High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for a fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid, and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities. Defaulted bonds are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in high yield securities that have not defaulted. A fund generally will not receive interest payments on the defaulted bonds and there is a substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a defaulted bond, a fund may lose its entire investment.

 

Income Risk: A fund’s income could decline during periods of falling interest rates.

 

Inflation-Indexed Bond Risk: The risk that such bonds will change in value in response to actual or anticipated changes in inflation rates in a manner unanticipated by a fund’s portfolio management team or investors generally. Inflation-indexed bonds are subject to debt securities risks.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. A fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities.

 

Large Shareholder Risk: To the extent that a large number of shares of the Underlying Fund is held by a single shareholder or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Underlying Fund shares will require the Underlying Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices or otherwise disrupt the Underlying Fund’s operations.

 

Leverage Risk : Investments in futures, swaps, and other derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. If a fund uses leverage through activities such as purchasing derivative instruments in an effort to increase its returns, it has the risk of magnified capital losses that occur when losses affect an asset base, enlarged by the creation of liabilities, that exceeds the net assets of the fund. The net asset value of a fund when employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires a fund to pay interest.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that borrowers may default on their mortgage obligations or the guarantees underlying the mortgage-backed securities will default or otherwise fail and that, during periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-backed securities will be called or prepaid, which may result in a fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of a mortgage-backed security may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, or the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults. The values of certain types of mortgage-backed securities, such as inverse floaters and interest-only and principal-only securities, may be extremely sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates.

 

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Preferred Securities Risk: Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

 

Prepayment Risk: The risk that the issuer of a debt security, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, repays all or a portion of the principal prior to the security’s maturity. In times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that a fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid with the fund being unable to reinvest the proceeds in an investment with as great a yield. Prepayments can therefore result in lower yields to shareholders of a fund.

 

Restricted Securities Risk: A fund may hold securities that are restricted as to resale under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices or at all. A fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the values of restricted securities may have significant volatility.

 

Sector Risk: At times, a fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

Short Sale Risk: The risk that the price of a security sold short will increase in value between the time of the short sale and the time a fund must purchase the security to return it to the lender. The fund’s potential loss on a short sale could theoretically be unlimited in a case where the fund is unable, for any reason, to close out its short position.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds Risk: Zero coupon bonds do not pay interest on a current basis and may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such bonds generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by tax laws.

 

Performance Information

Performance information is not included because, as of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not completed a full calendar year of operations.

 

Management

 

Investment Adviser

Aspiriant, LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”).

 

Portfolio Managers

John Allen, CFA, CAIA, Chief Investment Officer at the Adviser, Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, and David Grecsek, CFA, Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser, have co-managed the Fund since its inception in 2017.

 

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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day the NYSE is open. Shares of the Fund are only available to the Adviser’s clients, charitable organizations that the Adviser’s clients wish to designate as recipients of shares, the Adviser’s employees (including their spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law and siblings-in-law), current and former owners of the Adviser, members of the Adviser’s board, and members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). There is no minimum initial or subsequent investment amount.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or capital gains.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund’s related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND
RELATED RISKS OF THE FUNDS

 

General

 

To help you better understand the Funds, this section provides a detailed discussion of each Fund’s principal investment strategies and the related risks. A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s SAI.

 

Investment Objective

 

The investment objective of the Equity Allocation Fund is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while considering federal tax implications of investment decisions. The Municipal Bond Fund seeks total return on investment through income exempt from regular federal income taxes and through capital appreciation. The Defensive Allocation Fund seeks to achieve long-term investment returns with lower risk and lower volatility than the stock market, and with relatively low correlation to stock and bond market indexes. The Taxable Bond Fund seeks to maximize long-term total return. Each Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund

 

The Adviser intends to implement the Equity Allocation Fund’s strategies by hiring one or more sub-advisers to focus on specific aspects of the Fund’s strategies. Acadian is responsible for the Fund’s global low volatility strategy. Aperio is responsible for the Fund’s quality strategy.

 

Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities. The types of equity securities the Fund may invest in include common stock, preferred stock, and depositary receipts. The Fund may also invest in securities that provide exposure to equity securities (i.e., rights, warrants, and investment company shares). The Fund will hold a broad and diverse group of equity securities of companies in countries with developed and emerging markets, which are considered developed or emerging based upon the market definition used by the MSCI Index. The Fund may invest in companies of any market capitalization.

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in securities that the Adviser believes offer the most attractive return vs. risk opportunities. The Fund’s assets are allocated to various sub-advisers and invested directly in Underlying Funds based on asset class forecasts used by the Adviser, together with its assessment of the risks of such asset classes. A key component of those forecasts is the Adviser’s expectation that valuations ultimately revert to their fundamental fair value. The Adviser changes the Fund’s allocations in response to changes in the Adviser’s investment outlook and in financial market valuations. In an environment of high valuations, the Adviser may adjust the Fund’s allocations to reduce valuation risk by allocating to or overweighting low volatility, quality, and long/short equity strategies. Conversely, in an environment where the Adviser believes valuations are low, the allocations may be adjusted to perform similar to the Benchmarks (as defined below) by allocating to or overweighting strategies that will be less defensive than the Benchmarks. The Adviser and sub-advisers generally will consider selling securities when other securities are identified that may result in a better opportunity.

 

For a portion of its assets, the Fund may seek to reduce the volatility of its net asset value relative to the MSCI Index (a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets) with respect to global securities, or to the S&P 500 Index (the “S&P 500” and together with the MSCI Index, the “Benchmarks”), with respect to domestic securities, by using a global or domestic low volatility strategy that focuses on lower volatility equities through the use of risk models. The use of risk models refers to the use of a consistent process based on Models and Data (described below) to invest in securities that exhibit below average forecasted risk characteristics in order to achieve market-like returns with less volatility than the relevant Benchmark over a full market cycle. The Adviser considers a full market cycle to be the period between two peaks, which includes both a bear and a bull market and generally spans 7 to 10 years.

 

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The Fund also pursues low volatility strategies by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility and achieve market-like returns by investing in equity securities believed to exhibit lower volatility than the relevant Benchmark over a full market cycle.

 

In addition, the Fund may use a portion of its assets to seek to reduce volatility relative to the MSCI Index, with respect to global securities, or to the S&P 500, with respect to domestic securities, by using a global or domestic quality strategy that focuses on lower risk and high quality equities. The global quality strategy seeks to provide diversified exposure to high quality global companies, while the domestic quality strategy seeks to provide diversified exposure to high quality U.S. companies. The quality strategy would tilt a portion of the Fund’s portfolio toward stocks that have lower volatility, lower earnings variation, lower leverage, and higher earnings yield versus the MSCI Index for the global quality strategy and the S&P 500 for the domestic quality strategy.

 

The Fund also pursues a quality strategy by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility by investing in equity securities believed to be of high quality.

 

In addition, the Fund pursues a long/short equity strategy by investing in Underlying Funds that seek to reduce volatility and achieve capital appreciation over a full market cycle by investing long and short in domestic and global equity securities.

 

When investing in Underlying Funds, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in addition to its own direct expenses.

 

Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, certain of the sub-advisers rely heavily on quantitative models (both proprietary models developed by the sub-adviser, and those supplied by third parties) and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments by helping to determine the expected returns of securities.

 

In constructing the Fund’s investment portfolio, certain sub-advisers consider federal tax implications when making investment decisions with respect to individual securities to seek to provide a tax advantage. When consistent with the Fund’s investment policies, the Adviser and sub-advisers will buy and sell securities for the portfolio considering the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains ( e.g. , selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature ( i.e. , taxable to individuals at lower capital gains tax rates). This tax-managed approach may only apply to a portion of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund

 

To achieve its investment objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that pay income that is exempt from regular federal personal income tax. These municipal securities include obligations issued by U.S. states and their subdivisions, authorities, instrumentalities, and corporations, as well as obligations issued by U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), which may include a focus on the California municipal securities market. The Fund may invest without limit in securities that generate income subject to the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders .

 

The Fund may invest significantly in high yield municipal securities, which are securities rated below investment grade (BB/Ba or lower at the time of purchase) or, if unrated, judged to be of comparable quality by the sub-advisers. Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as junk bonds and are considered speculative.

 

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The Fund also may invest in investment grade municipal and other securities, preferred securities, taxable municipals, and pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, for hedging purposes, the Fund may invest in structured notes and other derivatives such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swap agreements (including interest rate swaps, total return swaps and credit default swaps), and options on swap agreements. A structured note is a debt obligation that contains an embedded derivative component with characteristics that adjust the security’s risk/return profile. The return performance of a structured note will track that of the underlying debt obligation and the derivative embedded within it. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk, and yield curve risk and to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Municipal Securities . The Fund may invest in all types of municipal securities, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and participation interests in municipal leases. The Fund may invest in zero coupon bonds, which are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity and pay no cash income to their holders until they mature. The municipal securities in which the Fund invests may have variable, floating, or fixed interest rates.

 

States, local governments, municipalities, and other issuing authorities issue municipal securities to raise money for various public purposes such as building public facilities, refinancing outstanding obligations, and financing general operating expenses. These securities include general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source, and revenue bonds, which may be repaid only from the revenue of a specific facility or source. Certain municipal bonds represent lease obligations, which carry special risks because the issuer of the bonds may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. To reduce this risk, the Fund will, in making purchase decisions, take into consideration the issuer’s incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.

 

In evaluating municipal bonds of different credit qualities or maturities, the sub-advisers take into account the size of yield spreads. Yield spread is the additional return the Fund may earn by taking on additional credit risk or interest rate risk. For example, yields on low quality bonds are higher than yields on high quality bonds because investors must be compensated for incurring the higher credit risk associated with low quality bonds. If yield spreads do not provide adequate compensation for the additional risk associated with low quality bonds, the Fund may buy bonds of relatively higher quality. Similarly, in evaluating bonds of different maturities, the sub-advisers evaluate the comparative yield available on these bonds. If yield spreads on long-term bonds do not compensate the Fund adequately for the additional interest rate risk the Fund must assume, the Fund may buy bonds of relatively shorter maturity. In addition, municipal bonds in a particular industry may provide higher yields relative to their risk compared to bonds in other industries. If that occurs, the Fund may buy more bonds from issuers in that industry.

 

The sub-advisers use a research-intensive investment process to identify higher-yielding and undervalued municipal securities that offer above-average total return. The sub-advisers’ allocation within the municipal markets and among non-municipal markets is based on its macroeconomic outlook, relative valuation estimates among the various markets, and tax-adjusted total return estimates among alternative investment opportunities. The sub-advisers may choose to sell municipal securities with deteriorating credit or limited upside potential compared to other available securities.

 

The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities for a specified price at a future date later than the normal settlement date. Municipal forwards pay higher interest rates after settlement than standard bonds to compensate the buyer for bearing market risk, but deferring income during the settlement period, and can often be bought at attractive prices and yields. For instance, if the Fund knows that a bond will, or is likely to, be called or mature on a specific future date, the Fund may buy a forward settling on or about that date to replace the called or maturing bond and “lock in” a currently attractive interest rate.

 

Inverse Floaters . The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in inverse floaters issued in tender option bond (“TOB”) transactions. In a TOB transaction, one or more highly-rated municipal bonds are deposited into a special purpose trust that issues floating rate securities (“floaters”) to outside parties and inverse floaters to long-term investors like the Fund. The floaters pay interest at a rate that is reset periodically (generally weekly) to reflect current short-term tax-exempt interest rates. Holders of the floaters have the right to tender such securities back to the TOB trust for par plus accrued interest (the “put option”), typically on seven days’ notice. Holders of the floaters are paid from the proceeds of a successful remarketing of the floaters or by a liquidity provider in the event of a failed remarketing. The inverse floaters pay interest at a rate equal to (a) the interest accrued on the underlying bonds, minus (b) the sum of the interest payable on the floaters and fees payable in connection with the TOB. Thus, the interest payments on the inverse floaters will vary inversely with the short-term rates paid on the floaters. Holders of the inverse floaters typically have the right to simultaneously (a) cause the holders of the floaters to tender those floaters to the TOB trust at par plus accrued interest and (b) purchase the municipal bonds from the TOB trust.

 

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Because holders of the floaters have the right to tender their securities to the TOB trust at par plus accrued interest, holders of the inverse floaters are exposed to all of the gains or losses on the underlying municipal bonds, despite the fact that their net cash investment is significantly less than the value of those bonds. This multiplies the positive or negative impact of the underlying bonds’ price movements on the value of the inverse floaters, thereby creating effective leverage. The effective leverage created by any TOB transaction depends on the value of the securities deposited in the TOB trust relative to the value of the floaters it issues. The higher the percentage of the TOB trust’s total value represented by the floaters, the greater the effective leverage. For example, if municipal bonds worth $100 are deposited in a TOB trust and the TOB trust issues floaters worth $75 and inverse floaters worth $25, the TOB trust will have a leverage ratio of 3:1 and the inverse floaters will exhibit price movements at a rate that is four times that of the underlying bonds deposited into the trust. If that same TOB trust were to issue only $50 of floaters, the leverage ratio would be 1:1 and the inverse floaters would exhibit price movements at a rate that is only two times that of the underlying bonds.

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floaters that create effective leverage of up to 30% of the Fund’s total investment exposure. For purposes of this calculation, the Fund’s total investment exposure includes not only the inverse floaters owned by the Fund but also the assets attributable to the floaters issued by the related TOB trust. As an illustration, assume that a hypothetical fund with $80 of assets invests in the inverse floaters issued by a TOB trust with $30 of underlying municipal bonds and a 2:1 leverage ratio ( i.e. , the trust has issued $20 of floaters and $10 of inverse floaters). The fund’s effective leverage amount (the $20 of floaters outstanding) would be equal to 20% of its total $100 investment exposure ($80 of original assets plus the $20 in floaters to which the fund is now exposed).

 

Short-Term Investments . Under normal market conditions, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in short-term investments, such as short-term, high quality municipal bonds, or tax-exempt money market funds. The Fund may invest in short term, high quality taxable securities or shares of taxable money market funds if suitable short-term municipal bonds or shares of tax-exempt money market funds are not available at reasonable prices and yields.

 

Risk Management . The Adviser may change the Fund’s exposures from time-to-time, which in turn results in higher or lower levels of risk.  In managing the Fund’s exposures, the Adviser considers a number of economic factors including valuation levels of publicly traded securities.  For example, the Fund’s exposure to investment grade securities and high yield securities will vary depending on the market environment.  In addition to varying its exposures, the Fund may also hold certain derivative positions intended to increase or decrease the risk of the Fund.  For example, the Fund may enter into an interest rate swap designed to increase or decrease its sensitivity to prevailing interest rate levels.

 

Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund

 

The Defensive Allocation Fund is a “fund-of-funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in Underlying Funds and may, to a limited extent, invest in SMAs, which are private portfolios of securities for individual accounts. The Fund seeks to provide a return that has lower volatility than traditional asset classes ( i.e. , public equity and investment grade bonds) by combining several non-traditional or alternative asset class exposures, including investments that focus on a specialized asset class ( e.g. , long-short strategies). Non-traditional or alternative asset classes have tended over time to have a lower correlation with the broad U.S. stock and bond markets.

 

The Fund allocates its assets among a variety of non-traditional or alternative asset classes so as to capture diversifying returns from these non-traditional or alternative sources. The Fund’s non-traditional and alternative asset class exposures include the strategies listed below, and other non-traditional strategies. In selecting Underlying Funds and asset class exposures, the Adviser will take asset diversification and potential volatility of return into account. The Underlying Funds include, among others, unaffiliated mutual funds, unaffiliated exchange traded funds and unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds. At any time, investments in hedge funds will not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. The Underlying Funds may invest in derivatives ( e.g. , futures, forwards, options, swaps or swaptions). A derivative is a contract whose value is based on performance of an underlying financial asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure.

 

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Conservative Allocation strategies seek to preserve an investment portfolio’s value by allocating a higher percentage of the portfolio in lower risk securities such as fixed income, money market securities, and cash.

 

Market Neutral strategies are designed to exploit equity market inefficiencies, which involve being simultaneously invested in long and short matched equity portfolios generally of the same size, usually in the same market and attempts to achieve capital appreciation.

 

Global Macro strategies involve taking long and/or short positions on the basis of macroeconomic and political forecasts. Managers typically express their views by investing in the futures and forwards markets, but can also hold positions in the cash equities and fixed income markets.

 

Relative Value strategies combine a variety of different strategies used with a broad array of securities. The strategy involves purchasing a security that is expected to appreciate, while simultaneously selling short a related security that is expected to depreciate. Related securities can be the stock and bond of a specific company; the stocks of two different companies in the same sector; or two bonds issued by the same company with different maturity dates and/or coupons.

 

Long/Short Equity strategies employ long and short trading in common stock and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign issuers and attempt to achieve capital appreciation.

 

Long/Short Debt strategies are designed to take advantage of perceived discrepancies in market prices related to credit assessments of individual issues and sectors by taking long and/or short positions in cash debt and debt-related securities, which may include corporate debt, sovereign debt, credit derivatives, bank loans, common and preferred stock, options and futures contracts, privately negotiated options, shares of investment companies, bonds, credit derivatives and other financial instruments.

 

Merger Arbitrage strategies typically involve buying and selling securities in companies being acquired or involved in a merger transaction. Generally, the investor will take “long” positions in the target company and “short” the acquiring company to lock in the spread between the two valuations. The investor may use leverage to enhance potential returns.

 

Convertible Arbitrage strategies typically involve buying “long” convertible debt or preferred equity instrument and selling “short” the related stock. The complex pricing relationship of convertibles allows for arbitrage managers to exploit the pricing inefficiencies between such securities.

 

Security Arbitrage strategies typically involve a simultaneous purchase and sale of a security in order to profit from a difference in the price.

 

Managed Futures strategies use systematic ( e.g. , trend-following) and/or other technical trading strategies in the futures and forward markets. Managed futures returns have historically displayed lower correlations to traditional asset classes.

 

The Fund’s investment team employs a fund-of-funds approach categorized by first-hand due diligence that includes detailed evaluation of investment vehicles and their investment managers to determine their suitability to provide exposure to a chosen asset class. On-going due diligence is a key element of the investment team’s process and includes monitoring factors such as consistent adherence to the investment process, style drift (explicit or implicit change in investment strategies or goals), strategy capacity (the ability to implement the investment strategy as assets grow) and the manager’s commitment to the fund, along with other factors such as market conditions. The investment team develops its strategic asset class allocation views across a broad range of asset classes based on its continuing analysis of global financial markets and macro-economic conditions.

 

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In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective and preserve capital, the Adviser may invest a significant portion of the Fund’s net assets in cash and cash equivalents.

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund

 

The Taxable Bond Fund is a “fund-of-funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in Underlying Funds and may, to a limited extent, invest in SMAs. To achieve its investment objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests through Underlying Funds and SMAs at least 80% of its net assets (plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other fixed income securities.

 

The Taxable Bond Fund intends to allocate its assets to Underlying Funds and SMAs that primarily invest in various types of bonds and other securities, typically government and agency bonds, corporate bonds, notes, municipal securities, mortgage-related and asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, zero coupon bonds, bank loans, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, swaps, futures, options, credit default swaps, private placements and restricted securities. These investments may have interest rates that are fixed, variable or floating. The Underlying Funds and SMAs may invest in the U.S. and abroad, including international and emerging markets, and may purchase securities of any credit rating and varying maturities issued by domestic and foreign corporations, entities and governments.

 

In selecting Underlying Funds and SMAs, the Adviser will take asset diversification and potential volatility of return into account. The portfolio management team expects to actively evaluate each Underlying Fund and SMA based on its potential return, its risk level, and how it fits within the Fund’s overall portfolio in determining whether to buy or sell investments. The Adviser will also actively manage the Fund’s risk on an on-going basis to mitigate the risks of excessive losses by the portfolio overall.

 

The Underlying Funds consist of unaffiliated mutual funds, unaffiliated exchange-traded funds, and unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds. Because investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid, the Fund will not make any such investment if, immediately after making the investment, the Fund would hold more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments.

 

U.S. Government and Agency Bonds. U.S. government and agency bonds represent loans by investors to the U.S. Treasury or a wide variety of government agencies and instrumentalities. Securities issued by most U.S. government entities are neither guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury nor backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. These entities include, among others, the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs), the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and a small number of U.S. government agencies, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The market values of U.S. government and agency securities and U.S. Treasury securities are subject to fluctuation.

 

Corporate Bonds . Corporate Bonds are IOUs issued by businesses that want to borrow money for some purpose—often to develop a new product or service, to expand into a new market, or to buy another company. As with other types of bonds, the issuer promises to repay the principal on a specific date and to make interest payments in the meantime. The amount of interest offered depends both on market conditions and on the financial health of the corporation issuing the bonds; a company whose credit rating is not strong will have to offer a higher interest rate to obtain buyers for its bonds.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities represent partial ownership interest in pools of commercial or residential mortgage loans made by financial institutions to finance a borrower’s real estate purchase. These loans are packaged by private or governmental issuers for sale to investors. As the underlying mortgage loans are paid by borrowers, the investors receive payments of interest and principal.

 

Asset-Backed Securities. Bonds that represent partial ownership in pools of consumer or commercial loans—most often credit card, automobile, or trade receivables are called asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities, which can be types of corporate fixed income obligations, are issued by entities formed solely for that purpose, but their value ultimately depends on repayments by underlying borrowers. A primary risk of asset-backed securities is that their maturity is difficult to predict, being driven by borrowers’ prepayments.

 

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Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs). CMOs are special bonds that are collateralized by mortgages or mortgage pass-through securities. Cash flow rights on underlying mortgages—the rights to receive principal and interest payments—are divided up and prioritized to create short-, intermediate-, and long-term bonds. CMOs rely on assumptions about the timing of cash flows on the underlying mortgages, including expected prepayment rates. The primary risk of a CMO is that these assumptions are wrong, which would either shorten or lengthen the bond’s maturity.

 

International Dollar-Denominated Bonds . International dollar-denominated bonds are denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by foreign governments and companies. Foreign bonds are subject to country risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value or liquidity of securities issued by companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in dollars rather than in the currency of the issuer’s country, the investor is not exposed to currency risk; rather, the issuer assumes that risk, usually to attract U.S. investors. Although currency movements do not affect the value of international dollar-denominated bonds directly, they could affect the value indirectly by adversely affecting the issuer’s ability (or the market’s perception of the issuer’s ability) to pay interest or repay principal.

 

Floating Rate and Variable Rate Obligations. Some debt securities have variable or floating interest rates. The interest rates on floating rate obligations change based on changes to a stated prevailing base market interest rate, such as a bank’s prime rate, the 91-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, the rate of return on commercial paper or bank certificates of deposit, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or some other standard. The interest rate on a floating rate obligation is adjusted automatically at specified times to give effect to changes in the base rate. The interest rate on a variable rate obligation is adjusted at stated periodic intervals to reflect current market interest rates. Generally, the changes in the interest rate on floating and variable rate obligations reduce the fluctuation in their market value, so the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less than that for comparable fixed-rate obligations.

 

Floating rate and variable rate obligations may have features that permit the holder to recover the principal amount of the security at specified intervals, generally not exceeding one year, upon notice to the issuer. Variable rate obligations may have a demand feature that allows the holder to tender the obligation to the issuer or a third party at certain times, generally for par value plus accrued interest, according to the terms of the obligations. The issuer of a demand obligation normally has a corresponding right in its discretion, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the security plus accrued interest. The issuer usually must provide a specified number of days’ notice to the holder. Variable rate demand obligations may include master demand notes, which are obligations that permit the fund to invest fluctuating amounts in them.

 

The credit quality of a floating rate or variable rate obligation may be enhanced by being backed by a letter of credit or guarantee issued by a financial institution, corporation, the U.S. government or other entity.

 

Foreign Currency Bonds. Foreign currency bonds are denominated in the local currency of a non-U.S. country and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that investments in foreign currency bonds are hedged, there is the risk that the currency hedging transactions entered into may not perfectly offset the foreign currency exposure.

 

Preferred Stocks. Preferred stocks distribute set dividends from the issuer. The preferred-stock holder’s claim on the issuer’s income and assets ranks before that of common-stock holders, but after that of bondholders.

 

Convertible Securities . Convertible securities are bonds or preferred stocks that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, common stocks.

 

Derivatives. Derivatives are securities whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Underlying Funds and SMAs may invest in derivative instruments including futures contracts; options, including options on swaps; currency swaps; foreign currency exchange forwards; interest rate swaps; total return swaps; credit default swaps; or other derivatives. They may also invest in U.S. Treasury futures for either cash management purposes or potentially to add value since they may be favorably priced.

 

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Principal Investment Strategies Common to All Funds

 

Other Investment Companies and Pooled Investment Vehicles . The Funds may invest in securities of other investment companies, including open-end and closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. Such investments may include investment companies managed by the sub-advisers or their affiliates. In addition, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in other types of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. ETFs and closed-end funds trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. As a shareholder in a pooled investment vehicle, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that vehicle’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and other fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders would, therefore, be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other pooled investment vehicles. With respect to assets of the Fund invested in investment companies managed by the sub-advisers or their affiliates, however, the Fund will not be charged the amount of the sub-advisers’ fees on those assets. In addition, the Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs. Securities of other pooled investment vehicles may be leveraged, in which case the value and/or yield of such securities will tend to be more volatile than securities of unleveraged vehicles.

 

Illiquid Securities. Each Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that the Fund cannot sell or dispose of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Fund carries the securities. These securities include restricted securities and repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), and thus may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Certain restricted securities that may be sold to institutional investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and non-exempt commercial paper may be determined to be liquid by the Adviser or sub-advisers.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions. During periods of adverse market or economic conditions, each Fund may temporarily invest a substantial portion of its assets in cash equivalents, high quality fixed-income securities and money market instruments, and shares of money market mutual funds, or it may hold cash. At such times, a Fund would not be pursuing, and, therefore, may not achieve its stated investment objective with its usual investment strategies. The Funds may also hold these investments for liquidity purposes.

 

Portfolio Holdings Information. A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s SAI.

 

Principal Risks

 

The principal risks of investing in the Funds (F) are discussed below. As a result of investing in Underlying Funds and SMAs, the Funds may also be subject to the principal risks of the Underlying Funds (UF) and SMAs (SMA) described below. References in this section to a “fund” are to the Fund and Underlying Funds and SMAs in which the Fund may invest and references to investments and securities are to those held directly by the Fund, Underlying Funds and SMAs.

 

The absence of an “F” or “UF” or “SMA” indicates that the risk does not apply to that Fund. The value of a Fund’s investments may increase or decrease, sometimes dramatically, which will cause the value of the Fund’s shares to increase or decrease. As a result, you may lose money on your investment in a Fund, and there can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

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Risk Equity
Allocation Fund
Municipal
Bond Fund
Defensive
Allocation Fund
Taxable Bond
Fund
Alternative Strategies Risk     UF, SMA  
Asset Allocation Risk F   F F
Asset-Backed Securities Risk     UF, SMA UF, SMA
Call Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Commodity Risk     UF, SMA  
Counterparty Risk UF F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Covered Calls and Equity Collars     UF, SMA  
Credit Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Defaulted Securities Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Derivatives Risk UF F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Foreign Currency Exchange Forwards UF   UF, SMA UF, SMA
Futures Contracts   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Options on Securities, Indices, and Currencies UF F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Swaps   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Emerging Markets Risk F   UF, SMA UF, SMA
Extension Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Floating Rate Loan Risk     UF, SMA UF, SMA
Focused Investment Risk UF      
Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk F   UF, SMA UF, SMA
High Yield Securities Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Illiquid Investments Risk F F F F
Income Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Inflation-Indexed Bond Risk       UF, SMA
Interest Rate Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Inverse Floaters Risk   F UF, SMA  
Investment Style Risk F      
Large Shareholder Risk UF   UF UF
Leverage Risk UF F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Management and Operational Risk F F F F
Market Risk F F F F
Models and Data Risk F      
Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk     UF, SMA UF, SMA
Municipal Lease Obligations Risk   F    
Political and Economic Risks F F F F
Preferred Securities Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Prepayment Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
REIT and Real Estate Risk     UF, SMA  
Restricted Securities Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA
Sector Risk     UF, SMA UF, SMA
Short Sale Risk UF UF UF, SMA UF, SMA
Small and Mid-Cap Company Risk F   UF, SMA  
Tax-Managed Investment Risk F      
Tax Risk   F    
Underlying Fund Risk F F F F
Zero Coupon Bonds Risk   F UF, SMA UF, SMA

 

Alternative Strategies Risk : The performance of a fund that pursues alternative strategies is linked to the performance of highly volatile traditional and alternative asset classes ( e.g. , equities, fixed income, currencies and commodities). To the extent the Fund invests in such fund, the Fund’s share price will be exposed to potentially significant fluctuations in value. In addition, a fund that employs alternative strategies has the risk that anticipated opportunities do not play out as planned, resulting in potentially substantial losses to the fund. Furthermore, alternative strategies may employ leverage, involve extensive short positions and/or focus on narrow segments of the market, which may magnify the overall risks and volatility associated with such fund’s investments. Depending on the particular alternative strategies used by a fund, it may be subject to risks not associated with more traditional investments.

 

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Asset Allocation Risk : The Fund is subject to different levels and combinations of risk, based on its actual allocation among various asset classes, Underlying Funds and SMAs, as applicable. The Fund will be exposed to risks of the Underlying Funds and SMAs in which it invests, as well as financial markets. To the extent the Fund invests in Underlying Funds and SMAs that expose it to non-traditional or alternative asset classes (which include investments that focus on a specialized asset class ( e.g. , long-short strategies)), as well as specific market sectors within a broader asset class, the Fund will be exposed to the increased risk associated with those asset classes. The potential impact of the risks related to an asset class depends on the size of the Fund’s investment allocation to it.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that the impairment of the value of the collateral underlying the security in which a fund invests, such as non-payment of loans, will result in a reduction in the value of the security.

 

Call Risk : Debt securities are subject to call risk. Many bonds may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its bonds if they can be refinanced by issuing new bonds which bear a lower interest rate. A fund is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, a bond issuer will call its high yielding bonds. A fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.

 

Commodity Risk : The value of commodities may be more volatile than the value of equity securities or debt instruments and their value may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity. The price of a commodity may be affected by demand/supply imbalances in the market for the commodity.

 

Counterparty Risk : Transactions involving a counterparty or third party (other than the issuer of the instrument) are subject to the counterparty’s or third party’s credit risk and ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

 

Covered Calls and Equity Collars : With respect to call options on individual equity securities, while a fund generally will write only covered call options, it may sell the instrument underlying a call option prior to entering into a closing purchase transaction on up to 10% of the fund’s net assets, provided that such sale will not occur more than three days prior to the option buy back. In an equity collar, a fund simultaneously writes a call option and purchases a put option on the same instrument. With respect to call options on equity indexes, the holdings of individual securities underlying the index is deemed by the investment adviser to be covering the call option sold. A fund may invest in uncovered call options when the security has been sold before the option expires.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Because a fund may significantly invest in high yield securities, the fund’s credit risks are greater than those of funds that buy only investment grade securities.

 

Defaulted Securities Risk: The risk of the uncertainty of repayment of defaulted securities ( e.g. , a security on which a principal or interest payment is not made when due) and obligations of distressed issuers.

 

Derivatives Risk: The use of derivatives by a fund can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the asset, index, rate, instrument or economic measure underlying a derivative, due to failure of a counterparty, or due to tax or regulatory constraints. In addition, the successful use of derivatives depends in part on the future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the underlying securities. Unusual market conditions or the lack of a ready market for any particular derivative at a specific time may reduce the effectiveness of a fund’s derivate strategies and, for these and other reasons, the fund’s derivative strategies may not reduce the fund’s volatility to the extent desired. Derivatives for hedging purposes may not reduce risk if they are not sufficiently correlated to the position being hedged. Derivatives risk may be more significant when derivatives are used to enhance return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge the risk of a position or security held by a fund. Derivatives may create economic leverage in a fund, which magnifies the fund’s exposure to the underlying investment. As a result, the loss on derivative transactions may substantially exceed the initial investment. Derivative instruments may be difficult to value, may be illiquid, and may be subject to wide swings in valuation caused by changes in the value of the underlying instrument. Derivatives that are traded “over the counter” also present credit risk (the risk that the other party to the derivative contract will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default).

 

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Foreign Currency Exchange Forwards: Foreign currency exchange forwards are individually negotiated and privately traded contracts so they are dependent upon the creditworthiness of the counterparty. They are subject to the risk of political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the underlying currencies. Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign currencies underlying forwards. As a result, available information may not be complete.

 

Futures Contracts: Futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that obligate a purchaser to take delivery, and a seller to make delivery, of a specific amount of an asset at a specified future date at a specified price. Futures contracts involve substantial leverage risk. A fund may also purchase or sell call and put options on futures contracts. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options are imperfect correlation, liquidity, unanticipated market movement and counterparty risk.

 

Options on Securities, Indices, and Currencies: A fund may engage in transactions in exchange traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options. There are several risks associated with transactions in options such as imperfect correlation, counterparty risk and an insufficient liquid secondary market for particular options. By buying a put option on a particular instrument, a fund pays a premium for the right to sell the underlying instrument at the exercise price, thus limiting the risk of loss through a decline in the market value of the instrument until the put option expires. A fund may purchase put options. The purchaser of an index put option has the right to receive a cash payment equal to any depreciation in the value of the index below the exercise price of the put option as of the valuation date of the option. Because their exercise is settled in cash, sellers of index put options cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by selling short the underlying securities. A fund may lose the premium paid for purchased options. A fund may also write ( i.e. , sell) put options. A fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, which may increase the return. In writing a put option on a particular instrument, a fund has the obligation to buy the underlying instrument at an agreed upon price if the price of such instrument decreases below the exercise price. In writing index put options, a fund will be responsible, during the option’s life, for any decreases in the value of the index below the exercise price of the put option. When an index put option is exercised, a fund will be required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the excess of the exercise price of the option over the value of the index at contract termination. Thus, the exercise of put options sold by a fund may require the fund to sell portfolio securities to generate cash at inopportune times or for unattractive prices.

 

A purchased call option on a particular instrument gives a fund the right to buy, and obligates the seller to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price at any time during the option period. The purchaser of an index call option has the right to receive a cash payment equal to any appreciation in the value of the index over the exercise price of the call option as of the valuation date of the option. Because their exercise is settled in cash, sellers of index call options cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. A fund may also write ( i.e. , sell) call options on instruments in which it may invest and to enter into closing purchase transactions with respect to such options. A call option is an option in which a fund, in return for a premium, gives another party a right to buy specified instruments owned by the fund at a specified future date and price set at the time of the contract. A fund’s ability to sell the instrument underlying a call option may be limited while the option is in effect unless the fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and are riskier than covered calls because there is no underlying instrument held by a fund that can act as a partial hedge. If the fund does not own the instrument underlying a written call option, it may be required to generate cash to purchase the security to meet the requirements of the option. As the writer of index call options, a fund will be responsible, during the option’s life, for any increases in the value of the index above the exercise price of the call option. When an index call option is exercised, a fund will be required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the excess of the value of the index at contract termination over the exercise price of the option.

 

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In a put option spread, a fund writes out-of-the money index put options in combination with the purchase of index put options at a higher exercise price. This combination protects a fund against a decline in the index price, but only to the stated exercise price of the index option written. The premium received for writing a put option on an index offsets, in part, the premium paid to purchase the index put option. Put option spreads are designed to protect against a decline in value of an index to the extent of the difference between a put option purchased and a put option sold on the index. Entering into put option spreads is typically less expensive than a strategy of only purchasing index put options and in a flat to upwardly moving market may benefit the fund by reducing the cost of the downside protection, however, the downside protection is limited as compared to just owning an index put option. Accordingly, at times when a fund owns a put option spread instead of just owning an index put option, the fund’s risk of loss will be greater to the extent that the index’s loss exceeds the difference between the exercise price of the put option purchased and the put option written.

 

Options positions are marked to market daily. The value of options is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the securities underlying the option or represented in the index underlying the option, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the relevant index or market, and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market.

 

Swaps : A swap contract is a commitment between two parties to make or receive payments based on agreed upon terms and whose value and payments are derived by changes in the value of an underlying financial instrument. Swap transactions can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Depending on their structure, swap transactions may increase or decrease exposure to long-term or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, values of baskets of securities, or inflation rates. Interest rate swaps are contracts involving the exchange between two contracting parties of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest ( e.g. , an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments). Credit default swaps are contracts whereby one party makes periodic payments to a counterparty in exchange for the right to receive from the counterparty a payment equal to the par (or other agreed-upon) value of an underlying debt obligation in the event of default by the issuer of the debt security. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Depending on how they are used, swap transactions may increase or decrease the overall volatility of a portfolio. The most significant factor in the performance of a swap transaction is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, individual equity values or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a fund.

 

Emerging Markets Risk : Emerging markets involve risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in more developed foreign markets. Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. In addition, frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Extension Risk: The risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Securities that are subject to extension risk generally have a greater potential for loss when prevailing interest rates rise, which could cause their values to fall sharply.

 

Floating Rate Loan Risk : Floating rate loans generally are subject to restrictions on resale. Floating rate loans sometimes trade infrequently in the secondary market. As a result, valuing a floating rate loan can be more difficult, and buying and selling a floating rate loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult or delayed. Difficulty in selling a floating rate loan can result in a loss. In addition, a floating rate loan may not be fully collateralized, which may cause the floating rate loan to decline significantly in value. Floating rate loans issued by banks may be subject to extended trade settlement periods longer than seven days, which may delay a fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds during a period of high volume shareholder redemptions. Such loans may not be considered securities and, therefore, may not be afforded the protections of the federal securities laws.

 

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Focused Investment Risk: Investments focused in a limited number of countries, regions, sectors, industries, or issuers (or in sectors within a country or region) that are subject to the same or similar risk factors and investments whose prices are closely correlated are subject to greater overall risk than investments that are more diversified or whose prices are not as closely correlated. If a fund invests in the securities of a limited number of issuers, a decline in the market price of a particular security held by the fund may affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund invested in the securities of a larger number of issuers.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk : Investing in securities of foreign companies, including depositary receipts, involves risks generally not associated with investments in the securities of U.S. companies. These risks may relate to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, unreliable and untimely information about issuers, and political and economic instability. Foreign security prices are affected by political, social, economic, and other conditions that are unique to a particular country or region. These conditions may relate to the existence of less publicly available information, inferior regulatory oversight (for example, less demanding accounting, auditing, corporate governance, investor relations, and financial reporting standards), the possibility of government-imposed restrictions, and even the nationalization of assets. The liquidity of foreign investments may be more limited than for comparable U.S. investments and, at times, it may be difficult to sell foreign securities at favorable prices. Currency risk results from changes in the rate of exchange between the currency of the country in which a foreign company is domiciled or keeps its books and the U.S. dollar. Whenever a fund holds securities valued in a foreign currency or holds the currency itself in connection with its purchases and sales of foreign securities, changes in the exchange rate add to or subtract from the value of the investment in U.S. dollars.

 

High Yield Securities Risk: High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as “junk” bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for a fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid, and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities. Defaulted bonds are speculative and involve substantial risks in addition to the risks of investing in high yield securities that have not defaulted. A fund generally will not receive interest payments on the defaulted bonds and there is a substantial risk that principal will not be repaid. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a defaulted bond, a fund may lose its entire investment.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk : A fund may purchase securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale or that are illiquid (for example, derivative instruments) and a fund’s investment in certain private investments would be treated as illiquid. In addition, liquid securities purchased by a fund may become illiquid because of issuer-specific events or changes in market conditions. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that a fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices. If, as a result of changes in the values of securities held by the Fund, the value of holdings by the Fund of illiquid securities exceeds 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets, the Adviser will take appropriate actions to reduce the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities to 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets as soon as reasonably practicable, in a manner consistent with prudent management and the interests of the Fund.

 

Income Risk: A fund’s income could decline during periods of falling interest rates.

 

Inflation-Indexed Bond Risk: The risk that such bonds will change in value in response to actual or anticipated changes in inflation rates in a manner unanticipated by a fund’s portfolio management team or investors generally. Inflation-indexed bonds are subject to debt securities risks.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a fund’s portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. A fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities.

 

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Inverse Floaters Risk : The use of inverse floaters by a fund creates effective leverage. Due to the leveraged nature of these investments, the value of an inverse floater will increase and decrease to a significantly greater extent than the values of the TOB trust’s underlying municipal bonds in response to changes in market interest rates or credit quality. An investment in inverse floaters typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate municipal bond, including, in the case of recourse inverse floaters (discussed below), the risk that a fund may lose more than its original principal investment.

 

Distributions on inverse floaters bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal bond interest rates. Thus, distributions paid to the fund on its inverse floaters will be reduced or even eliminated as short-term municipal interest rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. The greater the amount of floaters sold by a TOB trust relative to the inverse floaters ( i.e. , the greater the effective leverage of the inverse floaters), the more volatile the distributions on the inverse floaters will be. Inverse floaters generally will underperform the market for fixed rate municipal bonds in a rising interest rate environment.

 

A fund may invest in recourse inverse floaters. With such an investment, the fund will be required to reimburse the liquidity provider of a TOB trust for any shortfall between the outstanding amount of any floaters and the value of the municipal bonds in the TOB trust in the event the floaters cannot be successfully remarketed, which could cause the fund to lose money in excess of its investment.

 

A TOB trust may be terminated without the fund’s consent upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the bankruptcy or default of the issuer of the securities in the trust. If that happens, the floaters will be redeemed at par (plus accrued interest) out of the proceeds from the sale of securities in the TOB trust, and the fund will be entitled to the remaining proceeds, if any. Thus, if there is a decrease in the value of the securities held in the TOB trust, the fund may lose some or all of the principal amount of its investment in the inverse floaters. As noted above, in the case of recourse inverse floaters, a fund could lose money in excess of its investment.

 

Investment Style Risk: The risk that securities selected as part of a low volatility strategy and quality strategy may underperform other segments of the equity markets or the equity markets as a whole. Low volatility and quality investing tend to perform differently and shift into and out of favor with investors depending on changes in market and economic conditions. As a result, a fund’s performance may at times be worse than the performance of other mutual funds that invest more broadly or in securities of a different investment style.

 

Large Shareholder Risk: To the extent that a large number of shares of the Underlying Fund is held by a single shareholder or a group of shareholders with a common investment strategy, the Underlying Fund is subject to the risk that a redemption by those shareholders of all or a large portion of their Underlying Fund shares will require the Underlying Fund to sell securities at disadvantageous prices or otherwise disrupt the Underlying Fund’s operations.

 

Leverage Risk: Investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, swaps, and other derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. Financial leverage magnifies exposure to the swings in prices of an asset underlying a derivative instrument and results in increased volatility, which means a fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. Leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly, the effect of any increase or decrease in a fund’s exposure to an asset and may cause the fund’s net asset value to be volatile. For example, if the portfolio manager seeks to gain enhanced exposure to a specific asset through a derivative instrument providing leveraged exposure to the asset and that derivative instrument increases in value, the gain to a fund will be magnified; however, if that investment decreases in value, the loss to the fund will be magnified. A decline in a fund’s assets due to losses magnified by the derivative instruments providing leveraged exposure may require the fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations, to meet redemption requests, or to meet asset segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. There is no assurance that the use of derivative instruments providing enhanced exposure will enable a fund to achieve its investment objective.

 

Management and Operational Risk: A fund runs the risk that investment techniques will fail to produce desired results. A fund also runs the risk that the assessment of an investment (including a company’s fundamental fair (or intrinsic) value) may be wrong or that deficiencies in adviser’s or another service provider’s internal systems or controls will cause losses for the fund or impair fund’s operations.

 

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Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that returns from the securities in which a fund invests will underperform returns from the general securities markets or other types of securities.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk: The risk that borrowers may default on their mortgage obligations or the guarantees underlying the mortgage-backed securities will default or otherwise fail and that, during periods of falling interest rates, mortgage-backed securities will be called or prepaid, which may result in a fund having to reinvest proceeds in other investments at a lower interest rate. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of a mortgage-backed security may extend, which may lock in a below-market interest rate, increase the security’s duration, and reduce the value of the security. Enforcing rights against the underlying assets or collateral may be difficult, or the underlying assets or collateral may be insufficient if the issuer defaults. The values of certain types of mortgage-backed securities, such as inverse floaters and interest-only and principal-only securities, may be extremely sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates.

 

Models and Data Risk: When Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete, any decisions made in reliance thereon expose a fund to potential risks. For example, by relying on Models and Data, the portfolio manager may be induced to buy certain investments at prices that are too high, to sell certain other investments at prices that are too low, or to miss favorable opportunities altogether. Similarly, any hedging based on faulty Models and Data may prove to be unsuccessful. Some of the models used by a portfolio manager are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. For example, such models may incorrectly forecast future behavior, leading to potential losses on a cash flow and/or a mark-to-market basis. In addition, in unforeseen or certain low-probability scenarios (often involving a market disruption of some kind), such models may produce unexpected results, which can result in losses. Furthermore, because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data. All models rely on correct market data inputs. If incorrect market data is entered into even a well-founded model, the resulting information will be incorrect. However, even if market data is input correctly, “model prices” will often differ substantially from market prices, especially for securities with complex characteristics, such as derivative securities.

 

Municipal Lease Obligations Risk: A fund may purchase participation interests in municipal leases. These are undivided interests in a lease, installment purchase contract, or conditional sale contract entered into by a state or local government unit to acquire equipment or facilities. Participation interests in municipal leases pose special risks because many leases and contracts contain “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for this purpose by the appropriate legislative body. Although these kinds of obligations are secured by the leased equipment or facilities, it might be difficult and time consuming to dispose of the equipment or facilities in the event of nonappropriation and a fund might not recover the full principal amount of the obligation.

 

Political and Economic Risks : The values of securities may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. Other factors that could affect securities include a change in the local, state, or national economy, demographic factors, ecological or environmental concerns, statutory limitations on the issuer’s ability to increase taxes, and other developments generally affecting the revenue of issuers (for example, legislation or court decisions reducing state aid to local governments or mandating additional services). This risk would be heightened to the extent that a fund invests a substantial portion of the below-investment grade quality portion of its portfolio in the bonds of similar projects (such as those relating to the education, health care, housing, transportation, or utilities industries), in industrial development bonds, or in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, private activity bonds, or moral obligation bonds) that are particularly exposed to specific types of adverse economic, business, or political events.

 

To the extent that a fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of issuers located in California or a U.S. territory, it will be disproportionally affected by political and economic conditions and developments in that state or territory. In addition, economic, political, or regulatory changes in that state or territory could adversely affect municipal bond issuers in that state or territory and therefore the value of a fund’s investment portfolio.

 

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A fund may invest in bonds of municipal issuers located in Puerto Rico. Certain municipal issuers in Puerto Rico have recently experienced financial difficulties and rating agency downgrades. On February 4, 2014, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the general obligation rating of Puerto Rico to BB+ with a negative outlook. Moody’s followed with a February 7, 2014 downgrade to Ba2 with a negative outlook and Fitch downgraded its rating on February 11, 2014 to BB with a negative outlook. As a result, general obligation bonds issued by Puerto Rico are currently considered below investment grade securities. These rating agencies have also downgraded other Puerto Rican municipal issuers, including bonds guaranteed by the commonwealth, with the possibility of additional downgrades if negative trends continue. Downgrades could place additional strain on Puerto Rico, which is already facing existing economic stagnation and fiscal imbalances, including budget deficits and pension funding shortages. Puerto Rican financial difficulties could potentially lead to less liquidity for its bonds, wider spreads, and greater risk of default for Puerto Rican municipal securities, and, consequently, may affect the fund’s investments and its performance.

 

Preferred Securities Risk: Preferred securities may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred securities of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than preferred stock of larger companies.

 

Prepayment Risk: The risk that the issuer of a debt security, including floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, repays all or a portion of the principal prior to the security’s maturity. In times of declining interest rates, there is a greater likelihood that a fund’s higher yielding securities will be pre-paid with the fund being unable to reinvest the proceeds in an investment with as great a yield. Prepayments can therefore result in lower yields to shareholders of a fund.

 

REIT and Real Estate Risk : Investment in REITs and real estate involves the risks that are associated with direct ownership of real estate and with the real estate industry in general. These risks include risks related to general, regional and local economic conditions; fluctuations in interest rates; property tax rates, zoning laws, environmental regulations and other governmental action; cash flow dependency; increased operating expenses; lack of availability of mortgage funds; losses due to natural disasters; changes in property values and rental rates; and other factors.

 

Restricted Securities Risk: A fund may hold securities that are restricted as to resale under the U.S. federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that a trading market will exist at any time for any particular restricted security. Limitations on the resale of these securities may prevent a fund from disposing of them promptly at reasonable prices or at all. A fund may have to bear the expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delays in effecting the registration. Also, restricted securities may be difficult to value because market quotations may not be readily available, and the values of restricted securities may have significant volatility.

 

Sector Risk : At times, a fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector. Companies in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making a fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

 

Short Sale Risk : A short sale typically involves the sale of a security that is borrowed from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. Short sales expose the seller to the risk that it will be required to acquire securities to replace the borrowed securities (also known as “covering” the short position) at a time when the securities sold short have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss. When making a short sale, a fund must segregate liquid assets equal to (or otherwise cover) its obligations under the short sale. The seller of a short position generally realizes a profit on the transaction if the price it receives on the short sale exceeds the cost of closing out the position by purchasing securities in the market, but generally realizes a loss if the cost of closing out the short position exceeds the proceeds of the short sale.

 

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Small and Mid-Cap Company Risk : In general, smaller capitalization companies are more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources. Securities of small and mid-cap companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell such securities at a desired time or price. As a result, small and mid-cap company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price.

 

Tax-Managed Investment Risk : Market conditions may limit fund’s ability to implement its tax-managed approach. For example, market conditions may limit the fund’s ability to generate tax losses or to generate qualified dividend income, which is generally taxed to noncorporate shareholders at favorable rates. The tax-managed strategy may affect the investment decisions made for a fund. For example, the fund’s tax-managed strategy may cause a fund to hold a security in order to achieve more favorable tax-treatment or to sell a security in order to create tax losses. The fund’s ability to utilize various tax-management techniques may be curtailed or eliminated in the future by legislation or regulation. Although the fund expects that a smaller portion of its total return will consist of taxable distributions to shareholders as compared to non-tax managed funds, there can be no assurance about the size of taxable distributions to shareholders. The performance of the fund may deviate from that of non-tax managed funds and may not provide as high a return before or after consideration of federal income tax consequences as non-tax managed funds. The fund’s tax-sensitive investment strategy involves active management, which may cause the fund to realize capital gains.

 

Tax Risk : Interest from municipal bonds held by a fund could become subject to regular federal income tax because of, among other things, unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by regulatory authorities, or noncompliant conduct by bond issuers. Proposals have been introduced in Congress to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal securities, and similar proposals may be introduced in the future. Proposed “flat tax” and “value added tax” proposals would also have the effect of eliminating the tax preference for municipal securities. Some of the past proposals would have applied to interest on municipal securities issued before the date of enactment, which would have adversely affected their value to a material degree. If such a proposal were enacted, the availability of municipal securities for investment by a fund and the value of the fund’s portfolio would be adversely affected.

 

Underlying Fund Risk : The actual cost of investing in a mutual fund that invests in other investment companies and pooled investment vehicles may be higher than the cost of investing in a mutual fund that only invests directly in individual securities. A fund will bear its pro rata portion of the expenses of the underlying funds in addition to its own direct expenses. By investing in underlying funds, the fund is subject to the risks associated with the underlying funds’ investments. An underlying fund may change its investment objective or policies without the fund’s approval, which could force a fund to withdraw its investment from such underlying fund at a time that is unfavorable to the fund. A fund’s investment performance is directly tied to the performance of the underlying funds and other investments in which the fund invests. If one or more of the underlying funds fails to meet its investment objective, or otherwise performs poorly, the fund’s performance could be negatively affected. There can be no assurance that an underlying fund will achieve its investment objective. With respect to an underlying fund whose shares trade on an exchange, its shares may trade below their net asset value or at a discount, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, there can be no assurance that an active trading market will exist for the shares of an exchange-traded underlying fund. The Fund’s investments in unaffiliated limited partnerships, including hedge funds, may be illiquid. Illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the investments when desired or at favorable prices.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds Risk: Zero coupon bonds do not pay interest on a current basis and may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such bonds generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by tax laws.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

 

Aspiriant, LLC, located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90025, serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser is owned by its key employees and has 67 equity partners. The Adviser provides state-of-the-art, global investment solutions across every asset class, as well as unparalleled depth and sophistication in addressing the most complex aspects of wealth management. As of May 31, 2019, the Adviser had approximately $12 billion in assets under management.

 

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The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of each Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis. The Adviser oversees the Funds’ sub-advisers to ensure their compliance with the investment strategies and policies of the Funds. The Board oversees the Adviser and the sub-advisers and establishes policies that the Adviser and sub-advisers must follow in their management activities. The Adviser is responsible for paying the sub-advisers for their services to the Funds.

 

Equity Allocation Fund - For the advisory services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed, however, to waive its advisory fee from 0.24% to 0.16% through June 30, 2020. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Fund paid advisory fees to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.16% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund’s annual shareholder report dated February 28, 2019 provides information regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Fund’s sub-advisory agreement with Aperio. The Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated August 31, 2019 will provide information regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement and sub-advisory agreement with Acadian.

 

Municipal Bond Fund - For the advisory services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.27% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed, however, to waive its advisory fee from 0.27% to 0.21% through June 30, 2020. Previously, the Adviser had contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.27% to 0.24% through June 30, 2018. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Fund paid advisory fees to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.22% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated August 31, 2019 will provide information regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement and sub-advisory agreements with Nuveen and WellsCap.

 

Defensive Allocation Fund - For the advisory services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Fund paid advisory fees to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated August 31, 2019 will provide information regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement.

 

Taxable Bond Fund - For the advisory services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed, however, to waive its advisory fee from 0.25% to 0.08% through June 30, 2020. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Fund paid advisory fees to the Adviser at an annual rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Fund’s semi-annual shareholder report dated August 31, 2019 will provide information regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement.

 

The Adviser may recommend to the Board that a sub-adviser be hired, terminated, or replaced, or that the terms of an existing sub-advisory agreement be revised. Pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC, the Adviser, subject to certain conditions, has the right, without shareholder approval, to hire an unaffiliated sub-adviser or materially amend the terms of a sub-advisory agreement with an unaffiliated sub-adviser when the Board and the Adviser believe that a change would benefit a Fund. The prospectus will be supplemented when there is a significant change in a Fund’s advisory arrangement.

 

Sub-Advisers

 

Acadian serves as the sub-adviser for the Equity Allocation Fund’s global low volatility strategy. Located at 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts, Acadian was organized in 1986 and provides a broad range of investment management advisory services to institutional clients. As of May 31, 2019, Acadian had approximately $93.6 billion in assets under management.

 

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Aperio serves as a sub-adviser for the Equity Allocation Fund’s quality strategy. Located at Three Harbor Drive, Suite 204, Sausalito, CA 94965, Aperio was organized in 1999 and provides investment management services to individuals, institutions, and registered investment companies. As of May 31, 2019, Aperio had approximately $28.6 billion in assets under management.

 

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC serves as a sub-adviser to the Municipal Bond Fund. Located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, Nuveen was organized in 1989 and provides investment management services to a broad range of institutional and individual clients. As of March 31, 2019, Nuveen had approximately $188.4 billion in assets under management.

 

Wells Capital Management, Inc. serves as a sub-adviser to the Municipal Bond Fund. Located at 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, WellsCap was organized in 1981 and provides a broad range of investment management advisory services to institutional clients. As of March 31, 2019, WellsCap had approximately $384 billion in assets under management.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

John Allen, CFA, is Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) at the Adviser. Mr. Allen joined the Adviser as CIO in 2014. Prior to joining the Adviser he was a senior member of the client service team at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo (“GMO”) from 2009 to 2014. Prior to joining GMO, Mr. Allen was Head of Investments at a large family office. He began working in the financial services industry in the investment banking department at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and business consulting practice of Stern Stewart & Company.

 

Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, is Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser. Mr. Castellani joined the Adviser in 2015. Prior to joining the Adviser, he worked at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Los Angeles from 2012 to 2015. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Private Bank, he worked at U.S. Trust from 2010 to 2012. Previously, Mr. Castellani worked in Merger and Acquisitions of J.P. Morgan and Banc of America Securities. He began his career in the financial services industry as an Associate in the corporate finance advisory practice of Stern Stewart & Company.

 

David Grecsek, CFA, is Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Adviser. Mr. Grecsek joined the Adviser in 2010. Prior to joining the Adviser, he was Head of Investment Research at Deloitte’s Investment Consulting Services. Previously, Mr. Grecsek worked in various investment research and risk management roles at Merrill Lynch & Co.

 

Brendan O. Bradley, Ph.D. is Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Acadian. Mr. Bradley joined Acadian in 2004 and has previously served as the firm’s director of portfolio management, overseeing portfolio management policy, and was also previously the director of Acadian’s Managed Volatility strategies. He is a member of the Acadian Executive Committee. Prior to Acadian, Mr. Bradley was a vice president at Upstream Technologies, where he designed and implemented investment management systems and strategies. His professional background also includes work as a research analyst and consultant at Samuelson Portfolio Strategies. Mr. Bradley earned a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Boston University and a B.A. in physics from Boston College.

 

Ryan D. Taliaferro, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President and Director of Equity Strategies at Acadian. Mr. Taliaferro joined Acadian in 2011 and previously served as lead portfolio manager for Acadian’s Managed Volatility strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, Mr. Taliaferro was a faculty member in the finance unit at Harvard Business School, where he taught corporate finance and asset pricing. Earlier, he was a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Taliaferro earned a Ph.D. in business economics (finance) from Harvard University and an M.B.A. in finance and economics from the University of Chicago. He also holds an A.M. in economics, and an A.M. and A.B. in physics from Harvard University.

 

Mark J. Birmingham, CFA is Senior Vice President and Lead Portfolio Manager for Acadian's Managed Volatility strategies. Before joining Acadian in 2013, he was a vice president and quantitative analyst within the Quantitative Investment Group at Wellington Management Co. Mr. Birmingham also served as director, U.S. Equity Sales and Trading at Nomura Securities International, Inc. prior to his work at Wellington. He earned an A.B. in computer science from Princeton University. Mr. Birmingham is a CFA charterholder and a member of CFA Society Boston.

 

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Dan M. Le, CFA is Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Acadian. Ms. Le joined Acadian in 2011 and is a member of Acadian’s Managed Volatility Team. She previously worked within the Portfolio Construction and Trading Group where she was responsible for rebalancing and trading portfolios. Ms. Le also specialized in portfolio construction and simulation-based research, primarily for Managed Volatility strategies. Prior to joining Acadian, she worked for Arrowstreet Capital, LP as a trade compliance associate. Ms. Le earned a B.A. in psychology from Brown University. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of CFA Society Boston.

 

Ran Leshem is Chief Investment Officer at Aperio. Previously, he was head of portfolio management and operations at Aperio. Prior to joining Aperio in 2006, Mr. Leshem was manager of operating strategy at GAP, Inc. He has extensive expertise in applying quantitative techniques and information technology to operational problems. Mr. Leshem received a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he received the Hewlett Packard Award for academic excellence, and his M.B.A from University of California, Berkeley.

 

Robert Tymoczko is Director of Portfolio Management at Aperio. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day portfolio management and strategy implementation of all investment products. Prior to joining Aperio in 2012, Mr. Tymoczko was a Managing Partner at AlphaStream Capital Management, LLC, where he was responsible for quantitative research and portfolio management. Before AlphaStream, he was Lead Portfolio Manager and Co-head of U.S. Quantitative Equity Products at Zurich Scudder Investments. Mr. Tymoczko received a BA in Quantitative Economics from Stanford University and his MBA with concentrations in Finance and Econometrics from the University of Chicago.

 

Brian Ko is a Portfolio Manager at Aperio and shares primary responsibility for managing the portfolio analysis efforts of Aperio. Brian also provides analytical support in the research, portfolio management, and trading of Aperio’s client portfolios. Prior to joining Aperio in 2014, he was a Senior Client Operations Associate at Lateef Investment Management from 2012 to 2014. Brian was also a Fund Accounting Manager with State Street Bank and Trust. He received his BS in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis, and his MS in Financial Analysis from Saint Mary’s College of California.

 

John V. Miller, CFA, is Senior Managing Director and Head of Nuveen Municipals. Before being named co-head of fixed income in 2011, he was chief investment officer for the firm’s municipal bond team starting in 2007. He was named a managing director and head of portfolio management in 2006. Mr. Miller became a portfolio manager in 2000 after starting at the firm as a municipal credit analyst in 1996. He began working in the financial industry at a private account management firm in 1993.

 

Paul L. Brennan, CFA, is Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen. He began his career in the financial industry in 1991 as a municipal credit analyst for Flagship Financial Inc. (“Flagship”) before becoming a portfolio manager at Flagship in 1994. Mr. Brennan joined Nuveen in 1997 when Nuveen acquired Flagship.

 

Douglas M. Baker, CFA, is Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Nuveen. He joined Nuveen in 2006 as Vice President and Derivatives Analyst, and later that year his responsibilities expanded to include portfolio management. He is the head of the Preferred Securities Sector Team and a member of the Fixed Income Strategy Committee. He also manages the derivative overlay group, where he is responsible for implementing derivatives-based hedging strategies across multiple institutional advisory accounts.

 

Robert Miller joined WellsCap in 2008, where he currently serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager with the Tax-Exempt Fixed Income team.

 

Wendy Casetta joined WellsCap Management or one of its predecessor firms in 1998, where she currently serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager with the Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income team.

 

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Terry J. Goode joined WellsCap Management in 2002, where he currently serves as a Senior Portfolio Manager with the Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income team and was formerly Leader of the Tax-Exempt Research team.

 

Information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and portfolio manager ownership of securities can be found in the SAI.

 

VALUING SHARES

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund’s shares is determined once daily as of the regularly scheduled close of normal trading of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), on each day the NYSE is open for business. A Fund calculates its NAV per share by dividing the value of its net assets ( i.e. , the value of its assets less its liabilities) by the total number of shares outstanding. A Fund’s investments are valued at their market value or, if market quotations are not readily available, at their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. Assets of the Fund invested in a registered open-end management investment company are valued based on the net asset value of the investment company, which is calculated as described in its prospectus. Securities of a Fund traded on foreign stock exchanges are generally valued based upon the closing prices for those securities on the principal exchanges where the securities are traded, subject to possible adjustment as described below. The value of non-dollar-denominated portfolio securities held by a Fund are determined by converting all assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currency values into U.S. dollar values, based on exchange rates supplied by a quotation service. Futures are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of exchange on which they are traded and are provided by an independent source.

 

If market quotations for a security are not readily available or if the Adviser believes that market quotations do not accurately reflect fair value of a security, that security will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser or through the use of a pricing service under procedures established and periodically reviewed by and under the ultimate supervision of the Board. A fair value determination may be required if, for example, (1) only a bid price or an asked price is available, (2) the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial, (3) there is a suspension or limitation of trading, or (4) events or actions affecting the market prices of portfolio securities occur after the close of the relevant market. Determining the fair value of portfolio securities involves reliance on judgment, and a security’s fair value may be affected by the method used for determining value. There can be no assurance that a Fund could purchase or sell a portfolio security at the price used to calculate the Fund’s NAV. Because of the inherent uncertainty in making fair value determinations and the various factors considered in determining fair value, there can be significant deviations between the fair value at which a portfolio security is being carried and the price at which it is purchased or sold.

 

Foreign securities in which a Fund invests may be traded in markets that close before the time that the Fund calculates its NAV. In addition, certain foreign securities in which the Fund invests may be listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when a Fund does not calculate its NAV. In these situations, the value of the Fund’s holdings may change on days when shareholders are not able to purchase or redeem the Fund’s shares. The Board has authorized the Funds to retain a pricing service to determine the value of their portfolio securities, including the determination of the fair value of securities in situations when the value of such securities has been materially affected by events occurring before a Fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which such foreign securities are traded. These intervening events might be country-specific ( e.g. , natural disaster, economic or political developments, interest-rate change), issuer-specific ( e.g. , earnings report, merger announcement), or U.S. market-specific ( e.g. , a significant movement in the U.S. markets that is deemed to affect the value of foreign securities). The pricing service uses an automated system incorporating a model based on multiple parameters, including a security’s local closing price; relevant general and sector indices; currency fluctuations; trading in depository receipts and futures, if applicable; and research valuations by its staff, in determining what it believes is the fair value of the securities. To the extent that a Fund has significant holdings of foreign securities, fair valuation may be used by the Fund more frequently than is the case for other mutual funds.

 

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PURCHASING SHARES

 

Advisor Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund and shares of Municipal Bond Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund are available to investment management clients of the Adviser, charitable organizations that the Adviser’s clients wish to designate as recipients of shares, the Adviser’s employees (including their spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, and siblings-in-law) , current and former owners of the Adviser, members of the Adviser’s board, and members of the Board. You may purchase Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund directly from the Fund by contacting the Fund’s transfer agent or from financial intermediaries that make shares of the Fund available to their customers. You may purchase the Funds’ shares at the NAV per share next computed after receipt of your purchase order in proper form by the Funds’ transfer agent or a financial intermediary. An order is in proper form if it is complete and contains all required information. The Funds may modify or waive purchase eligibility requirements at any time.

 

The minimum initial investment in Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund is $100,000. There is no minimum initial investment for Advisor Shares of Equity Allocation Fund or shares of Municipal Bond Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund, and there is no minimum subsequent investment amount for any Fund. The Funds may waive any minimum investment requirements in special circumstances and may modify or add a requirement at any time. The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase order and may suspend the sale of shares at any time.

 

Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside the U.S. The Funds generally do not sell shares to investors residing outside the U.S., even if they are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with U.S. military APO or FPO addresses.

 

To comply with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Funds’ Anti-Money-Laundering Program, you are required to provide certain information to the Funds when you purchase shares. You must supply your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and permanent street address (and not a post office box) on your account application. You may, however, use a post office box as your mailing address. Please call 1-877-997-9971 if you need additional assistance when completing your account application. If we cannot obtain reasonable proof of your identity, the account may be rejected and you will not be allowed to purchase additional shares for your account until the necessary information is received. The Funds reserve the right to close any account after shares are purchased if clarifying information or documentation is requested but is not received.

 

ACH Purchases

 

You may purchase additional shares of the Funds through an ACH transfer of money from your checking or savings account. The ACH service will automatically debit your pre-designated bank account for the desired amount. Shares purchased using an ACH transfer will be issued at the NAV per share next computed after your order is received. For more information on this service, and required forms, please call 1-877-997-9971. When you pay for shares using an ACH transfer, the proceeds of a redemption of those shares may be delayed until the ACH transfer has been converted to federal funds, a process that may take up to eight days.

 

Purchase by Mail

 

You may also purchase shares of a Fund by sending a check made payable to the Fund together with a completed account application in the case of an initial investment, to:

 

Regular Mail

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175

 

Express/Overnight Mail

Aspiriant Funds

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

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Subsequent investments made by check should be accompanied with the investment form (which will be enclosed with the confirmations and statements sent by the Fund). You may request a copy of your statement by calling 1-877-997-9971.

 

The Funds do not accept payment in cash or money orders. The Funds also do not accept third-party checks, Treasury checks, cashier’s checks, official checks, teller’s checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks, or starter checks for the purchase of shares. The Funds are unable to accept post-dated checks, post-dated online bill-pay checks, or any conditional order or payment. In addition, undated checks, unsigned checks, and checks dated six months or more before their receipt by the transfer agent will be rejected. Checks for the purchase of shares of a Fund must be made payable to the Fund and be drawn on a bank located within the U.S. and payable in U.S. dollars. Always write your Fund account number on the check.

 

Requests for redemptions of shares recently purchased by check (but not the date as of which the redemption price is determined) will be returned to shareholder for future resubmission. This delay can be avoided if shares are purchased by wire and does not apply if there are sufficient other shares in your account to satisfy the requested redemption. The transfer agent will charge you a $25 fee for any returned check.

 

Purchase by Wire

 

You may purchase shares for initial investment or for subsequent investments by wiring federal funds. Please call the transfer agent at 1-877-997-9971 for instructions.

 

For Initial Investment by Wire

 

If you are making your first investment in a Fund, before you wire funds, the transfer agent must have received your completed account application. You can mail or overnight-deliver your account application to the transfer agent. Upon receipt of your account application, the transfer agent will establish an account for you. The wire from your bank must include the name of the Fund and your name and account number so that your wire can be correctly applied.

 

For Subsequent Investments by Wire

 

Before sending your wire, please call the transfer agent at 1-877-997-9971 to ensure prompt and accurate credit upon receipt of your wire. Wired funds must be received before the close of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, to be eligible for same-day pricing. The Funds and their agents are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or for incomplete wire instructions or errors in those instructions.

 

Purchase Through an Authorized Securities Dealer or Mutual Fund Marketplace

 

You may purchase shares of a Fund through any securities dealer or mutual fund marketplace that has been authorized by the Fund to make shares available. Authorized securities dealers may be authorized by a Fund to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders. An order to purchase shares is deemed received by a Fund when the authorized securities dealer (or, if applicable, its authorized designee) receives the order in such form as meets requirements established by the particular securities dealer or mutual fund marketplace, and shares will be issued at the NAV per share next determined after receipt of your order.

 

Your securities dealer, a mutual fund marketplace, or another financial organization may establish policies that differ from those of the Funds. For example, the organization may impose higher minimum investment requirements than are imposed by the Fund or may charge you a transaction fee or other fees, which may not be imposed by the Fund, in connection with purchases and redemptions of Fund shares.

 

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Canceled or Failed Payments

 

The Funds accept checks and ACH transfers for the purchase of shares at full value, subject to collection. If you pay for shares with a check or ACH transfer that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled. You will be responsible for any resulting losses or expenses incurred by a Fund or the transfer agent and the Fund may redeem shares you own in the account to effect reimbursement. The Funds and their agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase order because of nonpayment. In addition to any losses, you will be charged a $25 insufficient funds fee.

 

Frequent Trading Policy

 

The Funds are intended to serve as investment vehicles for long-term investors. Frequent trading or market timing, which the Funds generally define as redeeming shares within 90 days of their purchase, can disrupt a Fund’s investment program and create additional transaction costs that all remaining shareholders bear. Therefore, the Funds believe that it is not in their shareholders’ interests to accommodate frequent trading and have adopted policies and procedures designed to deter this practice.

 

For Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund, the Board has approved the imposition of a 2.00% redemption fee on shares that are redeemed within 90 days of purchasing such shares, with certain exceptions described below. The redemption fee is paid directly to the Equity Allocation Fund and is designed to offset brokerage commissions, market impact, and other costs associated with short-term trading.

 

In addition, a Fund may reject any purchase order that it regards as disruptive to efficient portfolio management. Investors whom a Fund identifies as engaging in abusive trading practices will be notified of the Fund’s adverse view of market timing and the Fund may terminate these relationships. In making such judgments, the Fund seeks to act in a manner it believes to be consistent with shareholders’ best interests. Although these efforts are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity will occur.

 

The Equity Allocation Fund relies primarily on the imposition of a redemption fee to deter market timers with respect to its Institutional Shares. Although imposition of this fee is intended to discourage abusive trading practices in shares of the Fund, there can be no assurance that such activity will not occur.

 

It is important to recognize that, because of the complexity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions, there can be no assurance that the Funds’ efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive. The Funds have entered into agreements with financial intermediaries obligating them to provide, upon request, information regarding their customers and their customers’ transactions in shares of the Funds. The Funds rely on financial intermediaries (other than the transfer agent) and information provided by financial intermediaries to monitor trades of shareholders whose shares are held in group or omnibus accounts by the financial intermediaries. The Funds will generally rely on the financial intermediaries to impose a redemption fee where applicable and to prohibit or bring to the attention of the Trust transactions that may be abusive. The Funds reserve the right to reject any order placed from an omnibus account, and, if it deems it appropriate because of a financial intermediary’s failure to comply with its responsibilities, a Fund may terminate the right of the financial intermediary to maintain an omnibus account.

 

REDEEMING SHARES

 

General

 

You may redeem shares of the Funds at any time. As described below, redemption requests may be made by mail or telephone through the transfer agent or may be made through an authorized financial intermediary or mutual fund marketplace. Your shares will be redeemed at their current NAV per share next computed after receipt of your redemption request in proper form. The value of the shares redeemed may be more or less than their original cost, depending on changes in a Fund’s NAV per share.

 

For Institutional Shares of Equity Allocation Fund, a redemption fee of 2.00% of the then-current value of the shares redeemed is imposed on redemptions of shares made within 90 days of purchase ( i.e. , the redemption is effective on or before the 90th day following the date of purchase), subject to certain exceptions. The fee does not apply to the redemption of shares that were purchased by reinvesting dividends or other distributions. It also does not apply to redemptions for which the shareholder or the shareholder’s agent notifies the transfer agent that the redemption is being made to make required distributions from an IRA(or other tax-deferred retirement account) or to redemptions following the death or disability of a shareholder. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held for the longest time will be deemed to have been redeemed first.

 

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The Funds normally make payment for all shares redeemed as soon as practicable, generally within two business days but no later than seven days after receipt by the transfer agent of a redemption request in proper form. If you purchase shares by check or ACH and submit shortly thereafter a redemption request, the redemption proceeds will not be transmitted to you until your purchase check or ACH transfer has cleared. This process may take up to eight days. Shareholders who redeem shares held in an IRA must indicate on their redemption request whether federal income taxes or any applicable state taxes should be withheld. If not, this type of redemption can be subject to federal income tax withholding and, possibly, state taxes. The Funds may suspend the right of redemption or postpone payment of redemption proceeds under unusual circumstances, as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act (“1940 Act”) or by the SEC.

 

The Funds normally expect to use cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The Funds generally pay redemption proceeds in cash, however, under certain circumstances (e.g., when making a charitable contribution), the Funds may pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in liquid securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in kind). If your shares are redeemed in kind, you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in kind until they are sold.

 

Shares of the Funds may be redeemed by using one of the procedures described below. For additional information regarding redemption procedures, you may call 1-877-997-9971 or contact your securities dealer.

 

You may redeem shares by mailing a written request to:

 

Regular Mail

P.O. Box 2175

Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175

 

Express/Overnight Mail

Aspiriant Funds

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

The proceeds of a written redemption request are normally paid by check made payable to the shareholders. You may request that redemption proceeds of $1,000 or more be wired to your account at any member bank of the Federal Reserve System if you have previously designated that account as one to which redemption proceeds may be wired. See “Telephone Redemption Requests.” A $20 fee will be deducted from your account if payment is made by federal funds wire transfer. This fee is subject to change. Depending on how quickly you wish to receive payment, you can request that payment be made by ACH transfer, without charges, if you have established this redemption option.

 

Medallion Signature Guarantees

 

The transfer agent has adopted standards and procedures pursuant to which medallion signature guarantees in proper form are generally accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies, and savings associations, as well as from participants in the NYSE Medallion Signature Program and the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”). A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor. A medallion signature guarantee of each owner is required to redeem shares in the following situations:

 

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If ownership changes on your account.
When redemption proceeds are sent to any person, address, or bank account not on record.
When establishing or modifying certain services on an account.
If the transfer agent received a change of address within the past 15 days.
For all redemptions in excess of $50,000 from any shareholder account.

 

The transfer agent may also require a medallion signature guarantee in other instances it deems appropriate. If you have any questions about medallion signature guarantees, please call 1-877-997-9971.

 

Telephone Redemption Requests

 

You may redeem shares by telephone request if you have elected to have this option. To arrange for telephone redemptions after an account has been opened, or to change the bank account or address designated to receive redemption proceeds, please call 1-877-997-9971 to obtain the forms. The request must be signed by each account owner and may require a medallion signature guarantee. You may place a telephone redemption request of up to $50,000 by calling 1-877-997-9971. You may choose to have the redemption paid by check sent to your address of record, or by federal funds wire transfer (minimum amount of $1,000) or electronic ACH funds transfer to your pre-designated bank account. A $20 fee will be deducted from your account if payment is made by federal funds wire transfer. This fee is subject to change. There is no charge for proceeds sent by ACH transfer; however, you may not receive credit for transferred funds for two to three days.

 

By selecting the telephone redemption option, you authorize the transfer agent to act on telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine. The transfer agent employs reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that telephone redemption instructions are genuine. Neither the Funds nor the transfer agent will be liable for any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if these procedures are followed. The Funds reserve the right to refuse any request made by telephone, including requests made shortly after a change of address, and may limit the number of requests within a specified period. Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be canceled or modified.

 

Redemptions Through an Authorized Securities Dealer or Mutual Fund Marketplace

 

If you hold shares through a securities dealer or mutual fund marketplace, you may place your redemption request through that organization. Shares will be redeemed at the NAV per share next computed after your request is received in good order by the intermediary. Please keep in mind that an authorized securities dealer (or its designee) may charge you a transaction fee or other fees for processing a redemption of Fund shares.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

To reduce Fund expenses, each Fund reserves the right to redeem at its option, upon not less than 30 days written notice, the account of any shareholder that has a value of less than $25,000 in the Fund as a result of one or more redemptions, if the shareholder does not purchase additional shares to increase the account value to at least $25,000 in the Fund during the notice period.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Distribution Plan

 

Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund has in effect a plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows that share class to pay for the sale and distribution of shares in an annual amount equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets. Because these fees are paid out of the Equity Allocation Fund’s Institutional Shares’ assets on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

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Other Compensation to Intermediaries

 

From its own assets, the Adviser may make payments based on gross sales and current assets to selected brokerage firms or institutions. The amount of these payments may be substantial. The minimum aggregate sales required for eligibility for such payments, and the factors in selecting the brokerage firms and institutions to which they will be made, are determined from time to time by the Adviser. Furthermore, the Adviser may pay fees from its own assets to brokers, banks, financial advisers, retirement plan service providers and other financial intermediaries (i) for providing distribution-related or shareholder services, (ii) to compensate them for marketing expenses they incur, or (iii) to pay for the opportunity to have them distribute the Funds. The amount of these payments is determined by the Adviser and may differ among financial intermediaries. Such payments may provide incentives for financial intermediaries to make shares of the Funds available to their customers and may allow the Funds greater access to such financial intermediaries and their customers than would be the case if no payments were made. You may wish to consider whether such arrangements exist when evaluating any recommendation to purchase shares of the Funds.

 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES PLAN

 

Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund has in effect a shareholder services plan permitting that share class to pay financial institutions that provide certain shareholder services to the Equity Allocation Fund’s Institutional Shares a shareholder services fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Equity Allocation Fund’s Institutional Shares attributable to the financial institution. The shareholder services may include (i) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders; (ii) processing dividend and distribution payments from the Equity Allocation Fund on behalf of shareholders; (iii) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in shares and integrating such statements with those of other transactions and balances in shareholders’ other accounts serviced by such financial institution; (iv) arranging for bank wires; (v) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed; (vi) responding to routine inquiries from shareholders concerning their investments; (vii) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to the Equity Allocation Fund necessary for sub-accounting; (viii) if required by law, forwarding shareholder communications from the Equity Allocation Fund (such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual and semi-annual financial statements and dividend, distribution and tax notices) to shareholders; (ix) assisting in processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and in placing such orders with service contractors; (x) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (xi) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (xii) providing such other similar services as the Equity Allocation Fund’s Institutional Shares or its shareholders may reasonably request to the extent the financial institution is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules and regulations.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Each Fund pays dividends from its net investment income and distributes any net capital gains that it realizes. Dividends are paid at least annually by the Equity Allocation Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund and quarterly by the Municipal Bond Fund and Taxable Bond Fund. Capital gain distributions are generally paid once a year. All dividends and other distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares unless a shareholder chooses either to (1) receive dividends in cash, while reinvesting capital gains distributions in additional Fund shares, or (2) receive all distributions in cash. Additionally, a Fund reports details of distribution related transactions on quarterly account statements. A Fund may also pay dividends and capital gain distributions at other times if necessary for the Fund to avoid U.S. federal income or excise tax.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

You should always consult your tax advisor for specific guidance regarding the federal, state and local tax effects of your investment in the Funds. The following is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations, generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Many of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and only apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. There are only minor changes with respect to the specific rules applicable to regulated investment companies, such as the Funds. The Tax Act, however, made numerous other changes to the tax rules that may affect shareholders and the Funds. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding how the Tax Act affects your investment in the Funds.

 

53

 

Each Fund intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company for federal tax purposes, and the Funds, therefore, do not expect to be subject to federal income tax on their taxable income and gains that the Funds distribute to shareholders. Each Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to a federal excise tax on certain undistributed amounts.

 

The Funds’ dividends and capital gains distributions are taxable to most investors (unless your investment is an unleveraged investment made in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). The tax status of any dividend or distribution is generally the same regardless of how long you have been an investor in a Fund and regardless of whether you reinvest your dividends and distributions or take them as cash. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Funds as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains and currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets).

 

To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of the Municipal Bond Fund must consist of obligations exempt from regular income tax as of the close of each quarter of the Municipal Bond Fund’s taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by the Municipal Bond Fund exceeds 50% of the Municipal Bond Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of any Fund taxable year, the Fund will not for that taxable year satisfy the general eligibility test that otherwise permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends. Distributions from the Municipal Bond Fund’s tax-exempt interest income, while exempt from regular federal income tax, may be subject to state or local income taxes. A portion of these dividends may be tax preference items for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders. Since the Municipal Bond Fund invests primarily in sources that do not pay dividends, it is not expected that the distributions paid by the Municipal Bond Fund will qualify for either the dividends-received deduction for corporations or any favorable U.S. federal income tax rate available to non-corporate shareholders on “qualified dividend income.” Additionally, the Municipal Bond Fund is not a suitable investment for IRAs, for other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments.

 

If a Fund declares a dividend in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, and pays it in January of the following year, you will be treated as if you received it in the year in which it was declared.

 

Sales and exchanges generally will be taxable transactions to shareholders. When you sell or exchange Fund shares you will generally recognize a capital gain or capital loss in an amount equal to the difference between the net amount of sale proceeds (or, in the case of an exchange, the fair market value of the shares) that you receive and your tax basis for the shares that you sell or exchange. For tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

The Funds (or their administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, each Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of its shares, each Fund will permit its shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including average cost. In the absence of an election, each Fund will use the FIFO (first in, first out) method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by shareholders (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of a Fund’s shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of a Fund’s shares. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

54

 

U.S. individuals, estates and trusts with adjusted gross income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income.” For these purposes, dividends (other than exempt-interest dividends) , interest and certain capital gains are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

 

If you invest in a Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, generally you will pay a higher price per share and, unless you are exempt from tax, you will pay taxes on the amount of the distribution whether you reinvest the distribution in additional shares or receive it as cash. This is known as “buying a dividend” and should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

If you hold shares in a taxable account, each year you will be sent information regarding the tax status of any dividends and other distributions you receive from the Fund.

 

Federal law requires the Funds to withhold (as “backup withholding”) on dividends (including exempt-interest dividends) and other distributions, sale proceeds and any other payments that are subject to backup withholding paid to shareholders who fail to provide a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number or fail to make certifications required by the IRS. The backup withholding rate is 24%. Foreign shareholders may be subject to special withholding requirements.

 

To the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund received from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund consists of foreign securities, such Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. A Fund (or its administrative agent) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

The above discussion provides very general information only, and tax laws are subject to change. You should consult your tax professional about foreign, federal, state and local tax consequences associated with your investment in the Funds , including the potential application of the federal alternative minimum tax to you on the Municipal Bond Fund’s exempt-interest dividends and possible state and local income taxation of the Municipal Bond Fund’s exempt-interest dividends and other distributions. More information about taxes is available in the SAI.

 

55

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the past five years or, if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been derived from the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights, which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights, is incorporated by reference into the SAI and included in the Funds’ annual report, which is available upon request.

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED EQUITY ALLOCATION FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - ADVISOR SHARES

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout each year.

 

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2019

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2018

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2017

   

Year Ended
February 29,
2016

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2015

 

Net asset value, beginning of year

  $ 13.27     $ 11.77     $ 10.50     $ 11.53     $ 11.00  
                                         

Income from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net investment income

    0.26       0.25       0.19       0.15       0.04  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency

    0.08       1.61       1.34       (0.99 )     0.52  

Total from investment operations

    0.34       1.86       1.53       (0.84 )     0.56  
                                         

Less Distributions:

                                       

From net investment income

    (0.26 )     (0.29 )     (0.20 )     0.00   (1)     (0.03 )

From net realized gain

    (0.33 )     (0.07 )     (0.06 )     (0.19 )      

Total distributions

    (0.59 )     (0.36 )     (0.26 )     (0.19 )     (0.03 )
                                         

Net asset value, end of year

  $ 13.02     $ 13.27     $ 11.77     $ 10.50     $ 11.53  
                                         

Total return

    2.83 %     15.80 %     14.63 %     (7.33 )%     5.01 %
                                         

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                                       

Net assets, end of year (in thousands)

  $ 1,136,369     $ 1,039,849     $ 761,664     $ 381,654     $ 301,750  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

                                       

Total expenses before expense waiver

    0.44 %     0.44 %     0.59 %     1.05 %     1.81 %

Expense waiver

    (0.14 )%     (0.16 )%     (0.08 )%     (0.04 )%     %

Total expenses after expense waiver

    0.30 %     0.28 %     0.51 %     1.01 %     1.81 %

Net investment income

    1.90 %     2.05 %     2.02 %     1.40 %     0.37 %

Portfolio turnover rate

    79 %     38 %     89 %     83 %     101 %

 

(1)

Rounds to less than 0.005.

 

56  

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED MUNICIPAL BOND FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout each period.

 

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2019

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2018

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2017

   

Period Ended
February 29,
2016 *

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 10.03     $ 10.00     $ 10.23     $ 10.00  
                                 

Income from Investment Operations:

                               

Net investment income

    0.30       0.28       0.28       0.20  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    0.06       0.05       (0.22 )     0.18  

Total from investment operations

    0.36       0.33       0.06       0.38  
                                 

Less Distributions:

                               

From net investment income

    (0.32 )     (0.30 )     (0.28 )     (0.15 )

From net realized gain

          (0.00 ) (1)     (0.01 )      

Total distributions

    (0.32 )     (0.30 )     (0.29 )     (0.15 )
                                 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 10.07     $ 10.03     $ 10.00     $ 10.23  
                                 

Total return

    3.71 %     3.35 %     0.60 %     3.86 % (2)
                                 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                               

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 1,429,178     $ 1,250,837     $ 982,429     $ 678,272  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

                               

Total expenses before expense waiver

    0.46 %     0.46 %     0.51 %     0.61 % (3)

Expense waiver

    (0.12 )%     (0.11 )%     (0.07 )%     (0.07 )% (3)

Total expenses after expense waiver

    0.34 %     0.35 %     0.44 %     0.54 % (3)

Net investment income

    2.96 %     2.80 %     2.85 %     3.32 % (3)

Portfolio turnover rate

    16 %     28 %     20 %     0 % (1) (2)

 

*

Commenced operations as of the close of business on July 1, 2015.

 

(1)

Rounds to less than 0.005.

 

(2)

Not annualized.

 

(3)

Annualized.

 

57  

 

ASPIRIANT DEFENSIVE ALLOCATION FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout each period.

 

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2019

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2018

   

Year Ended
February 28,
2017

   

Period Ended
February 29,
2016 *

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 10.82     $ 10.29     $ 9.77     $ 10.00  
                                 

Income from Investment Operations:

                               

Net investment income

    0.21       0.15       0.11       0.00   (1)

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    (0.39 )     0.61       0.53       (0.23 )

Total from investment operations

    (0.18 )     0.76       0.64       (0.23 )
                                 

Less Distributions:

                               

From net investment income

    (0.22 )     (0.16 )     (0.12 )      

From net realized gain

    (0.18 )     (0.07 )     (0.00 ) (1)      

Total distributions

    (0.40 )     (0.23 )     (0.12 )      
                                 

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 10.24     $ 10.82     $ 10.29     $ 9.77  
                                 

Total return

    (1.46 )%     7.44 %     6.54 %     (2.30 )% (2)
                                 

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

                               

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 1,239,786     $ 1,123,832     $ 567,711     $ 127,729  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

                               

Total expenses before expense waiver

    0.28 %     0.30 %     0.35 %     0.78 % (3)

Expense waiver

    (0.09 )%     (0.08 )%     (0.07 )%     (0.07 )% (3)

Total expenses after expense waiver

    0.19 %     0.22 %     0.28 %     0.71 % (3)

Net investment income (loss)

    1.88 %     1.63 %     1.55 %     (0.20 )% (3)

Portfolio turnover rate

    29 %     37 %     16 %     0 % (2)

 

*

Commenced operations as of the close of business on December 14, 2015.

 

(1)

Rounds to less than 0.005.

 

(2)

Not annualized.

 

(3)

Annualized.

 

58  

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED TAXABLE BOND FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per share income and capital changes for a share outstanding throughout each period.

 

   

Period Ended
February 28,
2019 *

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 10.00  
         

Income from Investment Operations:

       

Net investment income

    0.26  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    (0.05 )

Total from investment operations

    0.21  
         

Less Distributions:

       

From net investment income

    (0.22 )

Total distributions

    (0.22 )
         

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 9.99  
         

Total return

    2.16 % (1)
         

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

       

Net assets, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 206,356  

Ratios (as a percentage of average daily net assets):

       

Total expenses before expense waiver

    0.60 % (2)

Expense waiver

    (0.24 )% (2)

Total expenses after expense waiver

    0.36 % (2)

Net investment income

    3.46 % (2)

Portfolio turnover rate

    0 % (1)

 

*

Commenced operations as of the close of business on March 29, 2018.

 

(1)

Not annualized.

 

(2)

Annualized.

 

59

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

For more information about the Funds, the following documents are available free upon request:

 

Statement of Additional Information

 

The SAI provides additional information about the Funds. The current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into (and is legally a part of) this prospectus.

 

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports

 

Additional information about each Fund’s investments is available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. The annual report contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during their most recently completed fiscal year.

 

TO OBTAIN INFORMATION

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI, semi-annual or annual reports, when available, or if you have questions about the Funds:

 

By Telephone

 

Call 1-877-997-9971.

 

By Mail

 

Regular Mail: Express/Overnight Mail:
   
P.O. Box 2175 Aspiriant Funds
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175 c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.
  235 West Galena Street
  Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

By Internet

 

Go to www.aspiriantfunds.com.

 

From the SEC

 

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending an email to publicinfo@sec.gov.

Investment Company Act File Number 811-22648

 

60

 

ASPIRIANT TRUST

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

July 1, 2019

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund

Advisor Shares (Ticker RMEAX)

Institutional Shares (Ticker RMEIX)*

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund

(Ticker RMMBX)

 

Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund

(Ticker RMDFX)

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund

(Ticker RMTBX)

 

* As of the date of this statement of additional information, Institutional Shares are not available for purchase.

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund (“Equity Allocation Fund”), Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund (“Municipal Bond Fund”), Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund (“Defensive Allocation Fund”), and Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund (“Taxable Bond Fund”) (each a “Fund”; collectively, the “Funds”) are diversified series of Aspiriant Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company organized on November 22, 2011, as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. Aspiriant, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. For the Equity Allocation Fund, Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) serves as the sub-adviser for the global low volatility strategy, and Aperio Group, LLC (“Aperio”) serves as the sub-adviser for the quality strategy. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen”) and Wells Capital Management, Inc. (“WellsCap”) serve as the Municipal Bond Fund’s sub-advisers.

 

Information about the Funds is set forth in the prospectus dated July 1, 2019 (the “Prospectus”) and provides the information you should know before investing. To obtain a copy of the Prospectus, please call 1-877-997-9971 or write to P.O. Box 2175, Milwaukee, WI 53201-2175. This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, but contains information in addition to that set forth in the Prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide you with additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Funds and the Trust and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.

 

The Funds’ financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019 are included in the Trust’s Annual Report to shareholders, which has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this SAI.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES 1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 34
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 35
CODES OF ETHICS 41
INVESTMENT ADVISER 41
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISERS 43
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS 44
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 51
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 53
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION 54
TAX INFORMATION 55
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 66
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES 67
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES 68
GENERAL INFORMATION 69
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS 69
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 70
APPENDIX A A-1
APPENDIX B B-1

 

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES

 

The information below supplements the principal investment strategies and associated risks of the Funds as described in the Prospectus and provides information about other investment strategies that may be used by the Funds. As used in this section, the term “Fund” includes the underlying funds in which a Fund invests.

 

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)

 

The Equity Allocation Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund may invest in ADRs, which are receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in U.S. securities markets. In a “sponsored” ADR, the foreign issuer typically bears certain expenses of maintaining the ADR facility. “Unsponsored” ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility. The bank or trust company depository of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights.

 

Asset-Backed Securities

 

The Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of underlying assets such as debt securities, bank loans, motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (i.e., credit card) agreements, and other categories of receivables. These underlying assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose entities. Payment of interest and repayment of principal on asset-backed securities may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the underlying assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, may be supported by letters of credit, surety bonds, or other credit enhancements. The rate of principal payments on asset-backed securities is related to the rate of principal payments, including prepayments, on the underlying assets. The credit quality of asset-backed securities depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of credit support, if any, provided for the securities, and the credit quality of the credit-support provider, if any. The value of asset-backed securities may be affected by the various factors described above and other factors, such as changes in interest rates, the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the underlying assets, or the entities providing the credit enhancement.

 

Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate, as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying assets. Prepayments of principal by borrowers or foreclosure or other enforcement action by creditors shortens the term of the underlying assets. The occurrence of prepayments is a function of several factors, such as the level of interest rates, the general economic conditions, the location and age of the underlying obligations, and other social and demographic conditions. The Fund’s ability to maintain positions in asset-backed securities is affected by the reductions in the principal amount of the underlying assets because of prepayments. The Fund’s ability to reinvest prepayments of principal (as well as interest and other distributions and sale proceeds) at a comparable yield is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. The value of asset-backed securities varies with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. In periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the average life of the underlying securities. Conversely, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of such assets. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, an investor, such as the Fund, generally has to reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested. Therefore, asset-backed securities have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other income-bearing securities of comparable maturity.

 

1  

 

Because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying assets that is comparable to a mortgage, asset-backed securities present certain additional risks that are not present with mortgage-backed securities. For example, revolving credit receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles rather than by real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit loan servicers to retain possession of the underlying assets. If the servicer of a pool of underlying assets sells them to another party, there is the risk that the purchaser could acquire an interest superior to that of holders of the asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of vehicles involved in a typical issue of asset-backed securities and technical requirements under state law, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in the automobiles. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. Asset-backed securities have been, and may continue to be, subject to greater liquidity risks because of the deterioration of worldwide economic and liquidity conditions that became acute in 2008. In addition, government actions and proposals that affect the terms of underlying home and consumer loans, thereby changing demand for products financed by those loans, as well as the inability of borrowers to refinance existing loans, have had and may continue to have a negative effect on the valuation and liquidity of asset-backed securities.

 

Asset Coverage Requirements

 

To the extent required by SEC guidelines, each Fund will only engage in transactions that expose it to an obligation to another party if it owns either (a) an offsetting position for the same type of financial asset, or (b) cash or liquid securities, designated on the Fund’s books or held in a segregated account, with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (a). Examples of transactions governed by these asset coverage requirements include, for example, options written by the Fund, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, swaps and when issued and delayed delivery transactions. Assets used as offsetting positions, designated on the Fund’s books, or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the positions requiring cover are open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of assets to be used as offsetting positions or to be designated or segregated in such a manner could impede portfolio management or the ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

In the case of futures contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value (generally, the total numerical value of the asset underlying a future or forward contract at the time of valuation) while the positions are open. With respect to futures contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily mark-to-market net obligation ( i.e. , the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under cash-settled futures, the Fund may employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts.

 

Convertible Securities

 

The Equity Allocation Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund may purchase convertible securities. These securities include convertible debt obligations and convertible preferred stock. A convertible security entitles the holder to exchange it for a fixed number of shares of common stock (or other equity security), usually at a fixed price within a specified period of time. Until conversion, the holder receives the interest paid on a convertible bond or the dividend preference of a preferred stock.

 

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Convertible securities have an “investment value,” which is the theoretical value determined by the yield it provides in comparison with similar securities without the conversion feature. The investment value changes are based on prevailing interest rates and other factors. They also have a “conversion value,” which is the worth in market value if the security were exchanged for the underlying equity security. Conversion value fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying security. If conversion value is substantially below investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value is near or above investment value, the price of the convertible security generally will rise above investment value and may represent a premium over conversion value because of the combination of the convertible security’s right to interest (or dividend preference) and the possibility of capital appreciation from the conversion feature. A convertible security’s price, when price is influenced primarily by its conversion value, will generally yield less than a senior non-convertible security of comparable investment value. Convertible securities may be purchased at varying price levels above their investment values or conversion values. However, there is no assurance that any premium above investment value or conversion value will be recovered, because prices change, and, as a result, the ability to achieve capital appreciation through conversion may never occur.

 

Collateralized Debt Obligations

 

Collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) are a type of asset-backed security and include, among other things, collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. A CBO is a trust which may be backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The cash flows from the CDO trust are generally split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. Senior tranches are paid from the cash flows from the underlying assets before the junior tranches and equity or “first loss” tranches. Losses are first borne by the equity tranches, next by the junior tranches, and finally by the senior tranches. Senior tranches pay the lowest interest rates but are generally safer investments than more junior tranches because, should there be any default, senior tranches are typically paid first. The most junior tranches, such as equity tranches, would attract the highest interest rates but suffer the highest risk of loss should the holder of an underlying loan default. If some loans default and the cash collected by the CDO is insufficient to pay all of its investors, those in the lowest, most junior tranches suffer losses first. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CDO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than the underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, more senior CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults and aversion to CDO securities as a class.

 

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the quality and type of the collateral and the tranche of the CDO in which the Fund invest. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market, or other relevant measures of liquidity, may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO potentially to be deemed liquid by the Adviser under the Trust’s liquidity risk management program. In addition to the risks associated with debt instruments (e.g., interest rate risk and credit risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the possibility that the Fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

 

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Corporate Debt and Other Obligations

 

The Funds may invest in corporate debt securities, variable and floating rate debt securities and corporate commercial paper in the rating categories described above. Floating rate securities normally have a rate of interest that is set as a specific percentage of a designated base rate, such as the rate on Treasury bonds or bills or the prime rate at a major commercial bank. The interest rate on floating rate securities changes periodically when there is a change in the designated base rate. Variable rate securities provide for a specified periodic adjustment in the interest rate based on prevailing market rates.

 

The Funds may invest in corporate debt securities with contractual call provisions that permit the seller of the security to repurchase the security at a pre-determined price. The market price typically reflects the presence of a call provision.

 

The Funds may invest in structured debentures and structured notes. These are hybrid instruments with characteristics of both bonds and swap agreements. Like a bond, these securities make regular coupon payments and generally have fixed principal amounts. However, the coupon payments are typically tied to a swap agreement that can be affected by changes in a variety of factors such as exchange rates, the shape of the yield curve and foreign interest rates. Because of these factors, structured debentures and structured notes can display price behavior that is more volatile than and often not correlated to other fixed-income securities.

The Funds may also invest in inverse floaters and tiered index bonds. An inverse floater is a type of derivative that bears a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction to the interest rate on another security or index level. Changes in the interest rate of the other security or index inversely affect the residual interest rate paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater’s price will be considerably more volatile than that of a fixed-rate bond. Tiered index bonds are also a type of derivative instrument. The interest rate on a tiered index bond is tied to a specified index or market rate. So long as this index or market rate is below a predetermined “strike” rate, the interest rate on the tiered index bond remains fixed. If, however, the specified index or market rate rises above the “strike” rate, the interest rate on the tiered index bond will decrease. In general, the interest rates on tiered index bonds and inverse floaters move in the opposite direction of prevailing interest rates. The market for inverse floaters and tiered index bonds is relatively new. These corporate debt obligations may have characteristics similar to those of mortgage-related securities, but corporate debt obligations, unlike mortgage-related securities, are not subject to prepayment risk other than through contractual call provisions that generally impose a penalty for prepayment.

 

The Funds’ investments in U.S. dollar or foreign currency-denominated corporate debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers are limited to corporate debt securities (corporate bonds, debentures, notes or other similar corporate debt instruments) which meet the minimum ratings criteria set forth for the Funds, or, if unrated, which are in the Adviser’s opinion comparable in quality to corporate debt securities in which the Funds may invest. These criteria are described in the Prospectus. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

 

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Cyber Security

 

Investment companies, such as the Funds, and their service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Funds or the Adviser, sub- advisers, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries, and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Funds. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds’ ability to calculate their net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds’ investments in such portfolio companies to lose value.

 

Derivatives

 

Subject to the limitations set forth below under “Limitations on the Use of CFTC-Regulated Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps,” the Funds may use derivative instruments as described below. Generally, a derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. Derivatives generally take the form of contracts under which the parties agree to payments between them based upon the performance of a wide variety of underlying references, such as stocks, bonds, loans, commodities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, and various domestic and foreign indices.

 

A Fund may use derivatives for a variety of reasons, including as a substitute for investing directly in securities, as part of a hedging strategy (that is, for the purpose of reducing risk to the Fund), to manage the effective duration of the Fund’s portfolio, or for other purposes related to the management of the Fund. Derivatives permit the Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as the Fund can increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making investments in specific securities. However, derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives could have a large impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

A Fund will not make any hedging investment (whether an initial premium or deposit or a subsequent deposit) other than as necessary to close a prior investment if, immediately after such investment, the sum of the amount of its premiums and deposits, with respect to all currently effective hedging investments, would exceed 5% of its net assets. The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by the Adviser or sub-adviser to be active and sufficiently liquid.

 

While transactions in some derivatives may be effected on established exchanges, many other derivatives are privately negotiated and entered into in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market with a single counterparty. When exchange-traded derivatives are purchased and sold, a clearing agency associated with the exchange stands between each buyer and seller and effectively guarantees performance of each contract, either on a limited basis through a guaranty fund or to the full extent of the clearing agency’s balance sheet. Transactions in OTC derivatives not subject to a clearing requirement have no such protection. Each party to an uncleared OTC derivative bears the risk that its direct counterparty will default. In addition, OTC derivatives are generally less liquid than exchange traded derivatives because they often can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction.

 

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The use of derivative instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), various state regulatory authorities and, with respect to exchange-traded derivatives, the several exchanges upon which they are traded. As discussed above under “Asset Coverage Requirements,” in order to engage in certain transactions in derivatives, the Fund may be required to hold offsetting positions or to hold cash or liquid securities in a segregated account or designated on the Fund’s books. In addition, the Fund’s ability to use derivative instruments may be limited by tax considerations.

 

The particular derivative instruments the Fund can use are described below. There is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by the Fund will succeed. The Fund may employ new derivative instruments and strategies when they are developed, if those investment methods are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and are permissible under applicable regulations governing the Fund.

 

Options Transactions

 

Options on Interest Rates and Indices . A Fund may purchase put and call options on interest rates and on bond or equity indices. An option on interest rates or on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing value of the underlying interest rate or index 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 exercise-settlement value of the interest rate option or the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple (the “multiplier”). The writer of the option is obligated, for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Settlements for interest rate and index options are always in cash.

 

Expiration or Exercise of Options . If an option purchased by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying security, or index, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires.

 

The Fund may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. Prior to exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security or index, and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Futures

 

A Fund may engage in futures transactions. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts that relate to (1) interest rates, (2) debt securities, and (3) bond or equity indices. The Fund may only enter into futures contracts which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.

 

A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract. Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.

 

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Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with its futures broker (also known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) an amount of cash or securities equal to a specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held as margin is generally invested by the FCM in high-quality instruments permitted under CFTC regulations, with returns retained by the FCM and interest paid to the Fund on the cash at an agreed-upon rate. The Fund will also receive any interest paid from coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts. Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs.

 

Most U.S. futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of futures contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.

 

Options on Futures

 

A Fund may also purchase or write put and call options on the futures contracts in which it invests and may write straddles, which consist of a call and put option on the same futures contract. A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. Prior to exercise or expiration, a futures option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of a futures option of the same series.

 

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A Fund may use options on futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. The writing of a call option or the purchasing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of the securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of a written call option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Fund’s holdings of securities. If the futures price when the option is exercised is above the exercise price, however, the Fund will incur a loss, which may be offset, in whole or in part, by the increase in the value of the securities held by the Fund that were being hedged. Writing a put option or purchasing a call option on a futures contract serves as a partial hedge against an increase in the value of the securities the Fund intends to acquire.

 

When writing a call option, the Fund must either segregate liquid assets with a value equal to the fluctuating market value of the optioned futures contract, or the Fund must own an option to purchase the same futures contract having an exercise price that is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.

 

When writing a put option, the Fund must segregate liquid assets in an amount not less than the exercise price, or own a put option on the same futures contract where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.

 

When the Fund writes a straddle, sufficient assets will be segregated to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may segregate the same liquid assets for both the call and put options in a straddle where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

 

As with investments in futures contracts, the Fund is required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it.

 

Swap Transactions

 

A Fund may enter into interest rate, total return, and credit default swap agreements and interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).

 

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any purpose consistent with its investment objectives and strategies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, to reduce risk arising from the ownership of a particular instrument, or to gain exposure to certain securities, reference rates, sectors or markets.

 

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified period of time. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset, reference rate or index. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount ( e.g. , the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a basket of securities representing a particular index). The notional amount of the swap agreement generally is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to the swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund’s current obligations under a net swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and the Fund will segregate assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser or sub-advisers for any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty. See “Asset Coverage Requirements” above.

 

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Interest Rate Swaps . Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely.

 

Total Return Swaps . In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. The Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the portfolio managers to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.

 

Credit Default Swaps . A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in one or more of its individual holdings or in a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.

 

As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund will pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.

 

If the Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs, however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.”

 

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Caps, Collars and Floors . Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar involves selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

Swap Options . A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund generally will incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

 

Risks Associated with Swap Transactions . The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Adviser or sub-advisers are incorrect in their forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

 

Limitations on the Use of CFTC-Regulated Futures, Options on Futures, and Swaps

 

A Fund will limit its direct investments in CFTC-regulated futures, options on futures and swaps (“CFTC Derivatives”) to the extent necessary for the Adviser to claim the exclusion from regulation as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund under CFTC Rule 4.5, as such rule may be amended from time to time. Under Rule 4.5 as currently in effect, the Fund will limit its trading activity in CFTC Derivatives (excluding activity for “bona fide hedging purposes,” as defined by the CFTC) such that it meets one of the following tests:

 

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Aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish its positions in CFTC Derivatives do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions; or

 

Aggregate net notional value of its positions in CFTC Derivatives does not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions.

 

With respect to each Fund, the Adviser has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator thereunder.

 

The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may also limit the extent to which a Fund may invest in CFTC Derivatives.

 

Risks and Special Considerations Concerning Derivatives

 

The use of derivative instruments involves certain general risks and considerations, as well as specific risks pertaining to certain types of derivative instruments, as described below.

 

(1) Market Risk . Market risk is the risk that the value of the underlying assets may go up or down. Adverse movements in the value of an underlying asset can expose the Fund to losses. The successful use of derivative instruments depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the portfolio managers’ ability to predict movements in the relevant markets, which may require different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted will succeed.

 

(2) Counterparty Risk . Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of a counterparty to comply with the terms of a derivative instrument. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for OTC derivatives, since generally a clearing agency, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For many OTC instruments, there is no similar clearing agency guarantee. In all transactions, the Fund will bear the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Fund. The Fund will enter into derivatives transactions only with counterparties that its portfolio manager reasonably believes are capable of performing under the contract.

 

(3) Correlation Risk . Correlation risk is the risk that there might be an imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a derivative instrument and price movements of investments being hedged. When a derivative transaction is used to completely hedge another position, changes in the market value of the combined position (the derivative instrument plus the position being hedged) result from an imperfect correlation between the price movements of the two instruments. With a perfect hedge, the value of the combined position remains unchanged with any change in the price of the underlying asset. With an imperfect hedge, the value of the derivative instrument and its hedge are not perfectly correlated. For example, if the value of a derivative instrument used in a short hedge (such as writing a call option, buying a put option or selling a futures contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investments, the hedge would not be perfectly correlated. This might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on indices will depend, in part, on the degree of correlation between price movements in the index and the price movements in the investments being hedged.

 

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(4) Liquidity Risk . Liquidity risk is the risk that a derivative instrument cannot be sold, closed out, or replaced quickly at or very close to its fundamental value. Generally, exchange contracts are very liquid because the exchange clearinghouse is the counterparty of every contract. OTC transactions are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction. The Fund might be required by applicable regulatory requirements to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts, and/or make margin payments when it takes positions in derivative instruments involving obligations to third parties ( i.e. , instruments other than purchase options). If the Fund is unable to close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires, matures or is closed out. These requirements might impair the Fund’s ability to sell a security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund’s ability to sell or close out a position in an instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the counterparty to enter into a transaction closing out the position. There is no assurance that any derivatives position can be sold or closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.

 

(5) Legal Risk . Legal risk is the risk of loss caused by the unenforceability of a party’s obligations under the derivative. While a party seeking price certainty agrees to surrender the potential upside in exchange for downside protection, the party taking the risk is looking for a positive payoff. Despite this voluntary assumption of risk, a counterparty that has lost money in a derivative transaction may try to avoid payment by exploiting various legal uncertainties about certain derivative products.

 

(6) Systemic or “Interconnection” Risk . Systemic or interconnection risk is the risk that a disruption in the financial markets will cause difficulties for all market participants. In other words, a disruption in one market will spill over into other markets, perhaps creating a chain reaction. Much of the OTC derivatives market takes place among the OTC dealers themselves, thus creating a large interconnected web of financial obligations. This interconnectedness raises the possibility that a default by one large dealer could create losses for other dealers and destabilize the entire market for OTC derivative instruments.

 

(7) Leverage Risk . Leverage risk is the risk that the Fund may be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged due to leverage’s tendency to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements.

 

(8) Regulatory Risk . The Dodd-Frank Act Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) has initiated a dramatic revision of the U.S. financial regulatory framework and covers a broad range of topics, including (among many others) a reorganization of federal financial regulators; a process intended to improve financial systemic stability and the resolution of potentially insolvent financial firms; and new rules for derivatives trading. Instruments in which the Fund may invest, or the issuers of such instruments, may be affected by the new legislation and regulation in ways that are unforeseeable. Many of the implementing regulations have not yet been finalized. Accordingly, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, including on the derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest, is not yet certain.

 

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Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stock, convertible securities, and warrants. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in a company. Although this interest often gives a Fund the right to vote on measures affecting the company’s organization and operations, neither Fund intends to exercise control over the management of companies in which it invests. Common stocks have a history of long-term growth in value, but their prices tend to fluctuate in the shorter term. Preferred stock generally does not exhibit as great a potential for appreciation or depreciation as common stock, although it ranks above common stock in its claim on income for dividend payments. The market value of all securities, including equity securities, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measure of a company’s worth.

 

Fixed-Income Securities

 

The Funds may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities include a broad array of short-, medium-, and long-term obligations issued by the U.S. or foreign governments, government or international agencies and instrumentalities, and corporate and private issuers of various types. The maturity date is the date on which a fixed-income security matures. This is the date on which the borrower must pay back the borrowed amount, which is known as the principal. Some fixed-income securities represent uncollateralized obligations of their issuers; in other cases, the securities may be backed by specific assets (such as mortgages or other receivables) that have been set aside as collateral for the issuer’s obligation. Fixed-income securities generally involve an obligation of the issuer to pay interest or dividends on either a current basis or at the maturity of the security, as well as the obligation to repay the principal amount of the security at maturity. The rate of interest on fixed-income securities may be fixed, floating, or variable. Some securities pay a higher interest rate than the current market rate. An investor may have to pay more than the security’s principal to compensate the seller for the value of the higher interest rate. This additional payment is a premium.

 

Fixed-income securities are subject to credit risk, market risk, and interest rate risk. Except to the extent values are affected by other factors such as developments relating to a specific issuer, generally the value of a fixed-income security can be expected to rise when interest rates decline and, conversely, the value of such a security can be expected to fall when interest rates rise. Some fixed-income securities may be subject to extension risk. This is the risk that if interest rates rise, repayments of principal on certain debt securities, including, but not limited to, floating rate loans and mortgage-related securities, may occur at a slower rate than expected and the expected maturity of those securities could lengthen as a result. Some fixed-income securities also involve prepayment or call risk. This is the risk that the issuer will repay the Fund the principal on the security before it is due, thus depriving the Fund of a favorable stream of future interest or dividend payments. The Fund could buy another security, but that other security might pay a lower interest rate. In addition, many fixed-income securities contain call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders. Such securities may present risks based on payment expectations. Although the Fund would typically receive a premium if an issuer were to redeem a security, if an issuer were to exercise a call option and redeem the security during times of declining interest rates, the Fund may realize a capital loss on its investment if the security was purchased at a premium and the Fund may be forced to replace the called security with a lower yielding security.

 

Changes by nationally recognized securities rating organizations (“NRSROs”) in their ratings of any fixed-income security or the issuer of a fixed-income security and changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal may also affect the value of these investments. Changes in the value of portfolio securities generally will not affect income derived from these securities, but will affect the Fund’s NAV.

 

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Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income, if any, for any particular period for the Fund that invests in fixed-income securities. Fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities will cause the NAV of each class of the Fund to fluctuate also.

 

Duration is an estimate of how much a bond Fund’s share price will fluctuate in response to a change in interest rates. In general, the value of a fixed-income security with positive duration will generally decline if interest rates increase, whereas the value of a security with negative duration will generally decline if interest rates decrease. If interest rates rise by one percentage point, the share price of the Fund representing a portfolio of debt securities with an average duration of five years would be expected to decline by approximately 5%. If rates decrease by a percentage point, the share price of the Fund representing a portfolio of debt securities with an average duration of five years would be expected to rise by approximately 5%. The greater the duration of a bond (whether positive or negative), the greater its percentage price volatility. Only a pure discount bond – that is, one with no coupon or sinking-fund payments – has a duration equal to the remaining maturity of the bond, because only in this case does the present value of the final redemption payment represent the entirety of the present value of the bond. For all other bonds, duration is less than maturity.

 

Foreign Securities

 

The Equity Allocation Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund, and Taxable Bond Fund invest in securities (which may be denominated in U.S. dollars or non-U.S. currencies) issued or guaranteed by foreign corporations, certain supranational entities (described below) and foreign governments or their agencies or instrumentalities, and in securities issued by U.S. corporations denominated in non-U.S. currencies. All such securities are referred to as “foreign securities.”

 

Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers, including the opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a manner parallel to U.S. markets. If a Fund’s portfolio securities are held abroad, the countries in which they may be held and the sub-custodians or depositories holding them must be approved by the Board to the extent that approval is required under applicable rules of the SEC.

 

Investments in foreign securities present special additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in domestic securities: reduction of income by foreign taxes; fluctuation in value of foreign portfolio investments due to changes in currency rates and control regulations (e.g., currency blockage); transaction charges for currency exchange; lack of public information about foreign issuers; lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers; less trading volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges; greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the U.S.; less regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and brokers than in the U.S.; greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits and obtaining judgments in foreign courts; higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.; increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities; possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse diplomatic developments; and unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign economies. In the past, U.S. Government policies have discouraged certain investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions, and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.

 

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Inflation-Indexed Securities

 

Inflation-indexed securities are debt securities, the principal value of which is periodically adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Inflation-indexed securities may be issued by the U.S. government, by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, and by corporations. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the CPI accruals as part of a semiannual coupon payment.

 

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed securities is tied to the CPI, which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation, and energy. Inflation-indexed securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will correlate to the rate of inflation in the United States.

 

Inflation—a general rise in prices of goods and services—erodes the purchasing power of an investor’s portfolio. For example, if an investment provides a “nominal” total return of 5% in a given year and inflation is 2% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 3%. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, has generally occurred during the past 50 years, so investors should be conscious of both the nominal and real returns of their investments. Investors in inflation-indexed securities funds who do not reinvest the portion of the income distribution that is attributable to inflation adjustments will not maintain the purchasing power of the investment over the long term. This is because interest earned depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation if the investor fails to reinvest the principal adjustment paid out as part of the Fund’s income distributions. Although inflation-indexed securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise because of reasons other than inflation (e.g., changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

 

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation (i.e., the CPI) falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed securities, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the inflation-indexed securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-indexed securities include inflation-related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

The value of inflation-indexed securities should change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates, in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates were to increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed securities.

 

Coupon payments that the Fund receives from inflation-indexed securities are included in the fund’s gross income for the period during which they accrue. Any increase in principal for an inflation-indexed security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-indexed security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments, even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, if the Fund holds these securities, it distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments each quarter in the form of cash or reinvested shares (which, like principal adjustments, are taxable to shareholders). It may be necessary for the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to make required distributions.

 

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Investment Companies and Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

The Funds invest in other investment companies, such as mutual funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds, and in other pooled investment vehicles such as private funds. Unless an exemption applies, Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) generally limits investment in other investment companies to 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company; 5% of a fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company; and 10% of a fund’s total assets in the aggregate. The Funds are permitted to invest in other investment companies beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, enters into an agreement with such investment companies prior to exceeding the limits imposed by Section 12(d)(1). A Fund will only invest in other pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in Fund-eligible investments. The Fund’s investments in other investment companies may include money market mutual funds. Investments in money market funds are not subject to the percentage limitations set forth above.

 

When a Fund invests in other pooled investment vehicles, its shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses, but also, indirectly, the similar expenses of the underlying investment vehicles. Shareholders would also be exposed to the risks associated not only to the Fund, but also to the portfolio investments of the underlying investment vehicles. Shares of certain closed-end funds may at times be acquired only at market prices representing premiums to their net asset values. Shares acquired at a premium to their net asset value may be more likely to subsequently decline in price, resulting in a loss to the Fund and its shareholders. The underlying securities in an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) may not follow the price movements of the industry or sector the ETF is designed to track. Trading in an ETF may be halted if the trading in one or more of the ETF’s underlying securities is halted, which could result in the ETF being more volatile.

 

Lending Portfolio Securities

 

Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and financial institutions in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. These loans will be secured by collateral (consisting of cash, U.S. government securities, or irrevocable letters of credit) maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The Fund may, subject to certain notice requirements, at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned. The Fund will be entitled to payments equal to the interest and dividends on the loaned securities and may receive a premium for lending the securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term investments.

 

A loan may be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice or by the Trust on two business days’ notice. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within four days after receipt of notice, the Trust may use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost exceeding the collateral. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and, in some cases, even loss of rights in the collateral, should the borrower of the securities fail financially. In addition, securities lending involves a form of leverage, and the Fund may incur a loss if securities purchased with the collateral from securities loans decline in value or if the income earned does not cover the Fund’s transaction costs. However, loans of securities will be made only to companies the Board deems to be creditworthy (such creditworthiness will be monitored on an ongoing basis) and when the income that can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Fund. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

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When voting or consent rights that accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Trust will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the Adviser or sub-adviser believes the matters involved would have a material effect on the investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative, and custodial fees in connection with loans of securities. The Fund may lend foreign securities consistent with the foregoing requirements.

 

Loans to Issuers of Bonds in Portfolio

 

The Funds may make a loan to (as opposed to investing in a bond issued by) an entity whose bonds that Fund already owns in its portfolio in instances where the Adviser or sub-advisers believe that doing so will enhance the value of the Fund’s total investments (both bonds and loans) in obligations of that entity. Typically, such loans will be made to entities suffering severe economic distress, oftentimes in or near bankruptcy. Making a loan to such an entity may enable the entity to remain a “going concern” and enable the entity to both repay the loan as well as be better able to pay interest and principal on the pre-existing bonds, instead of forcing the Fund to liquidate the entity’s assets, which can reduce recovery value. It is generally much more time-consuming and expensive for a troubled entity to issue additional bonds, instead of borrowing, as a means of obtaining liquidity in times of severe financial need.

 

Master Limited Partnerships

 

The Equity Allocation Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund may invest in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”), which are publicly traded companies organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies and treated as partnerships for U.S. federal tax purposes. MLPs combine the tax advantages of a partnership with the liquidity of a publicly traded stock. MLP income is generally not subject to entity-level tax. Instead, an MLP’s income, gain, loss, deductions, and other tax items pass through to common unitholders. If tax were to be required to be paid by an MLP at the entity level, the value of the MLP interests held by a Fund would be expected to decrease.

 

MLPs are typically structured such that common units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to an established minimum amount (“MQD”). Common units and general partner interests also accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent that the MQD is not paid. Once common units and general partner interests have been paid, subordinated units receive distributions of up to the MQD. However, subordinated units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the MQD paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common and subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner operates the business in a manner that causes distributions paid per common unit surpassing specified target levels. As the general partner increases cash distributions to the limited partners, the general partner receives an increasingly higher percentage of the incremental cash distributions. A common arrangement provides that the general partner can reach a tier at which it receives 50% of every incremental dollar paid to common and subordinated unitholders. These incentive distributions encourage the general partner to streamline costs, increase capital expenditures, and acquire assets in order to increase the partnership’s cash flow and raise the quarterly cash distribution in order to reach higher tiers. Such results benefit all security holders of the MLP.

 

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Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

The Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, which represent direct or indirect participation in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property or instruments derived from such loans and may be based on different types of mortgages, including those on residential properties or commercial real estate. Mortgage-backed securities include various types of securities, such as government stripped mortgage-backed securities, adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities, and collateralized mortgage obligations.

 

Generally, mortgage-backed securities represent partial interests in pools of mortgage loans assembled for sale to investors by various governmental agencies, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA); by government-related organizations, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC); and by private issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, and mortgage bankers. The average maturity of pass-through pools of mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund may invest varies with the maturities of the underlying mortgage instruments. In addition, a pool’s average maturity may be shortened by unscheduled payments on the underlying mortgages. Factors affecting mortgage prepayments include the level of interest rates, the general economic and social conditions, the location of the mortgaged property, and the age of the mortgage. Because prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools vary widely, the average life of a particular pool cannot be predicted accurately.

 

Mortgage-backed securities may be classified as private, government, or government-related, depending on the issuer or guarantor. Private mortgage-backed securities represent interest in pass-through pools consisting principally of conventional residential or commercial mortgage loans created by nongovernment issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan associations, and private mortgage insurance companies. Private mortgage-backed securities may not be readily marketable. In addition, mortgage-backed securities have been subject to greater liquidity risk because of the deterioration of worldwide economic and liquidity conditions that became especially severe in 2008. U.S. government mortgage-backed securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. GNMA, the principal U.S. guarantor of these securities, is a wholly owned U.S. government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Government-related mortgage-backed securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Issuers include FNMA and FHLMC, which are congressionally chartered corporations. In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury placed FNMA and FHLMC under conservatorship and appointed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to manage their daily operations. In addition, the U.S. Treasury entered into purchase agreements with FNMA and FHLMC to provide them with capital in exchange for senior preferred stock. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA. Participation certificates representing interests in mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio are guaranteed as to the timely payment of interest and principal by FHLMC. Private, government, or government-related entities may create mortgage loan pools offering pass-through investments in addition to those described above. The mortgages underlying these securities may be alternative mortgage instruments (i.e., mortgage instruments whose principal or interest payments may vary or whose terms to maturity may be shorter than customary).

 

Mortgage-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. Prepayments of principal by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures shorten the term of the mortgage pool underlying the mortgage-backed security. The Fund’s ability to maintain positions in mortgage-backed securities is affected by the reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments. The Fund’s ability to reinvest prepayments of principal at comparable yield is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. The values of mortgage-backed securities vary with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of government securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. In periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgages supporting a mortgage-backed security. Conversely, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of such a pool. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, an investor, such as the Fund, generally has to reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at lower interest rates than those at which its assets were previously invested. Therefore, mortgage-backed securities have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other income-bearing securities of comparable maturity.

 

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Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

Adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities (ARMBSs) have interest rates that reset at periodic intervals. Acquiring ARMBSs permits the Fund to participate in increases in prevailing current interest rates through periodic adjustments in the coupons of mortgages underlying the pool on which ARMBSs are based. Such ARMBSs generally have higher current yield and lower price fluctuations than is the case with more traditional fixed income debt securities of comparable rating and maturity. However, because the interest rates on ARMBSs are reset only periodically, changes in market interest rates or in the issuer’s creditworthiness may affect their value. In addition, when prepayments of principal are made on the underlying mortgages during periods of rising interest rates, the Fund can reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at rates higher than those at which they were previously invested. Mortgages underlying most ARMBSs, however, have limits on the allowable annual or lifetime increases that can be made in the interest rate that the mortgagor pays. Therefore, if current interest rates rise above such limits over the period of the limitation, the Fund would not benefit from further increases in interest rates. Moreover, when interest rates are in excess of coupon rates (i.e., the rates being paid by mortgagors) of the mortgages, ARMBSs behave more like fixed income securities and less like adjustable rate securities and are thus subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates, increases in the coupon rate of adjustable rate mortgages generally lag current market interest rates slightly, thereby creating the potential for capital depreciation on such securities.

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) are mortgage-backed securities that are collateralized by whole loan mortgages or mortgage pass-through securities. The bonds issued in a CMO transaction are divided into groups, and each group of bonds is referred to as a “tranche.” Under the traditional CMO structure, the cash flows generated by the mortgages or mortgage pass-through securities in the collateral pool are used to first pay interest and then pay principal to the CMO bondholders. The bonds issued under a traditional CMO structure are retired sequentially as opposed to the pro-rata return of principal found in traditional pass-through obligations. Subject to the various provisions of individual CMO issues, the cash flow generated by the underlying collateral (to the extent it exceeds the amount required to pay the stated interest) is used to retire the bonds. Under a CMO structure, the repayment of principal among the different tranches is prioritized in accordance with the terms of the particular CMO issuance. The “fastest-pay” tranches of bonds, as specified in the prospectus for the issuance, would initially receive all principal payments. When those tranches of bonds are retired, the next tranche (or tranches) in the sequence, as specified in the prospectus, receives all of the principal payments until that tranche is retired. The sequential retirement of bond groups continues until the last tranche is retired. Accordingly, the CMO structure allows the issuer to use cash flows of long-maturity, monthly pay collateral to formulate securities with short, intermediate, and long final maturities and expected average lives and risk characteristics.

 

In recent years, new types of CMO tranches have evolved. These include floating rate CMOs, planned amortization classes, accrual bonds, and CMO residuals. These newer structures affect the amount and timing of principal and interest received by each tranche from the underlying collateral. Under certain of these new structures, given classes of CMOs have priority over others with respect to the receipt of prepayments on the mortgages. Therefore, depending on the type of CMOs in which the Fund invests, the investment may be subject to a greater or lesser risk of prepayment than other types of mortgage-backed securities.

 

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CMOs may include real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs). REMICs, which were authorized under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, are private entities formed for the purpose of holding a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in real property. A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the IRC and invests in certain mortgages principally secured by interests in real property. Investors may purchase beneficial interests in REMICs, which are known as “regular” interests, or “residual” interests. Guaranteed REMIC pass-through certificates (REMIC Certificates) issued by FNMA or FHLMC represent beneficial ownership interests in a REMIC trust consisting principally of mortgage loans or FNMA, FHLMC, or GNMA-guaranteed mortgage pass-through certificates. For FHLMC REMIC Certificates, FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and also guarantees the payment of principal, as payments are required to be made on the underlying mortgage participation certificates. FNMA REMIC Certificates are issued and guaranteed as to timely distribution of principal and interest by FNMA.

 

The primary risk of CMOs is the uncertainty of the timing of cash flows that results from the rate of prepayments on the underlying mortgages serving as collateral and from the structure of the particular CMO transaction (i.e., the priority of the individual tranches). An increase or decrease in prepayment rates (resulting from a decrease or increase in mortgage interest rates) will affect the yield, the average life, and the price of CMOs. The prices of certain CMOs, depending on their structure and the rate of prepayments, can be volatile. Some CMOs may also not be as liquid as other securities.

 

Hybrid ARMs

 

A hybrid adjustable rate mortgage (hybrid ARM) is a type of mortgage in which the interest rate is fixed for a specified period and then resets periodically, or floats, for the remaining mortgage term. Hybrid ARMs are usually referred to by their fixed and floating periods. For example, a 5/1 ARM refers to a mortgage with a 5-year fixed interest rate period, followed by a 1-year interest rate adjustment period. During the initial interest period (i.e., the initial five years for a 5/1 hybrid ARM), hybrid ARMs behave more like fixed income securities and are thus subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. All hybrid ARMs have reset dates. A reset date is the date when a hybrid ARM changes from a fixed interest rate to a floating interest rate. At the reset date, a hybrid ARM can adjust by a maximum specified amount based on a margin over an identified index. Like ARMBSs, hybrid ARMs have periodic and lifetime limitations on the increases that can be made to the interest rates that mortgagors pay. Therefore, if during a floating rate period interest rates rise above the interest rate limits of the hybrid ARM, a fund holding the hybrid ARM does not benefit from further increases in interest rates.

 

Mortgage Dollar Rolls

 

A mortgage dollar roll is a transaction in which the Fund sells a mortgage-backed security to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to purchase a similar security (but not the same security) in the future at a predetermined price. A mortgage-dollar-roll program may be structured to simulate an investment in mortgage-backed securities at a potentially lower cost, or with potentially reduced administrative burdens, than directly holding mortgage-backed securities. For accounting purposes, each transaction in a mortgage dollar roll is viewed as a separate purchase and sale of a mortgage-backed security. These transactions may increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. The Fund receives cash for a mortgage-backed security in the initial transaction and enters into an agreement that requires the fund to purchase a similar mortgage-backed security in the future.

 

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The counterparty with which the Fund enters into a mortgage-dollar-roll transaction is obligated to provide the fund with similar securities to purchase as those originally sold by the fund. These securities generally must (1) be issued by the same agency and be part of the same program; (2) have similar original stated maturities; (3) have identical net coupon rates; and (4) satisfy “good delivery” requirements, meaning that the aggregate principal amounts of the securities delivered and received back must be within a certain percentage of the initial amount delivered. Mortgage dollar rolls will be used only if consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies and will not be used to change the Fund’s risk profile.

 

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

Stripped mortgage-backed securities (SMBSs) are derivative multiclass mortgage-backed securities. SMBSs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks, and special purpose entities formed or sponsored by any of the foregoing.

 

SMBSs are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). The price and yield to maturity on an IO class are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities, even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories.

 

Although SMBSs are purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers, these securities were only recently developed. As a result, established trading markets have not yet developed, and accordingly, these securities may be deemed “illiquid” and thus subject to the Fund’s limitations on investment in illiquid securities.

 

To Be Announced (TBA) Securities

 

A TBA securities transaction, which is a type of forward-commitment transaction, represents an agreement to buy or sell mortgage-backed securities with agreed-upon characteristics for a fixed unit price, with settlement on a scheduled future date, typically within 30 calendar days of the trade date. With TBA transactions, the particular securities (i.e., specified mortgage pools) to be delivered or received are not identified at the trade date; however, securities delivered to a purchaser must meet specified criteria, including face value, coupon rate, and maturity, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The fund may sell TBA securities to hedge its portfolio positions or to dispose of mortgage-backed securities it owns under delayed-delivery arrangements. Proceeds of TBA securities sold are not received until the contractual settlement date. For TBA purchases, the fund will maintain sufficient liquid assets (e.g., cash or marketable securities) until settlement date in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. Unsettled TBA securities are valued by an independent pricing service based on the characteristics of the securities to be delivered or received.

 

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Municipal Bonds and Other Municipal Obligations

 

The Municipal Bond Fund invests principally in municipal bonds and other municipal obligations. The Equity Allocation Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund may invest in such securities. These bonds and other obligations are issued by the states and by their local and special-purpose political subdivisions. The term “municipal bond” includes short-term municipal notes issued by the states and their political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, tax anticipation notes (“TANs”), bond anticipation notes (“BANs”), revenue anticipation notes (“RANs”), construction loan notes, tax free commercial paper, and tax free participation certificates. In general, municipal obligations include debt obligations issued by states, cities, and local authorities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, hospitals, housing, mass transportation, schools, streets, and water and sewer works. Industrial development bonds and pollution control bonds that are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately-rated facilities are included within the term municipal obligations if the interest paid thereon is exempt from regular federal income tax.

 

Obligations of issuers of municipal obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. In addition, the obligations of such issuers may become subject to the laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the possibility that, as a result of legislation or other conditions, the power or ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its municipal obligations may be materially affected.

 

Municipal Bonds

 

The two general classifications of municipal bonds are general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the governmental issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest upon a default by the issuer of its principal and interest payment obligations. They are usually paid from general revenues of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds, on the other hand, are usually payable only out of a specific revenue source rather than from general revenues. Revenue bonds ordinarily are not backed by the faith, credit, or general taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. The principal and interest on revenue bonds for private facilities are typically paid out of rents or other specified payments made to the issuing governmental entity by a private company which uses or operates the facilities. Examples of these types of obligations are industrial revenue bond and pollution control revenue bonds. Industrial revenue bonds are issued by governmental entities to provide financing aid to community facilities such as hospitals, hotels, business or residential complexes, convention halls and sport complexes. Pollution control revenue bonds are issued to finance air, water and solids pollution control systems for privately operated industrial or commercial facilities.

 

Revenue bonds for private facilities usually do not represent a pledge of the credit, general revenues, or taxing powers of issuing governmental entity. Instead, the private company operating the facility is the sole source of payment of the obligation. Sometimes the funds for payment of revenue bonds come solely from revenue generated by operation of the facility. Federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on industrial revenue bonds, and particularly certain specified private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986. In the future, legislation could be introduced in Congress that could further restrict or eliminate the regular federal income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations in which the Fund may invest.

 

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Refunded Bonds

 

The Fund may invest in refunded bonds. Refunded bonds may have originally been issued as general obligation or revenue bonds, but become refunded when they are secured by an escrow fund, usually consisting entirely of direct U.S. government obligations and/or U.S. government agency obligations sufficient for paying the bondholders. There are two types of refunded bonds -- pre-refunded bonds and escrowed-to-maturity (“ETM”) bonds. The escrow fund for a pre-refunded municipal bond may be structured so that the refunded bonds are to be called at the first possible date or a subsequent call date established in the original bond debenture. The call price usually includes a premium from 1% to 3% above par. This type of structure usually is used for those refundings that either reduce the issuer’s interest payment expenses or change the debt maturity schedule. In escrow funds for ETM refunded municipal bonds, the maturity schedules of the securities in the escrow funds match the regular debt-service requirements on the bonds as originally stated in the bond indentures.

 

Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation

 

The Fund also may purchase municipal lease obligations, primarily through certificates of participation. Certificates of participation in municipal leases are undivided interests in a lease, installment purchase contract or conditional sale contract entered into by a state or local governmental unit to acquire equipment or facilities. Municipal leases frequently have special risks which generally are not associated with general obligation bonds or revenue bonds.

 

Municipal leases and installment purchase or conditional sales contracts (which usually provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer upon payment of all amounts due under the contract) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of municipal debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases and contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for this purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. Although these kinds of obligations are secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the pledged property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might, in some cases, prove difficult and time-consuming. In addition, disposition upon non-appropriation or foreclosure might not result in recovery by the Fund of the full principal amount represented by an obligation.

 

In light of these concerns, the Adviser or sub-advisers determine whether any municipal lease obligations purchased by the Fund are liquid and monitors the liquidity of municipal lease securities held in the Fund’s portfolio. A number of factors be used in evaluating the liquidity of a municipal lease security, including the frequency of trades and quotes for the security, the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers, the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in security, the nature of the marketplace in which the security trades, and other factors that may be deemed relevant.

 

Derivative Municipal Securities

 

The Fund may acquire derivative municipal securities, which are custodial receipts of certificates underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments, or both on certain municipal securities. The underwriter of these certificates or receipts typically purchases municipal securities and deposits them in an irrevocable trust or custodial account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the obligation.

 

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The principal and interest payments on the municipal securities underlying custodial receipts may be allocated in a number of ways. For example, payments may be allocated such that certain custodial receipts may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be stripped securities which pay only the principal or interest due on the underlying municipal securities. The Fund may invest in custodial receipts which have inverse floating interest rates and other inverse floating rate municipal obligations, as described below under “Inverse Floating Rate Municipal Obligations.”

 

Inverse Floating Rate Municipal Securities

 

The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate municipal securities or “inverse floaters,” whose rates vary inversely to interest rates on a specified short-term municipal bond index or on another instrument. Such securities involve special risks as compared to conventional fixed-rate bonds. Should short-term interest rates rise, the Fund’s investment in inverse floaters likely would adversely affect the Fund’s earnings and distributions to shareholders. Also, because changes in the interest rate on the other index or other instrument inversely affect the rate of interest received on an inverse floater, and because inverse floaters essentially represent a leveraged investment in a long-term bond, the value of an inverse floater is generally more volatile than that of a conventional fixed-rate bond having similar credit quality, redemption provisions and maturity. Although volatile in value, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields substantially exceeding the yields available on conventional fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. The markets for inverse floating rate securities may be less developed and have less liquidity than the markets for conventional securities. The Fund will only invest in inverse floating rate securities whose underlying bonds are rated A or higher.

 

Non-Investment Grade Debt Securities (Junk Bonds)

 

The Municipal Bond Fund and Taxable Bond Fund will generally invest in non-investment grade debt securities, which include medium- to low-quality obligations. The Equity Allocation Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund may invest in such securities. Debt securities rated below investment grade (BB/Ba or lower) are commonly known as “high-yield,” “high risk” or “junk” bonds. Junk bonds, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The special risk considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed below. Refer to Appendix A for a discussion of securities ratings.

 

( 1) Effect of Interest Rates and Economic Changes . All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. In addition, the market values of junk bond securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do the market values of higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Junk bond securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risk than securities in the higher rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of junk bond securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of these securities is significantly greater than by an issuer of higher rated securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a junk bond security defaults, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of these and thus in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”).

 

The value of a junk bond security will generally decrease in a rising interest rate market and, accordingly, so will the Fund’s NAV. If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the limited liquidity of junk bond securities, the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund’s asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.

 

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(2) Payment Expectations . Junk bond securities typically contain redemption, call, or prepayment provisions that permit the issuer of securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may have to replace the securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return for the Fund.

 

(3) Credit Ratings . Credit ratings are issued by credit rating agencies and are indicative of the rated securities’ safety of principal and interest payments. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of junk bond securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of such an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. Investments in junk bonds will depend more upon credit analysis by the sub-advisers than investments in investment grade debt securities. The sub-advisers employ their own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of the issuer’s existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debts and pay dividends, sensitivity to economic conditions, operating history, and current earnings trend. The sub-advisers continually monitor the Fund’s investments and carefully evaluate whether to dispose of or to retain junk bond securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.

 

(4) Liquidity and Valuation . The Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain junk bond securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Not all dealers maintain markets in all junk bond securities. As a result, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its securities. Market quotations are generally available on many junk bond issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of junk bond securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

The Municipal Bond Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in defaulted municipal obligations. Municipal obligations in the lowest rating categories may be in default and are generally regarded as having poor prospects of attaining any real investment standing. A default or expected default in a municipal obligation owned by the Fund could result in a significant decline in the value of that municipal obligation.

 

Payment-In-Kind Debentures and Delayed Interest Securities

 

The Funds may invest in debentures the interest on which may be paid in other securities rather than cash (“PIKs”) or may be delayed (“delayed interest securities”). Typically, during a specified term prior to the debenture’s maturity, the issuer of a PIK may provide for the option or the obligation to make interest payments in debentures, common stock or other instruments ( i.e. , in kind rather than in cash). The type of instrument in which interest may or will be paid would be known by the Fund at the time of investment. While PIKs generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause the Fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”).

 

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Unlike PIKs, delayed interest securities do not pay interest for a specified period. Because values of securities of this type are subject to greater fluctuations than are the values of securities that distribute income regularly, they may be more speculative than such securities.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts

 

The Equity Allocation Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and REIT-like entities, which are pooled investment vehicles that manage a portfolio of real estate or real estate-related loans to earn profits for their shareholders. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs, or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Investing in REITs and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to the risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, and mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the borrower on any credit extended. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent on management skills, may not be diversified geographically or by property type, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, and self-liquidation. U.S. REITs must also meet certain requirements under the Code, to avoid entity-level tax and be eligible to pass through certain tax attributes of their income to shareholders. U.S. REITs are consequently subject to the risk of failing to meet these requirements for favorable tax treatment and of failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. REITs are also subject to the risks of changes in the Code that could affect their tax status.

 

REITs and REIT-like entities (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable-rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, and as a result, the value of such investments will fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed-rate obligations.

 

The management of a REIT and REIT-like entities may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to the operation of the business of the REIT and may be involved in real estate activities competitive with the REIT. REITs may own properties through joint ventures or in other circumstances in which a REIT may not have control over its investments. REITs may use significant amounts of leverage.

 

REITs often do not provide complete tax information until after the end of the calendar year. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund, if invested in REITs, to request permission to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV beyond January 31. Alternatively, amended Forms 1099-DIV may be sent.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements involving the types of securities eligible for purchase by the Funds. However, there is no limitation on the maturity of the securities underlying the repurchase agreements. The Funds may use repurchase agreements in lieu of purchasing money market instruments.

 

Repurchase agreements, which may be viewed as a type of secured lending by the Fund, typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of U.S. government securities or other securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association, or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell back to the institution, and that the institution will repurchase, the underlying security (“collateral”) at a specified price and at a fixed time in the future, usually not more than seven days from the date of purchase. The Fund will receive interest from the institution until the time the repurchase is to occur . Although such date is deemed to be the maturity date of a repurchase agreement, the maturities of securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and may exceed one year.

 

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Repurchase agreements involve certain risks not associated with direct investments in debt securities. If the seller under a repurchase agreement becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to dispose of the securities may be restricted, or the value of the securities may decline before the Fund is able to dispose of them. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the securities before the repurchase of the securities under a repurchase agreement is accomplished, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs, including a decline in the value of the securities, before being able to sell the securities. If the seller defaults, the value of such securities may decline before the Fund is able to dispose of them. If the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement that is subject to foreign law and the other party defaults, the Fund may not enjoy protections comparable to those provided to certain repurchase agreements under U.S. bankruptcy law and may suffer delays and losses in disposing of the collateral as a result.

 

The Fund has adopted procedures designed to minimize the risks of loss from repurchase agreement transactions. These procedures include a requirement that the Adviser effect repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized U.S. financial institutions that the Adviser and/or sub-advisers approve as creditworthy based on periodic review under guidelines established and monitored by the Board. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement, which the Trust’s custodian will hold on behalf of the Fund, will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at an agreed-upon price and time. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained by the fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the fund that it is obligated to repurchase. In addition to the risk of such a loss, fees charged to the fund may exceed the return the fund earns from investing the proceeds received from the reverse repurchase agreement transaction. A reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a borrowing transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act. A reverse repurchase agreement transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by the Fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.” The Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the Adviser. If the buyer in a reverse repurchase agreement becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, the Fund’s use of proceeds from the sale may be restricted while the other party or its trustee or receiver determines if it will honor the fund’s right to repurchase the securities. If the Fund is unable to recover the securities it sold in a reverse repurchase agreement, it would realize a loss equal to the difference between the value of the securities and the payment it received for them.

 

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Restricted and Illiquid Securities

 

The liquidity of an investment will be determined based on relevant market, trading and investment specific considerations as set out in the Trust's liquidity risk management program (“Liquidity Program”). Illiquid investments may trade at a discount to comparable, more liquid investments and a Fund may not be able to dispose of illiquid investments in a timely fashion or at their expected prices. Illiquid investments are investments that cannot be sold or disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which they are valued. The SEC generally limits aggregate holdings of illiquid investments by a mutual fund to 15% of its net assets (5% for money market funds). If illiquid investments exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets, the Liquidity Program requires that certain remedial actions be taken. The Fund may experience difficulty valuing and selling illiquid investments and, in some cases, may be unable to value or sell certain illiquid investments for an indefinite period of time. Illiquid investments may include a wide variety of investments, such as (1) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days (unless the agreements have demand/redemption features), (2) OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), (3) fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), (4) certain loan interests and other direct debt instruments, (5) certain municipal lease obligations, (6) private equity investments, (7) commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, and (8) securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid investments include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security held by the Fund, it may be treated as a liquid security in accordance with the Liquidity Program. This generally includes securities that are unregistered, that can be sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or that are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act, such as commercial paper. Several factors are considered when making and monitoring liquidity determinations including the valuation of a security; the availability of qualified institutional buyers, brokers, and dealers that trade in the security; and the availability of information about the security’s issuer.

 

Short-Term Investments

 

The Funds will invest only in taxable short-term investments that are either (i) U.S. government securities, (ii) rated within the highest grade by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, or Fitch and mature within one year from the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest, or (iii) taxable money market funds. See Appendix A for more information about ratings by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch.

 

The Funds may invest in the following short-term investments, the income derived from which is generally exempt from regular federal income tax:

 

Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) -- BANs are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers, which are sold to obtain interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer’s access to the long-term municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.

 

Tax Anticipation Notes (TANs) -- TANs are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments. Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer’s capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in delinquencies, could adversely affect the issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.

 

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Revenue Anticipation Notes (RANs) -- RANs are issued by governments or governmental bodies with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.

 

Construction Loan Notes -- Construction loan notes are issued to provide construction financing for specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from the Federal Housing Administration.

 

Bank Notes -- Bank notes are issued by local government bodies and agencies as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied, but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working capital or capital-project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.

 

Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper (Municipal Paper) -- Municipal paper represents very short-term unsecured, negotiable promissory notes issued by states and municipalities and their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper may be made from various sources to the extent the funds are available therefrom. Maturities of municipal paper generally will be shorter than the maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues of municipal paper.

 

Certain municipal obligations may carry variable or floating rates of interest whereby the rate of interest is not fixed, but varies with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or a tax-exempt money market index.

 

While these various types of notes as a group represent the major portion of the tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are occasionally available in the marketplace and the Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the extent permitted under its investment objective, policies, and limitations. Such notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from those mentioned above.

 

Municipal Money Market Funds -- Municipal money market funds are money market funds that pay interest income exempt from regular federal and, in some cases, state and local income taxes. The Fund will bear its proportionate share of the money market fund’s fees and expenses.

 

The Funds may also invest in the following short-term investments, the income derived from which is generally taxable:

 

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) -- A certificate of deposit is a negotiable interest bearing instrument with a specific maturity. CDs are issued by banks in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. The Fund will only invest in U.S. dollar denominated CDs issued by U.S. banks with assets of $1 billion or more.

 

Commercial Paper -- Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations. Maturities on these issues vary from a few days to nine months. Commercial paper may be purchased from U.S. corporations.

 

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Taxable Money Market Funds -- These funds pay interest income that is taxable on the federal and state levels. The Fund will bear its proportionate share of the money market fund’s fees and expenses.

 

U.S. Government Direct Obligations -- These obligations are issued by the U.S. Treasury and are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. They include bills, notes, and bonds. Treasury bills are issued with maturities of up to one year. They are issued in bearer form, are sold on a discount basis and are payable at par value at maturity. Treasury notes are longer-term interest bearing obligations with original maturities of one to seven years. Treasury bonds are longer-term interest-bearing obligations with original maturities from five to thirty years.

 

U.S. Government Agencies Securities -- Certain federal agencies have been established as instrumentalities of the U.S. Government to supervise and finance certain types of activities. These agencies include, but are not limited to, the Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Land Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Tennessee Valley Authority. Issues of these agencies, while not direct obligations of the U.S. Government, are either backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or are guaranteed by the Treasury or supported by the issuing agencies’ right to borrow from the Treasury. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government itself will pay interest and principal on securities as to which it is not legally so obligated.

 

The Municipal Bond Fund reserves the right for liquidity or defensive purposes (such as thinness in the market for municipal securities or an expected substantial decline in value of long-term obligations), to invest temporarily up to 20% of its assets in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities. Interest on each instrument is taxable for federal income tax purposes and would reduce the amount of tax-free interest payable to shareholders.

 

Other Corporate Obligations -- The Fund may purchase notes, bonds, and debentures issued by corporations if at the time of purchase there is less than one year remaining until maturity or if they carry a variable or floating rate of interest.

 

Special Corporate Situation Investments

 

A Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in securities of companies that may be involved in special corporate situations, the occurrence of which would favorably affect the values of the companies’ equity securities. Such situations could include, among other developments, a change in management or management policies; the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by an investor or investor group; a merger, a reorganization, or the sale of a division; the spinoff of a subsidiary, division, or other substantial assets; or a third-party or issuer tender offer. The primary risk of this type of investing is that if the contemplated event does not occur or if a proposed transaction is abandoned, revised, or delayed or becomes subject to unanticipated uncertainties, the market price of the securities may decline below the purchase price the Fund paid.

 

In general, securities that are the subject of a special corporate situation sell at a premium to their market prices immediately following the announcement of the situation. However, the increased market price of these securities may nonetheless represent a discount from what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. These investments may be advantageous when the following occur: (1) the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; (2) the discount significantly undervalues the securities, assets, or cash to be received by shareholders of the prospective portfolio company as a result of the contemplated transactions; or (3) the discount fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of these contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of the Adviser, which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses as well as the assets or securities to be received as a result of the contemplated transaction, but also the financial resources and business motivation of the offeror, as well as the dynamics of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in progress.

 

30  

 

The Fund’s special corporate situation investments may tend to increase its portfolio turnover ratio and thereby increase brokerage commissions and other transaction expenses. However, the Adviser attempts to select investments of the type described that, in its view, also have a reasonable prospect of significant capital appreciation over the long term.

 

Standby Commitments

 

The Funds may obtain standby commitments when it purchases municipal obligations. A standby commitment gives the holder the right to sell the underlying security to the seller at an agreed-upon price on certain dates or within a specified period. The Fund will acquire standby commitments solely to facilitate portfolio liquidity and not with a view to exercising them at a time when the exercise price may exceed the current value of the underlying securities. If the exercise price of a standby commitment held by the Fund should exceed the current value of the underlying securities, the Fund may refrain from exercising the standby commitment in order to avoid causing the issuer of the standby commitment to sustain a loss and thereby jeopardizing the Fund’s business relationship with the issuer. The Fund will enter into standby commitments only with banks and securities dealers that, in the opinion of a sub-adviser, present minimal credit risks. However, if a securities dealer or bank is unable to meet its obligation to repurchase the security when the Fund exercises a standby commitment, the Fund might be unable to recover all or a portion of any loss sustained from having to sell the security elsewhere. Standby commitments will be valued at zero in determining the Fund’s NAV.

 

Structured Notes

 

The Funds may invest in structured notes, including “total rate of return swaps” with rates of return determined by reference to the total rate of return on one or more loans references in such notes. The rate of return on a structured note may be determined by applying a multiplier to the rate of total return on the referenced loan or loans. Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use of leverage that magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss because a relatively small decline in the value of a referenced note could result in a relatively large loss in the value of the structured note .

 

Temporary Investments

 

During periods of adverse market or economic conditions, the Funds may temporarily invest all or a substantial portion of their assets in cash equivalents, high-quality fixed-income securities and money market instruments, and shares of money market mutual funds, or the Funds may hold cash. At such times, the Funds would not be pursuing their stated investment objective with their usual investment strategies. The Funds may also hold these investments for liquidity purposes. Fixed-income securities will be deemed to be of high quality if they are rated “A” or better by S&P or Moody’s or, if unrated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Money market instruments are high-quality, short-term fixed-income obligations (which generally have remaining maturities of one year or less) and may include U.S. government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and banker’s acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and repurchase agreements for U.S. government securities. In lieu of purchasing money market instruments, the Funds may purchase shares of money market mutual funds, subject to certain limitations imposed by the 1940 Act. Each Fund, as an investor in a money market fund, will indirectly bear that fund’s fees and expenses, which will be in addition to the fees and expenses of the Fund.

 

31  

 

U.S. Government and Agency Bonds

 

U.S. government and agency bonds represent loans by investors to the U.S. Treasury or a wide variety of government agencies and instrumentalities. Securities issued by most U.S. government entities are neither guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury nor backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. These entities include, among others, the Federal Home Loan Bank, FNMA, and FHLMC. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury and a small number of U.S. government agencies, such as GNMA, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The market values of U.S. government and agency securities and U.S. Treasury securities are subject to fluctuation.

 

Variable, Floating, and Fixed Rate Debt Obligations

 

The debt obligations in which a Fund may invest may have variable, floating, or fixed interest rates. Variable rate securities provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. Floating rate securities are generally offered at an initial interest rate which is at or above prevailing market rates. The interest rate paid on floating rate securities is then reset periodically (commonly every 90 days) to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. Commonly utilized indices include the three- month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a bank, the commercial paper rates, or the longer- term rates on U.S. Treasury securities. Variable and floating rate securities are relatively long-term instruments that often carry demand features permitting the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to maturity plus accrued interest. In order to most effectively use these securities, the sub-advisers must correctly assess probable movements in interest rates. If such movements are incorrectly forecasted, the Fund could be adversely affected by use of variable and floating rate securities.

 

Fixed rate securities pay a fixed rate of interest and tend to exhibit more price volatility during times of rising or falling interest rates than securities with variable or floating rates of interest. The value of fixed rate securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. The value of variable or floating rate securities, on the other hand, fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed rate securities. This is because variable and floating rate securities behave like short-term instruments in that the rate of interest they pay is subject to periodic adjustments according to a specified formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. Fixed rate securities with short-term characteristics are not subject to the same price volatility as fixed rate securities without such characteristics. Therefore, they behave more like variable or floating rate securities with respect to price volatility.

 

When, As and If Issued Securities

 

The Funds may purchase securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis under which the issuance of the security depends upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval of a merger, corporate reorganization, leveraged buyout or debt restructuring. The commitment for the purchase of any such security will not be recognized in the portfolio of the Fund until it is determined that issuance of the security is probable. The Fund may purchase securities on such basis without limit. The purchase of securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis may create investment leverage and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. The Fund may also sell securities on a “when, as and if issued” basis provided that the issuance of the security will result automatically from the exchange or conversion of a security owned by the Fund at the time of the sale.

 

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When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions

 

The Funds may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When such a transaction is negotiated, the purchase price is fixed at the time the purchase commitment is entered, but delivery of and payment for the securities take place at a later date. The Fund will not accrue income with respect to securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis prior to their stated delivery date.

 

The purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis exposes the Fund to risk because the securities may decrease in value prior to delivery. In addition, the Fund’s purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis while remaining substantially fully invested could increase the amount of the Fund’s total assets that are subject to market risk, resulting in increased sensitivity of NAV to changes in market prices. A seller’s failure to deliver securities to the Fund could prevent the Fund from realizing a price or yield considered to be advantageous.

 

When the Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities in an amount sufficient to meet the Fund’s purchase commitments. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash. In addition, because the Fund will set aside cash or liquid securities to satisfy its purchase commitments, its liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage it might be affected in the event its commitments to purchase when-issued or delayed delivery securities ever became significant. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase municipal obligations on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Fund reserves the right to sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

 

The Fund also may buy when-issued and delayed-delivery securities that settle more than 60 days after purchase. These transactions are called “forwards.” Municipal forwards pay higher interest after settlement than standard bonds, to compensate the buyer for bearing market risk and deferring income during the settlement period, and can often be bought at attractive prices and yields. If the Fund knows that a portfolio bond will, or is likely to, be called or mature on a specific future date, the Fund may buy forwards settling on or about that date to replace the called or maturing bond and “lock in” a currently attractive interest rate.

 

Yankee Dollar Obligations, Eurobonds, Global Bonds

 

Certain debt securities may take the forms of Yankee dollar obligations, Eurobonds or global bonds. Yankee dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by foreign issuers, such as corporations and banks. A Eurobond is a bond issued in a currency other than the currency of the country or market in which it is issued. Global bonds are bonds that can be offered within multiple markets simultaneously. Unlike Eurobonds, global bonds can be issued in the local currency of the country of issuance.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds

 

The Funds may invest in zero coupon and step coupon securities. Zero coupon securities pay no cash income to their holders until they mature. When held to maturity, their entire return comes from the difference between their purchase price and their maturity value. Step coupon securities are debt securities that may not pay interest for a specified period of time and then, after the initial period, may pay interest at a series of different rates. Both zero coupon and step coupon securities are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. Because interest on these securities is not paid on a current basis, the values of securities of this type are subject to greater fluctuations than are the value of securities that distribute income regularly and may be more speculative than such securities. Accordingly, the values of these securities may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such securities generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause the Fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by the Code.

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

Each Fund has adopted various restrictions on its investment activities, certain of which are fundamental policies and cannot be changed without approval by the holders of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting shares, as defined by the 1940 Act. Such a majority means the affirmative vote of the lesser of the holders of (1) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting of shareholders, if the holders of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Under its fundamental policies, each Fund may not:

 

With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer or purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except that these limitations do not apply to investments in U.S. government securities and securities of other investment companies.

 

Invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in the securities of issuers engaged in any single industry or group of industries, provided that this does not apply to U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, municipal obligations issued by governments or political subdivisions of governments, or securities of other investment companies.

 

Purchase or sell commodities, except (i) to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended, interpreted from time to time and (ii) that the Fund may purchase and sell securities issued by companies that own or invest in commodities or commodities contracts, commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts, and swaps.

 

Purchase or sell real estate or interests therein, or purchase oil, gas, or other mineral leases, rights or royalty contracts or development programs, other than as may be acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, except that the Fund may invest in the securities of issuers engaged in the foregoing activities and may invest in securities secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

Issue senior securities as defined by the 1940 Act or borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Underwrite the securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities.

 

Make loans of money or securities, except that the Fund may lend money through the purchase of permitted investments, including repurchase agreements, and may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.

 

34  

 

Under its fundamental policies, the Municipal Bond Fund may not:

 

Under normal market conditions, invest less than 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that pay income that is exempt from regular federal personal income tax.

 

Certain Funds have adopted the following additional investment restrictions, which are not fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

Under these restrictions, Equity Allocation Fund may not:

 

Pursuant to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, change its investment policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities without providing 60 days prior notice to shareholders.

 

Under these restrictions, Taxable Bond Fund may not:

 

Pursuant to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, change its investment policy of investing, under normal market conditions, through underlying funds and separately managed accounts, at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds and other fixed income securities without providing 60 days prior notice to shareholders.

 

Except with respect to borrowing, all percentage limitations on each Fund’s investment practices set forth in this SAI and in the Prospectus apply at the time of an investment or a transaction, and a subsequent change in percentage resulting from a change in value of the investment or the total value of the Fund’s assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction.

 

With respect to borrowing, the 1940 Act permits a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging, or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets). If at any time, a fund’s borrowings exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the fund’s total assets, the fund will reduce its borrowings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities, such as certain borrowings, short sales, certain derivative instruments (such as forward and futures contracts and swap agreements), reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements, and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

With respect to concentration, U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities, municipal obligations issued by governments or political subdivisions of governments, and securities of other investment companies are not considered industries. To the extent, however, that the income from a municipal bond is derived from a specific project, the securities will be deemed to be from the industry of that project. Each Fund will endeavor to consider the concentration of the underlying funds in which it may invest when determining compliance with its concentration policy.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

Board Responsibilities

 

The Board has the overall responsibility for monitoring the operations of the Trust and the Funds. The officers of the Trust are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Trust and the Funds. The Board has approved contracts under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust. The Board has the responsibility for supervising the services provided by those companies.

 

35  

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, sub-advisers, principal underwriter, administrator, and transfer agent. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks – that is, events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance, or reputation of the Fund. The Funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify those possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence, and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (for example, the Adviser and sub-advisers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board and the Adviser have emphasized to the Funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the Funds, at which time certain of the Funds’ service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies, and risks of the Funds, as well as proposed investment limitations for the Funds. Additionally, the Funds’ Adviser and sub-advisers provide the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Adviser, sub-advisers, and other service providers, such as the Funds’ independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board oversees efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and the sub-advisers and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis after the initial two-year term, the Board considers whether to renew the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and the Board meets with the Adviser and sub-advisers to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s and sub-advisers’ adherence to the Funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various policies and procedures of the Funds and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the Funds’ investments, including, for example, portfolio holdings schedules and reports on the use of specific types of securities in managing the Funds.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of certain service providers. The report addresses (i) the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report, (ii) any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report, (iii) any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures, and (iv) any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the Funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Trust’s Valuation Committee reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available, if any. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Board’s Audit Committee its audit of the Funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

36  

 

From its review of these reports and discussions with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, Adviser, sub-advisers, independent registered public accounting firm, and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Funds’ Adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, available resources, or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members and Structure of the Board

 

There are three members of the Board, two of whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”). Robert Wagman serves as Chairman of the Board. The Board does not have a lead independent trustee at this time. The Board has one standing committee, the Audit Committee, which is responsible for advising the Board with respect to accounting, auditing, and financial matters affecting the Trust. The Audit Committee is chaired by an Independent Trustee and composed entirely of Independent Trustees. In addition, the Board oversees the Trust’s Valuation Committee, whose actions are reported to the Board at least quarterly and more frequently, if appropriate.

 

The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust including, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees constitute 67% of the Board, the anticipated amount of assets under management in the Trust, the number of funds and share classes overseen by the Board, the Trust’s policies and procedures as well as those of its service providers, and the experience and qualifications of its members. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from management.

 

Set forth below are the names, ages, positions with the Trust, length of term of office, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee of the Trust, as well as information about each officer of the Trust. The business address of each Trustee and officer is 11100 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

 

37  

 

Independent Trustees
Name and Age Position(s) Held
With the Trust

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupations
During Past Five Years

Number

of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex

Overseen

by Trustee

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

During Past

Five Years

Michael D. LeRoy

Age 71

Trustee Indefinite; since 2012 Principal, Crown Capital Advisors LLC (2000-present) 4 Member Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board, The Rockport Company, LLC (2017-present)

Robert D. Taylor

Age 57

Trustee Indefinite; since 2012 Partner, Centinela Capital Partners, LLC (2006-present) 4 None
Interested Trustee
Name and Age

Position(s) Held

With the Trust

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupations
During Past Five Years

Number

of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex

Overseen

by Trustee

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

During Past

Five Years

Robert M. Wagman*

Age 67

Trustee/Chairman Indefinite; since 2013 Retired (2015-present); Managing Director of Investment Management Services, Aspiriant, LLC (2013-2015) 4 None

 

* Mr. Wagman is considered an interested person because he has had a material business or professional relationship with the Adviser within the past two years.

 

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Officers
Name and Age

Position(s) Held

With the Trust

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupations During Past Five Years

Robert J. Francais

Age 53

President Indefinite; since 2013

Chief Executive Officer, Aspiriant, LLC (2010-present), Chief Operating Officer, Aspiriant, LLC (2008-2009)

John D. Allen

Age 48

Vice President Indefinite; since 2014 Chief Investment Officer, Aspiriant, LLC (2014-present); Client Relationship Manager, Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo (2009-2014)

Michael H. Kossman

Age 54

Vice President Indefinite; since 2012 Chief Operating Officer (2012 -present), Chief Compliance Officer (2008-present), Chief Financial Officer (2008-2012), Aspiriant, LLC

Douglas S. Hendrickson

Age 49

Treasurer Indefinite; since 2016 Chief Financial Officer, Aspiriant, LLC (2016-present); Acting Chief Financial Officer, Cetera Financial Group (2016-2016); Group Chief Financial Officer, Investor Services Division, Charles Schwab (2013-2015); Head of Corporate Planning, Profitability Analysis and Management Reporting, Charles Schwab (2011-2013)

Benjamin D. Schmidt

Age 42

Assistant Treasurer; Secretary;

Chief Compliance Officer; Anti-Money Laundering Officer

Indefinite; since 2015 Director, Aspiriant, LLC (2015-present); AVP Fund Administration, UMB Fund Services, Inc. (2000-2015)

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of his ability to review and understand information about the Trust provided by management, to identify and request other information deemed relevant to the performance of duties as a trustee, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Trust’s shareholders. The Board has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on his own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. LeRoy should serve as Trustee because of his background in business and accounting, his knowledge of the mutual fund industry, and his experience as a trustee of other investment companies.

 

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The Board has concluded that Mr. Taylor should serve as Trustee because of his extensive business and investment industry experience, legal background, and financial accounting expertise.

 

The Board has concluded that Mr. Wagman should serve as Trustee because of his background in business and accounting and his knowledge of the investment management industry.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Trust.

 

Ownership of Fund Shares

 

The following table shows the dollar range of each Trustee’s beneficial ownership of shares of the Funds as of December 31, 2018:

 

Name Fund Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares in all

Registered Investment Companies

Overseen by Trustee in Family of

Investment Companies

Michael D. LeRoy Equity Allocation Fund NONE NONE
Municipal Bond Fund NONE NONE
Defensive Allocation Fund NONE NONE
Taxable Bond Fund NONE NONE
Robert D. Taylor Equity Allocation Fund NONE NONE
Municipal Bond Fund NONE NONE
Defensive Allocation Fund NONE NONE
Taxable Bond Fund NONE NONE
Robert Wagman Equity Allocation Fund OVER $100,000 OVER $100,000
Municipal Bond Fund OVER $100,000 OVER $100,000
Defensive Allocation Fund OVER $100,000 OVER $100,000
Taxable Bond Fund NONE NONE

 

As of May 31, 2019, the Trustees and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the shares of any class of a Fund.

 

Compensation

 

Effective July 1, 2018, each Trustee is paid an annual $50,000 retainer, as well as $2,000 for (i) each telephonic meeting of the Trust’s Board that he or she attends and (ii) any other telephonic communication for which the Independent Trustees approve such payment. From April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018, the annual retainer was $45,000. From August 3, 2016 to March 31, 2018, the annual retainer was $40,000. The Chair of the Audit Committee is paid an additional $7,500 per year. The following table shows the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee for the Trust’s fiscal year ended February 28, 2019:

 

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Name

Aggregate

Compensation

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits Accrued

as Part of Fund

Expenses

Estimated

Annual Benefits

Upon Retirement

Total

Compensation

from Trust and

Fund Complex*

Michael D. LeRoy $56,250 -- -- $56,250
Robert D. Taylor $48,750 -- -- $48,750
Robert M. Wagman $48,750 -- -- $48,750

 

* The Trust is the only registered investment company in the “Fund Complex”.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Trust, Adviser, sub-advisers, and principal underwriter have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which governs personal securities trading by their respective personnel. Each Code of Ethics permits such individuals to purchase and sell securities, including securities that are purchased, sold, or held by the Funds, but only subject to certain conditions designed to ensure that purchases and sales by such individuals do not adversely affect the Funds’ investment activities.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

The Adviser is owned by its key employees and has 67 equity partners. The Adviser provides investment advisory services to the Funds pursuant to the terms of an investment advisory agreement between the Adviser and the Trust. The agreement has an initial two-year term and may be continued in effect from year to year thereafter with the approval of (1) the Board or (2) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined by the 1940 Act), provided that in either event the continuance must also be approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. For the services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. The Adviser is responsible for paying the sub-advisers for their services to a Fund.

 

Equity Allocation Fund . For the fiscal years ended February 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Adviser was entitled to advisory fees in the amount of $2,612,965, $2,203,063, and $1,900,276, respectively, for the advisory services it provided to the Fund. Beginning February 1, 2017, however, the Adviser contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.24% to 0.16% through June 30, 2020. Therefore, f or the fiscal years ended February 2019, 2018 and 2017, t he Adviser waived $870,748, $733,985 and $45,408, respectively, of the accrued advisory fees from the Fund. Th is fee waiver arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

Effective August 5, 2016, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From July 1, 2016 through August 4, 2016, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee computed at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From November 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee computed at an annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From August 1, 2015 through October 31, 2015, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee computed at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From May 1, 2015 through July 31, 2015, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee computed at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From December 15, 2014 through April 30, 2015, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From the commencement of operations through December 14, 2014, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.34% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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Municipal Bond Fund. For the fiscal years ended February 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Adviser was entitled to advisory fees in the amount of $3,542,263, $2,950,926, and $2,406,803, respectively, for the advisory services it provided to the Fund. Effective July 1, 2018, the Adviser contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.27% to 0.21% through June 30, 2020. From February 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018, the Adviser contractually waived its advisory fee from 0.27% to 0.24%. Therefore, f or the fiscal years ended February 2019, 2018 and 2017, t he Adviser waived $659,980, $327,651 and $22,045, respectively, of the accrued advisory fees from the Fund. Th is fee waiver arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

Effective August 5, 2016, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.27% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From July 1, 2016 through August 4, 2016, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From November 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. From the commencement of operations through October 31, 2015, the Adviser was entitled to an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.42% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

Defensive Allocation Fund. For the fiscal year ended February 2019, 2018, and 2017, the Defensive Allocation Fund paid advisory fees to the Adviser in the amount of $1,209,022, $878,443, and $343,746, respectively. For the services it provides pursuant to the advisory agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

Taxable Bond Fund. For the fiscal year ended February 2019, the Adviser was entitled to advisory fees in the amount of $289,847 for the advisory services it provided to the Fund. T he Adviser, however, has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee from 0.25% to 0.08% through June 30, 2020. Therefore, for the fiscal year ended February 2019, the Adviser waived $197,095 of the accrued advisory fees from the Fund. Th is fee waiver arrangement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

Pursuant to an administrative services agreement with the Trust, the Adviser is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.10% of each Fund’s average daily net assets for providing administrative services to the Funds. Such services include the review of shareholder reports and other filings with the SEC; oversight and management of the Fund’s primary service providers; periodic due diligence reviews of the Funds’ primary service providers; coordination and negotiation of all of the contracts and pricing relating to the Fund’s primary service providers; providing information to the Independent Trustees relating to the review and selection of the Funds’ primary service providers; coordination of quarterly and special board meetings; and all such other duties or services necessary for the appropriate administration of the Funds. For the administrative services it provided during fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Adviser was entitled to $1,088,648, $1,311,954, $1,209,022 and $115,952, from the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund, respectively. The Adviser voluntarily waived $687,078, $960,770, $1,088,094 and $81,171 of the accrued administrative services fees during fiscal year ended February 28, 2019 by the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund, respectively. For the administrative services it provided during fiscal year ended February 28, 2018, the Adviser was entitled to $918,222, $1,092,949 and $878,443, from the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund, respectively. The Adviser voluntarily waived $771,903, $840,752 and $743,230 of the accrued administrative services fees during fiscal year ended February 28, 2018 by the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund, respectively. For the administrative services it provided during fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, the Adviser was entitled to $584,491, $810,607 and $344,270, from the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund, respectively. The Adviser voluntarily waived $409,442, $567,791 and $241,143 of the accrued administrative services fees during fiscal year ended February 28, 2017 by the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund and Defensive Allocation Fund, respectively.

 

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Pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC and subject to certain conditions, including Board approval, the Adviser may hire an unaffiliated sub-adviser for a Fund or materially amend a sub-advisory agreement with a Fund’s unaffiliated sub-adviser without obtaining shareholder approval. Within 90 days of retaining a new sub-adviser or materially amending a sub-advisory agreement, shareholders of the Fund will receive notification of the change. This manager of managers arrangement enables a Fund to operate with greater efficiency and without incurring the expense and delay associated with obtaining shareholder approval of sub-advisory agreements. The arrangement does not permit aggregate investment advisory fees paid by the Fund to be increased or change the Adviser’s obligations under the advisory agreement with the Trust without shareholder approval. The Adviser has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board, to oversee the sub-advisers and recommend their hiring, termination, and replacement.

 

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISERS

 

Each sub-adviser provides investment sub-advisory services to the Fund pursuant to the terms of an investment sub-advisory agreement between the Adviser and the respective sub-adviser. Each agreement has an initial two-year term and may be continued in effect from year to year thereafter with the approval of (1) the Board or (2) vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined by the 1940 Act), provided that in either event the continuance must also be approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Each agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.

 

Acadian is a subsidiary of BrightSphere Affiliate Holdings LLC (f/k/a OMAM Affiliate Holdings LLC), which is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of BrightSphere Investment Group plc (“BSIG”), a publicly listed company on the NYSE. For the services provided pursuant to its sub-advisory agreement, Acadian is entitled to a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets allocated to the Equity Allocation Fund’s strategy that Acadian manages.

 

Aperio Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Golden Gate Capital Opportunity Fund, L.P. and Golden Gate Capital Opportunity Fund-A, L.P. (together with certain other investment funds formed to invest alongside such private funds, “GGCOF”), owns a majority of Aperio’s outstanding equity interests. Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser, serves as investment manager with respect to GGCOF. For the services provided pursuant to its sub-advisory agreement, Aperio is entitled to a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets allocated to the Equity Allocation Fund’s strategy that Aperio manages.

 

Nuveen is a subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. For the services provided pursuant to its sub-advisory agreement, Nuveen is entitled to a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the Municipal Bond Fund that Nuveen manages.

 

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WellsCap is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Asset Management Holdings, LLC and is indirectly wholly owned by Wells Fargo & Company, a publicly listed company. WellsCap provides sub-advisory services to the Municipal Bond Fund. For the services provided pursuant to its sub-advisory agreement, WellsCap is entitled to a fee at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of the Municipal Bond Fund that WellsCap manages.

 

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Adviser paid, in the aggregate, $804,314 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Equity Allocation Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.07% based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2018, the Adviser paid, in the aggregate, $794,752 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Equity Allocation Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.09% based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, the Adviser paid, in the aggregate, $665,723 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Equity Allocation Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.11% based on average daily net assets.

 

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Adviser paid $2,047,037 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Municipal Bond Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.16% based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2018, the Adviser paid, in the aggregate, $1,947,467 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Municipal Bond Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.18% based on average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, the Adviser paid, in the aggregate, $1,623,287 to the sub-advisers for the services they provided to the Municipal Bond Fund, which represents an annual rate of 0.20% based on average daily net assets.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Other Accounts Managed

 

The following tables provides information about other accounts managed by the Funds’ portfolio managers as of February 28, 2019.

 

 

ASPIRIANT

Total Accounts

Accounts With

Performance-Based Fees

Portfolio Manager Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Number

Assets

(in Millions)

John Allen        
Registered Investment Companies - - - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 2 $287 - -
Other Accounts - - - -
Marc Castellani        
Registered Investment Companies - - - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 2 $287 - -
Other Accounts - - - -
David Grecsek        
Registered Investment Companies - - - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 2 $287 - -
Other Accounts - - - -

 

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ACADIAN*

Total Accounts

Accounts With

Performance-Based Fees

Portfolio Manager Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Brendan O. Bradley        
Registered Investment Companies 14 $6,638 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 96 $29,056 16 $3,043
Other Accounts 198 $59,247 24 $8,114
Ryan D. Taliaferro        
Registered Investment Companies 14 $6,638 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 96 $29,056 16 $3,043
Other Accounts 198 $59,247 24 $8,114
Mark J. Birmingham        
Registered Investment Companies 14 $6,638 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 96 $29,056 16 $3,043
Other Accounts 198 $59,247 24 $8,114
Dan M. Le        
Registered Investment Companies 14 $6,638 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 96 $29,056 16 $3,043
Other Accounts 198 $59,247 24 $8,114

 

* For all core equity products offered by the firm, including the subject strategy, Acadian manages a single process that is custom-tailored to the objectives of its clients. The investment professionals shown above function as part of a core equity team of 28 portfolio managers, all of whom are responsible for working with the dedicated research team to develop and apply quantitative techniques to evaluate securities and markets and for final quality-control review of portfolios to ensure mandate compliance. The data shown for these managers reflect firm-level numbers of accounts and assets under management, segregated by investment vehicle type. Not reflected: $941M in model advisory contracts where Acadian does not have trading authority.

 

Acadian has been appointed as adviser or sub-adviser to numerous public and private funds domiciled in the U.S. and abroad. Acadian is not an investment company and does not directly offer mutual funds. The asset data shown under “Registered Investment Companies” reflects Advisory and sub-advisory relationships with U.S. registered investment companies offering funds to retail investors. The asset data shown under “Other Pooled Investment Vehicles” reflects a combination of; 1) Delaware-based private funds where Acadian has been appointed adviser or sub-adviser and 2) Non-U.S.-based funds where Acadian has been appointed adviser or sub-adviser.

 

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APERIO

Total Accounts

Accounts With

Performance-Based Fees

Portfolio Manager Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Ran Leshem        
Registered Investment Companies 5 $692 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 7 $1,646 - $-
Other Accounts 5,126 $25,181 - $-
Robert Tymoczko        
Registered Investment Companies 5 $692 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 7 $1,646 - $-
Other Accounts 5,126 $25,181 - $-
Brian Ko        
Registered Investment Companies 5 $692 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 7 $1,646 - $-
Other Accounts 5,126 $25,181 - $-

 

 

NUVEEN

Total Accounts

Accounts With

Performance-Based Fees

Portfolio Manager Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Number

Assets

(in Millions)

John V. Miller        
Registered Investment Companies 9 $30,736 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 8 $231 - $-
Other Accounts 13 $66 - $-
Paul L. Brennan        
Registered Investment Companies 10 $19,668 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 1 $44 - $-
Other Accounts 3 $52 - $-
Douglas M. Baker        
Registered Investment Companies 8 $7,054 - $-
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 2 $65 - $-
Other Accounts 527 $552 - $-

 

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WELLSCAP

Total Accounts

Accounts With

Performance-Based Fees

Portfolio Manager Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Number

Assets

(in Millions)

Robert Miller        
Registered Investment Companies 9 $12,184 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles - - - -
Other Accounts 7 $461 - -
Wendy Casetta        
Registered Investment Companies 7 $10,868 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles - - - -
Other Accounts 9 $1,766 - -
Terry J. Goode        
Registered Investment Companies 4 $1,759 - -
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles - - - -
Other Accounts 1 $345 - -

 

Portfolio Manager Compensation

 

Aspiriant. John Allen, Marc Castellani and David Grecsek are compensated with base compensation, bonus (a percentage of base compensation), and a share purchase incentive (bonus based on percentage of profit of the Adviser divided by shareholders per capita).

 

Acadian. Compensation structure varies among professionals, although the basic package involves a generous base salary, strong bonus potential, profit sharing participation, various benefits, and, among the majority of senior investment professionals and certain other key employees, equity interest in the firm as part of the Acadian Key Employee Limited Partnership.

 

Compensation is highly incentive-driven, with Acadian often paying in excess of 100% of base pay for performance bonuses. Bonuses are tied directly to the individual’s contribution and performance during the year, with members of the investment team evaluated on such factors as their contributions to the investment process, account retention, asset growth, and overall firm performance. Since portfolio management in Acadian equity strategies is a team approach, investment team members’ compensation is not linked to the performance of specific accounts but rather to the individual’s overall contribution to the success of the team and the firm’s profitability. This helps to ensure an “even playing field” as investment team members are strongly incentivized to strive for the best possible portfolio performance for all clients rather than only for select accounts.

 

Aperio. Aperio seeks to provide a competitive base salary plus bonus system of compensation for all employees. Bonus awards are highly dependent on overall firm profitability and individual contribution, and are awarded annually. In addition, the firm provides additional long-term compensation for key staff members. As an index firm, compensation is not linked to portfolio performance. Portfolio managers also receive health insurance, vision and retirement plan benefits (i.e., 401(k) plan matching) in the same manner as all other salaried employees.

 

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Nuveen. Portfolio manager compensation consists primarily of base pay, an annual cash bonus, and long-term incentive payments.

 

Base pay . Base pay is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio manager’s general performance, experience, and market levels of base pay for such position.

 

Annual cash bonus . The portfolio managers are eligible for an annual cash bonus based on investment performance, qualitative evaluation, and financial performance of Nuveen. A portion of each portfolio manager’s annual cash bonus is based on the Fund’s pre-tax investment performance, generally measured over the past one- and three- or five-year periods unless the portfolio manager’s tenure is shorter. Investment performance for the Fund generally is determined by evaluating the Fund’s performance relative to its benchmark(s) and/or Lipper industry peer group. A portion of the cash bonus is based on a qualitative evaluation made by each portfolio manager’s supervisor taking into consideration a number of factors, including the portfolio manager’s team collaboration, expense management, support of personnel responsible for asset growth, and his or her compliance with Nuveen’s policies and procedures. The final factor influencing a portfolio manager’s cash bonus is the financial performance of Nuveen based on its operating earnings.

 

Long-term incentive compensation . Certain key employees of Nuveen, including certain portfolio managers, have received profits interests in Nuveen that entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.

 

WellsCap. The compensation structure for WellsCap’s portfolio managers includes a competitive fixed base salary plus variable incentives, payable annually and over a longer term period. WellsCap participates in third party investment management compensation surveys for market-based compensation information to help support individual pay decisions. In addition to surveys, WellsCap also considers prior professional experience, tenure, seniority and a portfolio manager's team size, scope and assets under management when determining his/her fixed base salary. In addition, portfolio managers, who meet the eligibility requirements, may participate in Wells Fargo's 401(k) plan that features a limited matching contribution. Eligibility for and participation in this plan is on the same basis for all employees .

 

WellsCap's investment incentive program plays an important role in aligning the interests of our portfolio managers, investment team members, clients and shareholders. Incentive awards for portfolio managers are determined based on a review of relative investment and business/team performance. Investment performance is generally evaluated for 1, 3, and 5- year performance results, with a predominant weighting on the 3- and 5- year time periods, versus the relevant benchmarks and/or peer groups consistent with the investment style. In the case of each Fund, the benchmark(s) against which the performance of the Fund's portfolio may be compared for these purposes generally are indicated in the "Average Annual Total Returns" table in the Prospectus. Once determined, incentives are awarded to portfolio managers annually, with a portion awarded as annual cash and a portion awarded as long-term incentive. The long-term portion of incentives generally carry a pro-rated vesting schedule over a three-year period. For many of our portfolio managers, WellsCap further requires a portion of their annual long-term award be allocated directly into each strategy they manage through a deferred compensation vehicle. In addition, our investment team members who are eligible for long term awards also have the opportunity to invest up to 100% of their awards into investment strategies they support (through a deferred compensation vehicle).

 

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Material Conflicts of Interest

 

Aspiriant. While the compensation of portfolio managers is not tied to the performance of a Fund, the portfolio managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund’s 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 Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the 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 the portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. 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. The Adviser’s trade allocation policy is to aggregate client transactions, including the Fund’s, where possible when it is believed that such aggregation may facilitate the Adviser’s duty of best execution. Client accounts for which orders are aggregated receive the average price of such transaction. Any transaction costs incurred in the transaction are shared pro rata based on each client’s participation in the transaction. The Adviser generally allocates securities among client accounts according to each account’s pre-determined participation in the transaction. The Adviser’s policy prohibits any allocation of trades that would favor any proprietary accounts, affiliated accounts, or any particular client(s) or group of clients more over any other account(s). The Adviser prohibits late trading, frequent trading and/or market timing in the Funds and monitors trades daily to ensure this policy is not violated.

 

Acadian. A conflict of interest may arise as a result of a portfolio manager being responsible for multiple accounts, including Equity Allocation Fund, which may have different investment guidelines and objectives. In addition to the Fund, these accounts may include other mutual funds managed on an advisory or sub-advisory basis, separate accounts and collective trust accounts. An investment opportunity may be suitable for the Fund as well as for any of the other managed accounts. However, the investment may not be available in sufficient quantity for all of the accounts to participate fully. In addition, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by the Fund and the other accounts. The other accounts may have similar investment objectives or strategies to the Fund, may track the same benchmarks or indexes that the Fund tracks and may sell securities that are eligible to be held, sold or purchased by the Fund. A portfolio manager may be responsible for accounts that have different advisory fee schedules, which may create the incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another in terms of access to investment opportunities. A portfolio manager may also manage accounts whose investment objectives and policies differ from those of the Fund, which may cause the portfolio manager to effect trading in one account that may have an adverse effect on the value of the holdings within another account, including the Fund.

 

To address and manage these potential conflicts of interest, Acadian has adopted compliance policies and procedures to allocate investment opportunities and to ensure that each of its clients is treated on a fair and equitable basis. Such policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, trade allocation and trade aggregation policies, portfolio manager assignment practices and oversight by investment management and the compliance team.

 

Aperio. Aperio manages accounts for many different clients and has a fiduciary duty to place its clients’ interests ahead of its own under all circumstances, and to not favor one client over another. In order to balance any competing interests that may exist, the procedures for managing accounts are required to be applied consistently across all accounts. Specifically, Aperio manages each account separately, transacts only in liquid securities, and does not participate in initial public offerings. In addition, Aperio does not receive incentive-based fees on any account.

 

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The prioritizing of when accounts are traded is determined by the requirements of each account, including, for example, the need to manage cash flows into and out of an account, reinvest cash from income and corporate actions, tax considerations, changes in account composition due to screening, and opportunities for improvement in tracking error relative to the benchmark consistent with account objectives and guidelines. While the timing of when an account is rebalanced may affect the price at which securities are traded in a particular account, the order of rebalancing is determined by the prioritization described above and not by any market timing considerations.

 

Aperio also monitors the securities transactions of each company employee in order to evaluate potential conflicts of interest with clients in connection with an employee’s personal trading activities.

 

Nuveen. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.

 

The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.

 

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.

 

With respect to many of its clients’ accounts, Nuveen determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.

 

Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Nuveen has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Nuveen has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

 

WellsCap. WellsCap portfolio managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, WellsCap has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.

 

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Ownership of Fund Shares

 

The following table shows the dollar range of each portfolio manager’s beneficial ownership of shares of the Funds as of February 28, 2019:

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned
Equity Allocation Fund Municipal Bond
Fund
Defensive
Allocation Fund
Taxable Bond
Fund
John Allen $100,001-$500,000 $50,001-$100,000 $100,001-$500,000 $10,001-$50,000
Marc Castellani $10,001-$50,000 NONE $10,001-$50,000 NONE
David Grecsek $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 $10,001-$50,000 NONE
Brendan O. Bradley NONE NONE NONE NONE
Ryan D. Taliaferro NONE NONE NONE NONE
Mark J. Birmingham NONE NONE NONE NONE
Dan M. Le NONE NONE NONE NONE
Ran Leshem NONE NONE NONE NONE
Robert Tymoczko NONE NONE NONE NONE
Brian Ko NONE NONE NONE NONE
John V. Miller NONE NONE NONE NONE
Paul L. Brennan NONE NONE NONE NONE
Douglas M. Baker NONE NONE NONE NONE
Robert Miller NONE NONE NONE NONE
Wendy Casetta NONE NONE NONE NONE
Terry J. Goode NONE NONE NONE NONE

 

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Principal Underwriter

 

UMB Distribution Services, LLC, located at 235 West Galena St., Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as the Trust’s principal underwriter. Shares of the Funds are distributed on a continuous basis at their current NAV per share, without imposition of any front-end or contingent deferred sales charge, by the principal underwriter.

 

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Transfer Agent

 

UMB Fund Services, Inc., located at 235 West Galena St., Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as the Trust’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders of the Trust may contact the transfer agent with any questions regarding their transactions in shares of the Trust and account balances.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP, located at 555 East Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, is the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust and is responsible for conducting the annual audit of the financial statements of the Trust. The selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is approved annually by the Board.

 

Custodian and Fund Accounting Agent

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), located at Seaport Center, 70 Fargo Street, Boston, MA 02210-1950, serves as custodian of the Trust’s assets and is responsible for maintaining custody of the Funds’ cash and investments and retaining subcustodians, including in connection with the custody of foreign securities. Cash held by the custodian, the amount of which may at times be substantial, is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to the amount of available insurance coverage limits. JPMorgan also serves as the Trust’s fund accounting agent and provides various accounting services necessary for the operations of the Trust including the maintenance of the fund’s general ledger and the determination of NAV.

 

Administrator

 

UMB Fund Services, Inc., located at 235 West Galena St., Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as the Trust’s administrator and provides various administrative and accounting services necessary for the operations of the Trust including supervising the maintenance of the fund’s general ledger, the preparation of the fund’s financial statements, the payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders; and preparing specified financial, tax, and other reports. The Trust pays the administrator an annual fee based on the Funds’ average net assets. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, the Equity Allocation Fund, Municipal Bond Fund, Defensive Allocation Fund, and Taxable Bond Fund paid the administrator $291,657, $351,661, $323,884, and $31,163, respectively.

 

Securities Lending

 

The Equity Allocation Fund participates in a securities lending program, providing for the lending of equity securities to qualified brokers, in exchange for the opportunity to earn additional income for participation. The Fund pays a portion of the net revenue earned on securities lending activities to its securities lending agent, JPMorgan.

 

Under the securities lending program, the Equity Allocation Fund receives collateral in return for the securities and records a corresponding payable for collateral due to the respective broker. Collateral received consists of either cash or securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or common stock listed on certain indices. The amount of collateral received is maintained at a minimum level of 102% of the prior day’s market value of the securities loaned, plus any accrued interest. Cash collateral is reinvested in short-term securities, including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, master notes, floating rate corporate notes and money market funds.

 

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The dollar amounts of income and fees/compensation related to securities lending activities of the Equity Allocation Fund for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019 were as follows:

 

Gross Income (including collateral reinvestment)

Revenue

Split

Cash collateral

management

services fees

Administrative

and

Indemnification

fees

Rebates

to borrowers

Other fees

Aggregate

Fees

Net income

from securities

lending

activities

$1,220,425 $119,287 $- $- $822,741 $- $942,028 $278,397

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004, serves as counsel to the Trust.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

NAV is determined as of the regularly scheduled close of normal trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) each day the NYSE is open, except that no computation need be made on a day on which no orders to purchase or redeem shares have been received. The NYSE currently observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday (Friday before Easter), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day, Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas Day.

 

NAV per share is computed by dividing the value of a Fund’s net assets ( i.e., the value of its assets less its liabilities) by the total number of the Fund’s shares outstanding. In computing NAV, securities are valued at market value as of the close of trading on each business day when the NYSE is open. Securities, other than stock options, listed on the NYSE or other exchanges are valued on the basis of the last reported sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded. However, if the last sale price on the NYSE is different from the last sale price on any other exchange, the NYSE price will be used. If there are no sales on that day, then the securities are valued at the bid price on the NYSE or other primary exchange for that day. Securities traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market are valued on the basis of the last sales price as reported by NASDAQ ® . If there are no sales on that day, then the securities are valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices as reported by NASDAQ ® . Stock options and stock index options traded on national securities exchanges or on NASDAQ ® are valued at the mean between the latest bid and asked prices for such options. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available and other assets are valued at fair value as determined pursuant to procedures adopted in good faith by the Board. A pricing service may be used to determine the fair value of securities held by the Fund. Any such service might value the investments based on methods that include consideration of yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type; indications as to values from dealers; and general market conditions. The service may also employ electronic data-processing techniques, a matrix system, or both to determine valuation. The Board will review and monitor the methods such services use to assure itself that securities are valued at their fair values.

 

The values of securities held by the Fund and other assets used in computing NAV are determined as of the time at which trading in such securities is completed each day. That time, in the case of foreign securities, generally occurs at various times before the close of the NYSE. Trading in securities listed on foreign securities exchanges will be valued at the last sale or, if no sales are reported, at the bid price as of the close of the exchange, subject to possible adjustment as described in the Prospectus. Foreign currency exchange rates are also generally determined before the close of the NYSE. On occasion, the values of such securities and exchange rates may be affected by events occurring between the time as of which determinations of such values or exchange rates are made and the close of the NYSE. When such events materially affect the value of securities held by the Fund or its liabilities, such securities and liabilities will be valued at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted in good faith by the Board. The values of any assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted to U.S. dollars based on exchange rates supplied by a quotation service.

 

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PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

 

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings information (the “Disclosure Policy”). The Disclosure Policy applies to the Trust and the Adviser, sub-advisers, and other service providers involved in the administration, operation, or custody of the Fund (collectively, the “Service Providers”). Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, non-public information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to its Service Providers only if such disclosure is consistent with the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the fiduciary duties owed by the Fund and the Adviser and sub-advisers to the Fund’s shareholders.

 

The Trust discloses its portfolio holdings in regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-Q, and such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as may be required by law. The Trust may in the future post its portfolio holdings on a monthly basis to a website. The Adviser, along with the Trust’s administrator, is responsible for disclosure of portfolio holdings to Service Providers (which may also include auditing services, proxy voting and other services, such as disclosure to a rating or ranking organization). To ensure that the disclosure of the Trust’s portfolio holdings is in the best interests of shareholders, and to avoid any potential or actual conflicts of interest with Service Providers, the disclosure of the Trust’s portfolio holdings for a legitimate business purpose will be approved by the Board in advance of the disclosure, other than with respect to disclosure to existing Service Providers in connection with their provision of services to the Trust. In the event that the Trust or a Service Provider discloses the Trust’s portfolio holdings to a selected third-party for a legitimate business purpose prior to the release of the Trust’s portfolio holdings to the public, such third party shall be required to execute a confidentiality agreement that, among other things, prohibits trading on such information.

 

The Funds and their Service Providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser, a sub-adviser, or any affiliated person of the Adviser or sub-adviser) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Funds. The Funds’ Disclosure Policy is implemented and overseen by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust, subject to the oversight of the Board. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Board. Portfolio holdings information will be deemed public when it has been posted to the Funds’ public website or in periodic regulatory filings on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).

 

All portfolio holdings information that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally is considered non-public portfolio holdings information for the purposes of the Disclosure Policy. Pursuant to the Disclosure Policy, the Fund or its Service Providers may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information to certain third parties who fall within pre-authorized categories on a daily basis, with no lag time unless otherwise specified below. These third parties include: (i) the Fund’s Service Providers and others who need access to such information in the performance of their contractual or other duties and responsibilities to the Fund (e.g., custodians, accountants, the Adviser, sub-advisers, administrators, attorneys, officers and Trustees) and who are subject to duties of confidentiality imposed by law or contract; (ii) brokers who execute trades for the Fund; (iii) evaluation service providers; and (iv) shareholders requesting in-kind redemptions.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the tax section in the Funds’ Prospectus. In addition, the following is only a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations that generally affect the Funds and their shareholders. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) made significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules for taxation of individuals and corporations, generally effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017. Many of the changes applicable to individuals are temporary and only apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026. There are only minor changes with respect to the specific rules applicable to regulated investment companies (“RICs”), such as the Funds. The Tax Act, however, made numerous other changes to the tax rules that may affect shareholders and the Funds. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding how the Tax Act affects your investment in the Funds.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company.

 

Each Fund is treated as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. If so qualified, each Fund will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on that part of its net investment income and net capital gains (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) that it timely distributes to its shareholders.

 

Certain federal income and excise taxes would be imposed on a Fund if it fails to make certain required distributions of its income to shareholders. The Funds intend, however, to make distributions in a manner that will avoid the imposition of any such taxes. If, however, for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC, such Fund would be subject to federal corporate income tax on its taxable income. To qualify for such tax treatment, a Fund, among other things, must generally (a) make distributions to shareholders each year in a timely manner at least equal to the sum of (1) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” as defined in the Code (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and (2) 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, (b) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments received with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (generally, publicly traded partnerships other than those where at least 90% of their gross income is gross income that would otherwise be qualifying gross income for a RIC) (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (c) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

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If a Fund qualifies as a RIC and meets the distribution requirement described above, but chooses to retain some portion of its taxable income or gains, it generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (which the Tax Act reduced to 21%) on the amount retained. A Fund may designate certain amounts retained as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount so designated, (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities, and (iii) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in their respective income over their respective income tax credits. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, such Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (which the Tax Act reduced to 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund is permitted to carry forward indefinitely a net capital loss to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.

 

If a Fund has a net capital loss for a taxable year, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

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Notwithstanding the distribution requirement described above, which generally only requires the Funds to distribute at least the sum of 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gain over short- and long-term capital loss) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions in a timely manner to avoid liability for the federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that all such tax will be completely eliminated. The Funds may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate portfolio investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal income or excise tax liability when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Funds to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Federal Income Tax Treatment of Dividends and Distributions.

 

Shareholders subject to federal income taxation will generally have to pay any applicable federal income taxes on the dividends and capital gains distributions they receive from a Fund, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions may also be subject to applicable state and local taxes. Dividends derived from net investment income or net realized short-term capital gains generally will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes, although under certain circumstances dividends may be treated as qualified dividend income, as described below. Distributions by the Funds of their net capital gains that are reported as capital gain dividends by the Funds will be taxable to individual shareholders as long-term capital gains, currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long shareholders have held their shares of the Fund. Distributions paid in January, but declared by a Fund in October, November or December of the previous year may be taxable to you in the previous year. In addition, certain distributions made after the close of a taxable year of a Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a RIC’s undistributed income and gain subject to the 4% excise tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the RIC when they are actually paid.

 

Depending on the composition of a Fund’s income, the entire amount or a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income may be reported as “qualified dividend income,” which is taxable to individual shareholders at long-term capital gains rates, provided that certain holding-period requirements are met. In general, dividend income of the Fund distributed to shareholders may be reported as qualified dividend income to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of qualified dividend income. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income. In general, qualified dividend income includes dividends paid by U.S. corporations and certain foreign corporations. However, the lower tax rate will apply only if the individual shareholder holds shares in the Fund, and the Fund holds shares in the dividend-paying corporation, at least 61 days during a prescribed period. The prescribed period is the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the shareholder or the Fund, as the case may be, becomes entitled to receive the dividend. In determining the holding period for this purpose, any period during which the recipient’s risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales, or similar transactions is not counted. In addition, an individual shareholder would not benefit to the extent that he or she is obligated ( e.g., pursuant to a short sale or securities lending arrangement) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Distributions that the Funds receive from an ETF or an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such ETF, underlying fund or REIT. A Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

 

57  

 

Depending on the composition of a Fund’s income, the entire amount or a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income may qualify for the dividends-received deduction allowable to qualifying U.S. corporate shareholders (the “dividends-received deduction”). In general, dividend income of a Fund distributed to qualifying corporate shareholders will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction only to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. However, a corporate shareholder’s dividends-received deduction will be disallowed unless it holds shares in the Fund, and the Fund holds shares in the dividend-paying corporation, at least 46 days during the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the date on which the shareholder or the Fund, as the case may be, becomes entitled to receive the dividend. Certain preferred stock must have a holding period of at least 91 days during the 181-day period beginning on the date that is 90 days before the date on which the stock becomes ex-dividend as to that dividend in order to be eligible. In determining the holding period for this purpose, any period during which the recipient’s risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales, or similar transactions is not counted. In addition, a corporate shareholder would not benefit to the extent that it is obligated ( e.g., pursuant to a short sale) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Furthermore, the dividends-received deduction will be disallowed to the extent that a corporate shareholder’s investment in shares of the Fund, or the Fund’s investment in the shares of the dividend-paying corporation, is financed with indebtedness. A Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

Distributions in excess of a Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits are treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) your tax basis in the shares, and any such amount in excess of that basis will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of shares. A taxable shareholder may wish to avoid investing in a Fund shortly before a distribution, because the distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of the shareholder’s investment.

 

Each year, shareholders of the Fund will be sent information on dividends and capital gains distributions for tax purposes, including information as to the portion eligible for treatment as ordinary income, the portion taxable as long-term capital gains, the amount of dividends that are reported as qualified dividend income, and the amount of dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction available for corporations.

 

Municipal Bond Fund.

 

The Code permits tax-exempt interest received by the Municipal Bond Fund to flow through as tax-exempt “exempt-interest dividends” to the Fund's shareholders, provided that the Fund qualifies as a RIC and at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets at the close of each quarter of its taxable year consists of tax-exempt obligations, i.e., obligations that pay interest excluded from gross income under Section 103(a) of the Code. Provided that the Municipal Bond Fund satisfies the aforementioned tests, the part of the Municipal Bond Fund's net investment income which is attributable to interest from tax-exempt obligations and which is distributed to shareholders will be reported by the Fund as an “exempt-interest dividend” under the Code. Exempt-interest dividends are excluded from a shareholder's gross income under the Code but are nevertheless required to be reported on the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax return. That portion of the Municipal Bond Fund's dividends and distributions not reported as exempt-interest dividends will be taxable as described below. Since the Municipal Bond Fund invests primarily in sources that do not pay dividends, it is not expected that the distributions paid by the Municipal Bond Fund will qualify for either the dividends-received deduction for corporations or any favorable U.S. federal income tax rate available to non-corporate shareholders on “qualified dividend income”.

 

58  

 

Exempt-interest dividends derived from interest on certain “private activity bonds” will generally be items of tax preference, which increase alternative minimum taxable income for taxpayers that are subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax. Bonds issued in 2009 or 2010 generally will not be treated as private activity bonds and interest earned on such bonds generally will not be treated as a tax preference item. Under the Tax Act, interest paid on a municipal bond issued after December 31, 2017 to advance or refund another municipal bond is subject to federal income tax.

 

Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the Municipal Bond Fund will not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent it is deemed under the Code and applicable regulations to relate to exempt-interest dividends received from the Municipal Bond Fund. The Municipal Bond Fund may not be an appropriate investment for persons who are “substantial users” of facilities financed by industrial revenue or private activity bonds or persons related to substantial users. Shareholders receiving social security or certain railroad retirement benefits may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving exempt-interest dividends paid by the Municipal Bond Fund.

 

The Municipal Bond Fund may invest a portion of its portfolio in taxable obligations and may engage in transactions generating gain or income that is not tax-exempt, e.g., the Municipal Bond Fund may purchase and sell non-municipal securities, sell or lend portfolio securities, enter into repurchase agreements, dispose of rights to when-issued securities prior to issuance, acquire debt obligations at a market discount, acquire certain stripped tax-exempt obligations or enter into options and futures transactions. The Municipal Bond Fund's distributions of such gain or income will not be “exempt-interest dividends” and accordingly will be taxable.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions.

 

A sale, exchange, or redemption of the shares of a Fund will generally result in the recognition of any gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. In general, if Fund shares are sold, exchanged, or redeemed, the shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the shareholder’s adjusted basis in the shares. Such gain or loss generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Any loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund held for six months or less will be treated for U.S. federal tax purposes as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amount of capital gains distributions the shareholder receives with respect to such shares (including any amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gains). In addition, any loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares of the Municipal Bond Fund held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any amount of exempt-interest dividends the shareholder receives with respect to such shares. For purposes of determining whether shares in the Fund have been held for six months or less, a shareholder’s holding period is suspended for any periods during which the shareholder’s risk of loss is diminished as a result of holding one or more other positions in substantially similar or related property, or through certain options or short sales.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on their “net investment income”, including interest, dividends and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund). “Net investment income” does not include distributions of exempt-interest.

 

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The Funds (or their administrative agents) are generally required to report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis and holding period information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after that date. For each sale of its shares, each Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including average cost. In the absence of an election, each Fund will use the FIFO (first in, first out) method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of a Fund’s shares. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules apply to them. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities.

 

The Funds may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex rules. These rules could affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether income, gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund’s ability to recognize losses. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund.

 

Under Section 1256 of the Code, any gain or loss realized by the Funds from certain foreign currency forward contracts and options transactions will be treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Gain or loss will arise upon exercise or lapse of such contracts and options, as well as from closing transactions. In addition, any such contracts or options remaining unexercised at the end of a Fund’s taxable year will be treated as sold for their then-fair market value and thus result in additional gain or loss to the Fund (without the concurrent receipt of cash) characterized in the manner described above. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax on the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund.

 

Offsetting positions the Funds hold with respect to certain property may constitute “straddles.” “Straddles” are defined to include “offsetting positions” in actively traded personal property. The tax treatment of “straddles” is governed by Sections 1092 of the Code, which, in certain circumstances, overrides or modifies the provisions of Sections 1256 and 988 of the Code. All or a portion of any short- or long-term capital gain from certain “straddle” transactions may be recharacterized as ordinary income. Losses on straddles may be deferred.

 

If a Fund were treated as entering into “straddles” by reason of engaging in certain forward contracts or options transactions, such “straddles” would be characterized as “mixed straddles” if the forward contracts or options transactions comprising a part of such “straddles” were governed by Section 1256 of the Code. A Fund may make one or more elections with respect to “mixed straddles.” Depending on which election is made, if any, the results to the Fund may differ. If no election is made, to the extent the “straddle” and conversion transaction rules apply to positions established by the Fund, losses realized by the Fund will be deferred to the extent of unrealized gain in the offsetting position. Moreover, as a result of the “straddle” and conversion transaction rules, short-term capital loss on “straddle” positions may be recharacterized as long-term capital loss, long-term capital gains from such positions may be treated as short-term capital gains, and any capital gains from such positions may be treated as ordinary income.

 

In the event of short sales of an appreciated financial position, which sales constitute constructive sales under Section 1259 of the Code, a Fund must recognize a gain as if the position were sold, assigned, or otherwise terminated at its market value as of the date of the short sale and immediately repurchased. Appropriate adjustments would be made in the amount of any gain or loss subsequently realized on that position to reflect the gain recognized on the short sale. A Fund’s holding period in the position would begin as if the Fund had first acquired the position on the date of the short sale.

 

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With respect to investments in STRIPS, treasury receipts, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, a Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, a Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

A Fund may invest in inflation-linked debt securities. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be original interest discount, which is taxable as ordinary income and is required to be distributed, even though the Fund will not receive the principal, including any increase thereto, until maturity. As noted above, if a Fund invests in such securities it may be required to liquidate other investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements and to eliminate any possible taxation at the Fund level.

 

If a Fund acquires an equity interest (under Treasury regulations that may be finalized in the future, generally including not only stock but also an option to acquire stock such as is inherent in a convertible bond) in certain foreign corporations (i) that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties, or capital gains) or (ii) where at least 50% of the corporation’s assets (computed based on average fair market value) either produce or are held for the production of passive income (“passive foreign investment companies”), the Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on “excess distributions” received from such companies or on gain from the sale of stock in such companies, even if all income or gain actually received by the Fund is timely distributed to its shareholders. A Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such a tax. A “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”) election or a “mark to market” election may be available that would ameliorate these adverse tax consequences, but such elections could require the Fund to recognize taxable income or gain (subject to the distribution requirements applicable to RICs, as described above) without the concurrent receipt of cash. In order to satisfy the distribution requirements and avoid a tax on the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. Gains from the sale of stock of passive foreign investment companies may also be treated as ordinary income. In order for the Fund to make a qualified electing fund election with respect to a passive foreign investment company, the passive foreign investment company would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Fund on an annual basis, which it might not agree to do. The Funds may limit and/or manage their holdings in passive foreign investment companies to limit their tax liability or maximize its returns from these investments. The IRS has recently issued final regulations pursuant to which a Fund’s income attributable to its investment in a PFIC that the Fund has elected to treat as a QEF is “qualifying income” to the Fund to the extent such income is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, regardless of whether the PFIC makes a distribution equal to the amount included in income by the Fund.

 

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Ordinarily, gains and losses realized by a Fund from portfolio transactions will be treated as capital gains and losses. However, all or a portion of the gain or loss realized from the disposition of foreign currencies (including foreign currency-denominated bank deposits) and non-U.S.-dollar-denominated securities (including debt instruments and certain forward contracts and options) will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the Code. Income or loss from transactions involving certain derivative instruments, such as certain swap transactions, will also generally constitute ordinary income or loss. In addition, all or a portion of any gains realized from the sale or other disposition of certain market discount bonds will be treated as ordinary income under Section 1276 of the Code. Finally, all or a portion of the gain realized from engaging in “conversion transactions” may be treated as ordinary income under Section 1258 of the Code. “Conversion transactions” are defined to include certain forward, futures, option, and straddle transactions, certain transactions marketed or sold to produce capital gains, or transactions described in Treasury regulations to be issued in the future.

 

In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test described above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by a Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (ii) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Code section 7704(d), and (iii) that generally derives less than 90% of its income from the same sources as described in the Qualifying Income Test) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

A Fund may invest in certain MLPs which may be treated as “qualified publicly traded partnerships.” Income from qualified publicly traded partnerships is qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test, but a Fund’s investment in one or more of such “qualified publicly traded partnerships” is limited under the Asset Test to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Funds will monitor their investments in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the Qualifying Income and Asset Tests. MLPs and other partnerships that the Funds may invest in will deliver Form K-1s to the Funds to report their share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the MLP or other partnership. These Form K-1s may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that a Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your tax reporting statement.

 

The Tax Act treats “qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code as eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “qualified publicly traded partnership” as defined for the purpose of the immediately preceding paragraphs. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Tax Act does not contain a provision permitting RICs, such as the Funds, to pass the special character of this income through to their shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in RICs that invest in such entities will not. It is uncertain whether future technical corrections or administrative guidance will address this issue to enable the Funds to pass through the special character of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” to shareholders.

 

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A Fund may invest in REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require a Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in a Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if a Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to such Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to a Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

The Tax Act treats “qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) as eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Pursuant to recently proposed regulations on which the Funds may rely, distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by such Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.

 

REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Funds until after the time that the Funds issue a tax reporting statement. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

Foreign Taxes.

 

Dividends and interest a Fund receives on foreign investments may give rise to income withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stock or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the close of any taxable year consist of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata shares of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund for that taxable year. If the Fund so elects, shareholders would be required to include a proportionate shares of those taxes in gross income as foreign taxes paid by them, and as described below may be entitled to a tax deduction for such taxes or a tax credit, subject to a holding period requirement and other limitations under the Code.

 

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Qualified foreign taxes generally include taxes that would be treated as income taxes under U.S. tax regulations but do not include most other taxes, such as stamp taxes, securities transaction taxes, and similar taxes. If a Fund makes the election described above, shareholders may deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund for that taxable year in computing their income subject to U.S. federal income taxation or, alternatively, claim them as credits, subject to applicable limitations under the Code, against their U.S. federal income taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize deductions for U.S. federal income tax purposes will not, however, be able to deduct their pro rata portion of qualified foreign taxes paid by the Fund, although such shareholders will be required to include their shares of such taxes in gross income if the Fund makes the election described above. No deduction for such taxes will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability.

 

If a Fund makes this election and a shareholder chooses to take a credit for the foreign taxes deemed paid by such shareholder, the amount of the credit that may be claimed in any year may not exceed the same proportion of the U.S. tax against which such credit is taken that the shareholder’s taxable income from foreign sources (but not in excess of the shareholder’s entire taxable income) bears to his entire taxable income. For this purpose, long-term and short-term capital gains a Fund realizes and distributes to shareholders will generally not be treated as income from foreign sources in their hands, nor will distributions of certain foreign currency gains or of any other income realized by the Fund that is deemed, under the Code, to be U.S.-source income in the hands of the Fund. This foreign tax credit limitation may also be applied separately to certain specific categories of foreign-source income and the related foreign taxes. As a result of these rules, which may have different effects depending upon each shareholder’s particular tax situation, certain shareholders may not be able to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Shareholders who are not liable for U.S. federal income taxes, including tax-exempt shareholders, will ordinarily not benefit from this election. If the Fund does make the election, it will provide required tax information to shareholders. The Fund generally may deduct any foreign taxes that are not passed through to its shareholders in computing its income available for distribution to shareholders to satisfy applicable tax distribution requirements.

 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by a Fund as a result of an investment in another RIC (including an ETF which is taxable as a RIC) will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Code. If a Fund is a “qualified fund-of-funds” it will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. A Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund-of-funds” under the Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs.

 

Backup Withholding.

 

Federal regulations generally require a Fund to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a “backup withholding” tax with respect to reportable payments, including dividends, distributions from net capital gains, and the proceeds of any redemption paid to a shareholder if such shareholder fails to certify on IRS Form W-9, IRS Form W-8BEN, or other applicable form either that the Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) furnished to the Fund is correct or that such shareholder has not received notice from the IRS of being subject to backup withholding. Furthermore, the IRS may notify a Fund to institute backup withholding if the IRS determines that a shareholder’s TIN is incorrect or if a shareholder has failed to properly report taxable dividends or interest on a federal tax return. A TIN is either the Social Security number or employer identification number of the record owner of the account. Any tax withheld as a result of backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax and may be claimed as a credit on the record owner’s timely filed federal income tax return. The backup withholding rate is currently 24%.

 

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Foreign Shareholders.

 

Foreign shareholders are generally subject to a 30% withholding tax, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty, on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been subject to this (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax. Other rules may apply to foreign shareholders whose income from the Fund is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Such investors should consult with their own advisers regarding those rules. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year.

 

Under legislation general known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), unless certain foreign entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to Fund distributions payable to such entities. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. individual that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or their agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Funds or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in a Fund will need to provide such Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders.

 

Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Under the Tax Act, tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Funds generally serve to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

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The Funds’ shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from a Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations.

 

Under United States Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to a Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, in any single taxable year (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. In addition, significant penalties may be imposed for the failure to comply with the reporting requirements. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes.

 

Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. Distributions by any Fund to shareholders and the ownership of shares may be subject to state and local taxes. It is expect that no Fund will be liable for any corporate tax in Delaware if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by a Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment.

 

The foregoing discussion regarding federal and state income taxation is for general information only. It is based on tax laws and regulations as in effect on the date of this SAI and is subject to change by legislative or administrative action. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers concerning the federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

 

Subject to the general supervision of the Board, the Adviser and sub-advisers are responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions, and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. Purchases and sales of securities on a stock exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. In the OTC market, securities are generally traded on a “net” basis, with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission, although the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price, which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. Certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commission or discounts are paid. Fixed commissions on foreign stock-exchange transactions are generally higher than are negotiated commissions on domestic transactions. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign stock exchanges and brokers than in the U.S.

 

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The Adviser and sub-advisers may serve as an investment adviser to other clients. It is their practice to cause purchase and sale transactions to be allocated among the Funds and others whose assets they manage in such manner as they deem equitable. In making such allocations, the main factors considered are the respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment, the size of investment commitments generally held, and the opinions of the persons responsible for managing the Funds and the other client accounts. This procedure may, under certain circumstances, have an adverse effect on the Funds.

 

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for the Funds is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions that are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Adviser and sub-advisers believe that a requirement always to seek the lowest commission cost could impede effective management and preclude the Adviser or sub-advisers from obtaining high-quality brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Adviser and sub-advisers rely on their experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on their judgment in evaluating the brokerage and research services received from the broker effecting the transaction.

 

In seeking to implement the Trust’s policies, the Adviser and sub-advisers effect transactions with brokers and dealers that they believe provide the most favorable prices and are capable of providing efficient executions. The Adviser and sub-advisers may place portfolio transactions with a broker or dealer that furnishes research and other services and may pay higher commissions to brokers in recognition of research provided (or direct the payment of commissions to such brokers). Such services may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following: (1) information as to the availability of securities for purchase or sale, (2) statistical or factual information or opinions pertaining to investments, (3) wire services, (4) and appraisals or evaluations of portfolio securities. The information and services received by the Adviser and sub-advisers from brokers and dealers may be of benefit in the management of accounts of other clients and may not in all cases benefit the Trust directly. While such services are useful and important in supplementing its own research and facilities, the Adviser and sub-advisers believe the value of such services is not determinable and does not significantly reduce its expenses.

 

For the fiscal years ended February 28, 2019, February 28, 2018 and February 28, 2017, the Funds paid $195,817, $105,410, and $187,280, respectively, in aggregate brokerage commissions. During the fiscal years ended 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Funds directed $0 of brokerage transactions to brokers for research services provided and paid $0 in related commissions.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES

 

The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan for Equity Allocation Fund’s Institutional Shares pursuant to which it may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution and marketing of its shares, including payments to financial institutions and intermediaries for services in connection with distribution, the costs of preparing, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses to potential shareholders, and promotional and incentive programs. Continuance of the plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the plan or in any agreements related to the plan. The plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent there under without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust. All material amendments of the plan require approval by a majority of the Trustees and of the Independent Trustees.

 

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The Distribution Plan provides that Institutional Shares of the Equity Allocation Fund pay the Trust’s principal underwriter an annual fee of up to a maximum of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the shares. Under the plan, the principal underwriter may retain all or a part of this fee as compensation for distribution or shareholder services it provides or it may use such fees for compensation of broker/dealers and other financial institutions and intermediaries that provide distribution or shareholder services as specified by the principal underwriter. The plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the fee will be paid to the principal underwriter without regard to the distribution expenses it incurs or the amount of payments made to broker/dealers or other financial institutions and intermediaries.

 

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES

 

Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Funds have delegated authority to vote proxies to the Adviser, which, as applicable, has delegated such authority to the sub-advisers with respect to the assets of the Funds each manages. The proxy voting policies and procedures of Acadian, Aperio, WellsCap and Nuveen are attached as Appendix B.

 

The Municipal Bond Fund invests its assets primarily in municipal bonds. On rare occasions the Fund may acquire, directly or through a special purpose vehicle, equity securities of a municipal bond issuer whose bonds the Municipal Bond Fund already owns when such bonds have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality. The purpose of acquiring equity securities generally will be to acquire control of the municipal bond issuer and to seek to prevent the credit deterioration or facilitate the liquidation or other workout of the distressed issuer’s credit problem. In the course of exercising control of a distressed municipal issuer, the sub-advisers may pursue the Municipal Bond Fund’s interests in a variety of ways, which may entail negotiating and executing consents, agreements and other arrangements, and otherwise influencing the management of the issuer. The sub-advisers do not consider such activities proxy voting for purposes of Rule 206(4)-6 under the 1940 Act, but nevertheless provide reports to the Board on its control activities on a quarterly basis.

 

In the rare event that a municipal issuer were to issue a proxy or that the Municipal Bond Fund were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, the sub-advisers would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or based on the instructions, of the Board or its representative. A member of each sub-adviser’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting, and ensure that records were maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6, reports were filed with the SEC on Form N-PX, and the results provided to the Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules.

 

The Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund invest primarily in underlying funds. In the rare event that an underlying fund were to issue a proxy or that the Funds were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, the Adviser would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or based on the instructions, of the Board or its representative. A member of the Adviser’s administration team would oversee the administration of the voting, and ensure that records were maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6, reports were filed with the SEC on Form N-PX, and the results provided to the Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules.

 

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The same process described above for the Defensive Allocation Fund and Taxable Bond Fund would be applied by the Adviser with respect to assets of the Equity Allocation Fund and Municipal Bond Fund that it invests in underlying funds rather than allocating the assets to a sub-adviser.

 

Each year, the Funds make available the actual voting records relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds during the 12-month period ending June 30 without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-997-9971 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Description of Shares

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, with or without par value. Currently, the Trust consists of three series of shares: Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund, representing two classes of shares, and Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund, Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund and Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund, each representing a single class of shares. However, the Board has the authority to establish additional series of shares (representing interests in separate investment portfolios of the Trust) and, subject to applicable rules, may establish additional classes of shares of any series, with the differences in classes representing differences as to certain expenses and share distribution arrangements. Shares are fully paid and non-assessable and have no pre-emptive or conversion rights.

 

Shareholders of all series of the Trust are entitled to vote together on the election or removal of Trustees and the ratification of the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm when shareholders vote on those matters. Shareholders are also entitled to vote on other matters as required by the 1940 Act, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Trust’s By-Laws, or any registration of the Trust with the SEC or any state, or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable. On these other matters, shares of each Fund will generally vote as a separate class from any other series of the Trust’s shares. Each share (and fractional share) is entitled to one vote (or fraction thereof). However, if shares of more than one series vote together on a matter as a single class, each share (or fraction thereof) will be entitled to the number of votes that equals the net asset value of such share (or fraction thereof) determined as of the applicable record date.

 

Trustee and Officer Liability

 

Under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and its By-Laws, and under Delaware law, the Trustees, officers, employees, and certain agents of the Trust are entitled to indemnification under certain circumstances against liabilities, claims, and expenses arising from any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding to which they are made parties by reason of the fact that they are or were such Trustees, officers, employees, or agents of the Trust, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act that prohibit indemnification that would protect such persons against liabilities to the Trust or its shareholders to which they would otherwise be subject by reason of their own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties.

 

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

As of May 31, 2019, the following persons were the only persons who were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Fund:

 

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Fund Shareholder/Address Percentage of Ownership
Equity Allocation Fund – Advisor Shares

Charles Schwab & Co

Attn Mutual Funds

211 Main St

San Francisco CA 94105

93.36%
Municipal Bond Fund

Charles Schwab & Co

Attn Mutual Funds

211 Main St

San Francisco CA 94105

95.68%
Defensive Allocation Fund

Charles Schwab & Co

Attn Mutual Funds

211 Main St

San Francisco CA 94105

94.09%
Taxable Bond Fund

Charles Schwab & Co

Attn Mutual Funds

211 Main St

San Francisco CA 94105

91.00%

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Funds’ audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2019, and the related report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI from the Fund’s 2019 annual report to shareholders, which is available without charge upon request by calling 1-877-997-9971.

 

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Appendix A

Ratings of Investments

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group — A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s (“ S&P ”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:

 

Issue Credit Ratings

 

A S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

  1. Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

  2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation and the promise S&P imputes;

 

  3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

A- 1  

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Plus (+) or Minus (–): The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

 

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NR This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

A S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

Amortization schedule–the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

Source of payment–the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

  Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. — A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:

 

Long-Term Obligation Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

A- 3  

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

Medium-Term Note Program Ratings

 

Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (MTN) programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).

 

MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating.

 

The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.

 

Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit www.moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.

 

U.S. Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings

 

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels—MIG 1 through MIG 3—while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.

 

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MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ( “demand feature” ). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale.

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

Fitch Ratings — A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings (“ Fitch ”) ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:

 

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Structured, Project & Public Finance Obligations—Long-Term Rating Scales

 

Ratings of structured finance, project finance and public finance obligations on the long-term scale, including the financial obligations of sovereigns, consider the obligations’ relative vulnerability to default. These ratings are typically assigned to an individual security or tranche in a transaction and not to an issuer.

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default appears imminent or inevitable.

 

D Default. Indicates a default. Default generally is defined as one of the following:

 

  failure to make payment of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of the rated obligation;

 

  the bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of the business of an issuer/obligor; or

 

A- 6  

 

  the distressed exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation to avoid a probable payment default.

 

Notes: In the case of structured and project finance, while the ratings do not address the loss severity given default of the rated liability, loss severity assumptions on the underlying assets are nonetheless typically included as part of the analysis. Loss severity assumptions are used to derive pool cash flows available to service the rated liability.

 

The suffix “sf’’ denotes an issue that is a structured finance transaction. For an explanation of how Fitch determines structured finance ratings, please see our criteria available at www.Fitchratings.com.

 

In the case of public finance, the ratings do not address the loss given default of the rated liability, focusing instead on the vulnerability to default of the rated liability.

 

The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-Term Rating category, or categories below ‘B’.

 

Limitations of the Structured, Project and Public Finance Obligation Rating Scale

 

Specific limitations relevant to the structured, project and public finance obligation rating scale include:

 

  The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.

 

  The ratings do not opine on any quality related to a transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of each rated tranche or security.

 

Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers or Obligations in Corporate, Public and Structured Finance

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

A- 7  

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

Limitations of the Short-Term Ratings Scale

 

Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:

 

  The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

  The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.

 

  The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.

 

Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience.

 

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Appendix B

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC

 

Proxy Voting

 

Policy

 

Whether Acadian will have proxy voting responsibility on behalf of a separate account client is subject to negotiation as part of the overall investment management agreement executed with each client. Should a client desire that Acadian vote proxies on their behalf, Acadian will accept such authority and agree with the client whether votes should be cast in accordance with Acadian’s proxy voting policy or in accordance with a client specific proxy voting policy. Should the client wish to retain voting responsibility themselves, Acadian would have no further involvement in the voting process but would remain available to provide reasonable assistance to the client as needed.

 

Acadian has adopted a proxy voting policy reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of clients. Acadian utilizes the services of Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), an unaffiliated proxy firm, to help manage the proxy voting process and to research and vote proxies on behalf of Acadian’s clients who have instructed Acadian to vote proxies on their behalf. Unless a client provides a client specific voting criteria to be followed when voting proxies on behalf of holdings in their portfolio, each vote is made according to predetermined guidelines agreed to between the proxy service firm and Acadian. Acadian believes that utilizing this proxy service firm helps Acadian vote in the best interest of clients and insulates Acadian’s voting decisions from any potential conflicts of interest.

 

When voting proxies on behalf of our clients, Acadian assumes a fiduciary responsibility to vote in our clients' best interests. In addition, with respect to benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act (ERISA), Acadian acknowledges its responsibility as a fiduciary to vote proxies prudently and solely in the best interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. So that it may fulfill these fiduciary responsibilities to clients, Acadian has adopted and implemented these written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of clients.

 

Procedures

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

Acadian acknowledges it has a duty of care to its clients that requires it to monitor corporate events and vote client proxies when instructed by the client to do so. To assist in this effort, Acadian has retained ISS to research and vote its proxies. ISS provides proxy - voting analysis and votes proxies in accordance with predetermined guidelines. Relying on ISS to vote proxies is intended to help ensure that Acadian votes in the best interest of its clients and insulates Acadian’s voting decisions from any potential conflicts of interest. Acadian will also accept specific written proxy voting instructions from a client and communicate those instructions to ISS to implement when voting proxies involving that client’s portfolio.

 

In specific instances where ISS will not vote a proxy, will not provide a voting recommendation, or other instances where there is an unusual cost or requirement related to a proxy vote, Acadian’s Proxy Coordinator will conduct an analysis to determine whether the costs related to the vote outweigh the potential benefit to our client. If we determine, in our discretion, that it is in the best of interest of our client not to participate in the vote Acadian will not participate in the vote on behalf of our client. If we determine that a vote would be in the best interest of our client, the Proxy Coordinator will seek a voting recommendation from an authorized member of our investment team and ensure the vote is cast as they instruct.

 

Unless contrary instructions are received from a client, Acadian has instructed ISS to not vote proxies in so - called "share blocking" markets. Share - blocking markets are markets where proxy voters have their securities blocked from trading during the period of the annual meeting. The period of blocking typically lasts from a few days to two weeks. During the period, any portfolio holdings in these markets cannot be sold without a formal recall. The recall process can take time, and in some cases, cannot be accomplished at all. This makes a client’s portfolio vulnerable to a scenario where a stock is dropping in attractiveness but cannot be sold because it has been blocked. Shareholders who do not vote are not subject to the blocking procedure.

 

B- 1  

 

Acadian also reserves the right to override ISS vote recommendations under certain circumstances. Acadian will only do so if they believe that voting contrary to the ISS recommendation is in the best interest of clients. All overrides will be approved by an Officer of Acadian and will be documented with the reasons for voting against the ISS recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Occasions may arise during the voting process in which the best interest of clients conflicts with Acadian’s interests. In these situations ISS will continue to follow the same predetermined guidelines as formally agreed upon between Acadian and ISS before such conflict of interest existed. Conflicts of interest generally include (i) business relationships where Acadian has a substantial business relationship with, or is actively soliciting business from, a company soliciting proxies, or (ii) personal or family relationships whereby an employee of Acadian has a family member or other personal relationship that is affiliated with a company soliciting proxies, such as a spouse who serves as a director of a public company. A conflict could also exist if a substantial business relationship exists with a proponent or opponent of a particular initiative.

 

If Acadian learns that a conflict of interest exists, its Proxy Coordinator will prepare a report for review with a compliance officer, and senior management if needed, that identifies (i) the details of the conflict of interest, (ii) whether or not the conflict is material, and (iii) procedures to ensure that Acadian makes proxy voting decisions based on the best interests of clients. If Acadian determines that a material conflict exists, it will defer to ISS to vote the proxy in accordance with the predetermined voting policy.

 

Voting Policies

 

Acadian has adopted the proxy voting policies developed by ISS, summaries of which can be found at http://www.issgovernance.com/policy and which are deemed to be incorporated herein. The policies have been developed based on ISS’ independent, objective analysis of leading corporate governance practices and their support of long - term shareholder value. Acadian may change its proxy voting policy from time to time without providing notice of changes to clients.

 

Voting Process

 

Acadian has appointed the Head of Operations to act as Proxy Coordinator. The Proxy Coordinator acts as coordinator with ISS including ensuring proxies Acadian is responsible to vote are forwarded to ISS, overseeing that ISS is voting assigned client accounts and maintaining appropriate authorization and voting records.

 

After ISS is notified by the custodian of a proxy that requires voting and/or after ISS cross references their database with a routine download of Acadian holdings and determines a proxy requires voting, ISS will review the proxy and make a voting proposal based on the recommendations provided by their research group. Any electronic proxy votes will be communicated to the proxy solicitor by ISS Global Proxy Distribution Service and Broadridge’s Proxy Edge Distribution Service, while non - electronic ballots, or paper ballots, will be faxed, telephoned or sent via Internet. ISS assumes responsibility for the proxies to be transmitted for voting in a timely fashion and maintains a record of the vote, which is provided to Acadian on a monthly basis. Proxy voting records specific to a client’s account are available to each client upon request.

 

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Proxy Voting Record

 

Acadian’s Proxy Coordinator will maintain a record containing the following information regarding the voting of proxies: (i) the name of the issuer, (ii) the exchange ticker symbol, (iii) the CUSIP number, (iv) the shareholder meeting date, (v) a brief description of the matter brought to vote; (vi) whether the proposal was submitted by management or a shareholder, (vii) how Acadian/ ISS voted the proxy (for, against, abstained) and (viii) whether the proxy was voted for or against management.

 

Obtaining a Voting Proxy Report

 

Clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures and/or a report on how their individual securities were voted by contacting Acadian at 617 - 850 - 3500 or by email at compliance - reporting@acadian - asset.com .

 

Last Updated: September 2014

 

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PROXY VOTING POLICY
(As of June 12, 2018)
 

 

 

As owners of companies in their portfolios, shareholders have the right to exercise control of the companies through proxy votes. The value of a shareholder’s shares may be altered by decisions made during company meetings based upon proxy voting outcomes; therefore, participation in these votes by shareholders, or Aperio through the granting of shareholder voting power of proxy, is a way of protecting the value of the securities held in Aperio portfolios.

 

Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”) requires that a registered investment adviser adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies with respect to a client’s securities in the best interest of the client. Pursuant thereto, Aperio Group, LLC (“Aperio” or “Adviser”) has adopted and implemented these proxy voting policies and procedures (the “Policy”). The Policy is evaluated and maintained by the Proxy Voting Committee (“Committee”), which oversees proxy voting activities for Aperio’s clients who have delegated such authority to Aperio.

 

In carrying out its proxy voting responsibilities, the Committee will monitor for and seek to resolve potential material conflicts (“Material Conflicts”) in the course of proxy voting. Specifically, the Committee will seek to identify potential Material Conflicts including, but not limited to, those presented by (a) public company status of Aperio clients, intermediaries, custodians, and/or key service providers; and (b) other existing and/or potential relationships between Aperio (and/

 

or Aperio employees) and publicly traded companies. In addition, Aperio makes available to its investment advisory clients a service facilitating the submission of shareholder proposals through a third-party representative. It is generally expected that such proposals will be voted consistent with the principles set forth in this Policy, including these conflicts of interest provisions.

 

Aperio’s policy is to vote proxies presenting potential Material Conflicts as it would vote any other proxy, in a manner consistent with this Policy and the proposal-specific criteria set forth in this Policy.

 

The Committee will regularly review all voting of proxies identified as presenting potential Material Conflicts at its regularly scheduled meetings to seek to ensure adherence to this standard.

 

As a passive index manager, Aperio does not familiarize itself with the businesses in which it invests as part of constructing or rebalancing an index-tracking portfolio, nor do we independently calculate a company’s intrinsic value in order to determine whether the company’s security is rich or cheap relative to its market price. Instead, Aperio relies on the market’s pricing mechanism to incorporate all available information via trading in the market to embed all relevant information into the current price.

 

Aperio favors transparency of information and, therefore, typically favors resolutions that increase transparency of information. However, this preference is not an absolute. In cases of high cost, proprietary information, or requests for specific policy change, Aperio is inclined to oppose resolutions even when framed as requests for reports, disclosure, or transparency.

  

 

 

Aperio v. [Latin] to make clear, to reveal the truth

 

B- 4  

 

Aperio believes that a portfolio company’s management generally is in the best position to make decisions on behalf of the company to maximize the financial reward to its shareholders; accordingly, Aperio will generally vote with management on proposals put to shareholder vote. However, we also recognize that there are some classes of issues with respect to which management is not in the best position to make a decision because management’s interests may not be aligned with shareholder interests. When we are able to identify best practices of “good governance” that may vary from management’s recommendation, we may determine to oppose management and/or support shareholder resolutions that we believe may move companies toward a better governance model. In all cases, Aperio may, in exercising its fiduciary duties, determine to vote any proxy in a manner that departs from these general principles or the guidelines set forth below.

 

Proxy System

 

Non-ESG/SRI Accounts: As a general matter, Aperio uses Broadridge Proxy Policies and Insights (PPI) as the preliminary basis for its voting decisions unless the client has opted in to Aperio’s ESG/SRI Proxy Voting system. This research tool allows us to set policy voting rules based on a combination of proposal category and available thresholds that evaluate the specifics of a given proposal. Aperio’s policy takes the Broadridge Shareholder Value policy set as a starting point and then modifies it to meet Aperio’s needs.

 

Accordingly, note that in the tables below, an asterisk (*) in the Aperio Policy Guideline column indicates that the recommendation is not part of the Broadridge Shareholder Value recommendation policy. To the extent a proxy voting issue is not explicitly addressed by the guidelines set forth below or otherwise by the Broadridge Proxy Policies and Insights, the Committee shall make a reasonable determination as to the appropriate vote, taking into consideration all facts and considerations it deems relevant. In general, when not otherwise addressed, Aperio will vote with management.

 

SRI/ESG Client Accounts: For those Aperio clients who have chosen our SRI strategies or otherwise opted in to Aperio’s ESG/SRI Proxy Voting system, Aperio has retained Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) as its SRI voting agent (“SRI voting agent”). Such SRI clients have indicated a preference for proxy voting that aligns with their preference for SRI shareholder value that, in turn, aligns with the recommendations, proxy voting history, and analysis of shareholder value presented by the SRI voting agent. As such, Aperio follows ISS’s SRI Proxy Voting Guidelines. A copy of these guidelines can be found here under “Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Proxy Voting Guidelines” on the Specialty Policies tab.

 

Note that for these clients, we are voting all companies and all proposals based on the ISS SRI Proxy Voting policy. For management proposals, largely related to traditional corporate governance issues, the ISS SRI policy is very similar to the standard ISS policy and favors “good governance” and “shareholder value.”

 

Non-ESG/SRI Proxy Policy Rules

 

Consistent with its fiduciary duties, Aperio may override the standard voting guidelines when warranted and as based on the information available to Aperio at the time.

 

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Supermajority Proposals

Supermajority provisions require more than a simple majority (50 percent plus 1) to adopt a change to the company. We believe such provisions make it more difficult for shareholders, the owners, to exercise control over the company. Aperio generally intends to vote on such proposals as follows:

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Adopt  or Increase Supermajority Vote Requirement for Amendments Management Against We believe supermajority requirements entrench management and reduce the ability of the market or shareholders to make needed changes.
Adopt or Increase Supermajority Vote Requirement for Mergers Management Against
Adopt or Increase Supermajority Vote Requirement for Removal of Directors Management Against
Reduce Supermajority Vote Requirement Shareholder For

 

Antitakeover Proposals—Specifically, “Poison Pills”

We believe that these proposals are designed to make it more difficult for a company to be acquired. Poison pills have various mechanisms for disadvantaging an acquirer to other shareholders in a company.

 

  Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Adopt, Renew, or Amend Shareholder Rights Plan (Poison Pill) Management Against Aperio generally opposes anti - takeover policies and provisions because we believe they enable management to entrench itself and reduce the value of the firm to shareholders.
Amend Articles/Bylaws/Charter to Remove Antitakeover Provisions Shareholder For
Eliminate or Restrict Shareholder Rights Plan (Poison Pill) Shareholder For
Submit Shareholder Rights Plan (Poison Pill) to Shareholder Vote Shareholder For

 

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Compensation-Related Proposals

 

 Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline  Rationale
Advisory Vote on Say on Pay Frequency Management Vote against if frequency requirement is greater than one year. We believe Say on Pay provides a check on runaway CEO compensation. This should be an annual process.
Approve Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plans Management Vote against if purchase price is less than 85% of market value, or if more than 10% of outstanding shares, or if offering period is less than three years.   We believe options offered to employees too far below market value distort the incentives and compensation of employees; excessive dilution is a significant harm to shareholders.

 

Board Structure—Related Proposals

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Authorize Board Chair to Serve as CEO Management Against* We believe this reduces the independence of the board.
Classify Board and Elect Directors Management Against We believe boards of directors with board terms that span multiple years and whose members are elected in “classes” reduce the responsiveness of the board to shareholders. Aperio believes that all directors should be elected on an annual basis.
Declassify Board of Directors Shareholder For
Elect Directors (Various Iterations of This Proposal Type) Management Vote against if attendance is less than 75% and if the majority of the board is not independent. We believe director focus on the job is a bare minimum standard, and independence from management is important.

 

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Board Structure—Related Proposals (continued)

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Eliminate Cumulative Voting Shareholder For In a cumulative voting scenario, the shareholder casts votes for each share times the number of open director seats being voted on. The votes, however, can be cast for as many or few of the board candidates as desired.

In this way, a shareholder can increase (or decrease) the number of votes that a given director nominee receives.

Cumulative voting is one of the tools promoted to increase board responsiveness to minority shareholders. However, it can work at cross purposes with other recommendations, like majority vote requirements. Given the limitations of Aperio’s current proxy voting solution, rather than running the risk of such proposals coming into conflict with one another, Aperio supports majority vote requirements and opposes cumulative voting.
Establish Term Limits for Directors Shareholder For We believe directors who serve for too long lose their independence.
Require a Majority Vote for the Election of Directors Shareholder For We believe while most elections are uncontested, a director should be able to receive a majority vote to serve.
Require Independent Board Chairman Shareholder For We believe this increases the independence of the board.
Require Majority of Independent Directors on Board Shareholder For We believe independence from management is critical for good oversight.

 

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Election of Director Proposals

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Elect Directors Management Against or Withhold* In addition to the criteria in the standard PPI policy related to election of directors, Aperio will vote against or withhold votes from directors who serve on the nominating committee if there are no women on the board.

 

Miscellaneous Governance Proposals

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Disclose Information on Compensation Consultant Shareholder For* Aperio believes that companies should be more, not less, transparent. Additional transparency around executive compensation allows shareholders and the market additional information to price the balance of executive compensation for a stock.
Ratify Auditors Management Vote against if audit fees do not exceed nonaudit fees. We believe auditors should be in the business of providing impartial and honest audits. Significant other revenues could distort the objectivity of the auditor.

 

Environmental and Social Transparency Proposals

 

Proposal Category Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Report on Coffee Sourcing Policy Shareholder For* Aperio believes that companies should be more, not less, transparent in their operations, particularly when investors have requested information. Requests for reports do not require that the reports be high-production affairs with extensive pictures and narrative. In fact, most resolved clauses specifically include “at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information.”Note that for Pay Disparity resolutions, Aperio considers the legal risks associated with reporting and not reporting such information. Our determination is that these risks are approximately the same, and we therefore favor transparency.
Report on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Shareholder For
Report on Pay Disparity Shareholder For
Sustainability Report Shareholder For

 

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General principles to be applied as proxy voting guidelines if not directly countered by anything below:

 

Concept Proposal Sponsor Aperio Policy Guideline Rationale
Certain “Request for Report” Shareholder Against If the language of requesting a report is clearly asking the company to set policy in the report, rather than simply making information available, then Aperio will not support the proposal. Note that this is different than requests for reports where there is an implied social or policy desire by the proponents where they believe that the information will make a change in policy inevitable. The proposal must explicitly reference a policy-setting function in the report.
Disclosure of Voting Results by Share Class Shareholder or Management For Aperio believes that transparency is important and the availability of this level of detail in reporting voting results is appropriate.

 

Disclosure to Clients

Aperio clients who require additional information regarding Aperio’s proxy voting policies and procedures or details on how Aperio has voted specific proxies may send written requests to Aperio Group, LLC at operations@aperiogroup.com or by mail to Aperio Group, LLC, Three Harbor Drive, Suite 204, Sausalito, CA 94965, or may contact Aperio by phone at 415.339.4300. Disclosure of this option to clients is made through our Form ADV Part 2A, which also describes this Policy. With respect to registered investment company clients, disclosures concerning this Policy and information regarding how such clients voted proxies are made pursuant to Form N-1A.

Note that, when possible, based on custodian standard practice, Aperio wraps multiple client accounts into a single proxy ballot. This approach reduces the cost, ultimately accruing to the benefit of Aperio’s clients. In such wrap account situations, reporting on specific account votes is more difficult. Aperio will provide the best information available to clients upon request.

 

Records

Aperio shall retain all records required pursuant to Advisers Act Rule 204-2(c)(2), as it may be amended from time to time, in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the record was last updated, the first two years in an appropriate Aperio office location.

For reference, set forth below are the records required to be kept by Advisers Act Rule 204(c)(2), as of the effective date of this Policy. Any subsequent amendments to such rule are to be understood as incorporated herein by reference and controlling.

(i) A copy of this Policy and any amendments, supplements, or other updates thereto;
(ii) A copy of each proxy statement that Aperio receives regarding client securities;†
(iii) A record of each vote cast by the investment adviser on behalf of a client;‡
(iv) A copy of any document created by Aperio that was material to making a decision regarding how to vote proxies on behalf of the client; and
(v) A copy of each written client request for information on how Aperio voted proxies on behalf of the client, and a copy of any written response by Aperio to any (written or oral) client request for information on how Aperio voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

 

Aperio may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third party to make and retain, on Aperio’s behalf, a copy of a proxy statement, provided that Aperio has obtained an undertaking from such third party to provide a copy of the proxy statement promptly upon request. Aperio may also satisfy this requirement by relying on obtaining a copy of a proxy statement from the US Securities and Exchange Commission‘s EDGAR system.

 

Aperio may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third party to make and retain, on Aperio’s behalf, a record of the vote cast, provided that Aperio has obtained an undertaking from such third party to provide a copy of the record promptly upon request.

 

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This information has been carefully compiled from sources Aperio believes to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This is provided for informational purposes only and should not be solely relied upon when making an investment decision. It is provided with the understanding that we are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or tax services. In particular, none of the examples should be considered advice tailored to the needs of any specific investor. It is recommended that all investors seek out the services of competent professionals in any of the aforementioned areas.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2018 Aperio Group, LLC | 415.339.4300 | www.aperiogroup.com

 

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W ELLS F ARGO A SSET M ANAGEMENT 1

 

P ROXY V OTING P OLICIES AND P ROCEDURES

 

E FFECTIVE AS OF J ANUARY 1, 2019

 

Wells Fargo Asset Management (“WFAM”) Stewardship

As fiduciaries, we are committed to effective stewardship of the assets we manage on behalf of our clients. To us, good stewardship reflects responsible, active ownership and includes both engaging with investee companies and voting proxies in a manner that we believe will maximize the long-term value of our investments.

 

Scope of Policies and Procedures . These Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies and Procedures”) are used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held in client accounts managed by WFAM. With respect to client accounts of Funds Management, this includes, among others, Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund, Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund, and Wells Fargo Utilities and High Income Fund (the “Trusts”) (hereafter, all series of the Trusts, and all such Trusts not having separate series, are referred to as the “Funds”). In addition, these Policies and Procedures are used to determine how to vote proxies for the assets managed on behalf of WellsCap’s clients.

 

Not all clients delegate proxy-voting authority to WellsCap, however, and WellsCap will not vote proxies, or provide advice to clients on how to vote proxies in the absence of specific delegation of authority, a pre-existing contractual agreement, or an obligation under the applicable law (e.g., securities that are held in an investment advisory account for which WellsCap exercises no investment discretion are not voted by WellsCap).

 

Voting Philosophy . WFAM, comprised of investment advisers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, has adopted these Policies and Procedures to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of clients without regard to any relationship that any affiliated person of the WFAM (or an affiliated person of such affiliated person) may have with the issuer.

 

WFAM exercises its voting responsibility as a fiduciary with the goal of maximizing value to clients consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each client. While securities are not purchased to exercise control or to seek to effect corporate change through share ownership activism, WFAM supports sound corporate governance practices at companies in which client assets are invested.

 

Proxy Administrator

The proxy voting process is administered by WFAM’s Operations Department (“Proxy Administrator”), who reports to WFAM’s Chief Operations Officer. The Proxy Administrator is responsible for administering and overseeing the proxy voting process to ensure the implementation of the Policies and Procedures, including regular operational reviews, typically conducted on a weekly basis. The Proxy Administrator monitors third party voting of proxies to ensure it is being done in a timely and responsible manner, including review of scheduled vendor reports. The Proxy Administrator in conjunction with the Proxy Committee reviews the continuing appropriateness of the Policies and Procedures set forth herein, and recommends revisions as necessary.

 

 

1 Includes Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”) and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”).

 

B- 12  

 

Third Party Proxy Voting Vendor . WFAM has retained a third-party proxy voting service, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), to assist in the implementation of certain proxy voting-related functions including: 1.) Providing research on proxy matters 2.) Providing technology to facilitate the sharing of research and discussions related to proxy votes 3.) Vote proxies in accordance with WFAM’s guidelines 4.) Handle administrative and reporting items 5.) Maintain records of proxy statements received in connection with proxy votes and provide copies/analyses upon request. Except in instances where clients have retained voting authority, WFAM retains the responsibility for proxy voting decisions.

 

Proxy Committee and Sub-Committees . The WFAM Proxy Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process to ensure its implementation in conformance with these Policies and Procedures. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall coordinate with Wells Fargo Asset Management Risk and Compliance to monitor ISS, the proxy voting agent currently retained by WFAM, to determine that ISS is accurately applying the Policies and Procedures as set forth herein and operates as an independent proxy voting agent. WFAM’s ISS Vendor Oversight process includes an assessment of ISS’ Policy and Procedures (“P&P”), including conflict controls and monitoring, receipt and review of routine performance-related reporting by ISS to WFAM and periodic onsite due diligence meetings. Due diligence meetings typically include: meetings with key staff, P&P related presentations and discussions, technology-related demonstrations and assessments, and some sample testing, if appropriate. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall review the continuing appropriateness of the Policies and Procedures set forth herein. The WFAM Proxy Committee may delegate certain powers and responsibilities to sub- committees consisting of a “Proxy Voting Sub-Committee” and a “Proxy Governance Sub- Committee.”

 

Proxy Voting Sub-Committee . Among other delegated matters, the Proxy Voting Sub- Committee, in accordance with these Policies and Procedures, reviews and votes on routine proxy proposals that it considers under these Policies and Procedures in a timely manner. If necessary, the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee escalates issues to the Proxy Governance Sub- Committee that are determined to be material by the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee or otherwise in accordance with these Policies and Procedures. The Proxy Voting Sub-Committee coordinates with Wells Fargo Asset Management Risk and Compliance to review the performance and independence of ISS in exercising its proxy voting responsibilities.

 

Proxy Governance Sub-Committee . The Proxy Governance Sub-Committee reviews and, in accordance with these Policies and Procedures, votes on issues that have been escalated from the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee. Members of the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee also oversee the implementation of WFAM Proxy Committee recommendations for the respective functional areas in WFAM that they represent.

 

Meetings; Committee Actions . The WFAM Proxy Committee shall convene or act through written consent, including through the use of electronic systems of record, of a majority of WFAM Proxy Committee members as needed and when discretionary voting determinations need to be considered. Any sub-committee of the WFAM Proxy Committee shall have the authority on matters delegated to it to act by vote or written consent, including through the use of electronic systems of record, of a majority of the sub-committee members available at that time. The WFAM Proxy Committee shall also meet at least annually (each calendar year and within 15 months of the last meeting) to review the Policies and Procedures.

 

B- 13  

 

Membership . Members are selected based on subject matter expertise for the specific deliverables the committee is required to complete. The voting members of the Proxy Committee are identified in the WFAM Proxy Charter. Changes to the membership of the Proxy Committee will be made only with approval of the WFAM Proxy Committee. Upon departure from Wells Fargo Asset Management, a member’s position on the WFAM Proxy Committee will automatically terminate.

 

Voting Procedures . Unless otherwise required by applicable law, 2 proxies will be voted in accordance with the following steps and in the following order of consideration:

1. First, any voting items related to WFAM “Top-of-House” voting principles (as described below under the heading “WFAM Proxy Voting Principles/Guidelines”) will generally be voted in accordance with a custom voting policy with ISS (“Custom Policy”) designed to implement the WFAM’s Top-of-House voting principles. 3
2. Second, any voting items for meetings deemed of “high importance” 4 (e.g., proxy contests, mergers and acquisitions, capitalization proposals and anti-takeover proposals) where ISS opposes management recommendations will be referred to the Portfolio Management teams for recommendation or the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee (or escalated to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-by-case review and vote determination.
3. Third, with respect to any voting items where ISS Sustainability Voting Guidelines 5 provide a different recommendation than ISS Standard Voting Guidelines, the following steps are taken:

a. The WFAM Portfolio Risk Management and Analytics team (the “PRMA team”) evaluates the matter for materiality and any other relevant considerations.

b. If the PRMA team recommends further review, the voting item is then referred to the Portfolio Management teams for recommendation or the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee (or escalated to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-by- case review and vote determination.

 

 

2 Where provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) specify the manner in which items for any third party registered investment companies (e.g., mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds) and business development companies (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the 1940 Act) (“Third Party Fund Holding Voting Matters”) held by the Funds, WFAM shall vote the Third Party Fund Holding Voting Matter on behalf of the Fund accordingly.
3 The WFAM Proxy Committee may determine that additional review of a Top-of-House voting matter is warranted. For example, voting matters for declassified boards or annual election of directors of public operating and holding companies that have certain long-term business commitments (e.g., developing proprietary technology; or having an important strategic alliance in place) may warrant referral to the Proxy Voting Sub-Committee (or escalation to the Proxy Governance Sub-Committee) for case-by-case review and vote determination.
4 The term “high importance” is defined as those items designated Proxy Level 6, 5, or 4 by ISS, which include proxy contests, mergers, capitalization proposals and anti-takeover defenses.
5 ISS’s Sustainability Voting Guidelines seeks to promote support for recognized global governing bodies encouraging sustainable business practices advocating for stewardship of environment, fair labor practices, non- discrimination, and the protection of human rights.

 

B- 14  

 

c. If the PRMA team does not recommend further review, the matter is voted in accordance with ISS Standard Voting Guidelines.

 

4. Fourth, any remaining proposals are voted in accordance with ISS Standard Voting Guidelines. 6

 

Commitment to the Principles of Responsible Investment . As a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment, WFAM has integrated certain environmental, social, and governance factors into its investment processes, which includes the proxy process. As described under Voting Procedures above, WFAM considers ISS’s Sustainability Voting Guidelines as a point of reference in certain cases deemed to be material to a company’s long-term shareholder value.

 

Voting Discretion. In all cases, the Proxy Committee (and any sub-committee thereof) will exercise its voting discretion in accordance with the voting philosophy of these Policies and Procedures. In cases where a proxy item is forwarded by ISS to the Proxy Committee or a sub- committee thereof, the Proxy Committee or its sub-committee may be assisted in its voting decision through receipt of: (i) independent research and voting recommendations provided by ISS or other independent sources; (ii) input from the investment sub-adviser responsible for purchasing the security; and (iii) information provided by company management and shareholder groups.

 

Portfolio Manager and Sub-Adviser Input . The WFAM Proxy Committee may consult with portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers on specific proxy voting issues as it deems appropriate. In addition, portfolio management teams or Fund sub-advisers may proactively make recommendations to the Proxy Committee regarding any proxy voting issue. In this regard, the process takes into consideration expressed views of portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers given their deep knowledge of investee companies. For any proxy vote, portfolio management teams and Fund sub-advisers may make a case to vote against the ISS or Proxy Committee’s recommendation (which is described under Voting Procedures above). Any portfolio management team’s or Fund sub-adviser’s opinion should be documented in a brief write-up for consideration by the Proxy Voting Committee who will determine, or escalate to the Proxy Governance Committee, the final voting decision.

 

Consistent Voting . Proxies will be voted consistently on the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by WFAM multiple client accounts unless there are special circumstances such as, for example, proposals concerning corporate actions such as mergers, tender offers, and acquisitions or as reasonably necessary to implement a particular mandate specifically applicable to one or more accounts.

 

WFAM Top-of-House Proxy Voting Principles/Guidelines. The following reflects WFAM’s Top-of-House Voting Principles in effect as of the date of these Policies and Procedures. WFAM has put in place a custom voting policy with ISS to implement these voting principles.

 

 

6 The voting of proxies for Taft Hartley clients may incorporate the use of ISS’s Taft Hartley voting guidelines.

 

B- 15  

 

Boards of Directors . We believe that Boards of Directors should have strong, independent leadership and should adopt structures and practices that enhance their effectiveness. We believe it is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to create, enhance, and protect shareholder value. We recognize that the optimal board size and governance structure can vary by company size, industry, region of operations, and circumstances specific to the company.

We generally vote for the election of Directors in uncontested elections. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when directors fail to meet their duties as a board member, such as failing to act in the best economic interest of shareholders; failing to maintain independent audit, compensation, nominating committees; and failing to attend at least 75% of meetings, etc.

We generally vote for an independent board that has a majority of outside directors who are not affiliated with the top executives and have minimal or no business dealings with the company to avoid potential conflicts of interests.

Generally speaking, we believe Directors should sit on no more than 4 public boards at any given time. Directors serving on an excessive number of boards could result in time constraints and an inability to fulfill their duties.

We generally support adopting a declassified board structure for public operating and holding companies. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when companies have certain long-term business commitments.

We generally support annual election of directors of public operating and holding companies. We reserve the right to vote on a case-by-case basis when companies have certain long-term business commitments.

 

Fund Voting Reporting Coordination . Voting decisions made by the WFAM Proxy Committee on behalf of the Funds will be reported to ISS to ensure that votes are registered in a timely manner and included in Form N-PX reporting.

 

Practical Limitations to Proxy Voting . While WFAM uses its reasonable best efforts to vote proxies, in certain circumstances, it may be impractical or impossible for WFAM to vote proxies (e.g., limited value or unjustifiable costs).

 

Securities on Loan . As a general matter, securities on loan will not be recalled to facilitate proxy voting (in which case the borrower of the security shall be entitled to vote the proxy). However, as it relates to portfolio holdings of the Funds, if the WFAM Proxy Committee is aware of an item in time to recall the security and has determined in good faith that the importance of the matter to be voted upon outweighs the loss in lending revenue that would result from recalling the security (e.g., if there is a controversial upcoming merger or acquisition, or some other significant matter), the security will be recalled for voting.

 

Share Blocking. Proxy voting in certain countries requires ‘share blocking’. Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares with a designated depositary before the date of the meeting. Consequently, the shares may not be sold in the period preceding the proxy vote. Absent compelling reasons, WFAM believes that the benefit derived from voting these shares is outweighed by the burden of limited trading. Therefore, if share blocking is required in certain markets, WFAM will not participate and refrain from voting proxies for those clients impacted by share blocking.

 

B- 16  

 

Conflicts of Interest . WFAM may have a conflict of interest regarding a proxy to be voted upon if, for example, WFAM or its affiliates have other relationships with the issuer of the proxy. In most instances, conflicts of interest are avoided through a strict and objective application of the voting guidelines. However, when the Proxy Administrator is aware of a material conflict of interest regarding a matter that would otherwise require a vote by the Proxy Committee or that, in the determination of the Proxy Committee, otherwise warrants the taking of additional steps to mitigate the conflict, the Proxy Committee or the Proxy Administrator shall address the material conflict by using any of the following methods:

 

1. Instructing ISS to vote in accordance with the recommendation ISS makes to its clients;

2. With respect to any matters involving a portfolio holding of the Funds, disclosing the conflict to the Board of the Funds and obtaining its consent before voting with respect to shares held by the Funds;

3. With respect to any matters involving a portfolio holding of the Funds, submitting the matter to the Board of the Funds to exercise its authority to vote on such matter with respect to shares held by the Funds;

4. Engaging an independent fiduciary who will direct the Proxy Committee how to vote on such matter following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds;

5. Consulting with outside legal counsel for guidance on resolution of the conflict of interest;

6. Erecting information barriers around the person or persons making voting decisions following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds;

7. Voting in proportion to other shareholders (“mirror voting”) following consultation with the Board of the Funds if the conflict pertains to a matter involving a portfolio holding of the Funds; or

8. Voting in other ways that are consistent with WFAM’s obligation to vote in the best interests of its shareholders.

 

The Proxy Committee will not permit its votes to be influenced by any conflict of interest that exists for any other affiliated person of WFAM (such as a sub-adviser or principal underwriter) or any affiliated persons of such affiliated persons and the Proxy Committee will vote all such matters without regard to the conflict.

 

Vendor Oversight : The WFAM Proxy Administrator monitors the ISS proxy process against specific criteria in order to identify potential issues relating to account reconciliation, unknown and rejected ballot reviews, upcoming proxy reviews, share reconciliation oversight, etc.

 

III. Other Provisions

 

Policy Review and Ad Hoc Meetings

The Proxy Governance Committee meets at least annually to review this Policy and consider any appropriate changes. Meetings may be convened more frequently (for example, to discuss a specific proxy agenda or proposal) as requested by the Manager of Proxy Administration, any member of the Proxy Committee, or WFAM’s Chief Compliance Officer. The Proxy Committee includes representation from Portfolio Management, Operations, Portfolio Risk Management and Analytics and, in a non-voting consultative capacity, Compliance.

 

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Records Retention

The WFAM Proxy Administrator will maintain the following records relating to the implementation of the Policies and Procedures:

A copy of these proxy voting policies and procedures;
Proxy statements received for client securities (which will be satisfied by relying on ISS);
Records of votes cast on behalf of Funds and separate account clients (which ISS maintains on behalf of WFAM);
Records of each written client request for proxy voting records and WFAM’s written response to any client request (written or oral) for such records; and
Any documents prepared by WFAM or ISS that were material to making a proxy voting decision.

 

Such proxy voting books and records shall be maintained at an office of WFAM in an easily accessible place for a period of six years.

 

Disclosure of Policies and Procedures

WFAM will disclose to its separate clients a summary description of its proxy voting policy and procedures via mail. A summary of the proxy voting policy and procedures will be disclosed in the registration statements for the open-end Trusts. A detailed copy of the policy and procedures will be provided to clients upon request by calling 1-800-736-2316.

 

WFAM will also provide to clients proxy statements and any records as to how WFAM voted proxies on behalf its client upon request. Clients may contact their relationship manager for assistance, or call WFAM at 1-800-259-3305 or by e-mail at wellscapclientadmin@wellsfargo.com to request a record of proxies voted on their behalf.

 

Except as otherwise required by law, WFAM has a general policy of not disclosing to any issuer or third party how its separate account client proxies are voted.

 

Approved by the Proxy Committee: December, 2018

 

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Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

Effective Date: January 1, 2011, as last amended October 24, 2018

 

I. General Principles

 

A. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“N AM ”) is an investment sub-adviser for certain of the Nuveen Funds (the “ Funds ”) and investment adviser for institutional and other separately managed accounts (collectively, with the Funds, “ Accounts ”). As such, Accounts may confer upon NAM complete discretion to vote proxies. 1

 

B. When NAM has proxy voting authority, it is NAM’s duty to vote proxies in the best interests of its clients (which may involve affirmatively deciding that voting the proxies may not be in the best interests of certain clients on certain matters). In voting proxies, NAM also seeks to enhance total investment return for its clients.

 

C. If NAM contracts with another investment adviser to act as a sub-adviser for an Account, NAM may delegate proxy voting responsibility to the sub-adviser. Where NAM has delegated proxy voting responsibility, the sub-adviser will be responsible for developing and adhering to its own proxy voting policies, subject to oversight by NAM.

 

D. NAM’s Proxy Voting Committee (“PVC”) provides oversight of NAM’s proxy voting policies and procedures, including (1) providing an administrative framework to facilitate and monitor the exercise of such proxy voting and to fulfill the obligations of reporting and recordkeeping under the federal securities laws; and (2) approving the proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

II. Policies

 

The PVC after reviewing and concluding that such policies are reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients, has approved and adopted the proxy voting policies (“Policies”) of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (" ISS "), a leading national provider of proxy voting administrative and research services. i As a result, such Policies set forth NAM’s positions on recurring proxy issues and criteria for addressing non-recurring issues. These Policies are reviewed periodically by ISS, and therefore are subject to change. Even though it has adopted the Policies as drafted by ISS, NAM maintains the fiduciary responsibility for all proxy voting decisions.

 

 

1 NAM does not vote proxies where a client withholds proxy voting authority, and in certain non- discretionary and model programs NAM votes proxies in accordance with its Policies in effect from time to time. Clients may opt to vote proxies themselves, or to have proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent, at the client’s cost.
i ISS has separate polices for Taft Hartley plans and it is NAM’s policy to apply the Taft Hartley polices to accounts that are Taft Hartley plans and have requested the application of such policies.

 

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III. Procedures

 

A. Supervision of Proxy Voting. Day-to-day administration of proxy voting may be provided internally or by a third-party service provider, depending on client type, subject to the ultimate oversight of the PVC. The PVC shall supervise the relationships with NAM’s proxy voting services, ISS. ISS apprises Nuveen Global Operations (“NGO”) of shareholder meeting dates, and casts the actual proxy votes. ISS also provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations. ISS serves as NAM’s proxy voting record keepers and generate reports on how proxies were voted. NGO periodically reviews communications from ISS to determine whether ISS voted the correct amount of proxies, whether the votes were cast in a timely manner, and whether the vote was in accordance with the Policies or NAM’s specific instructions

 

B. General Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest.

 

1. NAM believe that most conflicts of interest faced by NAM in voting proxies can be avoided by voting in accordance with the Policies. Examples of such conflicts of interest are as follows: 2

 

a. The issuer or proxy proponent (e.g., a special interest group) is TIAA- CREF, the ultimate principal owner of NAM, or any of its affiliates.

 

b. The issuer is an entity in which an executive officer of NAM or a spouse or domestic partner of any such executive officer is or was (within the past three years of the proxy vote) an executive officer or director.

 

c. The issuer is a registered or unregistered fund or other client for which NAM or another affiliated adviser has a material relationship as investment adviser or sub-adviser (e.g., Nuveen Funds and TIAA Funds) or an institutional separate account.

 

d. Any other circumstances that NAM is aware of where NAM’s duty to serve its clients’ interests, typically referred to as its “duty of loyalty,” could be materially compromised.

 

2. To further minimize this risk, Compliance will review ISS’ conflict avoidance policy at least annually to ensure that it adequately addresses both the actual and perceived conflicts of interest ISS may face.

 

 

2 A conflict of interest shall not be considered material for the purposes of these Policies and Procedures with respect to a specific vote or circumstance if the matter to be voted on relates to a restructuring of the terms of existing securities or the issuance of new securities or a similar matter arising out of the holding of securities, other than common equity, in the context of a bankruptcy or threatened bankruptcy of the issuer.

 

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3. In the event that ISS faces a material conflict of interest with respect to a specific vote, the PVC shall direct ISS how to vote. The PVC shall receive voting direction from appropriate investment personnel. Before doing so, the PVC will consult with Legal to confirm that NAM faces no material conflicts of its own with respect to the specific proxy vote.

 

4. Where ISS is determined to have a conflict of interest, or NAM determines to override the Policies and is determined to have a conflict, the PVC will recommend to NAM’s Compliance Committee or designee a course of action designed to address the conflict. Such actions could include, but are not limited to:

 

a. Obtaining instructions from the affected client(s) on how to vote the proxy;

 

b. Disclosing the conflict to the affected client(s) and seeking their consent to permit NAM to vote the proxy;

 

c. Voting in proportion to the other shareholders;

 

e. Recusing the individual with the actual or potential conflict of interest from all discussion or consideration of the matter, if the material conflict is due to such person’s actual or potential conflict of interest; or

 

f. Following the recommendation of a different independent third party.

 

5. In addition to all of the above-mentioned and other conflicts, the Head of Equity Research, NGO and any member of the PVC must notify NAM’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) of any direct, indirect or perceived improper influence exerted by any employee, officer or director of TIAA or its subsidiaries with regard to how NAM should vote proxies. NAM Compliance will investigate any such allegations and will report the findings to the PVC and, if deemed appropriate, to NAM’s Compliance Committee. If it is determined that improper influence was attempted, appropriate action shall be taken. Such appropriate action may include disciplinary action, notification of the appropriate senior managers, or notification of the appropriate regulatory authorities. In all cases, NAM will not consider any improper influence in determining how to vote proxies, and will vote in the best interests of clients.

 

C. Proxy Vote Override. From time to time, a portfolio manager of an account (a “ Portfolio Manager ”) may initiate action to override the Policies’ recommendation for a particular vote. Any such override by a NAM Portfolio Manager (but not a sub-adviser Portfolio Manager) shall be reviewed by NAM’s Legal Department for material conflicts. If the Legal Department determines that no material conflicts exist, the approval of one member of the PVC shall authorize the override. If a material conflict exists, the conflict and, ultimately, the override recommendation will be rejected and will revert to the original Policies recommendation or will be addressed pursuant to the procedures described above under “Conflicts of Interest.”

 

B- 21  

 

In addition, the PVC may determine from time to time that a particular recommendation in the Policies should be overridden based on a determination that the recommendation is inappropriate and not in the best interests of shareholders. Any such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of a meeting of the PVC at which such decision is made.

 

D. Securities Lending.

 

1. In order to generate incremental revenue, some clients may participate in a securities lending program. If a client has elected to participate in the lending program then it will not have the right to vote the proxies of any securities that are on loan as of the shareholder meeting record date. A client, or a Portfolio Manager, may place restrictions on loaning securities and/or recall a security on loan at any time. Such actions must be affected prior to the record date for a meeting if the purpose for the restriction or recall is to secure the vote.

 

2. Portfolio Managers and/or analysts who become aware of upcoming proxy issues relating to any securities in portfolios they manage, or issuers they follow, will consider the desirability of recalling the affected securities that are on loan or restricting the affected securities prior to the record date for the matter. If the proxy issue is determined to be material, and the determination is made prior to the shareholder meeting record date the Portfolio Manager(s) will contact the Securities Lending Agent to recall securities on loan or restrict the loaning of any security held in any portfolio they manage, if they determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders to do so.

 

E. Proxy Voting Records. As required by Rule 204-2 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, NAM shall make and retain five types of records relating to proxy voting; (1) NAM’s Policies; (2) proxy statements received for securities in client accounts; (3) records of proxy votes cast by NAM on behalf of clients accounts; (4) records of written requests from clients about how NAM voted their proxies, and written responses from NAM to either a written or oral request by clients; and (5) any documents prepared by the adviser that were material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for the decision. NAM relies on ISS to make and retain on NAM’s behalf certain records pertaining to Rule 204-2.

 

B- 22  

 

F. Fund of Funds Provision . In instances where NAM provides investment advice to a fund of funds that acquires shares of affiliated funds or three percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of an unaffiliated fund, the acquiring fund shall vote the shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the acquired fund. If compliance with this procedure results in a vote of any shares in a manner different than the Policies’ recommendation, such vote will not require compliance with the Proxy Vote Override procedures set forth above.

 

G. Legacy Securities. To the extent that NAM receives proxies for securities that are transferred into an account’s portfolio that were not recommended or selected by it and are sold or expected to be sold promptly in an orderly manner (“legacy securities”), NAM will generally refrain from voting such proxies. In such circumstances, since legacy securities are expected to be sold promptly, voting proxies on such securities would not further NAM’s interest in maximizing the value of client investments. NAM may agree to an account’s special request to vote a legacy security proxy, and would vote such proxy in accordance with the Policies.

 

H. Terminated Accounts. Proxies received after the termination date of an account generally will not be voted. An exception will be made if the record date is for a period in which an account was under NAM’s discretionary management or if a separately managed account (“SMA”) custodian failed to remove the account’s holdings from its aggregated voting list.

 

I. Non-votes. NGO shall be responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance from ISS that it voted proxies on NAM’s behalf, and that any special instructions from NAM about a given proxy or proxies are submitted to ISS in a timely manner. It should not be considered a breach of this responsibility if NGO or NAM does not receive a proxy from ISS or a custodian with adequate time to analyze and direct to vote or vote a proxy by the required voting deadline.

 

NAM may determine not to vote proxies associated with the securities of any issuer if as a result of voting such proxies, subsequent purchases or sales of such securities would be blocked. However, NAM may decide, on an individual security basis that it is in the best interests of its clients to vote the proxy associated with such a security, taking into account the loss of liquidity. In addition, NAM may determine not to vote proxies where the voting would in NAM’s judgment result in some other financial, legal, regulatory disability or burden to the client (such as imputing control with respect to the issuer) or to NAM or its affiliates.

 

NAM may determine not to vote securities held by SMAs where voting would require the transfer of the security to another custodian designated by the issuer. Such transfer is generally outside the scope of NAM’s authority and may result in significant operational limitations on NAM’s ability to conduct transactions relating to the securities during the period of transfer. From time to time, situations may arise (operational or otherwise) that prevent NAM from voting proxies after reasonable attempts have been made.

 

B- 23  

 

J. Review and Reports.

 

1. The PVC shall maintain a review schedule. The schedule shall include reviews of the Policies and the policies of any Sub-adviser engaged by NAM, the proxy voting record, account maintenance, and other reviews as deemed appropriate by the PVC. The PVC shall review the schedule at least annually.

 

2. The PVC will report to NAM’s Compliance Committee with respect to all identified conflicts and how they were addressed. These reports will include all accounts, including those that are sub-advised. NAM also shall provide the Funds that it sub-advises with information necessary for preparing Form N-PX.

 

K. Vote Disclosure to Clients. NAM’s institutional and SMA clients can contact their relationship manager for more information on NAM’s Policies and the proxy voting record for their account. The information available includes name of issuer, ticker/CUSIP, shareholder meeting date, description of item and NAM’s vote.

 

IV. Responsible Parties

 

PVC

NGO

NAM Compliance

Legal Department

 

B- 24  

 

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28 . Exhibits

 

(a)(1) Certificate of Trust dated November 22, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) of the Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed on December 19, 2011.

 

(a)(2) Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust dated February 23, 2015 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 as filed on March 30, 2015.

 

(a)(3) Declaration of Trust, amended and restated as of August 3, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 as filed on August 15, 2017.

 

(b) By-Laws, as amended August 3, 2016, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 as filed on June 30, 2017.

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

(d)(1) Investment Advisory Agreement dated October 29, 2012 between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(d)(2) Amendment dated December 15, 2014 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 as filed on June 15, 2015.

 

(d)(3) Amendment No. 2 dated May 1, 2015 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 as filed on June 15, 2015.

 

(d)(4) Amendment No. 3 dated July 23, 2015 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(d)(5) Amendment No. 4 dated October 28, 2015 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(d)(6) Amendment No. 5 dated April 28, 2016 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 as filed on July 1, 2016.

 

(d)(7) Amendment No. 6 dated August 5, 2016 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 as filed on May 2, 2017.

 

   

 

(d)(8) Amendment No. 7 dated August 3, 2017 to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 as filed on August 15, 2017.

 

(d)(9) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 3, 2018 between Aspiriant, LLC and Aperio Group, LLC, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund, is filed herewith.

  

(d)(11) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 15, 2015 between Aspiriant, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund (formerly Aspiriant Income Opportunities Fund), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 as filed on June 15, 2015.

 

(d)(12) Amendment No. 1 dated April 26, 2018 to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Aspiriant, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

(d)(13) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated May 12, 2016 between Aspiriant, LLC and Wells Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 as filed on July 1, 2016.

 

(d)(14) Amendment No. 1 dated November 2, 2016 to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Aspiriant, LLC and Wells Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 as filed on May 2, 2017.

 

(d)(15) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated February 15, 2017 between Aspiriant, LLC and Acadian Asset Management LLC, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 as filed on May 2, 2017.

 

(e)(1) Distribution Agreement dated October 16, 2012 between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on June 30, 2014.

 

(e)(2) Form of Amended and Restated Schedule A to Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(e)(3) Second Amended and Restated Schedule A to Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(e)(4) Third Amended and Restated Schedule A to Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

2  

 

(e)(5) Dealer Assistance Agreement for the Sale of Shares of the Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(f) Not applicable.

 

(g)(1) Global Custody Agreement dated September 6, 2012 between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(g)(2) Amendment dated June 11, 2015 to Global Custody Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(g)(3) Form of Amendment to Global Custody Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(g)(4) Securities Lending Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 as filed on July 1, 2016.

 

(h)(1) Administration Agreement dated October 16, 2012 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on June 30, 2014.

 

(h)(2) Form of Amended and Restated Schedule A to Administration Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(h)(3) Amended and Restated Schedule A to Administration Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(h)(4) Third Amended and Restated Schedule A to Administration Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

(h)(5) Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Services Agreement dated June 11, 2015 between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(h)(6) Form of Amended and Restated Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(h)(7) Amendment dated June 30, 2018 to Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

3  

 

(h)(8) Transfer Agency Agreement dated October 16, 2012 between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on June 30, 2014.

 

(h)(9) Form of Amended and Restated Schedule A to Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(h)(10) Amended and Restated Schedule A to Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(h)(11) Third Amended and Restated Schedule A to Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Fund Services, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

(h)(12) Administrative Services Agreement dated October 29, 2012 between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(h)(13) Inbound Call Management and Fulfillment Services Agreement dated October 16, 2012 between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on June 30, 2014.

 

(h)(14) Form of Amended and Restated Schedule A to Inbound Call Management and Fulfillment Services Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(h)(15) Amended and Restated Schedule A to Inbound Call Management and Fulfillment Services Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(h)(16) Third Amended and Restated Schedule A to Inbound Call Management and Fulfillment Services Agreement between the Registrant and UMB Distribution Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

(h)(17) Shareholder Services Plan dated October 26, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(6) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(h)(18) Advisory Fee Limitation Agreement dated February 1, 2017 between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 as filed on May 2, 2017.

 

(h)(19) Amendment No. 1 dated August 3, 2017 to the Advisory Fee Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 as filed on August 15, 2017.

 

4  

 

(h)(20) Amendment No. 2 dated April 26, 2018 to the Advisory Fee Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(20) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 as filed on June 29, 2018.

 

(i)(1) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund (formerly Aspiriant Risk-Managed Global Equity Fund), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 as filed on June 30, 2015.

 

(i)(2) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund (formerly Aspiriant Income Opportunities Fund), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 as filed on June 15, 2015.

 

(i)(3) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 as filed on November 16, 2015.

 

(i)(4) Opinion and Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, relating to the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (i)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 as filed on December 1, 2017.

 

(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accountant Firm is filed herewith.

 

(k) Not applicable.

 

(l) Not applicable.

 

(m) Distribution Plan dated October 26, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(n) Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan dated October 26, 2012, as amended January 16, 2013, August 3, 2016 and November 2, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 as filed on December 1, 2017.

 

(o) Not applicable.

 

(p)(1) Code of Ethics of Registrant is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(p)(2) Code of Ethics of Aspiriant, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 as filed on November 5, 2012.

 

(p)(3) Code of Ethics of Aperio Group, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 as filed on June 15, 2015.

 

(p)(4) Code of Ethics of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 as filed on May 2, 2019.

 

5  

 

(p)(5) Code of Ethics of Wells Capital Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 as filed on May 2, 2019.

 

(p)(6) Code of Ethics of Acadian Asset Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 as filed on May 2, 2019.

 

(q) Powers of Attorney for Messrs. Francais, Hendrickson, LeRoy, Taylor, and Wagman are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 as filed on August 15, 2017.

 

Item 29 . Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 30 . Indemnification

 

The Registrant is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is operated pursuant to its Declaration of Trust dated December 2, 2011 that permits the Registrant to indemnify its trustees and officers under certain circumstances. Such indemnification, however, is subject to the limitations imposed by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Registrant’s officers and trustees shall be indemnified by the Registrant against liabilities and expenses of defense in proceedings against them by reason of the fact that they each serve as an officer or trustee of the Registrant or as an officer or trustee of another entity at the request of the entity.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, 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 a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Item 31 . Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

Any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that each adviser and each director, officer or partner of each adviser is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee is as follows:

 

Aspiriant, LLC

Aspiriant, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser for each series of the Trust. The principal address of the Adviser is 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025. The Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

6  

 

Name and Position with Adviser Name of Other Company Connection with Other Company
Primiani, Marc S., General Counsel and Partner Primiani, Stevens, Cruz & Punim, P.C. Owner
Stevens, Clay R., Partner Primiani, Stevens, Cruz & Punim, P.C. Owner
Cruz, Kelly M., Partner Primiani, Stevens, Cruz & Punim, P.C. Owner
Punim, Melissa, Partner Primiani, Stevens, Cruz & Punim, P.C. Owner

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC

Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) serves as investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund. The principal address of Acadian is 260 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110. Acadian is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Name and Position with Acadian Name of Other Company Connection with Other Company
John Chisholm, co-CEO

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Japan)

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Affiliated Directorships
Ross Dowd, co-CEO

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management

(Australia) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Japan)

Affiliated Directorships
Mark Minichiello, Executive Vice President, COO, Treasurer, Secretary

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Japan)

Affiliated Directorships

Brendan Bradley

Executive Vice President, CIO

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Acadian Asset Management (Japan)

Affiliated Directorships
Guang Yang, Member of Board of Managers

Director, Chief Executive Officer – BrightSphere Investment Group, plc (“BSIG”- a public company traded on the NYSE);

Director, Chief Executive Officer – BrightSphere Inc. (a holding company);

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor);

Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment advisor);

Landmark Partners LLC (an investment adviser)

Affiliated Directorships

 

7  

 

Suren Rana, Member of Board of Managers

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer – BrightSphere Investment Group, plc (“BSIG”- a public company traded on the NYSE);

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer – BrightSphere Inc. (a holding company);

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor);

Campbell Global, LLC (an investment advisor);

Copper Rock Capital Partners LLC (an investment advisor);

Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley, LLC (an investment advisor)

Affiliated Directorships
Aidan Riordan, Member of Board of Managers

Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management - BrightSphere Investment Group, plc (“BSIG” - a public company traded on the NYSE);

Director, Executive Vice President, Head of Affiliate Management – BrightSphere Inc. (a holding company);

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment adviser);

Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, LLC (an investment adviser);

Landmark Partners LLC (an investment adviser);

BrightSphere International Ltd. (an investment adviser);

Affiliated Directorships
Meghan Driscoll, Member of Board of Managers

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment adviser);

Investment Counselors of Maryland, LLC (an investment adviser);

Landmark Partners LLC (an investment adviser)

Affiliated Directorships

 

Aperio Group, LLC

Aperio Group, LLC (“Aperio”) serves as investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund. The principal address of Aperio is Three Harbor Drive, Suite 204, Sausalito, CA 94965. Aperio is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. None of the directors, officers or partners of Aperio is or has been engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

8  

 

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen”) serves as investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund. The principal address of Nuveen is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

Name and Position with Nuveen

Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
Employment During Past Two Years
William T. Huffman, President None
Stuart J. Cohen, Managing Director and Head of Legal Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Diane S. Meggs, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer Managing Director and Compliance Manager (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Austin P. Wachter, Managing Director and Controller Managing Director and Controller (since 2017), formerly, Assistant Controller and Vice President (2016-2017) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017) and Controller (since 2018) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2017) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Controller (since 2014) of Nuveen, LLC; Controller (since 2016), formerly, Vice President and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Vice President (since 2016) of TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Vice President and Funds Treasurer, TGAM Controller (since 2016), formerly, Senior Director and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America

 

Wells Capital Management, Inc.

Wells Capital Management, Inc. (“WellsCap”) serves as investment sub-adviser for the Trust’s Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund. The principal address of WellsCap is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. WellsCap is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. None of the directors, officers or partners of WellsCap is or has been engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Item 32 . Principal Underwriters

 

(a) In addition to the Registrant, UMB Distribution Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), serves as the principal underwriter for the following other investment companies:

 

Agility Multi-Asset Income Fund

Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC

FPA Funds, Trust

FPA Capital Fund, Inc.

 

9  

 

FPA New Income Fund, Inc.

FPA Paramount Fund, Inc.

FPA U.S. Value Fund, Inc.

Green Century Funds

The Marsico Investment Fund

Vericimetry Funds

Wildermuth Endowment Fund

 

(b) No officer of the Distributor holds a position with the Registrant.

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records:

 

All accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder are maintained at the following offices:

 

(a) Registrant:

c/o Aspiriant, LLC

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard

Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

 

(b) Adviser:

Aspiriant, LLC

11100 Santa Monica Boulevard

Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

 

(c) Sub-Advisers:

Acadian Asset Management LLC (for Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund only)

260 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

 

Aperio Group, LLC (for Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund only)

Three Harbor Drive

Suite 204

Sausalito, California 94965

 

Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (for Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund only)

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

Wells Capital Management, Inc. (for Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund only)

525 Market Street, 12th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105

 

10  

 

(d) Principal Underwriter:

UMB Distribution Services, LLC

235 W Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

(e) Custodian:

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Seaport Center

70 Fargo Street

Boston, MA 02210-1950

 

Item 34 . Management Services

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 35 . Undertakings

 

Not Applicable.

 

11  

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of California on this 28th day of June 2019.

 

  Aspiriant Trust  
     
 

Robert J. Francais*

 
  Robert J. Francais  
  President  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature   Title Date
       
Robert J. Francais*   President June 28, 2019
Robert J. Francais      
       
Douglas S. Hendrickson*   Treasurer June 28, 2019
Douglas S. Hendrickson      
       
Michael D. LeRoy*   Trustee June 28, 2019
Michael D. LeRoy      
       
Robert D. Taylor*   Trustee June 28, 2019
Robert D. Taylor      
       
Robert Wagman*   Trustee June 28, 2019
Robert Wagman      

 

* /s/ Benjamin D. Schmidt  
  Benjamin D. Schmidt  
 

Attorney-in-fact pursuant to power of attorney

 

12  

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit Number Exhibit Name
(d)(9) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Aspiriant, LLC and Aperio Group, LLC.
(j) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

13  

ASPIRIANT TRUST

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

AGREEMENT made as of the 3rd day of October 2018 between Aspiriant, LLC (the “Adviser”) and Aperio Group, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS , Aspiriant Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);

 

WHEREAS , the Adviser has entered into an investment advisory agreement with the Trust (the “Advisory Agreement”) pursuant to which the Adviser acts as investment adviser to each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each a “Fund”), as such schedule may be amended from time to time by the parties;

 

WHEREAS , the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser previously entered into an investment sub-advisory agreement dated November 25, 2014, which terminated automatically upon its assignment on October 3, 2018, pursuant to which the Sub-Adviser provided portfolio management services to each Fund; and

 

WHEREAS , the Adviser, with the approval of the Trust, desires to continue to retain the Sub-Adviser to provide investment sub-advisory services in connection with the portfolio management of each Fund, and the Sub-Adviser is willing to continue to render such services;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Duties of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to supervision by the Adviser and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, the Sub-Adviser shall manage that portion of the securities and other assets of a Fund entrusted to it hereunder (the “Assets”), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as stated in the Fund’s then current prospectus and statement of additional information, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively as the “Prospectus”), and subject to the following:

 

(a) The Sub-Adviser will provide investment advisory services to a Fund and shall, in such capacity, determine from time to time what Assets will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and what portion of the Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash, subject to the direction of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

 

(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Prospectus, and the instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.

 

(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by a Fund as provided in subparagraph (a) above and will place orders with or through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus or as the Board of Trustees or the Adviser may direct in writing from time to time, in conformity with all federal securities laws. In executing transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Trust and Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or the Trust’s principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Fund’s Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Trust’s principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of either the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the 1940 Act.

 

   

 

(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (b)(6), (b)(7), (b)(9), (b)(10), and (b)(11) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall provide to the Adviser or the Board of Trustees such periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial information, and such other information with regard to its management of the Assets as the Adviser or Board of Trustees may reasonably request.

 

The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the Sub-Adviser’s services under this Agreement needed by the Adviser to keep the other books and records of the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of the Fund are property of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Fund’s request; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser).

 

(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide a Fund’s custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Fund’s Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon request by the Adviser.

 

2  

 

(f) The investment management services provided by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive and the Sub-Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others as long as such services do not impair the services rendered to the Adviser or the Trust. It is understood that the Sub-Adviser has investment responsibilities, renders investment advice, and performs other investment advisory services for other individuals or entities and that the Sub-Adviser, or any of its directors, officers, agents or employees may buy, sell or trade in any securities for their respective accounts. The Adviser, on behalf of the Trust, agrees that the Sub-Adviser may give advice or exercise management responsibility and take such other action for such other accounts that may differ from the advice given or the time or nature of action taken for the Fund, provided that the Sub-Adviser acts in good faith.

 

(g) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust of any financial condition that is likely to impair the Sub-Adviser’s ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement.

 

(h) The Sub-Adviser shall be responsible for reviewing proxy solicitation materials and voting and handling proxies in relation to the securities held as Assets in a Fund.

 

(i) In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to a Fund or a sub-adviser to a fund that is under common control with the Fund concerning the Assets, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Fund. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice with respect to any assets of the Fund other than the Assets.

 

Services to be furnished by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any of the Sub-Adviser’s control affiliates, partners, officers or employees.

 

2. Duties of the Adviser. The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to a Fund pursuant to the Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Adviser’s performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that in connection with its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for compliance with the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, the Prospectus, the instructions and directions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.

 

3. Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies of each of the following documents:

 

(a) the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time;

 

(b) the Trust’s By-Laws as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time; and

 

(c) the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

4. Compensation to the Sub-Adviser. For the services provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefor, a sub-advisory fee paid to the Sub-Adviser monthly in arrears at the annual rate set forth on Schedule A hereto, as such schedule may be amended from time to time by the parties hereto, and calculated based on the average daily net asset value of the Assets under the Sub-Adviser’s management. Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any then current SEC staff interpretation), the Sub-Adviser may, in its discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee.

 

3  

 

5. Liability.

 

(a) Except as may otherwise be required by applicable law, the Adviser agrees that the Sub-Adviser (1) shall bear no responsibility and shall not be subject to any liability for any act or omission respecting any Fund of the Trust that is not included as part of Schedule A attached hereto, and (2) shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any error of judgment, mistake of law or act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

Except as may otherwise be required by applicable law, Sub-Adviser agrees that the Adviser shall not be liable for, or subject to any damages, expenses, or losses in connection with, any error of judgment, mistake of law or act or omission connected with or arising out of any services rendered under this Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Adviser’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

(b) The Adviser further acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser has no authority or responsibility with respect to (1) the structure of the Trust; (2) the promotion, marketing or sale of the Trust’s shares; (3) the Trust’s relations or dealings with investors and participants; (4) the disclosure provided to shareholders and potential shareholders, unless the disclosure was furnished by the Sub-Adviser; (5) the supervision of the day-to-day activities of Adviser; or (6) the supervision of the day-to-day activities of any custodian to the Trust.

 

6. Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) caused by or related to (i) the Sub-Adviser’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement or (ii) the Sub-Adviser’s gross negligence, intentional misconduct or violation of applicable law in connection with the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser’s obligation under this Paragraph 6 shall be offset to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability, or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Adviser’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.

 

The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) caused by or related to (i) the Adviser’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement or (ii) the Adviser’s gross negligence, intentional misconduct or violation of applicable law in connection with the performance of the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Adviser’s obligation under this Paragraph 6 shall be offset to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability, or damage experienced by the Sub-Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-Adviser's own willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.

 

4  

 

7. Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of more than two years only so long as continuance as to a Fund is specifically approved at least annually in conformance with the 1940 Act; provided, however, that this Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund without payment of any penalty (a) by the Fund at any time by the vote of a majority of Trustees of the Trust or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, (b) by the Adviser at any time on 60 days written notice to the Sub-Adviser, or (c) by the Sub-Adviser at any time on 60 days written notice to the Adviser. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment or in the event of a termination of the Advisory Agreement with the Trust. As used in this Paragraph 7, the terms “assignment” and “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.

 

8. Cooperation; Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement agrees to cooperate with the other party and with all appropriate governmental authorities having the requisite jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the SEC) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the Trust. Subject to the foregoing, the Sub-Adviser shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Trust and actions of the Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, and the Adviser shall treat as confidential and use only in connection with the Trust all information furnished to the Trust and/or Adviser by the Sub-Adviser, in connection with its duties under the Agreement; except that the aforesaid information need not be treated as confidential if required to be disclosed under applicable law, if generally available to the public through means other than by disclosure by the Sub-Adviser or the Adviser, or if available from a source other than the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trust.

 

9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act.

 

10. Arbitration. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree that the following steps will be used to settle any controversy or claim including, but not limited to, errors and/or omissions arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof.

 

(a) Negotiation . Adviser and the Sub-Adviser agree that they will attempt to resolve any controversy, claim or dispute (“Dispute”) relating to this Agreement by prompt, good faith negotiations. Any Dispute which is not settled by the parties within thirty (30) days after written notice of a Dispute is given by one party to the other shall be referred to arbitration pursuant to Section (b) below.

 

(b) Arbitration . Any dispute, claim or controversy, including but not limited to, errors and omissions arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement or any alleged breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of this Agreement (including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate), which is not resolved pursuant to Section (a) above, shall be settled by arbitration in San Francisco, California, before a panel consisting of one individual having knowledge of securities and investment matters. Such arbitration will be administered by JAMS, The Resolution Experts (“JAMS”) pursuant to its Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures or, if applicable, its Streamlined Arbitration Rules & Procedures. The award of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding, and judgment upon the award granted may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Damages that are inconsistent with any applicable agreement between the parties, that are punitive in nature, or that are not measured by the prevailing party’s actual damages, shall be unavailable in arbitration or any other forum. In no event, even if any other portion of these provisions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, shall the arbitration panel have power to make an award or impose a remedy that could not be made or imposed by a court deciding the matter in the same jurisdiction. The arbitrator will, in the award, allocate all of the costs of the arbitration, including the fees of the arbitrator and the reasonable attorneys’ fees of the prevailing party, against the party who did not prevail.

 

5  

 

The parties understand that this agreement to arbitrate constitutes a waiver of the right to seek a judicial forum, including trial by jury, except where such waiver would be void under federal or state securities laws. The parties acknowledge that their consent to this arbitration provision is voluntary and that arbitration is final and binding on the parties.

 

11. Severability. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

 

12. Notice. Any notice, advice, or report to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by registered, certified, or overnight mail, postage prepaid, and addressed by the party giving notice to the other party at the last address furnished by the other party:

 

To the Adviser at: Aspiriant, LLC
  11100 Santa Monica Blvd
  Suite 600
  Los Angeles, CA 90025
  Attn: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
   
To the Sub-Adviser at: Aperio Group, LLC
  3 Harbor Drive
  Sausalito, CA 94965
  Attn: Robert L. Newman

 

13. Non-Hire/Non-Solicitation. The Sub-Adviser hereby agrees that so long as the Sub-Adviser provides services to the Adviser or the Trust and for a period of one year following the date on which the Sub-Adviser ceases to provide services to the Adviser and the Trust, the Sub-Adviser shall not for any reason, directly or indirectly, on the Sub-Adviser’s own behalf or on behalf of others, hire any person employed by the Adviser, whether or not such person is a full-time employee or whether or not any person’s employment is pursuant to a written agreement or is at will. The Sub-Adviser further agrees that, to the extent that the Sub-Adviser breaches the covenant described in this paragraph, the Adviser shall be entitled to pursue all appropriate remedies in law or equity.

 

14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Agreement’s subject matter. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.

 

6  

 

15. Relationship of the Parties. The relationship between the parties will be that of independent contractors. Nothing contained in this Agreement will be construed to imply a principal-agent relationship or other joint relationship, and neither party will have the right to bind or create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other party.

 

16. Waivers. Neither of the parties shall be deemed to have waived any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder unless such waiver is approved in writing by the waiving party. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or remedy with respect to any of the provisions of this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such provisions with respect to subsequent occurrences.

 

17. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified without the prior written consent of the parties.

 

18. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Notice is hereby given that the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of a Fund or the Trust.

 

(b) Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation, or order of the SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation, or order.

 

(c) In the event that this Agreement is made applicable to any additional funds by way of a schedule executed subsequent to the date first indicated above, provisions of such schedule shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement as it relates to such fund so that, for example, the execution date for purposes of Paragraph 7 of this Agreement with respect to such fund shall be the execution date of the relevant schedule. In the event the terms of this Agreement are applicable to more than one fund, the Adviser is entering into this Agreement with the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the respective funds severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered paragraph hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each fund as if contained in separate agreements between the Adviser and Sub-Adviser for each such fund.

 

7  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.

 

ASPIRIANT, LLC  
     
By: /s/ John Allen  
     
Name: John Allen  
     
Title: Chief Investment Officer  
     
APERIO GROUP, LLC  
     
By: /s/ Patrick Geddes  
     
Name: Patrick Geddes  
     
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

8  

 

SCHEDULE A

to the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement

dated October 3, 2018

between

Aspiriant, LLC and Aperio Group, LLC

 

Fund Sub-Advisory Fee
Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund Assets Fee
     
     
     

 

9  

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to Registration Statement No. 333-178600 on Form N-1A of our report dated April 29, 2019, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights of Aspiriant Trust, comprising the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Equity Allocation Fund, Aspiriant Risk-Managed Municipal Bond Fund, Aspiriant Defensive Allocation Fund, and Aspiriant Risk-Managed Taxable Bond Fund (the “Funds”), appearing in the Annual Report on Form N-CSR of the Funds for the periods ended February 28, 2019, and to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights” in the Prospectus and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Financial Statements” in the Statement of Additional Information, which are part of such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 27, 2019