April 27, 2021

Securities Act of 19933 File No. 333-180308

Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 811-22680

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
   
Pre-Effective Amendment No.  
   
Post-Effective Amendment No. 179  
   
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
   
Amendment No. 182  

 

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (513) 587-3400

 

Matthew J. Beck

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

[   ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[X] on April 27, 2021 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(b)

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

[   ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 
 

PROSPECTUS

 

April 27, 2021

 

LEFT BRAIN COMPOUND GROWTH FUND

 

(LBCGX)

 

Managed by
Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC

 

For information or assistance in opening an account,
please call toll-free 1-833-498-2238.

 

This Prospectus has information about the Fund that you should know before you invest. You should read it carefully and keep it with your investment records.

 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved the Fund’s shares or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. 

  1  

 

Table of Contents

 

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS 12
FUND MANAGEMENT 19
HOW THE FUND VALUES ITS SHARES 21
HOW TO BUY SHARES 21
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES 25
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 27
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 28
CUSTOMER PRIVACY NOTICE 29
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 31

  2  

 

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Left Brain Compound Growth Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

 

Shareholder Fees

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None
Redemption Fee None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Fees 2.00%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None
Other Expenses(1) 0.76%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 2.76%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursement(2) (0.76%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursement 2.00%

 

(1) “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(2) Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed, until June 30, 2024, to reduce Management Fees and reimburse Other Expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to an amount not exceeding 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Management Fee reductions and/or expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of 3 years after such date that fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and/or expense reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred. Prior to June 30, 2024, this agreement may not be modified or terminated without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). This agreement will terminate automatically if the Fund’s investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser is terminated.

 

  3  

 

Example 

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year that the operating expenses of the Fund remain the same and the contractual agreement to limit expenses remains in effect only until June 30, 2024. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 

 

1 Year 3 Years
$203 $708

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund is a new series and therefore it does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate. However, the Fund expects to have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a focused portfolio primarily comprised of publicly traded equity securities and debt securities (including non-investment grade quality debt securities, commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund’s portfolio is non-diversified.

 

The Fund employs a focused, opportunistic, best ideas strategy that uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative and technical analysis to select portfolio investments. The Fund will invest opportunistically and does not seek to maintain a minimum allocation to equity securities, but expects that, under normal market conditions the Fund’s portfolio will be comprised of approximately 50-80% equity securities and approximately 20-50% fixed-income securities, but may shift this allocation depending on market conditions. The Fund generally expects to maintain between 35 and 75 portfolio holdings and will determine the allocation between equity and fixed-income positions based on market conditions and opportunistic availability.

 

The Fund invests in the equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes have competitive advantages that are able to be sustained over the long-term and that the Adviser believes have the potential for significant long-term capital appreciation, principally through high growth in large total addressable market spaces. In seeking to identify such companies, the Adviser generally looks for companies that fall into one or more of the following categories: companies that generate consistent and continuing revenue growth; companies in industries with a large and expanding total addressable market; companies with competitive strengths; companies with superior and proven CEOs and leadership teams; companies with strong valuation metrics indicating forward profitability; and/or companies with major investors as indicators. The Fund’s equity investments are primarily comprised of domestic common stocks, but may also include other types of equity securities, such as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), foreign securities trading as American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) (including those with exposure to emerging markets), or publicly traded master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). An MLP is a limited partnership, the securities of which are traded on a public exchange or in the over-the-counter markets, that is eligible for special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify as an MLP, the partnership must receive at least 90% of its income from certain qualifying sources, including real estate, commodities, or natural resources. The Adviser believes that MLPs can be an efficient way to gain portfolio exposure to such asset classes. 

  4  

 

The Fund may also invest in performing, stressed and distressed corporate debt securities that the Adviser believes offer capital appreciation potential, generally because the securities are trading below par value and the Adviser anticipates spread contraction that the Adviser believes will increase the price of the securities. The Fund may hold debt securities of any credit quality, but will generally invest in debt securities rated B or higher at the time of purchase by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if unrated, of comparable credit quality as determined by the Adviser.

 

The Fund may also invest in options, including secured or unsecured put options, in an effort to generate additional income for the Fund and/or for hedging purposes. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalent positions (for example, shares of money market funds, short-term U.S. government obligations, commercial paper, or repurchase agreements).

 

The Fund’s investments will primarily be in securities of large and medium companies with market capitalizations greater than $10 billion (“Large Cap”) and/or greater than $2 billion (“Mid-Cap”), and to a lesser extent, in securities of small companies with market capitalizations of less than $2 billion (“Small-Cap”) at the time of purchase. While the Fund will not deliberately concentrate in any one sector, the Adviser’s focus on growth-oriented securities may tend to favor certain sectors over others. Therefore, at times, the Fund’s portfolio may be comprised of 25% or more in sectors such as technology, consumer discretionary, communications, health care, energy, and real estate.

  

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

As with any mutual fund investment, there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends largely upon the Adviser’s skill in selecting securities for purchase and sale by the Fund and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Because of the investment techniques the Adviser uses, the Fund is designed for investors who are investing for the long term. The Fund may not be appropriate for use as a complete investment program. The principal risks of an investment in the Fund are described below.

 

Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to daily fluctuations in the securities markets that are generally beyond the Adviser’s control, including fluctuation in interest rates, the quality of the Fund’s investments, economic conditions and general stock and bond market conditions. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, and epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues. For example, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty, thus causing significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets, the broad effects of which are currently difficult to assess. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers domestically and around the world, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could fall drastically and rapidly and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

 

Growth Investing Risk. Investments in growth stocks present the risks that the stocks’ expected growth will not be realized, the stocks react differently than the market as whole or other types of stock, and the stocks are more sensitive to changes in their companies’ earnings and more volatile than other types of stock. In addition, the Fund’s growth investment style may go out of favor with investors during certain parts of the market cycle, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance. 

  5  

 

Equity Securities Risk. Equity security prices are volatile and the value of such securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to fluctuations in market prices, interest rates, national and international economic conditions, or other market events.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller companies to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. There may be times when the returns for large capitalization companies generally trail returns of smaller companies or the overall stock market.

 

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in small- and mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Small- and mid-cap companies frequently have less management depth and experience, narrower market penetrations, less diverse product lines, less competitive strengths and fewer resources. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies also may not be widely followed by investors, which can lower the demand for their securities. Due to these and other factors, stocks of small- and mid-cap companies may be more susceptible to market downturns and other events, less liquid, and their prices may be more volatile.

 

Debt Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities and government obligations of any size or credit quality. The market value of such securities may fluctuate in response to interest rates and the creditworthiness of the issuer. A debt instrument’s credit quality depends on the issuer’s ability to pay interest on the security and repay the debt, the lower the credit rating, the greater the risk that the security’s issuer will default.

 

· Credit Risk. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt security is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations.

 

· High-Yield Debt Securities (“Junk Bond”) Risk. Junk bonds are generally considered speculative in nature, and have a greater risks of non-payment of interest and principal and greater market fluctuations than investment-grade debt securities. Junk bonds have a higher risk of default and may be illiquid. These risks can reduce the value of the Fund’s shares and the income it earns.

 

· Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk. Investment-grade debt securities are subject to downgrades, which, if severe enough, could cause the security to fall below investment grade.

 

· Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund’s debt securities will generally vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. A rise in interest rates will normally cause the value of debt securities to decrease. Debt securities with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than debt securities with a shorter average portfolio duration. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low interest rates.

 

· Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the Fund debt security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity and the Fund may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, thereby resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Extension risk is the risk that an investment might not be called as expected. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Adviser may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.
  6  

 

Sector Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy may result in the Fund’s having significant over or under exposure to certain industries or market sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that securities within the same group of industries or market sector will decline in price due to sector-specific market or economic developments. If the Fund invests more heavily in a particular sector, the value of its shares may be sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect that sector. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of industries or in different sectors. Additionally, some sectors could be subject to greater government regulation than other sectors, which may impact the share price of companies in these sectors.

 

· Technology Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the technology sector. Many products and services offered in technology-related industries are subject to rapid obsolescence, which may lower the value of the issuers in this sector. They are also heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.

 

· Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the consumer discretionary sector. Companies engaged in the consumer discretionary sector may be affected by changes in domestic and international economies, exchange rates, interest rates, competition, consumers’ confidence, consumers’ disposable income, demographics and consumer preferences, social trends and marketing campaigns.

 

· Communications Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the communications sector. Companies engaged in the communications sector can be affected by industry competition, substantial capital requirements, government regulation, cyclicality of revenues and earnings, obsolescence of communications products and services due to technological advancement, a potential decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals and changing consumer tastes, interests and trends.

 

· Health Care Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the health care sector. Companies engaged in the health care sector can be affected significantly by government regulation and reimbursement rates, approval of products by government agencies, patent expirations and generic drug sales, and litigation.

 

· Industrials Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the industrials sector. Companies engaged in the industrials sector can be significantly affected by general economic trends, including such factors as employment and economic growth, interest rate changes, changes in consumer spending and trends, legislative and governmental regulation and spending, import controls, commodity prices, and worldwide competition.

 

· Real Estate Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the real estate sector, such as REITs. Companies principally engaged in the real estate sector may be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. Risks commonly associated with the direct ownership of real estate include (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing; (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended; and (x) competition for tenants and oversupply of properties for sale.

  7  

 

Active Management Risk. Due to the active management of the Fund by the Adviser, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

 

Investment Style and Management Risk. The Adviser’s method of security selection may not be successful and the Fund may underperform relative to other mutual funds that employ similar investment strategies. The Fund’s growth style may go out of favor with investors, negatively affecting the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Adviser may select investments that fail to perform as anticipated.

  

Real Estate Risk. While the Fund will not invest directly in real estate, the Fund can invest in real estate related securities, including REITs, the value of which are impacted by the value of the real estate underlying the securities. If the underlying real estate or real estate generally experiences a significant price decline, this could adversely affect the prices of the securities the Fund owns. Any adverse regulatory action effecting real estate could also impact the prices of the securities the Fund owns.

 

· REIT Risk. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to real estate risk, such as declines in property values, increases in property taxes, operating expenses, rising interest rates, and more. REITs’ operating expenses are separate from those of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund’s investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses, which shareholders will indirectly, but proportionally, bear.

 

MLP Risk. Investments in MLPs are generally subject to many of the risks that apply to investments in partnerships, such as limited control and limited voting rights and fewer corporate protections than afforded investors in a corporation. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. Investing in MLPs also involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles, such as adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, a shift in consumer demand or conflicts of interest with the general partner. The benefit derived from the Fund’s investment in MLPs is largely dependent on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, so any change to this status would adversely affect its value. The Fund’s investment in MLPs may result in the layering of expenses such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the MLP’s operating expenses in addition to paying Fund expenses.

 

· MLP Tax Risk. MLPs generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner in an MLP is allocated a share of the MLP’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income, and could result in lower income to the Fund and a reduction in the value of the Fund’s investment in the MLP. Additionally, open-end mutual funds seeking to be taxed as regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, are limited in their ability to invest in MLPs by current federal tax rules. If a mutual fund invests more than 25% of the value of its total assets in MLP securities (debt and equity) or owns 10% or more of any one MLP, it will be subject to federal corporate income tax, currently at a maximum rate of 21%. For more information about the Fund’s tax status, please see “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” in this Prospectus.

 

Options Risk. Options give the holder of the option the right to buy (or to sell) a position in an underlying asset, at a set price and time. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves unique investment techniques and risks. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options are subject to correlation risk because there may be an imperfect correlation between the options and the underlying asset that cause a given transaction to fail to achieve its objectives. The successful use of options depends on the Adviser’s ability to correctly predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and such assets. Options are also particularly subject to leverage risk and can be subject to liquidity risk.

  8  

 

Hedging Transactions Risk. The success of any hedging strategy utilized by the Fund will be subject to the Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged, and its ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, a hedging strategy used by the Fund may not work as intended. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs (such as trading commissions and fees).

 

Leverage Risk. Certain options and other derivatives can provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. The net asset value (“NAV”) 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.

 

Commodities Risk. The Fund will not invest directly in commodities. However, the Fund may invest in securities of companies whose business is related to commodities or in other companies that invest directly or indirectly in commodities. For example, the Fund may invest in companies whose business is related to the mining of precious or other metals (e.g., gold, silver, etc.) and the Fund will therefore be exposed to movements in the price of such metals.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs. Investments in ADRs provide exposure to foreign securities that may involve different risks than those of U.S. securities. Foreign securities are subject to individual country risk, less favorable reporting and disclosure risk, currency exchange risk and greater price volatility, and may have higher liquidity risk than U.S.-registered securities.

 

American Depositary Receipt Risk. ADRs are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct investments in foreign securities such as individual country, currency exchange, volatility, and liquidity risks. ADRs may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. Unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by a depositary bank without the participation or consent of the issuer, involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply and the issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from movement of share prices and payment of dividends

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs that provide exposure to emerging market equity securities. The securities markets of emerging countries are generally small, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than securities markets of the U.S. and other developed markets. The risks of investing in emerging markets include greater social, political and economic uncertainties. In addition, emerging markets tend to have lower regulatory, accounting, audit, and financial reporting standards which may result in less publically available information about companies in emerging markets and make reported results less reliable. As a result of these various risks, investments in emerging markets are considered to be speculative and may be highly volatile.

 

Foreign Currency Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs and therefore be indirectly exposed to foreign currencies. The value of the Fund’s assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to constantly changing exchange rates and the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies may reduce the returns of the Fund.

  9  

 

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the price of an asset, or income generated by an asset, will not keep up with the cost of living. Almost all financial assets have some inflation risk.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

 

New Fund and Management Risk. The Fund is new and has no operating history. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy or growing to an economically viable size. In addition, although the Adviser has experience managing separate accounts using a similar strategy to the Fund, the Adviser does not have prior experience managing a registered investment company. Registered investment companies and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“the 1940 Act”), and the Code that generally do not apply to other types of investment accounts managed by the Adviser and may impact the Adviser’s ability to manage the Fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Frequent and active trading may result in greater expenses to the Fund, which may lower the Fund’s performance and may result in the realization of capital gains, including net short-term capital gains, which must generally be distributed to shareholders. Therefore, high portfolio turnover may reduce the Fund’s returns and increase taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

Non-Diversified Status Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means it invests a higher percentage of its assets in a limited number of securities. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

 

The Fund is new and therefore does not have a performance history for a full calendar year to report. Once the Fund has returns for a full calendar year, this Prospectus will provide performance information which gives some indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund by comparing the Fund’s performance with a broad measure of market performance. How the Fund has performed in the past (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Performance information, current through the most recent month end, is available by calling 1-833-498-2238.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser.

 

Portfolio Managers Investment Experience with the Fund Primary Title with Adviser
Noland Langford Since inception of the Fund CEO and CIO
Mark Hines Since inception of the Fund Portfolio Manager
Brian Dress Since inception of the Fund Director of Research

  10  

 

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

 

Minimum Initial Investment

 

The minimum investment amount is $5,000 for all accounts.

 

Minimum Additional Investment

 

Once an account is open, additional purchases of Fund shares may be made at any time for a minimum amount of $1,000 for all regular accounts.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase or redeem (sell) shares of the Fund on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. Transactions may be initiated by written request, by telephone or through your financial intermediary. Written requests to the Fund should be sent to the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund, c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707. For more information about purchasing and redeeming shares, please see “How to Buy Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares” in this Prospectus or call 1-833-498-2238 for assistance.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

 

PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

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

  11  

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has reserved the right to change the investment objective of the Fund without shareholder approval upon at least 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

Additional Information Regarding the Fund’s Investment Strategy

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a focused portfolio primarily comprised of publicly traded equity securities and debt securities. The Fund employs a focused, opportunistic, best ideas strategy that uses a combination of fundamental, quantitative and technical analysis, as described below, to select portfolio investments that the Adviser believes have competitive advantages that are able to be sustained over the long-term and that the Adviser believes have the potential for significant long-term capital appreciation. These analytics seek to identify, among other things, companies that fall into one or more of the following categories:

 

· Companies that generate consistent and continuing revenue growth. Companies that are expanding through rapid revenue growth as opposed to acquiring other businesses. Companies with strong balance sheets with little or no debt that show consistent profit.

 

· Companies in industries with a large and expanding total addressable market. Companies with the ability to capitalize on secular technological changes, a demographic wave, or industry disruption. Companies with non-cyclical business models that can withstand the pressures of recession.

 

· Companies with competitive strengths. Name brand companies with little competition that earn high returns.

 

· Superior and Proven CEOs and Leadership Teams. Companies where the CEO is the founder or the CEO has a high ownership stake with a significant portion of net worth in the company’s shares.
· Companies with strong valuation metrics indicating forward profitability. Data points may include valuation based on price-to-sales, price-to-enterprise-value, non-GAAP metrics, EV-to-EBITDA, operating cash flows, margin ratios and share prices showing an ongoing uptrend.

 

· Major investors as indicators. Companies that are shrinking the share count, rather than using buybacks to offset share creep for stock issuance related to employee compensation plans. Companies where upper management or insiders other than the CEO are investing in the company.

 

To isolate these characteristics in securities, the Adviser implements data screens and researches data from a diverse array of sources over all publically traded companies with at least $2 billion in market cap. The technical and qualitative data is organized and input to the Adviser’s proprietary platform called JARVIS. Resulting in the rankings of approximately 1000 companies are then considered and reviewed by the Adviser and examined alongside the qualitative conditions of the market for the business sectors. The Adviser examines qualitative conditions that it believes are likely to impact the success and profitability of a business and weighs the qualitative impact on the quantitative values of individual securities. Based on these evaluations, the Adviser considers the distribution of the Fund’s investments and makes adjustments as needed.  The Fund will generally consider selling a security when the Adviser believes there is a risk of significate deterioration of the company’s fundamentals or there is a change in a company’s business strategy that affects the original investment case. The Fund may also consider selling a security if the Adviser believe a better investment opportunity exists for the Fund.

  12  

 

Investment Risks

 

The principal risks associated with the Fund’s principal investment strategies are generally described below. As with any mutual fund investment, there is a risk that you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The success of the Fund’s investment strategy depends largely upon the Adviser’s skill in selecting securities for purchase and sale by the Fund and there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to daily fluctuations in the securities markets that are generally beyond the Adviser’s control, including fluctuation in interest rates, the quality of the Fund’s investments, economic conditions and general stock and bond market conditions. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, and epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues. For example, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty, thus causing significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets, the broad effects of which are currently difficult to assess. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers domestically and around the world, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could fall drastically and rapidly and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

 

Growth Investing Risk. Investments in growth stocks present the risks that the stocks’ expected growth will not be realized, the stocks react differently than the market as whole or other types of stock, and the stocks are more sensitive to changes in their companies’ earnings and more volatile than other types of stock. In addition, the Fund’s growth investment style may go out of favor with investors during certain parts of the market cycle, which may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Equity Securities Risk. Equity security prices are volatile and the value of such securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to fluctuations in market prices, interest rates, national and international economic conditions, or other market events.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk. Large-capitalization companies are generally more mature and may be unable to respond as quickly as smaller companies to new competitive challenges, such as changes in technology and consumer tastes, and also may not be able to attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion. There may be times when the returns for large capitalization companies generally trail returns of smaller companies or the overall stock market.

 

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. Investing in small- and mid-capitalization companies involves greater risk than is customarily associated with larger, more established companies. Small- and mid-cap companies frequently have less management depth and experience, narrower market penetrations, less diverse product lines, less competitive strengths and fewer resources. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies also may not be widely followed by investors, which can lower the demand for their securities. Due to these and other factors, stocks of small- and mid-cap companies may be more susceptible to market downturns and other events, less liquid, and their prices may be more volatile.

  13  

 

Debt Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities and government obligations of any size or credit quality. The market value of such securities may fluctuate in response to interest rates and the creditworthiness of the issuer. A debt instrument’s credit quality depends on the issuer’s ability to pay interest on the security and repay the debt, the lower the credit rating, the greater the risk that the security’s issuer will default.

 

· Credit Risk. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt security is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations.

 

· High-Yield Debt Securities (“Junk Bond”) Risk. Junk bonds are generally considered speculative in nature, and have a greater risks of non-payment of interest and principal and greater market fluctuations than investment-grade debt securities. Junk bonds have a higher risk of default and may be illiquid. These risks can reduce the value of the Fund’s shares and the income it earns.

 

· Investment-Grade Debt Securities Risk. Investment-grade debt securities are subject to downgrades, which, if severe enough, could cause the security to fall below investment grade.

 

· Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund’s debt securities will generally vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. A rise in interest rates will normally cause the value of debt securities to decrease. Debt securities with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than debt securities with a shorter average portfolio duration. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low interest rates.

 

· Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the Fund debt security or investment might be called or otherwise converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity and the Fund may not be able to invest the proceeds in other investments providing as high a level of income, thereby resulting in a reduced yield to the Fund. Extension risk is the risk that an investment might not be called as expected. If the Fund’s investments are locked in at a lower interest rate for a longer period of time, the Adviser may be unable to capitalize on securities with higher interest rates or wider spreads.

 

Sector Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy may result in the Fund’s having significant over or under exposure to certain industries or market sectors. Sector risk is the possibility that securities within the same group of industries or market sector will decline in price due to sector-specific market or economic developments. If the Fund invests more heavily in a particular sector, the value of its shares may be sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect that sector. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of industries or in different sectors. Additionally, some sectors could be subject to greater government regulation than other sectors, which may impact the share price of companies in these sectors.

 

· Technology Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the technology sector. Many products and services offered in technology-related industries are subject to rapid obsolescence, which may lower the value of the issuers in this sector. They are also heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by the loss or impairment of those rights.
  14  

 

· Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the consumer discretionary sector. Companies engaged in the consumer discretionary sector may be affected by changes in domestic and international economies, exchange rates, interest rates, competition, consumers’ confidence, consumers’ disposable income, demographics and consumer preferences, social trends and marketing campaigns.

 

· Communications Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the communications sector. Companies engaged in the communications sector can be affected by industry competition, substantial capital requirements, government regulation, cyclicality of revenues and earnings, obsolescence of communications products and services due to technological advancement, a potential decrease in the discretionary income of targeted individuals and changing consumer tastes, interests and trends.

 

· Health Care Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the health care sector. Companies engaged in the health care sector can be affected significantly by government regulation and reimbursement rates, approval of products by government agencies, patent expirations and generic drug sales, and litigation.

 

· Industrials Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the industrials sector. Companies engaged in the industrials sector can be significantly affected by general economic trends, including such factors as employment and economic growth, interest rate changes, changes in consumer spending and trends, legislative and governmental regulation and spending, import controls, commodity prices, and worldwide competition.

 

· Real Estate Sector Risk. The Fund may concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers engaged primarily in the real estate sector, such as REITs. Companies principally engaged in the real estate sector may be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. Risks commonly associated with the direct ownership of real estate include (i) changes in general economic and market conditions; (ii) changes in the value of real estate properties; (iii) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (iv) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (v) changes in zoning laws; (vi) casualty and condemnation losses; (vii) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; (viii) the availability of financing; (ix) changes in interest rates and quality of credit extended; and (x) competition for tenants and oversupply of properties for sale.

 

Active Management Risk. Due to the active management of the Fund by the Adviser, the Fund could underperform its benchmark index and/or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

 

Investment Style and Management Risk. The Adviser’s method of security selection may not be successful and the Fund may underperform relative to other mutual funds that employ similar investment strategies. The Fund’s growth style may go out of favor with investors, negatively affecting the Fund’s performance. In addition, the Adviser may select investments that fail to perform as anticipated.

  

Real Estate Risk. While the Fund will not invest directly in real estate, the Fund can invest in real estate related securities, including REITs, the value of which are impacted by the value of the real estate underlying the securities. If the underlying real estate or real estate generally experiences a significant price decline, this could adversely affect the prices of the securities the Fund owns. Any adverse regulatory action effecting real estate could also impact the prices of the securities the Fund owns.

  15  

 

· REIT Risk. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that primarily invest in commercial real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs are susceptible to real estate risk, such as declines in property values, increases in property taxes, operating expenses, rising interest rates, and more. REITs’ operating expenses are separate from those of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund’s investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses, which shareholders will indirectly, but proportionally, bear.

 

MLP Risk. Investments in MLPs are generally subject to many of the risks that apply to investments in partnerships, such as limited control and limited voting rights and fewer corporate protections than afforded investors in a corporation. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. Investing in MLPs also involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles, such as adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, a shift in consumer demand or conflicts of interest with the general partner. The benefit derived from the Fund’s investment in MLPs is largely dependent on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, so any change to this status would adversely affect its value. The Fund’s investment in MLPs may result in the layering of expenses such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the MLP’s operating expenses in addition to paying Fund expenses.

 

· MLP Tax Risk. MLPs generally do not pay U.S. federal income tax at the partnership level. Rather, each partner in an MLP is allocated a share of the MLP’s income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses. A change in current tax law, or a change in the underlying business mix of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income, and could result in lower income to the Fund and a reduction in the value of the Fund’s investment in the MLP. Additionally, open-end mutual funds seeking to be taxed as regulated investment companies, such as the Fund, are limited in their ability to invest in MLPs by current federal tax rules. If a mutual fund invests more than 25% of the value of its total assets in MLP securities (debt and equity) or owns 10% or more of any one MLP, it will be subject to federal corporate income tax, currently at a maximum rate of 21%. For more information about the Fund’s tax status, please see “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” in this Prospectus.

 

Options Risk. Options give the holder of the option the right to buy (or to sell) a position in an underlying asset, at a set price and time. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that involves unique investment techniques and risks. The value of options can be highly volatile, and their use can result in loss if the Adviser is incorrect in its expectation of price fluctuations. Options are subject to correlation risk because there may be an imperfect correlation between the options and the underlying asset that cause a given transaction to fail to achieve its objectives. The successful use of options depends on the Adviser’s ability to correctly predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and such assets. Options are also particularly subject to leverage risk and can be subject to liquidity risk.

 

Hedging Transactions Risk. The success of any hedging strategy utilized by the Fund will be subject to the Adviser’s ability to correctly assess the degree of correlation between the performance of the instruments used in the hedging strategy and the performance of the investments in the portfolio being hedged, and its ability to continually recalculate, readjust, and execute hedges in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, a hedging strategy used by the Fund may not work as intended. In addition, it is not possible to hedge fully or perfectly against any risk, and hedging entails its own costs (such as trading commissions and fees).

 

Leverage Risk. Certain options and other derivatives can provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure, as well as the potential for greater loss. The net asset value (“NAV”) 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.

  16  

 

Commodities Risk. The Fund will not invest directly in commodities. However, the Fund may invest in securities of companies whose business is related to commodities or in other companies that invest directly or indirectly in commodities. For example, the Fund may invest in companies whose business is related to the mining of precious or other metals (e.g., gold, silver, etc.) and the Fund will therefore be exposed to movements in the price of such metals.

 

Foreign Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs. Investments in ADRs provide exposure to foreign securities that may involve different risks than those of U.S. securities. Foreign securities are subject to individual country risk, less favorable reporting and disclosure risk, currency exchange risk and greater price volatility, and may have higher liquidity risk than U.S.-registered securities.

 

American Depositary Receipt Risk. ADRs are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct investments in foreign securities such as individual country, currency exchange, volatility, and liquidity risks. ADRs may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. Unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by a depositary bank without the participation or consent of the issuer, involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply and the issuing bank will recover shareholder distribution costs from movement of share prices and payment of dividends

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs that provide exposure to emerging market equity securities. The securities markets of emerging countries are generally small, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than securities markets of the U.S. and other developed markets. The risks of investing in emerging markets include greater social, political and economic uncertainties. In addition, emerging markets tend to have lower regulatory, accounting, audit, and financial reporting standards which may result in less publically available information about companies in emerging markets and make reported results less reliable. As a result of these various risks, investments in emerging markets are considered to be speculative and may be highly volatile.

 

Foreign Currency Risk. The Fund may invest in ADRs and therefore be indirectly exposed to foreign currencies. The value of the Fund’s assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to constantly changing exchange rates and the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies may reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the price of an asset, or income generated by an asset, will not keep up with the cost of living. Almost all financial assets have some inflation risk.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. Certain of the government agency securities the Fund may purchase are backed only by the credit of the government agency and not by full faith and credit of the United States.

 

New Fund and Management Risk. The Fund is new and has no operating history. Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy or growing to an economically viable size. In addition, although the Adviser has experience managing separate accounts using a similar strategy to the Fund, the Adviser does not have prior experience managing a registered investment company. Registered investment companies and their advisers are subject to restrictions and limitations imposed by the 1940 Act, and the Code that generally do not apply to other types of investment accounts managed by the Adviser and may impact the Adviser’s ability to manage the Fund. 

  17  

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Frequent and active trading may result in greater expenses to the Fund, which may lower the Fund’s performance and may result in the realization of capital gains, including net short-term capital gains, which must generally be distributed to shareholders. Therefore, high portfolio turnover may reduce the Fund’s returns and increase taxable distributions to shareholders.

 

Non-Diversified Status Risk. The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means it invests a higher percentage of its assets in a limited number of securities. Because the Fund may invest in securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer than a fund that invests more widely, which may, therefore, have a greater impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

In addition to the strategies and risks described above, the Fund may invest on in other types of securities whose risks are described below or in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

Investments in Money Market Instruments and Temporary Defensive Positions. The Fund will typically hold a portion of its assets in cash or cash equivalent securities, including short-term debt securities, repurchase agreements and money market mutual fund shares (“Money Market Instruments”). The Fund may invest in Money Market Instruments to maintain liquidity or pending the selection of investments. From time to time, the Fund also may, but should not be expected to, take temporary defensive positions in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, and in doing so, may invest up to 100% of its assets in Money Market Instruments. When the Fund invests in a money market mutual fund, the shareholders of the Fund generally will be subject to duplicative management fees. To the extent the Fund holds other registered investment companies, including money market mutual funds, the Fund will incur acquired fund fees and expenses (as defined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)), which means that the Fund will pay its proportionate share of the fee and expenses of the registered investment companies it holds. Anytime the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

CFTC Regulation Risk. To the extent the Fund makes investments regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), the Fund intends to do so in accordance with Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”). The Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with Rule 4.5 and therefore, the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. If the Fund is unable to comply with the requirements of Rule 4.5, the Adviser may be required to modify the Fund’s investment strategies or be subject to CFTC registration requirements, either of which may have an adverse effect on the Fund.

 

Portfolio Holdings and Disclosure Policy. A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of its portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.

 

Additional Information. Whether the Fund is an appropriate investment for an investor will depend largely upon the investor’s financial resources and individual investment goals and objectives. The Fund may not be appropriate for investors who engage in short-term trading and/or other speculative strategies and styles. 

  18  

 

FUND MANAGEMENT

 

The Investment Adviser

 

Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC (the “Adviser”), located at 215 Shuman Blvd., #304 Naperville, IL 60563, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Pursuant to the Fund’s investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser provides the Fund with a continuous program of investing the Fund’s assets and determining the composition of the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser is an Illinois limited liability company and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. The Adviser commenced operations in 2014, and provides services to separately managed accounts and private investment funds. Although the Adviser has years of experience advising clients, it had no experience as an investment adviser to a mutual fund prior to the Fund’s inception.

 

For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly investment advisory fee (the Management Fee”) computed at the annual rate of 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets under the terms of the Advisory Agreement.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed under an expense limitation agreement (the “Expense Limitation Agreement”), until June 30, 2024, to reduce its Management Fees and reimburse Other Expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs; taxes; interest; borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short; costs to organize the Fund; acquired Fund fees and expenses; extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to an amount not exceeding 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Management Fee reductions and expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of three years after such date that the fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred. It is expected that the Expense Limitation Agreement will continue from year-to-year provided such continuance is approved by the Board. The Expense Limitation Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser or the Board, without approval by the other party, at the end of the current term upon not less than 90 days’ notice to the other party as set forth in the Expense Limitation Agreement. The Expense Limitation Agreement will terminate automatically if the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is terminated.

 

A discussion of the factors considered by the Board in its approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, including the Board’s conclusions with respect thereto, will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the period ending August 31, 2021. 

  19  

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The following individuals have primary responsibility for day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolios:

 

Noland Langford, founder of the Adviser, serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser and has served in that capacity since the Adviser’s inception in 2014. Mr. Langford has been in the investment industry since 1999. He began his career with Merrill Lynch, and later moved to Wachovia, which was later acquired by Wells Fargo. Mr. Langford received his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds the Certified Financial Planner designation.

 

Mark Hines is a Portfolio Manager of the Adviser. He has served in that capacity since 2016. Mr. Hines previously served as Investment Manager of Equities at Wespath Investment Management from 2010-2015. He also previously served as an Associate Portfolio Manager in the Institutional Asset Management Group at Northern Trust Global Investments. Mr. Hines has a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

 

Brian Dress is the Director of Research of the Adviser and has served in that role since 2018. Previously, Mr. Dress was a Senior Trader/Portfolio Manager at AE Trading, LLC from 2012-2018. Mr. Dress earned his B.S. in International Relations, with a concentration in International Economics, from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He is currently a candidate for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

 

The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and their ownership of shares of the Fund.

 

The Administrator and Transfer Agent

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”, the “Administrator”, or the “Transfer Agent”), located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, serves as the Fund’s administrator, transfer agent and fund accounting agent. Management and administrative services of Ultimus include: (i) providing office space, equipment and officers and clerical personnel to the Fund; (ii) obtaining valuations, calculating NAV and performing other accounting, tax and financial services; (iii) recordkeeping; (iv) regulatory reporting services, (v) processing shareholder account transactions and disbursing dividends and other distributions; and (vi) administering custodial and other third party service provider contracts on behalf of the Fund.

 

The Distributor

 

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, is the Fund’s principal underwriter and serves as the exclusive agent for the distribution of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor may sell the Fund’s shares to or through qualified securities dealers or other approved entities.

 

The SAI has more detailed information about the Adviser and other service providers to the Fund. 

  20  

 

HOW THE FUND VALUES ITS SHARES

 

The NAV of the Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Currently, the NYSE is closed on weekends and in recognition of the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. To calculate NAV, the Fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and the balance is divided by the number of shares outstanding. The Fund’s equity securities are generally valued at market value from the primary market in which they are traded. The Fund normally uses independent pricing services to obtain such market quotations selected by the Administrator and approved by the Board. The Fund’s fixed-income securities are generally valued using price evaluations provided by independent pricing services selected by the Administrator and approved by the Board. If a fixed-income security price cannot be obtained from an independent pricing service, the Administrator is authorized to use a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary identified by the Adviser that is acting as a market marker in the security to value the fixed-income security. If market quotations are not available or are considered to be unreliable due to market or other events, portfolio securities will be valued at their fair values, as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, as determined in good faith under procedures adopted by the Board. Trading in certain securities, such as corporate bonds, U.S. Government securities and money market instruments, is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE; the values of such securities used in determining the NAV of the Fund’s shares are computed as of such times. Occasionally, events affecting the value of such securities may occur between the times trading is completed and the close of the NYSE, which will not be reflected in the computation of the Fund’s NAV. If events materially affecting the value of such securities occur during such period, then these securities may be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith under procedures approved by the Trustees. When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV are based on the consideration by the Fund of a number of subjective factors and therefore may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities. To the extent the assets of the Fund are invested in other registered investment companies that are not listed on an exchange, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based upon the NAVs reported by such registered investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

Your order to purchase or redeem shares is priced at the NAV next calculated after your order is received in proper form by the Fund. An order is considered to be in “proper form” if it includes all necessary information and documentation related to the purchase or redemption request, and, if applicable, payment in full of the purchase amount.

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

 

Shares are available for purchase from the Fund every day the NYSE is open for business, at the NAV next calculated after receipt of a purchase order in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request and/or suspend its offering of shares at any time. Investors who purchase shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary may be charged a fee by such broker-dealer or intermediary. The Fund mails you confirmations of all purchases or redemptions of Fund shares if shares are purchased directly through the Fund. Certificates representing Fund shares are not issued. 

  21  

 

Minimum Initial Investment

 

The minimum initial investment amount for all regular accounts is $5,000. This minimum investment requirement may be waived or reduced for any reason at the discretion of the Fund.

 

Opening an Account

 

An account may be opened by mail or bank wire if it is submitted in proper form, as follows:

 

By Mail. To open a new account by mail:

 

  Complete and sign the account application.

 

  Enclose a check payable to the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund.

 

  Mail the application and the check to the Transfer Agent at the following address:

 

Left Brain Compound Growth Fund
c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 46707
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707

 

Shares will be issued at the NAV next computed after receipt of your application, in proper form, and check. All purchases must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept cash, drafts, “starter” checks, travelers checks, credit card checks, post-dated checks, non-U.S. financial institution checks, cashier’s checks under $10,000, or money orders. In addition, the Fund does not accept checks made payable to third parties. When shares are purchased by check, the proceeds from the redemption of those shares will not be paid until the purchase check has been converted to federal funds, which could take up to 15 calendar days from the date of purchase. If an order to purchase shares is canceled because your check does not clear, you will be responsible for any resulting losses or other fees incurred by the Fund or the Transfer Agent in the transaction.

 

By sending your check to the Transfer Agent, please be aware that you are authorizing the Transfer Agent to make a one-time electronic debit from your account at the financial institution indicated on your check. Your bank account will be debited as early as the same day the Transfer Agent receives your payment in the amount of your check; no additional amount will be added to the total. The transaction will appear on your bank statement. Your original check will be destroyed once processed, and you will not receive your canceled check back. If the Transfer Agent cannot post the transaction electronically, you authorize the Transfer Agent to present an image copy of your check for payment.

 

By Wire. To open a new account by wire of federal funds, call the Transfer Agent at 1-833-498-2238 to obtain the necessary information to instruct your financial institution to wire your investment. A representative will assist you in obtaining an account application, which must be completed, signed and faxed (or mailed) to the Transfer Agent before payment by wire will be accepted.

 

The Fund requires advance notification of all wire purchases in order to ensure that the wire is received in proper form and that your account is subsequently credited in a timely fashion. Failure to notify the Transfer Agent prior to the transmittal of the bank wire may result in a delay in purchasing shares of the Fund. An order, following proper advance notification to the Transfer Agent, is considered received when the Fund’s custodian, receives payment by wire. If your account application was faxed to the Transfer Agent, you must also mail the completed account application to the Transfer Agent on the same day the wire payment is made. See “Opening an Account – By Mail” above. Your financial institution may charge a fee for wiring funds. Shares will be issued at the NAV next computed after receipt of your wire in proper form. 

  22  

 

Through Your Broker or Financial Institution. Shares of the Fund may be purchased through certain brokerage firms and financial institutions that are authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund at the NAV next determined after your order is received by such organization in proper form. These organizations are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives the order in proper form. Certain financial intermediaries may charge fees for purchase and/or redemption transactions by customers, depending upon the nature and terms of the financial intermediaries’ particular platform. Additionally, investors purchasing shares from a broker or other financial intermediary may be required to pay a commission in connection with such purchases. Such investor should consult with their financial intermediary regarding any commissions and other fees and expenses of the shares being purchased. These organizations may charge you transaction fees on purchases of Fund shares and may impose other charges or restrictions or account options that differ from those applicable to shareholders who purchase shares directly through the Fund. These organizations may be the shareholders of record of your shares. The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that these organizations carry out their obligations to their customers. Shareholders investing in this manner should look to the organization through which they invest for specific instructions on how to purchase and redeem shares.

 

Subsequent Investments

 

Once an account is open, additional purchases of Fund shares may be made at any time for a minimum amount of $1,000 for all regular accounts. Additional purchases must be submitted in proper form as described below. Additional purchases may be made:

 

By sending a check, made payable to the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund, c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707. Be sure to note your account number on the memo line of your check. The shareholder will be responsible for any fees incurred or losses suffered by the Fund as a result of any check returned for insufficient funds.

 

By wire to the Fund account as described under “Opening an Account – By Wire.” Shareholders are required to call the Transfer Agent at 1-833-498-2238 before wiring funds.

 

Through your brokerage firm or other financial institution.

 

Automatic Investment Plan and Direct Deposit Plans

 

You may make automatic monthly investments in the Fund from your bank, savings and loan or other depository institution. The minimum investments under the automatic investment plan must be at least $100 under the plan and are made on the 15th and/or last business day of the month. The Transfer Agent currently pays the costs of this service, but reserves the right, upon 30 days written notice, to make reasonable charges. Your depository institution may impose its own charge for making transfers from your account.

 

Your employer may offer a direct deposit plan, which will allow you to have all or a portion of your paycheck transferred automatically to purchase shares of the Fund. Social Security recipients may have all or a portion of their social security check transferred automatically to purchase shares of the Fund. Please call 1-833-498-2238 for more information about the automatic investment plan and direct deposit plans. 

  23  

 

Purchases in Kind

 

The Fund may accept securities in lieu of cash in payment for the purchase of shares of the Fund. The acceptance of such securities is at the sole discretion of the Adviser based upon the suitability of the securities as an investment for the Fund, the marketability of such securities, and other factors which the Fund may deem appropriate. If accepted, the securities will be valued using the same criteria and methods utilized for valuing securities to compute the Fund’s NAV.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person that opens a new account, and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations. As a result, the Fund must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

Name;

 

Date of birth (for individuals);

 

Residential or business street address (although post office boxes are still permitted for mailing); and

 

Social security number, other taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number.

  

You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport, or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities. Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above.

 

After an account is opened, the Fund may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Fund also may close your account or take other appropriate action if it is unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed. In that case, your redemption proceeds may be worth more or less than your original investment. The Fund will not be responsible for any loss incurred due to the Fund’s inability to verify your identity.

 

Frequent Trading Policies

 

Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by a shareholder may harm other Fund shareholders by interfering with the efficient management of the Fund’s portfolio, increasing brokerage and administrative costs, and potentially diluting the value of the Fund’s shares. The Fund does not accommodate frequent purchases or redemptions of Fund shares that result in disruptive trading.

 

The Board has adopted policies and procedures in an effort to detect and prevent disruptive trading, including market timing in the Fund. The Fund, through its service providers, monitors shareholder trading activity to ensure it complies with the Fund’s policies. The Fund prepares reports illustrating purchase and redemption activity to detect disruptive trading activity. When monitoring shareholder purchases and redemptions, the Fund does not apply a quantitative definition to frequent trading. Instead the Fund uses a subjective approach that permits it to reject any purchase orders that it believes may be indicative of market timing or disruptive trading. The right to reject a purchase order applies to any purchase order, including a purchase order placed by financial intermediaries. The Fund may also modify any terms or conditions of purchases of Fund shares or withdraw all or any part of the offering made by this Prospectus. The Fund’s policies and procedures to prevent disruptive trading activity are applied uniformly to all shareholders. These actions, in the Board’s opinion, should help reduce the risk of abusive trading in the Fund. 

  24  

 

When financial intermediaries establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their clients, the Fund reviews trading activity at the omnibus account level and looks for activity that may indicate potential frequent trading or disruptive trading. If the Fund detects potentially disruptive trading activity, the Fund will seek the assistance of the intermediary to investigate that trading activity and take appropriate action, including prohibiting additional purchases of Fund shares by the intermediary and/or its client. Each intermediary that offers the Fund’s shares through an omnibus account has entered into an information sharing agreement with the Fund designed to assist the Fund in stopping future disruptive trading. Intermediaries may apply frequent trading policies that differ from those described in this Prospectus. If you invest in the Fund through an intermediary, please read that firm’s program materials carefully to learn of any rules or fees that may apply.

 

Although the Fund has taken steps to discourage frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares, it cannot guarantee that such trading will not occur.

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any day on which the Fund computes its NAV. Shares are redeemed at their NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your redemption request in proper form as described below. Redemption requests may be made by mail or by telephone.

 

By Mail. You may redeem shares by mailing a written request to Left Brain Compound Growth Fund, c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707. Written requests must state the shareholder’s name, the account number and the shares or dollar amount to be redeemed and be signed exactly as the shares are registered with the Fund.

 

Signature Guarantees. If the shares to be redeemed have a value of greater than $50,000, or if the payment of the proceeds of a redemption of any amount is to be sent to a person other than the shareholder of record or to an address other than that on record with the Fund, you must have all signatures on written redemption requests guaranteed. If the name(s) or the address on your account has changed within the previous 15 days of your redemption request, the request must be made in writing with your signature guaranteed, regardless of the value of the shares being redeemed. The Transfer Agent will accept signatures guaranteed by a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution that participates in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) sponsored by the Securities Transfer Association. Signature guarantees from financial institutions that do not participate in STAMP will not be accepted. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. The Transfer Agent has adopted standards for accepting signature guarantees from the above institutions. The Fund and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to amend these standards at any time without notice.

 

Redemption requests by corporate and fiduciary shareholders must be accompanied by appropriate documentation establishing the authority of the person seeking to act on behalf of the account. Forms of resolutions and other documentation to assist in compliance with the Transfer Agent’s procedures may be obtained by calling the Transfer Agent. 

  25  

 

By Telephone. Unless you specifically decline the telephone redemption privilege on your account application, you may also redeem shares having a value of $50,000 or less by telephone by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-833-498-2238.

 

Telephone redemptions may be requested only if the proceeds are to be sent to the shareholder of record and mailed to the address on record with the Fund. Account designations may be changed by sending the Transfer Agent a written request with all signatures guaranteed as described above. Upon request, redemption proceeds of $100 or more may be transferred electronically from an account you maintain with a financial institution by an Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) transaction, and proceeds of $1,000 or more may be transferred by wire, in either case to the account registration stated on the account application. Shareholders may be charged a fee of $15 by the Fund’s custodian for outgoing wires.

 

The Transfer Agent requires personal identification before accepting any redemption request by telephone, and telephone redemption instructions may be recorded. If reasonable procedures are followed by the Transfer Agent, neither the Transfer Agent nor the Fund will be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. “Reasonable procedures” include but are not limited to the Transfer Agent confirming that the account is eligible for telephone transactions, requesting some form of personal identification (e.g., social security number, date of birth, etc.) from you prior to acting on telephonic instructions, and getting a verbal confirmation from you on a recorded line at the time of the transaction. In the event of drastic economic or market changes, a shareholder may experience difficulty in redeeming shares by telephone. If such a case should occur, redemption by mail should be considered.

 

Through Your Broker or Financial Institution. You may also redeem your shares through a brokerage firm or financial institution that has been authorized to accept orders on behalf of the Fund at the NAV next determined after your order is received by such organization in proper form. These organizations are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund calculates its NAV as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Your brokerage firm or financial institution may require a redemption request to be received, in proper form, at an earlier time during the day in order for your redemption to be effective as of the day the order is received. Such an organization may charge you transaction fees on redemptions of Fund shares and may impose other charges or restrictions or account options that differ from those applicable to shareholders who redeem shares directly through the Transfer Agent.

 

Receiving Payment

 

The length of time the Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds is the same regardless of whether the payment is made by check, wire or ACH. The Fund typically expects to pay redemption proceeds for shares redeemed within the following days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form: 

 

For payment by check, the Fund typically expects to mail the check within one (1) to three (3) business days; and
For payment by wire or ACH, the Fund typically expects to process the payment within one (1) to three (3) business days.

 

Payment of redemption proceeds may take longer than the time the Fund typically expects and may take up to 7 calendar days as permitted under the 1940 Act. Under unusual circumstances as permitted by the SEC, the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than 7 calendar days. When shares are purchased by check or through ACH, the proceeds from the redemption of those shares will not be paid until the purchase check or ACH transfer has been converted to federal funds, which could take up to 15 calendar days. 

  26  

 

Minimum Account Balance

 

Due to the high cost of maintaining shareholder accounts, the Fund may involuntarily redeem shares in an account, and pay the proceeds to the shareholder, if the shareholder’s activity causes the account balance to fall below the investment minimum (the “Minimum Account Balance”). Such automatic redemptions may cause a taxable event for the shareholder. An automatic redemption does not apply, however, if the balance falls below the Minimum Account Balance solely because of a decline in the Fund’s NAV. Before shares are redeemed to close an account, the shareholder is notified in writing and allowed 30 calendar days to purchase additional shares to meet the Minimum Account Balance requirement.

 

Automatic Withdrawal Plan

 

If the shares of the Fund in your account have a value of at least $5,000, you (or another person you have designated) may receive monthly or quarterly payments in a specified amount of not less than $100 each. There is currently no charge for this service, but the Transfer Agent reserves the right, upon 30 calendar days written notice, to make reasonable charges. Call the Transfer Agent toll-free at 1-833-498-2238 additional information.

 

Other Redemption Information

 

Generally, all redemptions will be paid in cash. The Fund typically expects to satisfy redemption requests by using holdings of cash or cash equivalents or selling portfolio assets. On a less regular basis and if the Adviser believes it is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders not to sell portfolio assets, the Fund may satisfy redemption requests by using short-term borrowing from the Fund’s custodian. These methods normally will be used during both regular and stressed market conditions. In addition to paying redemption proceeds in cash, the Fund reserves the right to make payment for a redemption in securities rather than cash, which is known as a “redemption in kind.” Redemptions in kind will be made only under extraordinary circumstances and if the Fund deems it advisable for the benefit of all shareholders, such as a very large redemption that could affect Fund operations (for example, more than 1% of the Fund’s net assets). A redemption in kind will consist of securities equal in market value to the Fund shares being redeemed, using the same valuation procedures that the Fund uses to compute its NAV. Redemption in kind proceeds will typically be made by delivering a pro-rata amount of the Fund’s holdings to the redeeming shareholder within 7 calendar days after the Fund’s receipt of the redemption order in proper form. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear the market risks associated with maintaining or selling the securities that are transferred as redemption proceeds. In addition, when you sell these securities, you may pay taxes and brokerage charges associated with selling the securities.

  

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Income dividends and net capital gain distributions, if any, are normally declared and paid annually by the Fund in December. Your distributions of dividends and capital gains will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive them in cash. The Fund’s distributions of income and capital gains, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be subject to federal income tax. 

  27  

 

The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes, and as such, will not be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income and gains that it distributes to its shareholders. The Fund intends to distribute its income and gains in such a way that it will not be subject to a federal excise tax on certain undistributed amounts.

 

Distributions attributable to ordinary income and short-term capital gains are generally taxed as ordinary income, although certain income dividends may be taxed to non-corporate shareholders at long-term capital gains rates. In the case of corporations that hold shares of the Fund, certain income from the Fund may qualify for a 70% dividends-received deduction. Distributions of long-term capital gains are generally taxed as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your Fund shares.

 

When you redeem Fund shares, you will generally realize a capital gain or loss if you hold the shares as capital assets. Except for investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts, and tax-exempt investors that do not borrow to purchase Fund shares, any gain realized on a redemption of Fund shares will be subject to federal income tax.

 

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceed certain threshold amounts.

 

You will be notified by February 15th of each year about the federal tax status of distributions made by the Fund during the prior year. Depending on your residence for tax purposes, distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Federal law requires the Fund to withhold taxes on distributions paid to shareholders who fail to provide a social security number or taxpayer identification number or fail to certify that such number is correct. Foreign shareholders may be subject to special withholding requirements.

 

Because everyone’s tax situation is not the same, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state and local tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

  

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund is new, there is no financial or performance information included in this Prospectus for the Fund. The fiscal year end of the Fund is the last day of February each year. Once the information becomes available, you may request a copy of this information by calling the Fund at 1-833-498-2238 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.leftbrainfunds.com. 

  28  

 

CUSTOMER PRIVACY NOTICE

 

 

FACTS WHAT DOES THE LEFT BRAIN COMPOUND GROWTH FUND (the “Fund”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

 

Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

 

What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

§ Social Security number

§ Assets

§ Retirement Assets

§ Transaction History

§ Checking Account Information

§ Purchase History

§ Account Balances

§ Account Transactions

§ Wire Transfer Instructions

 

When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

 

How? All financial companies need to share your personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Fund share? Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

Such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

 

Yes

 

No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

 

No

 

We don’t share

For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

 

No

 

We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

 No

We don’t share

For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

Questions? Call 833-498-2238

  29  

 

Page 2

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Left Brain Compound Growth Fund

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor) Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.

How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

Open an account

Provide account information

Give us your contact information

Make deposits or withdrawals from your account

Make a wire transfer

Tell us where to send the money

Tell us who receives the money

Show your government-issued ID

Show your driver’s license

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

Sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

Affiliates from using your information to market to you

Sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

 

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

The Fund does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

The Fund does not jointly market.

  30  

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Additional information about the Fund is included in the SAI, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

 

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI, the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, if any, or other information about the Fund, or to make inquiries about the Fund, please call Toll-Free:

 

1-833-498-2238

 

This Prospectus, the SAI and the most recent shareholder reports are also available without charge on the Fund’s website at www.leftbrainfunds.com or upon written request to the Fund at:

 

Left Brain Compound Growth Fund
c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
P.O. Box 46707
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707

 

Only one copy of a Prospectus or an Annual or Semi-Annual Report will be sent to each household address. This process, known as “Householding,” is used for most required shareholder mailings. (It does not apply to confirmations of transactions and account statements, however). You may, of course, request an additional copy of a Prospectus or an Annual or Semi-Annual Report at any time by calling or writing the Fund or by downloading at www.leftbrainfunds.com. You may also request that Householding be eliminated from all your required mailings.

 

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of information on the SEC’s Internet site may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22680 

  31  

 

Statement of Additional Information

April 27, 2021

 

LEFT BRAIN COMPOUND GROWTH FUND

(LBCGX)

 

Series of

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund (the “Fund”) dated April 27, 2021, which may be supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”). This SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the Prospectus. Because this SAI is not itself a prospectus, no investment in shares of the Fund should be made solely upon the information contained herein. Copies of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge, upon request, by writing the Fund at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, by calling toll-free 1-833-498-2238 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.leftbrainfunds.com.

 

Table of Contents

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RISKS 2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 17
CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE 19
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION 19
SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES 20
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST 20
INVESTMENT ADVISER 26
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS 28
THE DISTRIBUTOR 29
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 30
GENERAL INFORMATION 31
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION 36
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 40
APPENDIX A 41
APPENDIX B 46
APPENDIX C 50
APPENDIX D 53

  1  

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

The Left Brain Compound Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of Ultimus Managers Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company. The Trust is an unincorporated business trust that was organized under Ohio law on February 28, 2012. The Fund’s investments are managed by Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC (the “Adviser”). For further information on the Fund, please call 1-833-498-2238 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.leftbrainfunds.com.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Information contained in this SAI expands upon information contained in the Prospectus. All investments in securities and other financial instruments involve a risk of financial loss. No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment programs will be successful. Investors should carefully review the descriptions of the Fund’s investments and associated risks described in the Prospectus and this SAI. No investment in shares of the Fund should be made without first reading the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations apply at the time of purchase of the applicable securities.

 

General Investment Risks. Prices of securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose securities the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all securities, which could also result in losses for the Fund. Market declines may continue for an indefinite period of time, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of all types of securities, including securities held by the Fund, can decline.

 

Diversification. The Fund is non-diversified. A non-diversified fund is a fund that does not satisfy the definition of a “diversified company” set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). A “diversified company” means that as to 75% of the Fund’s total assets (1) no more than 5% may be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) the Fund may not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer. As a result of being a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a particular issuer and hold securities in only a few issuers.

 

Even though the Fund is non-diversified, it intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and as such, the Fund seeks to limit its investment, excluding cash, cash items (including receivables), United States (“U.S.”) government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, so that at the close of each quarter of the taxable year, (1) not more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) with respect to 50% of its total assets, not more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of a single issuer nor represent more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities.

 

Because the Fund may invest a great percentage of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers, the Fund is subject to the risk that its performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few securities.

 

Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may decline due to daily fluctuations in the securities markets that are generally beyond the Adviser’s control, including fluctuation in interest rates, the quality of the Fund’s investments, economic conditions and general market conditions. Certain market events could increase volatility and exacerbate market risk, and could result in trading halts, such as changes in governments’ economic policies, political turmoil, environmental events, trade disputes, terrorism, military action and epidemics, pandemics or other public health issues. Any of the foregoing market events can adversely affect the economies of one or more countries or the entire global economy, certain industries or individual issuers, and capital and security markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen or quickly addressed.

  2  

 

As shown with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), market events (including public health crises and concerns) can have a profound economic and business effect that results in cancellations and disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, disruption and displacement of one or more sectors or industries, closing of borders and imposition of travel restrictions and quarantines, general public concern and uncertainty and, in extreme cases, exchange trading halts due to rapidly falling prices. Further, the impact of COVID-19 has caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, including the U.S. financial markets. The duration and lasting impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is unclear and may not be fully known for some time.

 

Market events such as these and other types of market events may cause significant declines in the values and liquidity of many securities and other instruments, and significant disruptions to global business activity and financial markets. Turbulence in financial markets, and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers both domestically and around the world, and can result in trading halts, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Fund. During periods of market volatility, security prices (including securities held by the Fund) could change drastically and rapidly and therefore adversely affect the Fund.

 

Equity Securities. The equity portion of the Fund’s portfolio will generally be comprised of domestic and foreign issuers, including common stocks, depositary receipts evidencing ownership in foreign common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks and securities that carry the right to buy common stocks, traded on domestic securities exchanges or over-the-counter markets. The prices of equity securities in which the Fund invests may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose securities the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential losses. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all equity securities, which could also result in losses for the Fund.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a particular investment cannot be sold at the advantageous time or price. For example, if a fixed-income security is downgraded or drops in price, the market demand for that security may be limited, making that security difficult to sell. Additionally, the market for certain securities may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions. A reduction in dealer market-making capacity in the fixed-income markets also has the potential to decrease liquidity for fixed-income securities as a general matter. A potential rise in interest rates may result in periods of volatility and increased redemptions. Increases in redemptions may require the Adviser to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices and times, which could reduce the Fund’s returns. Also, investments in derivatives, non-U.S. investments, restricted securities, securities having small market capitalizations, and securities having substantial market and/or credit and counterparty risk tend to involve greater liquidity risk.

 

Common Stock. The Fund may purchase common stock. Prices of common stock may fluctuate in response to many factors, including, but not limited to, the activities of the individual companies whose stock the Fund owns, general market and economic conditions, interest rates, and specific industry changes. Such price fluctuations subject the Fund to potential loss. In addition, regardless of any one company’s particular prospects, a declining stock market may produce a decline in prices for all stocks, which also result in losses for the Fund.

  3  

 

Currency Risk. The value of the Fund’s assets, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies may reduce the returns of the Fund. Trading of foreign currencies also includes the risk of clearing and settling trades, which, if prices are volatile, may be difficult.

 

Mortgage and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase mortgage or other asset-backed securities. Mortgage and other-asset backed securities are subject to credit risk, interest rate risk, prepayment and extension risk. The value of any mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the Fund may be affected by, among other things, changes or perceived changes in: interest rates, factors concerning the interests in and structure of the issuer or originator of the mortgages or other assets; the creditworthiness of the entities that provide any supporting letters of credit, surety bonds or other credit enhancements; or the market’s assessment of the quality of underlying assets. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage-backed securities (but not the value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of a particular U.S. government agency, authority, enterprise or instrumentality, and some, but not all, are also insured or guaranteed by the U.S. government. Mortgage-backed securities issued by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage-insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may entail greater risk than obligations guaranteed by the U.S. government. Mortgage and other asset-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the possibility that the underlying mortgage or other asset may be refinanced or prepaid prior to maturity during periods of declining or low interest rates, causing the Fund to have to reinvest the money received in securities that have lower yields. Rising or high interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage- and other asset-backed securities, making their prices more volatile and more sensitive to changes in interest rates.

 

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“U.S. TIPS”) and Inflation-Linked Bonds Risk. The Fund may purchase treasury inflation-protected securities or inflation-linked bonds. The value of inflation-protected securities generally fluctuates in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn 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 the value of inflation-protected securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of inflation-protected securities. If the Fund purchases inflation-protected securities in the secondary market whose principal values have been adjusted upward due to inflation since issuance, the Fund may experience a loss if there is a subsequent period of deflation. The inflation protected securities markets are generally much smaller and less liquid than the nominal bonds from the same issuers and as such can suffer losses during times of economic stress or illiquidity.

 

Convertible Securities. The Fund may buy securities convertible into common stock if, for example, the Adviser believes that a company’s convertible securities are undervalued in the market. Convertible bonds are fixed-income securities that may be converted at a stated price within a specified period of time into a certain quantity of the common stock of the same or a different issuer. Convertible bonds are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also provides the investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the underlying common stock. Like other debt securities, the value of a convertible bond tends to vary inversely with the level of interest rates. However, to the extent that the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible bond will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value (the security's worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock). Although to a lesser extent than with fixed-income securities, the market value of convertible bonds tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible bonds tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stock. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.

  4  

 

 Short Sales Risk. The Fund may engage in short selling of securities. In a short sale of securities, the Fund sells stock that it does not own, making delivery with securities “borrowed” from a broker. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. This price may or may not be less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay the lender any dividends and/or interest which accrues during the period that the short sale remains open. In order to borrow the security, the Fund may also have to pay a fee which would increase the cost of selling a security short. The proceeds of the short sale may be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out, or the proceeds may be released to the Fund and invested in additional securities.

 

The Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Excluding any dividend and/or interest payments, the Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those two dates. The amount of any gain will be decreased and the amount of any loss will be increased by any dividends and/or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale.

 

In a short sale, the seller does not own the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until the position is closed out. The Fund must deposit in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodial bank an amount of cash and/or liquid assets sufficient to cover the Fund’s short positions. While the short position is open, the Fund monitors daily the segregated account’s balance to ensure that it meets the relevant collateral requirements.

 

The Fund may also engage in short sales if at the time of the short sale the Fund owns or has the right to obtain without additional cost an equal amount of the security being sold short. This investment technique is known as a short sale “against the box.” The Fund does not intend to engage in short sales against the box for investment purposes. The Fund may, however, make a short sale against the box as a hedge, when the investment manager believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security), or when the Fund wants to sell the security at an attractive current price. In such case, any future losses in the Fund 's long position should be offset by a gain in the short position and, conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns. There will be certain additional transaction costs associated with short sales against the box, but the Fund will endeavor to offset these costs with the income from the investment of the cash proceeds of short sales.

  5  

 

In the view of the SEC, a short sale involves the creation of a “senior security” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, unless the sale is “against the box” and the securities sold short are placed in a segregated account (not with the broker), or unless the Fund’s obligation to deliver the securities sold short is otherwise “covered,” whether by placing assets in a segregated account or otherwise earmarking assets as cover in an amount equal to the difference between the market value of the securities sold short at the time of the short sale and any such collateral required to be deposited with a broker in connection with the sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale), which difference is adjusted daily for changes in the value of the securities sold short, or otherwise. To the extent a Fund  engages in short sales, it will comply with these requirements.

 

Because making short sales in securities that it does not own exposes the Fund to the risks associated with those securities, such short sales involve speculative exposure risk. The Fund may incur a loss as a result of a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the security sold short. Short sale transactions involve leverage because they can provide investment exposure in an amount exceeding the initial investment.

 

Municipal Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase municipal securities. The risk of municipal securities generally depends on the financial and credit status of the issuer. Changes in a municipality’s financial health may make it difficult for the municipality to make interest and principal payments when due. A number of municipalities have had significant financial problems recently, and these and other municipalities could, potentially, continue to experience significant financial problems resulting from lower tax revenues and/or decreased aid from state and local governments in the event of an economic downturn. This could decrease the Fund’s income or hurt its ability to preserve capital and liquidity. Municipal obligations can be significantly affected by political and economic changes, including inflation, as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. In addition, an insolvent municipality may file for bankruptcy. For example, the federal Bankruptcy Code can provide a financially distressed municipality protection from its creditors while it develops and negotiates a plan for reorganizing its debts. Municipal obligations can be significantly affected by political and economic changes, including inflation, as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. Municipal obligations also have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter-term municipal bonds and higher for long term municipal bonds.

 

Credit Enhancement Risk. The securities in which the Fund invests may be subject to credit enhancement (for example, guarantees, letters of credit or bond insurance). Credit enhancement is designed to assure timely payment of the security; it does not protect the Fund against losses caused by declines in a security’s value due to changes in market conditions. Securities subject to credit enhancement generally would be assigned a lower credit rating if the rating were based primarily on the credit quality of the issuer without regard to the credit enhancement. If the credit quality of the credit enhancement provider (for example, a bank or bond insurer) is downgraded, the rating on a security credit enhanced by such credit enhancement provider also may be downgraded. A single bank, bond insurer or other enhancement provider may provide credit enhancement to more than one of the Fund’s investments. Having multiple securities credit enhanced by the same enhancement provider will increase the adverse effects on the Fund that are likely to result from a downgrading of, or a default by, such an enhancement provider. Adverse developments in the banking or bond insurance industries also may negatively affect the Fund, as the Fund may invest its assets in securities credit enhanced by banks or by bond insurers without limit. Bond insurers that provide credit enhancement for large segments of the fixed income markets, particularly the municipal bond market, may be more susceptible to being downgraded or defaulting during recessions or similar periods of economic stress.

  6  

 

Foreign Securities. The Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers that trade on U.S. and foreign stock exchanges or in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund may also invest in securities issued by foreign governments or foreign corporations, directly or indirectly through exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) or derivative transactions (e.g., foreign currency futures).

 

ADRs are receipts that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs are generally issued by a U.S. bank or trust company to U.S. buyers as a substitute for direct ownership of a foreign security and are traded on U.S. exchanges. ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary. A depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited security. The depositary of an unsponsored ADR is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights with respect to the deposited security. Investments in ADRs are subject to risks similar to those associated with direct investments in foreign securities. The Fund intends to invest primarily in foreign securities that are listed on U.S. stock exchanges.

 

Investing in the securities of foreign issuers involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. The performance of foreign markets does not necessarily track U.S. markets. Foreign investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates, exchange control regulations, and capital controls. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. Foreign securities often trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and, therefore, may exhibit less liquidity and greater price volatility than securities of U.S. companies. There may be less governmental supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities than in the U.S. Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value of those securities, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Therefore, to the extent the Fund invests in a foreign security, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, there is the risk that the value of such security will decrease due to changes in the relative value of the U.S. dollar and the securities underlying foreign currency. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than those applicable to domestic custodial arrangements, generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions. Investments in foreign securities may also be subject to other risks different from those affecting U.S. investments, including local political or economic developments, expropriation or nationalization of assets, restrictions on foreign investment and repatriation of capital, imposition of withholding taxes on dividend or interest payments, currency blockage (which would prevent cash from being brought back to the U.S.), limits on proxy voting and difficulty in enforcing legal rights outside the U.S. Currency exchange rates and regulations may cause fluctuation in the value of foreign securities. In addition, foreign securities and dividends and interest payable on those securities, may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from payments on those securities.

 

Emerging Markets Risk. The Fund may invest directly and indirectly in emerging market equity and fixed-income securities. In addition to the general risk of investing in foreign securities and foreign fixed-income securities, investing in emerging markets can involve greater and more unique risks than those associated with investing in more developed markets. The securities markets of emerging countries are generally small, less developed, less liquid, and more volatile than securities markets of the U.S. and other developed markets. The risks of investing in emerging markets include greater social, political and economic uncertainties. Emerging market economies are often dependent upon a few commodities or natural resources that may be significantly adversely affected by volatile price movements against those commodities or natural resources. Emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and currency devaluation and have fewer potential buyers for investments. The securities markets and legal systems in emerging market countries may only be in a developmental stage and may provide few, or none, of the advantages and protections of markets or legal systems in more developed countries. Some of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. Additionally, if settlements do not keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, they may be delayed, potentially causing the Fund’s assets to be uninvested, the Fund to miss investment opportunities and potential returns, and the Fund to be unable to sell an investment. As a result of these various risks, investments in emerging markets are considered to be speculative and may be highly volatile. 

  7  

 

Preferred Stock. The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest providing the holder with claims on the issuer’s earnings and assets before common stock owners but after bond owners. Unlike debt securities, the obligations of an issuer of preferred stock, including dividend and other payment obligations, may not typically be accelerated by the holders of such preferred stock on the occurrence of an event of default or other non-compliance by the issuer of the preferred stock. Preferred stocks may include the obligation to pay a stated dividend. The price of preferred stocks could depend more on the size of the dividend than on the company’s performance. If a company fails to pay the dividend, its preferred stock is likely to drop in price. Changes in interest rates can also affect the price of preferred stock.

 

Warrants and Rights. The Fund may purchase warrants and rights, or it may acquire ownership of such investments by virtue of its ownership of common stocks. Warrants are essentially options to purchase equity securities at specific prices and are valid for a specific period of time. Rights are similar to warrants but generally have a short duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders. The holders of warrants and rights have no voting rights, and receive no dividends, with respect to the equity interests underlying warrants or rights, and will have no rights with respect to the assets of the issuer, until the warrant or right is exercised. Investments in warrants and rights involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, potential price fluctuations as a result of speculation or other factors, and failure of the price of the underlying security to reach or have reasonable prospects of reaching a level at which the warrant or right can be prudently exercised (in which event the warrant or right may expire without being exercised, resulting in a loss of the Fund’s entire investment therein).

  

Investment Companies. The Fund may, from time to time, invest in securities of other investment companies, including, without limitation, money market funds and ETFs. Generally, under Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), a fund may not acquire shares of another investment company if, immediately after such acquisition, (i) a fund would hold more than 3% of the other investment company’s total outstanding shares, (ii) a fund’s investment in securities of the other investment company would be more than 5% of the value of the total assets of the fund, or (iii) more than 10% of a fund’s total assets would be invested in investment companies. Under certain conditions, a fund may invest in registered and unregistered money market funds in excess of these limitations. The Fund expects to rely on Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act when purchasing shares of a money market fund. Under Rule 12d1-1, the Fund may generally invest without limitation in money market funds as long as the Fund pays no sales charge (“sales charge”), as defined in rule 2830(b)(8) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or service fee, as defined in rule 2830(b)(9) of the Conduct Rules of FINRA, charged in connection with the purchase, sale, or redemption of securities issued by the money market fund (“service fee”); or the Adviser waives its management fee in an amount necessary to offset any sales charge or service fee. The Fund generally expects to rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act when purchasing shares of other investment companies that are not money market funds. Under Section 12(d)(1)(F), the Fund may generally acquire shares of another investment company unless, immediately after such acquisition, the Fund and its affiliated persons would hold more than 3% of the investment company’s total outstanding shares (the “3% Limitation”). To the extent the 3% Limitation applies to an investment the Fund wishes to make, the Fund may be prevented from allocating its investments in the manner that the Adviser considers optimal. Also, under the 1940 Act, to the extent that the Fund relies upon Section 12(d)(1)(F) in purchasing securities issued by another investment company, the Fund must either seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to its investment in such securities and vote such proxies only in accordance with the instructions, or vote the shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of the securities. In the event that there is a vote of investment company shares held by the Fund in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F), the Fund intends to vote such shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities. Investments in other investment companies subjects the Fund to additional operating and management fees and expenses. For example, Fund’s investors will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests, in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.

  8  

 

On October 7, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 12d1-4”) which allows funds to invest in other investment companies in excess of some of the limitations discussed above, subject to certain limitations and conditions. An acquiring fund relying on Rule 12d-4 must enter into a fund of funds investment agreement with the acquired fund. Rule 12d1-4 outlines the requirements for fund of funds agreements and specifies certain reporting responsibilities of the acquiring fund’s adviser. Rule 12d1-4 is effective January 19, 2021 and rescinds certain types of relief for funds of funds that invest in other investment companies in excess of the limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, as discussed above and below, one year after the effective date. The Fund expects to rely on Rule 12d1-4 to the extent the Adviser deems such reliance necessary or appropriate.

 

Exchange Traded Funds. The Fund may invest in ETFs. An ETF is typically an investment company registered under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of common stocks designed to track the performance of a particular index or market sector. Alternatively, ETFs may be actively managed pursuant to a particular investment strategy, similar to other non-index based investment companies. In addition, ETFs sell and redeem their shares at net asset value (“NAV”) in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market like ordinary stocks in lots of any size at any time during the trading day. ETFs are traded on a securities exchange based on their market value.

 

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional registered investment company (i.e., one that is not exchange traded), including the risk that the general level of securities prices, or that the prices of securities within a particular sector, may increase or decrease, thereby affecting the value of the shares of an ETF. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional registered investment companies: (1) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to the ETF’s NAV; (2) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; (3) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange deems such action appropriate; and (4) ETF shares may be delisted from the exchange on which they trade, or “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) may halt trading temporarily. ETFs are also subject to the risks of the underlying securities or sectors the ETF is designed to track.

 

Because ETFs and pools that issue similar instruments bear various fees and expenses, the Fund will pay a proportionate share of these expenses, as well as transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions. As with traditional registered investment companies, ETFs charge asset-based fees, although these fees tend to be relatively low as compared to other type of mutual funds. ETFs do not charge initial sales loads or redemption fees and investors pay only customary brokerage fees to buy and sell ETF shares. 

  9  

 

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has granted orders for exemptive relief to certain ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by other investment companies (such as the Fund) in excess of the limits discussed above under the section entitled “Investment Companies”. The Fund may invest in ETFs that have received such exemptive orders from the SEC, pursuant to the conditions specified in such orders. In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F)(i) of the 1940 Act, the Fund may also invest in ETFs that have not received such exemptive orders and in other investment companies in excess of these limits, as long as the Fund (and all of its affiliated persons, including the Adviser) does not acquire more than the 3% Limitation of the total outstanding shares of such ETF or other investment company, unless otherwise permitted to do so pursuant to permission granted by the SEC. In purchasing ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the 3% Limitation unless (i) the ETF or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from the 3% Limitation from the SEC that is applicable to the Fund; and (ii) the ETF and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. The SEC has issued such exemptive orders to numerous ETFs and their investment advisers, which permit investment companies, including the Fund, to invest in such ETFs (“Exempted ETFs”) beyond the 3% Limitation, subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Exempted ETF. The Fund may enter into such agreements with one or more Exempted ETFs so that the Fund will be permitted to invest in such Exempted ETFs in excess of the 3% Limitation. If the Fund seeks to redeem shares of an ETF or other investment company purchased in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F), the investment company is not obligated to redeem an amount exceeding 1% of the investment company’s outstanding shares during a period of less than 30 days.

 

As noted above, the Fund may invest in ETFs in compliance with Rule 12d1-4 to the extent the Adviser deems such reliance necessary or appropriate.

 

While the creation and redemption of creation units helps an ETF maintain a market value close to NAV, the market value of an ETF’s shares may differ from its NAV. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the ETF’s underlying basket of securities. Accordingly, there may be times when an ETF trades at a premium (creating the risk that the Fund pays more than NAV for an ETF when making a purchase) or discount (creating the risks that the Fund’s NAV is reduced for undervalued ETFs it holds, and that the Fund receives less than NAV when selling an ETF).

 

Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest in money market instruments, which may include U.S. Government Obligations or corporate debt obligations (including those subject to repurchase agreements) as described herein. Money market instruments also may include Banker’s Acceptances, Certificates of Deposit of domestic branches of U.S. banks, Commercial Paper, Variable Amount Demand Master Notes (“Master Notes”) and shares of money market investment companies. The Fund may invest in shares of money market investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

Banker’s Acceptances are time drafts drawn on and “accepted” by a bank, which are the customary means of effecting payment for merchandise sold in import-export transactions and are a source of financing used extensively in international trade. When a bank “accepts” such a time draft, it assumes liability for its payment. When the Fund acquires a Banker’s Acceptance, the bank which “accepted” the time draft is liable for payment of interest and principal when due. The Banker’s Acceptance, therefore, carries the full faith and credit of such bank.

 

A Certificate of Deposit (“CD”) is an unsecured, interest bearing debt obligation of a bank.

 

Commercial Paper is an unsecured, short-term debt obligation of a bank, corporation, or other borrower. Commercial Paper maturity generally ranges from two to 270 days and is usually sold on a discounted basis rather than as an interest-bearing instrument. The Fund will invest in Commercial Paper only if it is rated in the highest rating category by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if not rated, if the issuer has an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated in the three highest categories by any NRSRO or, if not so rated, is of equivalent quality in the Adviser’s assessment. Commercial Paper may include Master Notes of the same quality. 

  10  

 

Master Notes are unsecured obligations which are redeemable upon demand of the holder and which permit the investment of fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest. Master Notes will be acquired by the Fund only through the Master Note program of the Fund’s custodian bank, acting as administrator thereof. The Adviser will monitor, on a continuous basis, the earnings power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios of the issuer of a Master Note held by a Fund.

 

Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in corporate debt securities and U.S. Government Obligations, as defined below. Corporate securities include, but are not limited to, debt obligations offered by public or private corporations either registered or unregistered. The market value of such securities may fluctuate in response to interest rates and the creditworthiness of the issuer. A debt instrument’s credit quality depends on the issuer’s ability to pay interest on the security and repay the debt; the lower the credit rating, the greater the risk that the security’s issuer will default. The credit risk of a security may also depend on the credit quality of any bank or financial institution that provides credit enhancement for the security. The Fund may purchase debt securities of any credit quality, maturity or yield. Accordingly, the Fund may purchase investment grade securities, meaning securities rated BBB or better by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), Baa or better by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or any comparable rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if unrated, as determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. In addition, the Fund may purchase lower-rated debt securities including, without limitation, “junk” bonds whose ratings are below investment grade.

 

U.S. Government Obligations. The Fund may invest in U.S. Government Obligations. “U.S. Government Obligations” include securities which are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”), by various agencies of the U.S. government, and by various instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. U.S. Treasury obligations include Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, and Treasury Bonds. Treasury Bills have initial maturities of one year or less; Treasury Notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and Treasury Bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years.

 

Agencies and instrumentalities established by the U.S. government include the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Land Bank, the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Small Business Administration, the Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, the Federal Financing Bank, the Federal Farm Credit Banks, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, the Resolution Funding Corporation, the Financing Corporation of America and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some of these securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government while others are supported only by the credit of the agency or instrumentality, which may include the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. In the case of U.S. Government Obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, and may not be able to assert a claim against the U.S. government itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment. U.S. Government Obligations are subject to price fluctuations based upon changes in the level of interest rates, which will generally result in all those securities changing in price in the same way, i.e., all those securities experiencing appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. Any guarantee of the U.S. government will not extend to the yield or value of the Fund’s shares.

  11  

 

Below Investment Grade Debt Securities (“Junk Bonds”). Bonds rated below BBB by S&P, or Baa by Moody’s, or an equivalent rating by another NRSRO are commonly known as “junk bonds.” As noted above, the Fund may invest in junk bonds. See “Description of Ratings” in Appendix A for further discussion regarding securities ratings. Below investment grade securities are deemed by the rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Below investment grade securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. The special risk considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed below.

 

Below investment grade securities generally offer a higher yield than that available from higher-rated issues with similar maturities, as compensation for holding a security that is subject to greater risk. Below investment grade securities are deemed by rating agencies to be predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal and may involve major risk or exposure to adverse conditions. Lower-rated securities involve higher risks in that they are especially subject to (1) adverse changes in general economic conditions and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged, (2) adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuers, (3) price fluctuation in response to changes in interest rates and (4) limited liquidity and secondary market support.

 

Effect of Interest Rates and Economic Changes. Interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of below investment grade securities tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Below investment grade securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of below investment grade securities may experience financial stress which may adversely affect their ability to service their debt obligations, meet projected business goals, and obtain additional financing. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of these securities and thus in the Fund’s NAV.

 

Payment Expectations. Below investment grade securities may contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such securities to, at its discretion, redeem the securities. 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 a lower yielding security, which would result in a lower return.

 

Credit Ratings. Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. With regard to an investment in below investment grade securities, the achievement of the Fund’s investment objective may be more dependent on the Adviser’s own credit analysis than is the case for higher rated securities. Although the Adviser considers security ratings when making investment decisions, it does not rely solely on the ratings assigned by the rating services. Rather, the Adviser performs research and independently assesses the value of particular securities relative to the market. The Adviser’s analysis may include consideration of the issuer’s experience and managerial strength, changing financial condition, borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, and the issuer’s responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. It also considers relative values based on anticipated cash flow, interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage and earnings prospects. 

  12  

 

The Adviser buys and sells debt securities principally in response to its evaluation of an issuer’s continuing ability to meet its obligations, the availability of better investment opportunities, and its assessment of changes in business conditions and interest rates.

 

Liquidity and Valuation. Below investment grade securities may lack an established retail secondary market, and to the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it may be less liquid than the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular securities. 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 the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of below investment grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement transaction occurs when an investor (e.g., the Fund) purchases a security (normally a U.S. government security) from a counterparty with the understanding that the investor will later resell the security to the same counterparty (normally a member bank of the Federal Reserve or a registered government securities dealer). The Fund’s initial purchase is essentially a loan to the counterparty that is collateralized by the security (or securities substituted for them under the repurchase agreement). The Fund must return the security to the counterparty when the counterparty repurchases it at a later date and higher price. The repurchase price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed upon market interest rate effective for the period of time during which the repurchase agreement is in effect. Delivery pursuant to the resale normally will occur within one to seven days of the purchase. Repurchase agreements are considered “loans” under the 1940 Act, collateralized by the underlying security. The Trust has implemented procedures to monitor on a continuous basis the value of the collateral serving as security for repurchase obligations. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of the counterparty. If the counterparty fails to pay the agreed upon resale price on the delivery date, the Fund will retain or attempt to dispose of the collateral. The Fund’s risk is that such default may include any decline in value of the collateral to an amount which is less than 100% of the repurchase price, any costs of disposing of such collateral, and any loss resulting from any delay in foreclosing on the collateral. The Fund will not enter into any repurchase agreement that would cause more than 15% of its net assets to be invested in repurchase agreements that extend beyond seven days.

 

Participation Notes Risk. The Fund may invest in participation notes. Participation Notes are derivatives that are generally traded over-the-counter and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks and broker-dealers that issue them. Generally, these banks and broker-dealers buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue participation notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The performance results of participation notes will not correlate exactly to the performance of the issuers or markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. The holder of a Participation Note typically does not receive voting or other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security, but is subject to the same risks of investing directly in the underlying security.

 

Strips. The Fund may invest in stripped securities (“STRIPS”). STRIPS are created by separating the income and principal components of a debt instrument and selling them separately. U.S. Treasury STRIPS (Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities) are created when the coupon payments and the principal payment are stripped from an outstanding Treasury bond by the Federal Reserve Bank. Zero coupon U.S. government securities such as STRIPS are debt obligations that are issued or purchased at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound over the period until maturity or the particular interest payment date at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. STRIPS do not require the periodic payment of interest. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but generally require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash. These investments may experience greater volatility in market value than U.S. government securities that make regular payments of interest. If a Fund invests in STRIPS, the Fund will accrue income on the investment for tax and accounting purposes, which is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Fund's distribution obligations, in which case the Fund would forgo the purchase of additional income producing assets with these funds. The value of these instruments tends to fluctuate more in response to changes in interest rates than the value of ordinary interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. The risk is greater when the period to maturity is longer.

  13  

 

Illiquid Investments. The Fund may not purchase or otherwise acquire any illiquid investments if, immediately after the acquisition, the value of illiquid investments held by the Fund would exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid investments pose risks of potential delays in resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio investments and the Fund may be unable to dispose of illiquid investments promptly or at reasonable prices. Under the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments and, through reports from the Adviser, the Trustees monitor investments in illiquid investments. If through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the Fund was in a position where more than 15% of its net assets were invested in illiquid investments, it would seek to take appropriate steps to bring the Fund’s illiquid investments to or below 15% of its net assets per the requirements of Rule 22e-4 of the 1940 Act. The sale of some illiquid and other types of investments may be subject to legal restrictions.

 

If the Fund invests in investments for which there is no ready market, the Fund may not be able to readily sell such investments. Such investments are unlike investments that are traded in the open market, and which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. The sale price of illiquid investments once realized may be lower or higher than the Adviser’s most recent estimate of their fair market value. Generally, less public information is available about issuers of such illiquid investments than about companies whose investments are publicly traded.

 

Restricted Securities. Within its limitation on investment in illiquid investments, the Fund may purchase restricted securities that generally can be sold in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the federal securities laws, or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek registration and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security.

 

Certain restricted securities are illiquid unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid because it is so-called “4(a)(2) commercial paper” or is otherwise eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“144A Securities”). Investing in 144A Securities may decrease the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become for a time uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities. The purchase price and subsequent valuation of restricted and illiquid securities normally reflect a discount, which may be significant, from the market price of comparable securities for which a liquid market exists. 

  14  

 

Borrowing Money. The Fund may to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, borrow money to meet redemption requests or for extraordinary or emergency purposes. Borrowing involves the creation of a liability that requires the Fund to pay interest. In the event the Fund should ever borrow money under these conditions, such borrowing could increase the Fund’s costs and thus reduce the value of the Fund’s assets. In an extreme case, if the Fund’s current investment income were not sufficient to meet the interest expense of borrowing, it could be necessary for the Fund to liquidate certain of its investments at an inappropriate time.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount up to 33⅓% of its total assets to broker-dealers, major banks, or other recognized domestic institutional borrowers of securities that the Adviser has determined are creditworthy under guidelines established by the Board. In determining whether the Fund will lend securities, the Adviser will consider all relevant facts and circumstances. The Fund may not lend securities to any company affiliated with the Adviser. Each loan of securities will be collateralized by cash, securities, or letters of credit. The Fund might experience a loss if the borrower defaults on the loan.

 

The borrower at all times during the loan must maintain with the Fund collateral in the form of cash or cash equivalents, or provide to the Fund an irrevocable letter of credit equal in value to at least 100% of the value of the securities loaned. While the loan is outstanding, the borrower will pay the Fund any dividends or interest paid on the loaned securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral to earn additional income. Alternatively, the Fund may receive an agreed-upon amount of interest income from the borrower who has delivered equivalent collateral or a letter of credit. It is anticipated that the Fund may share with the borrower some of the income received on the collateral for the loan or the Fund will be paid a premium for the loan. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the Fund or the borrower at any time. The Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan, and may pay a negotiated portion of the income earned on the cash to the borrower or placing broker. As with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. If the Fund invests the cash collateral from the borrower, there is the risk that such investment may result in a financial loss. In such an event, the Fund would be required to repay the borrower out the Fund’s assets.

 

Where voting rights with respect to the loaned securities pass with the lending of the securities, the Adviser normally intends to call the loaned securities to vote proxies, or to use other practicable and legally enforceable means to obtain voting rights, when the Adviser has knowledge that, in its opinion, a material event affecting the loaned securities will occur or the Adviser otherwise believes it necessary to vote.

 

Economic and Regulatory Risks. Domestic and foreign governments and agencies thereof often adopt an active approach to managing economic conditions within a nation, which may have material effects on the securities markets within the nation. A government may pursue supportive policies that include, but are not limited to, lowering corporate and personal tax rates and launching simulative government spending programs designed to improve the national economy or sectors thereof. Agencies of a government, including central banks, may pursue supporting policies that include, but are not limited to, setting lower interest rate targets and buying and selling securities in the public markets. Governments and agencies thereof may also attempt to slow economic growth if the pace of economic growth is perceived to be too great and pose a long-term risk to the economy or a sector thereof. In each instance, the actions taken may be less successful than anticipated or may have unintended adverse consequences. Such a failure or investor perception that such efforts are failing could negatively affect securities markets generally, as well as result in higher interest rates, increased market volatility and reduce the value and liquidity of certain securities, including securities held by the Fund. 

  15  

 

In addition, governments and agencies thereof may enact additional regulation or engage in deregulation that negatively impacts the general securities markets or a sector thereof. Given the potential broad scope and sweeping nature of some regulatory actions, the potential impact a regulatory action may have on securities held by the Fund may be difficult to determine and may not be fully known for an extended period of time. Accordingly, regulatory actions could adversely affect the Fund.

 

Changing Fixed Income Market Conditions. Following the financial crisis that began in 2007, the U.S. government and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took steps to support financial markets, including seeking to maintain interest rates at or near historically low levels and by purchasing large quantities of fixed income securities on the open market, such as securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, (“Quantitative Easing”). Similar steps appear to be taking place again in an effort to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear how long these policies will last. In addition, this and other government interventions may not work as intended, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results. When the Federal Reserve determines to “taper” or reduce Quantitative Easing and/or raise the federal funds rate, there is a risk that interest rates across the U.S. financial system will rise. Such policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain fixed income investments, including fixed income investments held by the Fund, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments and share price to decline. To the extent that the Fund invests in derivatives tied to fixed income markets, the Fund may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a fund that does not invest in such derivatives.

 

Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. A breach in cybersecurity refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose or compromise confidential, proprietary or private personal information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cybersecurity include, among other things, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other operational disruptions. Successful cybersecurity breaches of the Fund and/or the Fund’s investment adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer agent, or other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders. For instance, a successful cybersecurity breach may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private personal shareholder information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund relies on third party service providers for many of the day-to-day operations, and is therefore subject to the risk that the protections and protocols implemented by those service providers will be ineffective in protecting the Fund from cybersecurity breaches. Similar types of cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There is no guarantee the Fund will be successful in protecting against cybersecurity breaches.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions. The Fund may from time to time take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with its principal investment strategies. If the Adviser believes a temporary defensive position is warranted in view of market conditions, the Fund may hold cash or invest up to 100% of its assets in high-quality short-term government or corporate obligations, money market instruments or shares of money market mutual funds. Taking a temporary defensive position may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. 

  16  

 

Operational Risk. An investment in the Fund involves operational risk arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. Any of these failures or errors could result in a loss or compromise of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there is no guarantee that the Fund will not suffer losses due to operational risk.

 

Portfolio Turnover. The portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the securities. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemption of shares. High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs to the Fund, including brokerage commissions, and may result in additional tax consequences to the Fund’s shareholders. Portfolio turnover will not be a factor in making buy and sell decisions for the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

 

The Fund has adopted the following fundamental investment limitations that may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and this SAI, the term “majority” of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations apply at the time of purchase of the applicable securities. See the Prospectus for more information about the Fund’s investment objective and investment strategies, each of which are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

FUNDAMENTAL RESTRICTIONS. As a matter of fundamental policy:

 

1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money except as permitted under the 1940 Act. For example, subject to the restrictions of the 1940 Act the Fund may borrow money from banks to meet redemption requests or for extraordinary or emergency purposes.

 

2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws or in connection with investments in other investment companies.

 

4. Real Estate. The Fund will not directly purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities which are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from holding or selling real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities or other instruments, investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

 

5. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options, forward contracts, or futures contracts, including those relating to indices, or options on futures contracts or indices, or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities. 

  17  

 

6. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, provided that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount up to 33% of total Fund assets, and provided further that, for purposes of this restriction, investment in U.S. Government Obligations, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, repurchase agreements and any other lending arrangement permitted by the 1940 Act, any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff shall not be deemed to be the making of a “loan”. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other debt securities.

 

7. Concentration. The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in a particular industry. This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities) or state or municipal governments (and their political subdivisions) or repurchase agreements with respect thereto, or investments in registered investment companies. If, however, the Fund invests in an investment company that concentrates its investment in a particular industry, the Fund will consider such investment to be issued by a member of the industry in which such investment company invests. In addition, if the Fund invests in a revenue bond tied to a particular industry, the Fund will consider such investment to be issued by a member of the industry to which the revenue bond is tied.

 

With respect to the “fundamental” investment restrictions above, if a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction (i.e., percentage limitations are determined at the time of purchase); provided, however, that the treatment of the fundamental restrictions related to borrowing money and issuing senior securities are exceptions to this general rule and are monitored on an ongoing basis.

 

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, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements standby commitments and trading practices which would be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security, including options, futures and forward contracts, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligation.

 

The 1940 Act permits the Fund to borrow money from banks in an amount up to one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less its liabilities (not including any borrowings but including the fair market value at the time of computation of any other senior securities then outstanding). In general, the Fund may not issue any class of senior security, except that the Fund may (i) borrow from banks, provided that immediately following any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all Fund borrowings and in the event such asset coverage falls below 300% the Fund will within three days (excluding holidays and Sundays) or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulation, reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%, and (ii) engage in trading practices which could be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security, including options, futures, forward contracts and reverse repurchase agreements, provided that the Fund earmarks or segregates liquid assets in accordance with applicable SEC regulations and interpretations. 

  18  

 

CALCULATION OF SHARE PRICE

 

The share price or NAV of shares of the Fund is determined as of the close of the regular session of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on each day the NYSE is open for trading. Currently, the NYSE is open for trading on every day except Saturdays, Sundays and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

 

For purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV, securities are valued at market value as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each business day the NYSE is open. Securities listed on the NYSE or other exchanges are valued based on their last sale prices on the exchanges on which they are primarily traded. If there are no sales on that day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and ask prices on the NYSE or other primary exchange for that day. National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“NASDAQ”) listed securities are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If there are no sales on that day, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recently quoted bid and ask prices as reported by NASDAQ. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last sale price, if available, otherwise at the mean of the most recently quoted bid and ask prices.

 

In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, securities and other assets are valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board. Fixed-income securities are normally valued based on prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services approved by the Board, which are generally determined with consideration given to institutional bid and last sale prices and take into account security prices, yield, maturity, call features, ratings, institutional-sized trading in similar groups of securities and developments related to specific securities. Foreign securities are normally valued on the basis of fair valuation prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services approved by the Board, which are generally determined with consideration given to any change in price of the foreign security and any other developments related to the foreign security since the last sale price on the exchange on which such foreign security primarily traded and the close of regular trading on the NYSE. The methods used by independent pricing services and the quality of valuations so established are reviewed by the Adviser and the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”) under the general supervision of the Board. One or more pricing services may be utilized to determine the fair value of securities held by the Fund. The methods used by independent pricing services and the quality of valuations so established are reviewed by the Adviser and the Fund’s administrator under the general supervision of the Board. To the extent the assets of the Fund are invested in other open-end investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act and not traded on an exchange, the Fund’s NAV is calculated based upon the NAVs reported by such registered open-end investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

Shares of the Fund are offered for sale on a continuous basis. Shares are sold and redeemed at their NAV, as next determined after receipt of the purchase or redemption order in proper form.

 

The Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for shares during a period when: (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC; (b) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (c) the SEC has by order permitted these suspensions; or (d) an emergency exists as a result of which: (i) disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its assets. 

  19  

 

The Fund reserves the right to make payment for a redemption in securities rather than cash, which is known as a “redemption in kind”. Redemptions in kind will be made only under extraordinary circumstances and if the Fund deems it advisable for the benefit of all shareholders, such as a very large redemption that could affect Fund operations (for example, more than 1% of the Fund’s net assets). A redemption in kind will consist of liquid securities equal in market value to the Fund shares being redeemed, using the same valuation procedures that the Fund uses to compute its NAV. Redemption in kind proceeds will typically be made by delivering a pro-rata amount of the Fund’s holdings that are readily marketable securities to the redeeming shareholder within 7 days after the Fund’s receipt of the redemption order in proper form. If the Fund redeems your shares in kind, you will bear the market risks associated with maintaining or selling the securities paid as redemption proceeds. In addition, when you sell these securities, you bear the risk that the securities have become less liquid and are difficult to sell. You also will be responsible for any taxes and brokerage charges associated with selling the securities.

 

SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

 

As noted in the Prospectus, the Fund offers the following shareholder services:

 

Regular Account. The regular account allows for voluntary investments to be made at any time. Available to individuals, custodians, corporations, trusts, estates, corporate retirement plans and others, investors are free to make additions to and withdrawals from their account as often as they wish. When an investor makes an initial investment in the Fund, a shareholder account is opened in accordance with the investor’s registration instructions. Each time there is a transaction in a shareholder account, such as an additional investment or a redemption, the shareholder will receive a confirmation statement showing the current transaction.

 

Automatic Investment Plan. The automatic investment plan enables investors to make regular periodic investments in shares through automatic charges to their checking account. With shareholder authorization and bank approval, the Fund’s transfer agent will automatically charge the checking account for the amount specified ($100 minimum) which will be automatically invested in shares at the NAV on or about the fifteenth and/or the last business day of the month, or both. The shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing to the Fund.

 

Transfer of Registration. To transfer shares to another owner, send a written request to Left Brain Compound Growth Fund, c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707. Your request should include the following: (i) the Fund name and existing account registration; (ii) signature(s) of the registered owner(s) exactly as the signature(s) appear(s) on the account registration; (iii) if it is for a new account, a completed account application, or if it is an existing account, the account number; (iv) Medallion signature guarantees (See the heading “How to Redeem Shares – Signature Guarantees” in the Prospectus); and (v) any additional documents that are required for transfer by corporations, administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, etc. If you have any questions about transferring shares, call or write the Fund.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

 

Overall responsibility for management and supervision of the Fund and the Trust rests with the Board. The members of the Board (the “Trustees”) are elected by the Trust’s shareholders or existing members of the Board as permitted under the 1940 Act and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Trustees serve for terms of indefinite duration until death, resignation, retirement or removal from office. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to actively supervise the Trust’s day-to-day operations. The officers are elected annually. Certain officers of the Trust also may serve as Trustees. 

  20  

 

The Trust will be managed by the Board in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio governing business trusts. There are currently six Trustees, five of whom are not “interested persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”). The Independent Trustees receive compensation for their services as Trustees and attendance at meetings of the Board. Officers of the Trust receive no compensation from the Trust for performing the duties of their offices.

 

Attached in Appendix A is a list of the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust, their year of birth and address, their present position with the Trust, length of time serviced in their position, and their principal occupation(s) during the past five years. Those Trustees who are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act and those Trustees who are Independent Trustees are identified in the table.

 

Leadership Structure and Qualifications of Trustees. As noted above, the Board consists of six Trustees, five of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board is responsible for the oversight of the series, or funds, of the Trust.

 

In addition to the Fund, the Trust has other series managed by other investment advisers. The Board has engaged various investment advisers to oversee the day-to-day management of the Trust’s series. The Board is responsible for overseeing these investment advisers and the Trust’s other service providers in the operations of the Trust in accordance with the 1940 Act, other applicable federal and state laws, and the Declaration of Trust.

 

The Board meets at least four times throughout the year. The Board generally meets in person, but may meet by telephone or videoconference as permitted by the 1940 Act. In addition, the Trustees may meet in person or by telephone or videoconference at special meetings or on an informal basis at other times. The Independent Trustees also meet at least quarterly without the presence of any representatives of management.

 

Board Leadership. The Board is led by its Chairperson, Ms. Janine L. Cohen, who is also an Independent Trustee. The Chairperson generally presides at all Board Meetings, facilitates communication and coordination between the Trustees and management, and reviews meeting agendas for the Board and the information provided by management to the Trustees. The Chairperson works closely with Trust counsel and counsel to the Independent Trustees. The Chairperson is also assisted by the Trust’s President, who, with the assistance of the Trust’s other officers, oversees the daily operations of the Fund, including monitoring the activities of all of the Fund’s service providers.

 

The Board believes that its leadership structure, including having an Independent Trustee serve as Chairperson and five out of six Trustees as Independent Trustees, is appropriate and in the best interests of the Trust. The Board also believes its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Independent Trustees from Trust management.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee” formerly known as the Committee of Independent Trustees): The principal functions of the Audit Committee are: (i) to appoint, retain and oversee the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) to meet separately with the independent registered public accounting firm and receive and consider a report concerning its conduct of the audit, including any comments or recommendations it deems appropriate; (iii) to act as the Trust’s qualified legal compliance committee (“QLCC”), as defined in the regulations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and (iv) to act as a proxy voting committee if called upon under the Trust’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures when a matter with respect to which a series of the Trust is entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the series’ shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the series’ investment manager on the other hand. Messrs. David M. Deptula, Robert E. Morrison, and Clifford N. Schireson and Mses. Janine L. Cohen and Jacqueline A. Williams are the members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Deptula is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and presides at its meetings. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021. 

  21  

 

Nominations and Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee” formerly known as the Nominating Committee): The Governance Committee nominates and selects persons to serve as members of the Board, including Independent Trustees and “interested” Trustees and assists in reviewing the Trust’s governance practices and standards. In selecting and nominating persons to serve as Independent Trustees, the Governance Committee will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders of the Trust unless required by law. Messrs. Deptula, Morrison, and Schireson and Mses. Cohen and Williams are the members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Morrison is the Chairperson of the Governance Committee and presides at its meetings. The Governance Committee met one time during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021.

 

Qualifications of the Trustees. The Governance Committee reviews the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of potential candidates for nomination or election by the Board. In evaluating a candidate for nomination or election as a Trustee, the Governance Committee takes into account the contribution that the candidate would be expected to make to the diverse mix of experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that the Governance Committee believes contribute to the oversight of the Trust’s affairs. The Board has concluded, based on the recommendation of the Governance Committee, that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills on both an individual basis and in combination with the other Trustees, that each Trustee is qualified to serve on the Board. The Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the Adviser, other service providers, legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees support this conclusion. In determining that a particular Trustee is and will continue to be qualified to serve as a Trustee, the Board considers a variety of criteria, none of which, in isolation, is controlling.

 

In addition to the Trustee qualifications listed above, each of the Trustees has additional Trustee qualifications including, among other things, the experience identified in the “Trustees and Executive Officers” table included in Appendix A and as follows:

 

Interested Trustee. David R. Carson is Senior Vice President, Client Strategies for Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”). Mr. Carson is also a Trustee of Unified Series Trust. Mr. Carson served as President of the Trust from 2013 until January 2021, and serves as President of the Centaur Mutual Funds Trust from 2018 to present. Prior to joining Ultimus in 2013, Mr. Carson served as the Chief Operations and Compliance Officer for The Huntington Funds from 2005 until 2013, for The Flex-Funds from 2006 until 2011, for Meeder Financial from 2007 until 2011, for Huntington Strategy Shares from 2012 until 2013, and for Huntington Asset Advisors during 2013. Mr. Carson also served as Vice President of Huntington National Bank from 2001 until 2013. Mr. Carson holds a B.A. in English from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Mr. Carson was Co-Founder and Director of Advancing Fund Governance, organized for those charged with fund governance to help members best serve shareholders and stakeholders. He is an active member of the Investment Company Institute (ICI) and served as board chair of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Carson has been a Trustee since January 2021. 

  22  

 

Independent Trustees. David M. Deptula has served as Vice President of Legal and Special Projects for Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. since February 1, 2016. Prior to that position, Mr. Deptula was Vice President of Tax Treasury for Standard Register, Inc. (a company that provides solutions for companies to manage their critical communications, previously The Standard Register Company) since November 2011. (Standard Register, Inc. a newly formed subsidiary of Taylor Corporation, purchased assets of The Standard Register Company on July 31, 2015.) Prior to joining Standard Register, Mr. Deptula was a Tax Partner at Deloitte Tax LLP (“Deloitte”). Mr. Deptula joined Deloitte in 1984 and remained with Deloitte until October of 2011. During his tenure at Deloitte, he was actively involved in providing tax accounting services to open-end mutual funds and other financial services companies. Mr. Deptula holds a B.S. in Accounting from Wright State University and a Juris Doctor from University of Toledo. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Deptula has been a Trustee since June 2012.

 

Janine L. Cohen, retired, was an executive at AER Advisors, Inc. (“AER”) from 2004 through her retirement in 2013. Ms. Cohen served as the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) from 2004 to 2013 and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) from 2008 to 2013 at AER. During her tenure at AER, she was actively involved in developing financial forecasts, business plans, and SEC registrations. Prior to those roles at AER, Ms. Cohen was a Senior Vice President at State Street Bank. Ms. Cohen has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and Math from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Public Accountant. Ms. Cohen has been the Chairperson since October 2019 and a Trustee since January 2016.

 

Jacqueline A. Williams has served as the Managing Member of Custom Strategies Consulting, LLC since 2017, where she provides consulting services to investment managers. Prior to that, she served as a Managing Director of Global Investment Research for Cambridge Associates, LLC since 2005. Earlier in her career, Ms. Williams served as a Principal at Equinox Capital Management, LLC where she was chairperson of the stock selection committee and the firm's financial services analyst. Ms. Williams also served as an Investment Analyst at IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company where she monitored U.S. financial services stocks. Ms. Williams has over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry. Ms. Williams earned an A.B. in Religion from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University. She has been a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder since 1990. Ms. Williams has been a Trustee since June 2019.

 

Clifford N. Schireson is the founder of Schireson Consulting, LLC, which he launched in 2017. Prior to that, from 2004 to 2017, he was Director of Institutional Services at Brandes Investment Partners, LP, an investment advisory firm, where he was a member of the fixed-income investment committee. From 1998 to 2004, he was a Managing Director at Weiss, Peck & Greer LLC specializing in fixed-income products for both taxable and municipal strategies for institutional clients. Mr. Schireson has over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry. Mr. Schireson holds an A.B. in Economics from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Schireson has been a Trustee since June 2019.

 

Robert E. Morrison serves as a Senior Vice President at Huntington Private Bank, where he has worked since 2014. From 2006 to 2014, he served as the CEO, President and Chief Investment Officer of 5 Star Investment Management. Mr. Morrison has a B.S. in Forestry Management from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Personal Financial Planning program of Old Dominion University. Mr. Morrison previously served on the Ultimus Managers Trust Board of Trustees as the Founding Chairman of the Trust in 2012. Mr. Morrison retired from the Board in 2014 as a result of a business conflict that no longer exists. Mr. Morrison has over 32 years of financial services experience, focusing on asset management and wealth management. Mr. Morrison has been a Trustee since June 2019. 

  23  

 

References above to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

 

Risk Oversight. The operation of a mutual fund, including its investment activities, generally involves a variety of risks. As part of its oversight of the Fund, the Board oversees risk through various regular board and committee activities. The Board, directly or through its committees, reviews reports from, among others, the Adviser, the Trust’s CCO, the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, and outside legal counsel, regarding risks faced by the Fund and the risk management programs of the Adviser, with respect to the Fund’s investment and trading activities, and certain service providers. The actual day-to-day risk management with respect to the Fund resides with the Adviser, with respect to the Fund’s investment and trading activities, and other service providers to the Fund. Although the risk management policies of the Adviser and the service providers are designed to be effective, there is no guarantee that they will anticipate or mitigate all risks. Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, eliminated or mitigated and some risks simply may not be anticipated or may be beyond the control of the Board or the Adviser or other service providers. The Independent Trustees meet separately with the Trust’s CCO at least annually, outside the presence of management, to discuss issues related to compliance. Furthermore, the Board receives an annual written report from the Trust’s CCO regarding the operation of the compliance policies and procedures of the Trust and its primary service providers. As part of its oversight function, the Board also may hold special meetings or communicate directly with Trust management or the Trust’s CCO to address matters arising between regular meetings.

 

The Board also receives quarterly reports from the Adviser on the investments and securities trading of the Fund, including the Fund’s investment performance, as well as reports regarding the valuation of the Fund’s securities. The Board also receives quarterly reports from the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”), transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and distributor (the “Distributor”) on regular quarterly items and, where appropriate and as needed, on specific issues. In addition, in its annual review of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement, the Board reviews information provided by the Adviser relating to its operational capabilities, financial condition and resources. The Board also conducts an annual self-evaluation that includes a review of its effectiveness in overseeing, among other things, the number of funds in the Trust and the effectiveness of the Board’s committee structure.

 

Trustees’ Ownership of Fund Shares. The following table shows each Trustee’s beneficial ownership of shares of the Fund and, on an aggregate basis, of shares of all funds within the Trust overseen by the Trustee. Information is provided as of December 31, 2020.

  24  

 

Name of Trustee Dollar Range of Shares owned by Trustee in
The Fund* All Funds in the Trust
Interested Trustee    
David R. Carson^ None $10,001 - $50,000
Independent Trustees    
David M. Deptula None None
Janine L. Cohen None $50,001 - $100,000
Jacqueline A. Williams None None
Clifford N. Schireson None None
Robert E. Morrison None None

 

* Because the Fund is newly organized, none of the Trustees has any beneficial ownership of Fund shares as of the date of this SAI.
^ Mr. Carson’s term as Trustee did not commence until January 22, 2021.

 

Ownership In Fund Affiliates. As of the date of this SAI, none of the Independent Trustees, nor members of their immediate families, owned, beneficially or of record, securities of the Adviser, the Distributor or any affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor.

 

Trustee Compensation. No director, officer or employee of the Adviser or Distributor receives any compensation from the Trust for serving as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. Each Independent Trustee receives a $500 per meeting fee and a $1,300 annual retainer for each series of the Trust, except the Chairperson who receives a $1,500 annual retainer for serving as Chairperson. The Trust reimburses each Trustee and officer for their travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings.

 

The following table provides the estimated amount of compensation payable to each of the Trustees during the Fund’s first fiscal year of operations, which will conclude February 28, 2022:

 

Name of Trustee

Compensation

From the Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation
From all Funds Within the Trust
Interested Trustee
David R. Carson* None None None None
Independent Trustees
David M. Deptula $3,300 None None $49,500
Janine L. Cohen $3,500 None None $52,500
Jacqueline A. Williams $3,300 None None $49,500
Clifford N. Schireson $3,300 None None $49,500
Robert E. Morrison $3,300 None None $49,500

 

* Mr. Carson’s term as a Trustee commenced on January 22, 2021.
  25  

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC, located at 215 Shuman Blvd., #304 Naperville, IL 60563, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement dated April 22, 2021 (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser was organized in 2014. The Adviser is controlled by Noland Langford, who is the majority owner of the Adviser. 

 

Subject to the Fund’s investment objective and policies approved by the Board, the Adviser is responsible for providing the Fund with a continuous program of investing the Fund’s assets and determining the composition of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

The Advisory Agreement is effective for an initial two-year period and will be renewed for periods of one year only so long as such renewal and continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, provided the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty on 60 days’ notice by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act.

 

For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly investment advisory fee (the “Management Fee”) computed at the annual rate of 2.00% of its average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed, until June 30, 2024, to reduce its Management Fee and reimburse other Fund expenses to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Operating Expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund, acquired Fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business) to an amount not exceeding 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Any such Management Fee reductions and expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Fund for, a period of three (3) years after the date that such fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause Total Annual Operating Expenses (exclusive of such reductions and/or reimbursements) to exceed (i) the expense limitation then in effect, if any, and (ii) the expense limitation in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred.

 

The Adviser manages the Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated investment objective and policies of the Fund, subject to the oversight of the Board. The Adviser is responsible for investment decisions, and provides the Fund with a portfolio manager to execute purchases and sales of securities. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Fund in connection with the performance of its duties, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the 1940 Act) or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Because the Fund is newly organized, no information regarding the Advisory fees paid to the Adviser is included in this SAI.

 

Portfolio Managers. The Fund is managed by Noland Langford, Mark Hines and Brian Dress (the “Portfolio Managers”), who have primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of investment strategies for the Fund. 

  26  

 

Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers. In addition to the Fund, the Portfolio Managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts. The table below shows the number of, and total assets in such other accounts as of February 1, 2021.

 

Portfolio Manager Type of Accounts Total Number of Other Accounts Managed Total Assets of Other Accounts Managed (million) Number of Accounts Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance Total Assets of Accounts Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance (million)
Noland Langford Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 1 $45,000,000 1 $45,000,000
  Other Accounts 250 $250,000,000 0 $0
Mark Hines Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 1 $45,000,000 1 $45,000,000
  Other Accounts 12 $3,500,000 0 $0
Brian Dress Registered Investment Companies 0 $0 0 $0
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 0 $0 0 $0
  Other Accounts 0 $0 0 $0

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest. The Portfolio Managers serves as portfolio managers for the Fund and provide investment advice to other accounts (“Other Accounts”). The Portfolio Managers’ management of Other Accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the Other Accounts, on the other. A potential conflict of interest may arise when a particular investment may be suitable for both, the Fund and the Other Accounts, whereby the Portfolio Managers could favor one account over another. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that such investments will be allocated between the Fund and the Other Accounts pro rata based on the assets under management or in some other manner determined to be fair and equitable.

 

A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the Portfolio Managers’ day-to-day management of the Fund and Other Accounts. The Portfolio Managers knows the size and timing of trades for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and may be able to predict the market impact of the Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the Portfolio Managers could use this information to the advantage of Other Accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of the Fund, or vice versa.

  27  

 

Another potential conflict may arise as a result of the Adviser’s rendering investment management services to certain clients for a performance-based fee. That fee creates an incentive for the Adviser to make riskier or more speculative investments than would be the case absent of a performance-based fee. In addition, differences in the compensation structures of the Adviser’s investment products may give rise to a conflict of interest by creating an incentive for the Adviser to allocate the investment opportunities it believes might be the most profitable to the client accounts where it might benefit the most from the investment gains. The Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that any recommendations made are in the best interest of the clients regardless of the fee.

 

Compensation. The Portfolio Managers are not compensated directly by the Fund. The Portfolio Managers each receive a salary and a bonus that is tied to the overall performance of the Adviser. As such, performance and asset levels of the Fund will directly affect the profits of the Adviser and indirectly the total compensation paid by the Adviser to the Portfolio Managers. Mr. Langford is also the principal owner of the Adviser and, therefore, draws compensation from its profits.

 

Ownership of Fund Shares. Because the Fund is newly organized, the Portfolio Managers have no beneficial ownership of Fund shares as of the date of this SAI.

 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

 

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Board and in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which brokers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions.

 

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities that are debt securities usually are principal transactions in which portfolio securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Purchases from underwriters of portfolio securities generally include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers may include the spread between the bid and asked prices. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Transactions in the over-the-counter market are generally principal transactions with dealers. With respect to the over-the-counter market, the Fund, where possible, will deal directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved except under those circumstances where better price and execution are available elsewhere.

 

Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, to various brokers and dealers is determined by the Adviser in its best judgment consistent with its obligation to seek best execution and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to shareholders. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders in an effective manner at the most favorable price. Other factors that may be considered include, but are not limited to, reputation, financial strength and stability, creditworthiness, efficiency of execution and error resolution, the actual executed price and the commission, research (including economic forecasts, fundamental and technical advice on securities, valuation advice on market analysis); custodial and other services provided for the enhancement of the Adviser’s portfolio management capabilities; the size and type of the transaction; the difficulty of execution and the ability to handle difficult trades; and the operational facilities of the brokers and/or dealers involved (including back office efficiency). Subject to these considerations, brokers who provide investment research to the Adviser may receive orders for transactions on behalf of the Fund. Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be performed by the Adviser and does not reduce the fees payable to the Adviser by the Fund. Such information may be useful to the Adviser in serving both the Fund and other clients and, conversely, supplemental information obtained by the placement of brokerage orders of other clients may be useful to the Adviser in carrying out its obligations to the Fund In selecting a broker-dealer to execute transactions (or a series of transactions) and determining the reasonableness of the broker-dealer’s compensation, the Adviser need not solicit competitive bids and does not have an obligation to seek the lowest available commission cost for the reasons discussed above. 

  28  

 

Consistent with the foregoing, under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Adviser is authorized to pay a brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might have charged for effecting the same transaction, in recognition of the value of brokerage and/or research services provided by the broker. The research received by the Adviser may include, without limitation: information on the U.S. and other world economies; information on specific industries, groups of securities, individual companies, political and other relevant news developments affecting markets and specific securities; technical and quantitative information about markets; analysis of proxy proposals affecting specific companies; accounting and performance systems that allow the Adviser to determine and track investment results; and trading systems that allow the Adviser to interface electronically with brokerage firms, custodians and other providers. Research is received in the form of written reports, telephone contacts, personal meetings, research seminars, software programs and access to computer databases. In some instances, research products or services received by the Adviser may also be used by the Adviser for functions that are not research related (i.e., not related to the making of investment decisions). Where a research product or service has a mixed use, the Adviser will make a reasonable allocation according to its use and will pay for the non-research function in cash using its own funds.

 

Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and procedures adopted by the Board, the Fund may execute portfolio transactions through any broker or dealer and pay brokerage commissions to a broker (i) which is an affiliated person of the Trust, or (ii) which is an affiliated person of such person, or (iii) an affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Trust, the Adviser or the Trust’s principal underwriter.

 

Because the Fund is newly organized, the Fund has not paid any brokerage commissions as of the date of this SAI.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, is the exclusive agent for distribution of shares of the Fund pursuant to a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”). The Distributor is obligated to sell shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis. The Distributor is compensated for its services to the Trust under a written agreement for such services. The Distributor is an affiliate of Ultimus.

 

By its terms, the Distribution Agreement is for an initial term of two years and will continue in effect year-to-year thereafter so long as such continuance is approved at least annually by (1) the Board or (2) a vote of the majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares; provided that in either event continuance is also approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval. The Distribution Agreement may be terminated at any time, on sixty days written notice, without payment of any penalty, by the Trust or by the Distributor. The Distribution Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is paid $10,000 per annum for its services by the Fund and/or the Adviser. 

  29  

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”), located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, serves as the Administrator, fund accountant and Transfer Agent to the Fund pursuant to a Master Services Agreement (the “Master Services Agreement”).

 

As Administrator, Ultimus assists in supervising all operations of the Fund (other than those performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement). Ultimus has agreed to perform or arrange for the performance of the following services (under the Master Services Agreement, Ultimus may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities thereunder):

 

  prepare and assemble reports required to be sent to the Fund’s shareholders and arrange for the printing and dissemination of such reports;

  assemble reports required to be filed with the SEC and files such completed reports with the SEC;

  file the Fund’s federal income and excise tax returns and the Fund’s state and local tax returns;

  assist and advise the Fund regarding compliance with the 1940 Act and with its investment policies and limitations; and

  make such reports and recommendations to the Board as the Board reasonably requests or deems appropriate.

 

As Fund Accountant, Ultimus maintains the accounting books and records for the Fund, including journals containing an itemized daily record of all purchases and sales of portfolio securities, all receipts and disbursements of cash and all other debits and credits, general and auxiliary ledgers reflecting all asset, liability, reserve, capital, income and expense accounts, including interest accrued and interest received, and other required separate ledger accounts. Ultimus also maintains a monthly trial balance of all ledger accounts; performs certain accounting services for the Fund, including calculation of the NAV per share, calculation of the dividend and capital gain distributions, reconciles cash movements with the custodian, verifies and reconciles with the custodian all daily trade activities; provides certain reports; obtains dealer quotations or prices from pricing services used in determining NAV; and prepares an interim balance sheet, statement of income and expense, and statement of changes in net assets for the Fund.

 

As Transfer Agent, Ultimus performs the following services in connection with the Fund’s shareholders: maintains records for the Fund’s shareholders of record; processes shareholder purchase and redemption orders; processes transfers and exchanges of shares of the Fund on the shareholder files and records; processes dividend payments and reinvestments; and assists in the mailing of shareholder reports and proxy solicitation materials.

 

Ultimus receives fees from the Fund for its services as Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent, and is reimbursed for certain expenses assumed pursuant to the Master Services Agreement.

 

The Master Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Ultimus, unless otherwise terminated as provided in the Master Services Agreement, is renewed automatically for successive one-year periods.

 

The Master Services Agreement provides that Ultimus shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Master Services Agreement relate, except a loss from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or from the reckless disregard by Ultimus of its obligations and duties thereunder.

  30  

 

Because the Fund is newly organized, no information regarding the fees paid by the Fund to Ultimus is included in this SAI.

 

Custodian

 

Fifth Third Bank, National Association (the “Custodian”), located at 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263, (the “Custodian”) serves as custodian to the Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and to audit the financial statements of the Fund and assists in preparing the Fund’s federal, state, and excise tax returns for the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022.

 

Legal Counsel

 

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, located at 4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1400, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, serves as legal counsel to the Trust and the Trust’s Independent Trustees.

 

Compliance Consulting Agreement

 

Under the terms of a Compliance Consulting Agreement with the Trust, Ultimus provides an individual with the requisite background and familiarity with the federal securities laws to serve as the Trust’s CCO and to administer the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures. For these services, the Fund pays Ultimus a base fee of $12,000 per annum, plus an asset-based fee computed at the annual rate of 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund in excess of $100 million. In addition, the Fund reimburses Ultimus for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to these compliance services.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Other Payments by the Fund. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, distribution fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Fund’s distribution plan, if any.

 

Other Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser, in its discretion, may make payments from its own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of its distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support. 

  31  

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser may also make payments from its own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

Description of Shares

 

The Trust is an unincorporated business trust organized under Ohio law on February 28, 2012. Trust’s Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board to divide shares into series, each series relating to a separate portfolio of investments, and to further divide shares of a series into separate classes. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or an individual series or class, shareholders of a particular series or class would be entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to such series or class. Shareholders of a series or class are entitled to participate equally in the net distributable assets of the particular series or class involved on liquidation, based on the number of shares of the series or class that are held by each shareholder. If any assets, income, earnings, proceeds, funds or payments are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series or class, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more series or classes as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable. Subject to the Declaration of Trust, determinations by the Board as to the allocation of liabilities, and the allocable portion of any general assets, with respect to the Fund and each Fund class is conclusive.

 

Shares of the Fund, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. Shares have no subscription, preemptive or conversion rights. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and a fractional vote for each fractional share held. Shareholders of all series and classes of the Trust, including the Fund, will vote together and not separately, except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular series or class. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides, in substance, that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series or class affected by the matter. A series or class is affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each series or class in the matter are substantially identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the series or class. Under Rule 18f-2, the approval of an investment advisory agreement, a distribution plan or any change in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a series or class only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such series or class. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants and the election of Trustees may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting together, without regard to a particular series or class. 

  32  

 

Trustee Liability

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees will not be liable in any event in connection with the affairs of the Trust, except as such liability may arise from his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties to the Trust and its holders of beneficial interest. It also provides that all third parties shall look solely to the Trust’s property for satisfaction of claims arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. With the exceptions stated, the Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee or officer is entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Trust.

 

Trust Liability

 

Under Ohio law, liabilities of the Trust to third persons, including the liabilities of any series, extend to the whole of the trust estate to the extent necessary to discharge such liabilities. However, the Declaration of Trust contains provisions intended to limit the liabilities of each series to the applicable series and the Trustees and officers of the Trust intend that notice of such limitation be given in each contract, instrument, certificate, or undertaking made or issued on behalf of the Trust by the Trustees or officers. There is no guarantee that the foregoing steps will prove effective or that the Trust will be successful in preventing the assets of one series from being available to creditors of another series. 

 

Code of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted a Code of Ethics (each a “COE” and, collectively, the “COEs”) that is designed to prevent their respective personnel subject to the COE from engaging in deceptive, manipulative, or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund (which securities may also be held by persons subject to the COEs). These COEs permit personnel subject to the COEs to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but prohibit such personnel from engaging in personal investment activities which compete with or attempt to take advantage of the Fund’s planned portfolio transactions. Each of these parties monitors compliance with its respective COE.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

The Trust has adopted an anti-money laundering (“AML”) program, as required by applicable law, that is designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities. The Trust’s AML Compliance Officer is responsible for implementing and monitoring the operations and internal controls of the program. Compliance officers at certain of the Fund’s service providers are also responsible for monitoring aspects of the AML program. The AML program is subject to the continuing oversight of the Board. 

  33  

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

The Trust and the Adviser have adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures that describe how the Fund intends to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Trust and the Adviser are attached to this SAI as Appendix B and Appendix C, respectively. No later than August 31st of each year, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior twelve-month period ended June 30th is available without charge upon request by calling 1-833-498-2238, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Ownership of Fund Shares

 

As of 30 days prior to the date of this SAI, the Fund had no shares outstanding. Therefore, the Trustees and Trust officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy

 

The Board has adopted a policy to govern the circumstances under which disclosure regarding securities purchased, sold, and held by the Fund (“Portfolio Securities”), may be made to shareholders of the Fund or other persons. The Trust’s CCO is responsible for monitoring the use and disclosure of information relating to Portfolio Securities. Although no material conflicts of interest are believed to exist that could disadvantage the Fund or its shareholders, various safeguards have been implemented to protect the Fund and its shareholders from conflicts of interest, including: the adoption of COEs pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act designed to prevent fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative acts by officers and employees of the Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor in connection with their personal securities transactions; the adoption by the Adviser and the Distributor of insider trading policies and procedures designed to prevent their employees’ misuse of material non-public information; and the adoption by the Trust of a Code of Ethics for officers that requires the Chief Executive Officer and CFO of the Trust to report to the Board any affiliations or other relationships that could potentially create a conflict of interest with the Fund.

 

  Public disclosure regarding Portfolio Securities is made in the Fund’s Annual Reports and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders, and in quarterly holdings reports on Form N-Q (“Official Reports”), which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.. Except for such Official Reports and as otherwise expressly permitted by the Trust’s policy, shareholders and other persons may not be provided with information regarding Portfolio Securities held, purchased or sold by the Fund.

 

  Information regarding Portfolio Securities and other information regarding the investment activities of the Fund, may be disclosed to rating and ranking organizations for use in connection with their rating or ranking of the Fund, but only if such disclosure is approved and monitored by the Trust’s CCO. Each disclosure arrangement has been authorized by the Fund and/or the Adviser in accordance with the Fund’s disclosure of portfolio holdings policy upon a determination that this disclosure serves as legitimate business purpose of the Fund and that each organization is subject to a duty of confidentiality.

  34  

 

  Information regarding the general market exposure of the Fund may be disclosed, if such information is also disclosed on the Fund’s website and the information does not identify specific Portfolio Securities.

 

  Information regarding Portfolio Securities as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter may be disclosed to any other person or organization at the request of such person or organization, but only if such information is at least 30 days old.

 

  The Trust’s CCO may approve the disclosure of holdings of or transactions in Portfolio Securities that is made on the same basis to all shareholders of the Fund.

 

  The Fund’s policy relating to disclosure of holdings of Portfolio Securities does not prohibit disclosure of information to the Adviser or to other Trust service providers, including the Trust’s administrator, distributor, custodian, legal counsel, accountants and printers/typesetters, N-PORT and N-CEN vendors, pricing and liquidity vendors and consultants or to brokers and dealers through which the Fund purchases and sells Portfolio Securities. Below is a table that lists each service provider that may receive non-public portfolio information along with information regarding the frequency of access to, and limitations on use of, portfolio information.

 

Type of Service Provider Typical Frequency of Access to Portfolio Information  Restrictions on Use
Adviser Daily Contractual and Ethical
Administrator and Distributor Daily Contractual and Ethical
Custodian Daily Ethical
Accountants During annual audit Ethical
Legal counsel Regulatory filings, board meetings, and if a legal issue regarding the portfolio requires counsel’s review Ethical
Printers/Typesetters Twice a year – printing of Semi-Annual and Annual Reports No formal restrictions in place – typesetter or printer would not receive portfolio information until at least 30 days old
Broker/dealers through which the Fund purchases and sells portfolio securities Daily access to the relevant purchase and/or sale – no broker/dealer has access to the Fund’s entire portfolio Contractual and Ethical
N-PORT and N-CEN Vendors Monthly or Annually Contractual and Ethical
Pricing and Liquidity Vendors Daily Contractual and Ethical

 

Such disclosures may be made without approval of the Trust’s CCO because the Board has determined that the Fund and its shareholders are adequately protected by the restrictions on use in those instances listed above. 

  35  

 

  The Trust’s CCO may approve other arrangements under which information relating to Portfolio Securities held by the Fund, or purchased or sold by the Fund (other than information contained in Official Reports), may be disclosed. The Trust’s CCO shall approve such an arrangement only if he or she concludes (based on a consideration of the information to be disclosed, the timing of the disclosure, the intended use of the information and other relevant factors) that the arrangement is reasonably necessary to aid in conducting the ongoing business of the Trust and is unlikely to affect adversely the Fund or any shareholder of the Fund. The Trust’s CCO must inform the Board of any such arrangements that are approved by the Trust’s CCO, and the rationale supporting approval, at the next regular quarterly meeting of the Board following such approval.

 

  Neither the Adviser or the Trust (or any affiliated person, employee, officer, trustee or director of the Adviser or the Trust) may receive any direct or indirect compensation in consideration of the disclosure of information relating to Portfolio Securities held, purchased, or sold by the Fund.

 

Other Expenses

 

In addition to the Management Fee, the Fund pays all expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser, including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of its independent registered public accounting firm and of its legal counsel; the fees of the Administrator, Distributor, and Transfer Agent; the costs of printing and mailing to shareholders Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, proxy statements, prospectuses, SAIs and supplements thereto; bank transaction charges and custody fees; any costs associated with shareholder meetings, including proxy solicitors’ fees and expenses; registration and filing fees; federal, state or local income or other taxes; interest; membership fees of the Investment Company Institute and similar organizations; fidelity bond and liability insurance premiums; and any extraordinary expenses, such as indemnification payments or damages awarded in litigation or settlements made.

 

Benchmark Descriptions

 

The Fund compares its performance to standardized indices or other measurements of investment performance. Specifically, the Fund compares its performance to the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index tracks the 500 most widely held stocks on the NYSE or NASDAQ and seeks to represent the entire stock market by reflecting the risk and return of all large cap companies. The S&P 500 Index is widely regarded as a gauge of large cap U.S. equities. The S&P 500 Index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.

 

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION

 

The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders. The discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning and are based on tax laws and regulations that are in effect on the date hereof; such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative, judicial, or administrative action. Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

The Fund intends to qualify and remain qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In order to so qualify, the Fund must elect to be a regulated investment company or have made such an election for a previous year and must satisfy certain requirements relating to the amount of distributions and source of its income for a taxable year. At least 90% of the gross income of the Fund must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, securities, or foreign currencies, and other income derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an investment in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” as defined in section 851(h) of the Code (the “source-of-income test”). Any income derived by the Fund from a partnership (other than a “qualified publicly traded partnership”) or trust is treated as derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies only to the extent that such income is attributable to items of income that would have been qualifying income if realized by the Fund in the same manner as by the partnership or trust. 

  36  

 

The Fund may not qualify as a regulated investment company for any taxable year unless it satisfies certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its investments at the close of each quarter of the taxable year (the “asset diversification tests”). In general, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash, cash items, government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities which, with respect to any one issuer, do not represent more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund nor more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. In addition, not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities (other than government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer; the securities of two or more issuers (other than securities of another regulated investment company) if the issuers are controlled by the Fund and they are, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses; or the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships”.

 

The Fund intends to satisfy all of the requirements of the source-of-income test and the asset diversification tests on an ongoing basis for continued qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

If the Fund fails to meet either the asset diversification test with respect to a taxable quarter or the source-of-income test with respect to a taxable year, the Code provides several remedies, provided certain procedural requirements are met, which will allow the Fund to retain its status as a “regulated investment company.” There is a remedy for failure to satisfy the asset diversification tests, if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, subject to certain divestiture and procedural requirements and the payment of a tax. In addition, there is a remedy for a de minimis failure of the asset diversification tests, which would require corrective action but no tax. In addition, the Code allows for the remedy of a failure of the source-of-income test, if the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, subject to certain procedural requirements and the payment of a tax.

 

Under current tax law, qualifying corporate dividends are taxable at long-term capital gains tax rates. The long-term capital gains rate for individual taxpayers is currently at a maximum rate of 20%, with lower rates potentially applicable to taxpayers depending on their income levels. For 2021, individual taxpayers with taxable incomes above $451,850 ($501,600 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $473,750 for heads of households) are subject to a 20% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. For individual taxpayers with taxable incomes not in excess of $40,400 ($80,800 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $54,100 for heads of household), the long-term capital gains rate and rate on qualified dividends is 0%. All other taxpayers are subject to a maximum 15% rate of tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. The above income thresholds are subject to an annual adjustment for inflation.

 

If the Fund designates a dividend as a capital gains distribution, it generally will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholders have held their Fund shares or whether the dividend was received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. All taxable dividends paid by the Fund other than those designated as qualified dividend income or capital gains distributions will be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares. To the extent the Fund engages in increased portfolio turnover, short-term capital gains may be realized, and any distribution resulting from such gains will be considered ordinary income for federal tax purposes. 

  37  

 

Regulated investment companies that receive qualified REIT dividend income may designate such amounts as Section 199A dividends. Qualified REIT dividend income is the excess of qualified REIT dividends received by the regulated investment company over the amount of the regulated investment company’s deductions that are properly allocable to such income. If a Fund designates a dividend as a Section 199A distribution, it may be treated by shareholders as a qualified REIT dividend that is taxed as ordinary income and for non-corporate taxpayers eligible for the 20% deduction for “qualified business income” under Code section 199A. Generally, only non-corporate shareholders who have held their shares for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days prior to the ex-dividend date for such dividend are eligible for such treatment.

 

Under newly issued final Treasury Regulations, regulated investment companies that receive business interest income may pass through its business interest income under Code section 163(j) as a “section 163(j) interest dividend.” A regulated investment company’s total section 163(j) interest dividend amount for a tax year is limited to the excess of the regulated investment company’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. The final Treasury Regulations provide that a registered investment company shareholder that receives a section 163(j) interest dividend may treat the dividend as interest income for purposes of section 163(j), subject to holding period requirements and other limitations.

 

Shareholders who hold Fund shares in a tax-deferred account, such as a retirement plan, generally will not have to pay tax on Fund distributions until they receive distributions from their account.

 

The Fund will designate (1) any distribution that constitutes a qualified dividend as qualified dividend income; (2) any tax-exempt distribution as an exempt-interest dividend; (3) any distribution of long-term capital gains as a capital gain dividend; (4) any dividend eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction; (5) any distribution that is comprised of qualified REIT dividend income as a Section 199A dividend; and (6) any distribution that constitutes excess Code section 163(j) interest income as a Section 163(j) interest dividend as such in a written notice provided to shareholders after the close of the Fund’s taxable year. Shareholders should note that, upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares, if the shareholder has not held such shares for at least six months, any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividends received with respect to the shares.

 

Foreign currency gains or losses on non-U.S. dollar denominated bonds and other similar debt instruments and on any non-U.S. dollar denominated futures contracts, options and forward contracts that are not Section 1256 contracts generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss.

 

To the extent that a distribution from the Fund is taxable, it is generally included in a shareholder’s gross income for the taxable year in which the shareholder receives the distribution. However, if the Fund declares a dividend in October, November, or December but pays it in January, it will be taxable to shareholders as if the dividend was received in the year it was declared. Each year, shareholders will receive a statement detailing the tax status of any Fund distributions for that year.

 

The Fund’s net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital losses may be carried forward to offset any capital gains. 

  38  

 

A 4% nondeductible excise tax is imposed on regulated investment companies that fail to currently distribute an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions of its ordinary taxable income and any capital gain net income prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders). Such distributions will be taxable to the shareholders as dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions may be eligible for (i) the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders or (ii) treatment as “qualified dividend income” in the case of noncorporate shareholders.

 

In general, a shareholder who sells or redeems shares will realize a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term or short-term depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for Fund shares. An exchange of shares is treated as a sale and any gain may be subject to tax.

 

The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage (currently 24%) of taxable dividends or of gross proceeds realized upon sale paid to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number in the manner required, who are subject to withholding by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) for failure to include properly on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so, or that they are “exempt recipients.”

 

Depending upon the extent of the Fund’s activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located, or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, the Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities. In addition, in those states and localities that have income tax laws, the treatment of the Fund and its shareholders under such laws may differ from their treatment under federal income tax laws.

 

Certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Fund. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Fund.

 

Mutual funds are required to report to the IRS and furnish to fund shareholders the cost basis information for fund shares purchased and/or sold on or after January 1, 2012. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, a Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. In the absence of an election by a shareholder to elect from available IRS accepted cost basis methods, the Funds will use a default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected or applied may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers concerning the most desirable IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting law applies to them.

 

The Fund will send shareholders information each year on the tax status of dividends and distributions. A dividend or capital gains distribution paid shortly after shares have been purchased, although in effect a return of investment, is subject to federal income taxation. Dividends from net investment income, along with capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders, whether received in cash or reinvested in Fund shares and no matter how long the shareholder has held Fund shares, even if they reduce the NAV of shares below the shareholder’s cost, and thus, in effect, result in a return of a part of the shareholder’s investment. 

  39  

 

Withholding taxes may be imposed on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” (as specifically defined in the Code) and certain other non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries). A 30% withholding tax is imposed on “withholdable payments” to a foreign financial institution or to a foreign non-financial entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign non-financial entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner.

 

For these purposes, a “withholdable payment” includes any U.S. source payments of interest, dividends, rents, compensation and other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income. If the payee is a foreign financial institution, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent it from complying with these reporting and other requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors regarding this legislation and the potential implications of this legislation on their particular circumstances.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Fund is newly organized and therefore no financial information is included in this SAI. You may request a copy of the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund at 1-833-498-2238 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.leftbrainfunds.com. 

  40  

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

The Fund may acquire from time to time fixed income or debt securities as described in the Prospectus and this SAI. The Fund is not restricted with respect to yield, maturity, or credit quality of any fixed income or debt securities, so that the Fund may purchase fixed income or debt securities that are of high quality “investment grade” (“Investment-Grade Debt Securities”) or of lower quality with significant risk characteristics (e.g., “junk bonds”). The various ratings used by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (each an “NRSRO”) are described below.

 

A rating by an NRSRO represents the organization’s opinion as to the credit quality of the security being rated. However, the ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality or guarantees as to the creditworthiness of an issuer. Consequently, the Advisor believes that the quality of Investment-Grade Debt Securities in which the Funs may invest should be continuously reviewed and that individual analysts give different weightings to the various factors involved in credit analysis. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a security, because it does not take into account market value or suitability for a particular investor. When a security has received a rating from more than one NRSRO, each rating is evaluated independently. Ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by the NRSROs from other sources that they consider reliable. Ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information, or for other reasons.

 

S&P® GLOBAL RATINGS. The following summarizes the highest four ratings used by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), a division of S&P Global, Inc., for bonds which are deemed to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities by the Advisor:

 

AAA – An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments 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 commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

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 commitments 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 weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” “C” and “D” are not considered by the Advisor to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities and 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 risk exposures to adverse conditions. An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise.

 

The ratings from “AA” to “CCC” may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category by S&P and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on these obligations is extremely strong. A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is satisfactory. 

  41  

 

The rating SP-1 is the highest rating assigned by S&P to short term municipal notes and indicates a 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. The rating SP-2 indicates a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes. The rating SP-3 indicates a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

 MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. Ratings assigned on Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risk of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. The highest four ratings are deemed to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities by the Advisor:

 

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.

 

Obligations which are rated Ba, B, Caa, Ca or C by Moody’s are not considered “Investment-Grade Debt Securities” by the Advisor. Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk. Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk. Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

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. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.

 

Short-Term Ratings

 

Moody’s short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

P-1  Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 reflect a superior ability to repay short-term obligations. 

  42  

 

P-2  Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 reflect a strong ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

P-3  Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 reflect an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP  Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings

 

Short-Term Obligation Ratings – Moody’s uses the global short-term Prime rating scale for commercial paper issued by U.S. municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer’s self-liquidity. For other short-term municipal obligations, Moody’s uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VIMG) scales discussed below.

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, Moody’s uses the MIG scale for bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

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. The components are a long-term rating and a short-term demand obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term demand obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to make payments associated with the purchase-price-upon-demand feature (“demand feature”) of the VRDO. The short-term demand obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

Moody’s typically assigns the VMIG short-term demand obligation if the frequency of the demand feature is less than every three years. If the frequency of the demand feature is less than three years but the purchase price is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the short-term demand obligation rating is “NR”. 

  43  

 

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 a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

FITCH RATINGS. The following summarizes the highest four ratings used by Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”):

 

National Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

AAA – “AAA” National Ratings denote the highest rating assigned by Fitch in its National Rating scale for that country. This rating is assigned to issuers or obligations with the lowest expectation of default risk relative to all other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union.

 

AA – “AA” National Ratings denote expectations of a very low level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union. The default risk inherent differs only slightly from that of the country’s highest rated issuers or obligations.

 

A – “A” National Ratings denote expectations of a low level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union.

 

BBB – “BBB” National Ratings denote a moderate level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union.

 

Long-term securities rated below BBB by Fitch are not considered by the Advisor to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities. Securities rated BB denote an elevated default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union, and securities rated B denote a significantly elevated level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union. A rating CCC denote a very high level of default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union, while a rating CC denotes the level of default risk is among the highest relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union, and a rating C denotes that a default or default-like process has begun, or the issuer is in standstill, or for a closed funding vehicle, payment capacity is irrevocably impaired. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include: the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation, the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; the formal announcement by the issuer of their agent of a distressed debt exchange; and a closed financing vehicle where payment capacity is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to pay interest and/or principal in full during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default is imminent. RD ratings indicate an issuer that, in Fitch’s opinion, has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but that has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure and has not otherwise ceased business. This would include the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt, the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation, the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel, or execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations. D ratings denote an issuer that has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure or that has otherwise ceased business. 

  44  

 

Note: A “+” or “-“ may be appended to a National Rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA National Rating category or to categories below CCC.

 

National Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

F1 – Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Under Fitch’s National Rating scale, this rating is assigned to the lowest default risk relative to others in the same country or monetary union. Where the liquidity profile is particularly strong, a “+” is added to the assigned rating.

 

F2 – Indicates a good capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

 

F3 – Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union.

 

B – Indicates an uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union.

 

Short-term rates B, C, RD and D by Fitch are considered by the Advisor to be below Investment-Grade Debt Securities. Short-term securities rated C indicates a highly uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country or monetary union. Short-term securities rated RD indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. RD ratings are applicable to entity ratings only. Short-term securities rated D indicate a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

Note: A (+) or (-) may be appended to a National Rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to Short-Term National Ratings other than F-1.

 

While the foregoing descriptions of the ratings systems used by the Advisor distinguish between Investment-Grade Debt Securities and more speculative debt securities, as stated above the Fund is not limited with respect to the yield, maturity or credit quality of the debt securities in which it invests. Accordingly, the Fund’s portfolios may be invested in Investment-Grade Debt Securities or debt securities that are not Investment-Grade Debt Securities in any proportion.

  45  

 

APPENDIX B

 

Name and Year of Birth Length of
Time
Served
Position(s)
Held with
Trust
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number
of Funds
in Trust
Overseen by Trustee
Directorships
of Public
Companies
Held by
Trustee
During Past 5
Years
Interested Trustees:

David R. Carson*^

 

Year of Birth: 1958

 

Trustee Since 2021

 

Officer Since 2013

 

Trustee (January 2021 to present)

 

Vice President of the Trust

(January 2021 to present; and previously April 2013 to October 2013)

 

President of the Trust

and Principal Executive Officer of each of its Series
(October 2013 to January 2021)

President of Unified Series Trust (January 2017 to present); Vice President and Director of Client Strategies of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2013 to present) 15 Interested Trustee of Unified Series Trust (November 2020 to present)
  46  

 

Independent Trustees: 

Janine L. Cohen^

 

Year of Birth: 1952

 

Since

January 2016

Chairperson
(October 2019 to present)

 

Trustee
(January 2016 to present)

Retired since 2013; previously Chief Financial Officer from 2004 to 2013 and Chief Compliance Officer from 2008 to 2013 at AER Advisors, Inc. 15 n/a

David M. Deptula^

 

Year of Birth: 1958

Since

June 2012

Trustee Vice President of Legal and Special Projects at Dayton Freight Lines, Inc. since February 2016; Vice President of Tax Treasury at The Standard Register, Inc. from November 2011 to 2016 15 n/a

Jacqueline A. Williams^

 

Year of Birth: 1954

Since
June 2019
Trustee Managing Member of Custom Strategy Consulting, LLC (2017 to present); Managing Director of Global Investment Research (2005 to 2017), Cambridge Associates, LLC. 15 n/a

Clifford N. Schireson^

 

Year of Birth: 1953

 

Since
June 2019
Trustee Founder of Schireson Consulting, LLC (2017 to present); Director of Institutional Services for Brandes Investment Partners, LP (2004-2017). 15 Trustee of the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (August 2019 to present)

Robert E. Morrison^

 

Year of Birth: 1957

Since
June 2019
Trustee Senior Vice President and National Practice Lead for Investment, Huntington National Bank/Huntington Private Bank (2014 to present); CEO, CIO, President of 5 Star Investment Management Company (2006 to 2014). 15 Independent Trustee and Chairman of the Ultimus Managers Trust (2012 to 2014).

 

* Mr. Carson is considered an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act because of his relationship with the Trust’s administrator and transfer agent. Mr. Carson was President of the Trust from October 2013 to January 2021.

  47  

 

 Name and Year of
Birth

Length of
Time Served
Position(s) Held with Trust Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Executive Officers:      

Todd E. Heim^

 

Year of Birth: 1967

 

Since 2014

 

President of the Trust and Principal Executive Officer of each of its Series (January 2021 to present)

 

Vice President

(2014 to January 2021)

Vice President, Relationship Management of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2018 to present); Client Implementation Manager of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2014 to 2018); Naval Flight Officer,  United States Navy (May 1989 to June 2017)

Jennifer L. Leamer^

 

Year of Birth: 1976

 

Since 2014

 

Treasurer

(2014 to present)

 

Assistant Treasurer
(April 2014 to October 2014)

Mutual Fund Controller of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2014 to present)

Daniel D. Bauer^

 

Year of Birth: 1977

Since 2016

Assistant Treasurer

(April 2016 to present)

 

Assistant Mutual Fund Controller (September 2015 to present); Fund Accounting Manager (March 2012 to August 2015) of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

Matthew J. Beck^

 

Year of Birth: 1988

 

Since 2018

 

Secretary
(July 2018 to present)
Senior Attorney of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (May 2018 to present); Chief Compliance Officer of OBP Capital, LLC (2015 to May 2018); Vice President and General Counsel of The Nottingham Company (2014 to May 2018)

Natalie S. Anderson^

 

Year of Birth: 1975

Since 2016

Assistant Secretary

(April 2016 to present)

Legal Administration Manager (July 2016 to present) and Paralegal (January 2015 to June 2016) of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC; Senior Paralegal of Unirush, LLC (October 2011 to January 2015)
  48  

 

Gweneth Gosselink

 

Year of Birth: 1955

Since January 2020 Chief Compliance Officer
(January 2020 to present)
Senior Compliance Officer at Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (December 2019 to present); CCO Consultant at GKG Consulting, LLC (December 2019 to present); Chief Operating Officer & CCO at Miles Capital, Inc. (June 2013 to December 2019)

Martin Dean^

 

Year of Birth: 1963

 

Since 2019

Assistant Chief Compliance Officer

(January 2020 to present)

 

Interim Chief Compliance Officer
(October 2019 to January 2020)

 

Assistant Chief Compliance Officer

(January 2016 to 2017)

Vice President, Director of Fund Compliance of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (January 2016 to present); Senior Vice President and Compliance Group Manager, Huntington Asset Services, Inc. (July 2013 to December 2015)

 

^ Address is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246

  49  

 

APPENDIX C

 

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR VOTING PROXIES

 

  1. Purpose; Delegation

 

The purpose of this memorandum is to describe the policies and procedures for voting proxies received from issuers whose securities are held by each series (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) of Ultimus Managers Trust (the “Trust”). The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) believes that each Fund’s Investment Adviser is in the best position to make individual voting decisions for such Fund. Therefore, subject to the oversight of the Board, each Fund’s Investment Adviser is hereby delegated the duty to make proxy voting decisions for such Fund, and to implement and undertake such other duties as set forth in, and consistent with, these Policies and Procedures.

 

  2. Definitions

 

Proxy. A proxy permits a shareholder to vote without being present at annual or special meetings. A proxy is the form whereby a person who is eligible to vote on corporate matters transmits written instructions for voting or transfers the right to vote to another person in place of the eligible voter. Proxies are generally solicited by management, but may be solicited by dissident shareholders opposed to management’s policies or strategies.

 

Proxy Manager. Proxy manager, as used herein, refers to the individual, individuals or committee of individuals appointed by the investment advisers to each Fund (each, an “Investment Adviser”) as being responsible for supervising and implementing these Policies and Procedures.

 

  3. Policy for Voting Proxies Related to Exchange Traded Funds and other Investment Companies.

 

Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(E)(iii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, all proxies from Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) or other Investment Companies voted by a Fund, registered in the name of the Fund, will have the following voting instructions typed on the proxy form: “Vote these shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such shares. The beneficial owner of these shares is a registered investment company.”

 

  4. Policy for Voting Proxies Related to Other Portfolio Securities

 

Fiduciary Considerations. Proxies with respect to securities other than ETFs or other investment companies are voted solely in the interests of the shareholders of the Trust. Any conflict of interest must be resolved in the way that will most benefit the shareholders.

 

Management Recommendations. Since the quality and depth of management is a primary factor considered when investing in a company, the recommendation of management on any issue should be given substantial weight. The vote with respect to most issues presented in proxy statements should be cast in accordance with the position of the company’s management, unless it is determined that supporting management’s position would adversely affect the investment merits of owning the stock. However, each issue should be considered on its own merits, and the position of the company’s management should not be supported in any situation where it is found not to be in the best interests of the Trust’s shareholders. 

  50  

 

  5. Conflicts of Interest

 

The Trust recognizes that under certain circumstances an Investment Adviser may have a conflict of interest in voting proxies on behalf of a Fund. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, situations where an Investment Adviser or one or more of its affiliates, including officers, directors or employees, has or is seeking a client relationship with the issuer of the security that is the subject of the proxy vote. The Investment Adviser shall periodically inform its employees that they are under an obligation to be aware of the potential for conflicts of interest on the part of the Investment Adviser with respect to voting proxies on behalf of a Fund, both as a result of the employee’s personal relationships and due to circumstances that may arise during the conduct of the Investment Adviser’s business, and to bring any conflict of interest of which they become aware to the attention of the proxy manager. With respect to securities other than ETFs or other investment companies, the Investment Adviser shall not vote proxies relating to such issuers on behalf of a Fund until it has determined that the conflict of interest is not material or a method of resolving such conflict of interest has been determined in the manner described below. A conflict of interest will be considered material to the extent that it is determined that such conflict has the potential to influence the Investment Adviser’s decision-making in voting a proxy. Materiality determinations will be based upon an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. If the proxy manager determines that a conflict of interest is not material, the Investment Adviser may vote proxies notwithstanding the existence of a conflict. If the conflict of interest is determined to be material, either (i) the conflict shall be disclosed to the Trust’s Committee of Independent Trustees (the “Committee”) and the Investment Adviser shall follow the instructions of the Committee or (ii) the Investment Adviser shall vote the issue in question based upon the recommendation of an independent third party under a contractual arrangement approved by the Committee. The proxy manager shall keep a record of all materiality decisions and report them to the Committee on an annual basis.

 

  6. Routine Proposals

 

Proxies for routine proposals (such as election of directors, selection of independent public accountants, stock splits and increases in capital stock) with respect to securities other than ETFs or other investment companies should generally be voted in favor of management.

 

  7. Proxy Manager Approval

 

Votes on non-routine matters and votes against a management’s recommendations with respect to securities other than ETFs or other investment companies are subject to approval by the proxy manager.

 

  8. Proxy Voting Procedures

 

Proxy voting will be conducted in compliance with the policies and practices described herein and is subject to the proxy manager’s supervision. A reasonable effort should be made to obtain proxy material and to vote in a timely fashion. Each Investment Adviser shall maintain records regarding the voting of proxies under these Policies and Procedures.

 

  9. Form N-PX

 

A record of each proxy vote will be entered on Form N-PX. A copy of each Form N-PX will be signed by the President of the Trust. The Form is to be filed by August 31 each year. Each reporting period covered by the Form N-PX runs from July 1 to June 30. The Trust will disclose in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in its registration statement (in the SAI) filed with the SEC on or after August 31 that each Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available without charge upon request and is also available on the SEC’s Website at www.sec.gov.

  51  

 

  10. Investment Advisers’ Voting Procedures

 

The Trust acknowledges that the Investment Advisers to the various Funds have adopted voting policies and procedures for their clients that have been delivered to the Trust. To the extent that an Investment Adviser’s policies and procedures are consistent with these Policies and Procedures, the Investment Adviser may implement them with respect to voting proxies on behalf of each Fund managed by such Investment Adviser. However, the provisions of paragraph 5 of these Policies and Procedures relating to conflicts of interest shall supersede any comparable provisions of any Investment Adviser’s policies and procedures.

 

Securities Lending: If a Fund engages in securities lending, the proxy voting procedures of the Adviser of such Fund will include information on the recall of lent securities for voting purposes. More information can be found in the Securities Lending Procedures of the Trust. 

  52  

 

APPENDIX D

 

LEFT BRAIN WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

Proxy Voting Policy

 

Responsibility

Manager

Portfolio Manager

Resources

Custodian Proxy Notifications

Proxy Notification Services

Individual Company Notifications

Other Publicly Available Sources

Action Review proxy material; vote and retain record
Frequency As needed
Record Physical and Electronic Files

 

1. Proxy Voting Decisions – Separately Managed Accounts

 

The firm does not take discretion with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients. The firm will endeavor to make recommendations to clients on voting proxies regarding shareholder vote, consent, election or similar actions solicited by, or with respect to, issuers of securities beneficially held as part of the firm supervised and/or managed assets. In no event will the firm take discretion with respect to voting proxies on behalf of its clients.

 

Except as required by applicable law, the firm will not be obligated to render advice or take any action on behalf of clients with respect to assets presently or formerly held in their accounts that become the subject of any legal proceedings, including bankruptcies.

 

From time to time, securities held in the accounts of clients will be the subject of class action lawsuits. The firm has no obligation to determine if securities held by the client are subject to a pending or resolved class action lawsuit. The firm also has no duty to evaluate a client’s eligibility or to submit a claim to participate in the proceeds of a securities class action settlement or verdict. Furthermore, the firm has no obligation or responsibility to initiate litigation to recover damages on behalf of clients who may have been injured as a result of actions, misconduct, or negligence by corporate management of issuers whose securities are held by clients.

 

Where the firm receives written or electronic notice of a class action lawsuit, settlement, or verdict affecting securities owned by a client, it will forward all notices, proof of claim forms, and other materials to the client. Electronic mail is acceptable where appropriate and where the client has authorized contact in this manner.

 

2. Proxy Voting Decisions – Fund Portfolios

 

2.1 Policy

 

LBWM manages the affairs of the Fund. As part of its fiduciary obligations to the shareholders of the Fund, the firm exercises its voting rights in the companies in which it invests.

  53  

 

The overriding objective of the firm’s proxy voting activities is to enhance shareholder value on a long-term basis. As a result, our proxy voting guidelines have been developed in a manner which the firm believes is consistent with this goal. However, it is important to note that this document contains guidelines only, and not rigid, inflexible, voting directives. We will evaluate each voting matter on a case-by-case basis and may vote in a manner contrary to the guidelines if we feel that this would ultimately enhance long-term shareholder value.

 

2.2 Institutional Shareholder Services

 

LBWM has retained Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), a third-party proxy voting service provider, to assist in the proxy voting process, facilitate LBWM’s voting, and maintain records. ISS furnishes LBWM with access to its proprietary research, scoring database, and execution software in order to process LBWM’s proxy voting responsibilities.

 

2.3 Guidelines Pertaining to Routine Matters

 

LBWM will generally cause the Fund to vote in favor of management proposals on routine matters such as the election of directors, appointment of auditors, indemnification of directors, and receipt and approval of financial statements, provided it is in line with the other guidelines set forth in the Proxy Voting Guidelines.

 

2.4 Guidelines Pertaining to Non-Routine Matters

 

With respect to non-routine matters, such as take-over defense measures and changes in capital structure, LBWM will examine proxies and recommendations for special proposals to assess the impact on the value of the securities, generally voting in favor of proposals that would enhance the investment value of the relevant security in the long term and against proposals that increase the risk level and reduce the investment value of the relevant security in the long term. Other issues, including those business issues specific to the issuer or those raised by shareholders of the issuer, are addressed on a case-by-case basis with a focus on the potential impact of the vote on shareholder value.

 

2.5 Guidelines Pertaining to the Board of Directors

 

Ideally, the Board of Directors will comprise a majority of unrelated experienced directors, where an unrelated director is independent of management and is free from any relationship or interest that conflicts with the director’s ability to act in the best interests of shareholders. A Board of Directors should be large enough to allow for sufficient coverage of responsibilities, but should not be so large that meetings and discussions become cumbersome. All boards shall have an audit committee headed and staffed by outside directors. We are generally opposed to cumulative voting proposals, but acknowledge that it may be a useful tool if a board is unresponsive to shareholders. A staggered board is one in which some directors are elected to terms greater than one year. Our preference is for all directors to stand for election on an annual basis. While attendance is only one factor in evaluating a director’s effectiveness, we view absences without extenuating circumstances negatively. We believe that directors should be provided insurance against liability claims, so long as their actions were taken honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the company. We will generally support the auditor recommended by the audit committee, but will review proposed changes in auditors on a case-by-case basis.

  54  

 

2.6 Guidelines Pertaining to Executive and Director Compensation

 

We consider individuals within a management team as integral to the execution of the company’s strategy. As a result, attracting and retaining qualified individuals through competitive compensation is necessary. Competitive compensation is considered in the context of what other leading companies in the same industries are paying to attract and retain their managers. Compensation should be tied to measurable performance and motivate managers to reach longer-term targets, rather than used as a reward for past performance. Furthermore, compensation should be tied to shareholder value so that the interests of both shareholders and managers are aligned.

 

We are not opposed to stock options as a form of compensation, but we are critical of compensation packages that have excessive granting of options; that cause substantial dilution of the existing shareholders; that have no, or very short, vesting periods; and/or that have options priced below the current market price. We will not support the re-pricing or extension of previously issued options held by senior management. We prefer to see stock options distributed to key contributors to corporate prosperity, but generally do not support plans that are excessively concentrated in the hands of a single individual. We support companies that encourage their executives to buy and hold a meaningful number of shares in the company so that they have the same financial interest as other shareholders. Compensation measures such as “golden parachutes” and corporate loans to individual managers are often justified by companies as ways of attracting and retaining quality managers; however, these compensation items are often abused, and we are opposed to compensation measures that are excessive and outside of competitive industry practices.

 

With respect to director compensation, appropriate board members provide valuable experience and strategic support to the company, and competitive compensation is necessary to attract and retain these individuals. Compensation should be aligned with the interests of shareholders and managers. We support companies that encourage their board members to buy and hold a meaningful number of shares in the company so that they have the same financial interest as other shareholders.

 

2.7 Guidelines Pertaining to Takeover Protection

 

Takeover protection measures are created to guard against takeover bids that do not represent a fair value for the company’s assets. The main purpose of a shareholder rights plan is to ensure equal treatment for all shareholders and to provide the board sufficient time to consider alternatives. We generally will not support plans that are anti-takeover in nature and serve to entrench the power of incumbent management and boards. However, we will generally support takeover protection measures that protect the rights and interests of all shareholders and seek to maximize shareholder value.

 

2.8 Guidelines Pertaining to Shareholder Rights

 

A multiple-voting class structure refers to unequal voting rights between classes of shares. This potentially allows minority shareholders with multiple voting rights to impose their interests over those of all other shareholders. Therefore, we generally will not support the creation or extension of multiple-voting structures. We will support the replacement of multiple-voting structure with one vote per share, given the cost of such change is modest and is in the best interest of non-controlling shareholders.

  55  

 

While supermajority requirements are appropriate in some circumstances, it can be subject to abuse and act as an anti-takeover mechanism. While a two-thirds supermajority (66.7%) is most common and is considered reasonable, we will review supermajority proposals requiring more than a two-thirds majority on a case-by-case basis.

 

We acknowledge that the Board may need the flexibility to issue shares to meet changing financial conditions, such as stock splits, restructurings, acquisitions, stock option plans, or takeover defenses. We will review proposals on a case-by-case basis to determine if the amount requested is necessary for sound business reasons.

 

"Blank cheque" preferred shares usually carry a preference in dividends, rank ahead of common shares upon liquidation, and give the board broad discretion (a “blank cheque”) to establish voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights in respect to these shares. Once those shares have been authorized, shareholders have no further power to determine how or when they will be allocated. Due to the potential for abuse, we generally will not support the authorization of, or an increase in, “blank cheque” preferred shares.

 

Linked proposals are resolutions that link two issues together. They may be used to pass proposals that would not be approved if they were proposed individually. We generally will not support linked proposals except in the case where each individual issue contained in the proposal is in the best interests of shareholders. Each issue within a linked proposal will be considered as being mutually exclusive of each other.

 

Shareholders should have the right to bring relevant proposals to the annual general meeting. These proposals should be included on the proxy ballot for consideration by all shareholders. Certain shareholder proposals put unreasonable constraints on management and the Board, which may hinder the company’s ability to create long-term shareholder value. We will review shareholder proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

2.9 Voting Procedures

 

The firm is responsible for directing how proxies relating to any securities of the Fund are to be voted. The firm is required to follow the guidelines set forth in this Proxy Voting Guideline. The Board of Directors of the firm oversees the proxy voting process and reviews proxy voting results, policies, and procedures on an annual basis to ensure that securities held by the Fund are voted in accordance with the Policies.

 

2.10 Conflicts of Interest

 

LBWM may have a conflict of interest in voting a particular proxy. A conflict of interest could arise, for example, as a result of a business relationship with a company, or a direct or indirect business interest in the matter being voted upon, or as a result of a personal relationship with corporate directors or candidates for directorships. Whether a relationship creates a material conflict of interest will depend upon the facts and circumstances.

 

LBWM will use its best efforts to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest. When the firm becomes aware of any vote that presents a conflict, the conflict will be reported to the CCO and proxies will be voted in a manner consistent with the best interests of the firm’s clients and shareholders of the Fund (“Trust”), without regard to any other business relationship that may exist. In cases where a conflict of interest arises between the interests of shareholders of the Trust and those of LBWM or any affiliate or associate of the Trust, LBWM will always vote in accordance with the best interests of the Trust.

  56  

 

LBWM may determine that there is a conflict of interest as a result of:

 

· Significant business relationships. LBWM will consider whether the matter involves an issuer or proponent with which the firm has a significant business relationship. LBWM has significant business relationships with certain entities, such as other investment advisory firms, vendors, clients, and broker-dealers. For this purpose, a “significant business relationship” is one that is reasonably likely to create an incentive for the adviser to vote in favor of management.
· Significant personal or family relationships. LBWM will consider whether the matter involves an issuer, proponent, or individual with which an employee of the firm has a significant personal or family relationship. For this purpose, a “significant personal or family relationship” is one that would be reasonably likely to influence how the adviser votes the proxy.

 

In the event the CCO determines that the firm has a conflict of interest with respect to a proxy proposal, the CCO shall also determine whether the conflict is material to that proposal. The CCO may determine on a case-by-case basis that a particular proposal does not involve a material conflict of interest. If the CCO determines that a conflict is not material, then the firm may vote the proxy in a manner consistent with the best interests of the firm’s clients and shareholders of the Trust.

 

In the event the CCO determines that the firm has a material conflict of interest with respect to a proxy proposal, the firm will vote on the proposal in accordance with the determination of the CCO. Alternatively, prior to voting on the proposal, the firm may:

 

· Contact an independent third party to recommend how to vote on the proposal and vote in accordance with the recommendation of such third party (or have the third party vote such proxy).
· With respect to clients that are not subject to ERISA, fully disclose the nature of the conflict to the client in the case of the Trust, the Trust’s CCO, and obtain the consent of the client or the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Board”) as to how LBWM will vote on the proposal
· Otherwise obtain instructions from the client or the board as to how the proxy should be voted.

 

LBWM may not address a material conflict of interest by abstaining from voting unless the CCO, the third party, the client, or the Trust’s CCO or Board, as appropriate, has determined that abstaining from voting on the proposal is in the client’s or the Trust’s best interests or that the potential costs involved with voting the proxy outweigh the potential benefits to a client, the Fund, or its shareholders.

 

The CCO shall document the manner in which proxies involving a material conflict of interest have been voted as well as the basis for any determination that the adviser does not have a material conflict of interest with respect to a particular matter.

  57  

 

2.11 Books and Records Relating to Proxies

 

In connection with voting proxies and this Proxy Voting Policy, the firm shall maintain (in hardcopy or electronic form) such books and records as may be required by applicable law, rules, or regulations, including:

 

· The firm’s policies and procedures relating to voting proxies
· A copy of each proxy statement that the firm receives regarding clients' securities, provided that the firm may rely on:
· A third party (ISS) to make and retain, on the firm's behalf, pursuant to a written undertaking, a copy of proxy statements or by obtaining a copy of proxy statements from the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system; records as to the proxies and how the firm voted;
· A record of each vote cast by the firm on behalf of clients, provided that the firm may rely on a third party to make and retain, on the firm’s behalf, pursuant to a written undertaking, records of votes cast;
· Copies of any documents created by the firm that were material to making a decision on how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorialize the basis for that decision; and
· A record of each written client request for proxy voting information and a copy of any written response by the firm to any written or oral client request for information on how the firm voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

 

Such books and records shall be maintained and preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, the first two years in an easily accessible location at an appropriate office of the firm.

  58  

 

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated February 28, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Registrant’s initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 23, 2012.
   
(b) Bylaws, dated February 28, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) of Registrant’s initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 23, 2012.
   
(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of Registrant’s initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A, filed on March 23, 2012.
   
(d)(1)(i) Investment Advisory Agreement with Lyrical Asset Management LP, dated January 22, 2013, for Lyrical U.S. Value Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 1, 2013.
   
(d)(1)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated April 1, 2020, to the Investment Advisory Agreement with Lyrical Asset Management, LP, for the Lyrical U.S. Value Fund and the Lyrical International Value Equity Fund (the “Lyrical Funds”) is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on March 30, 2021.
   
(d)(2) Investment Advisory Agreement with Wavelength Capital Management, LLC, dated October 29, 2018, for Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(4)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 28, 2018.
   
(d)(3) Investment Advisory Agreement with Edge Capital Group, LLC, dated October 29, 2018, for Blue Current Global Dividend Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(5)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 28, 2018.
   
(d)(4)(A) Investment Advisory Agreement with Marshfield Associates, Inc., dated December 27, 2015, for Marshfield Concentrated Opportunity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on December 24, 2015.

 

(d)(4)(B) Amended Schedule A to the Investment Advisory Agreement with Marshfield Associates, Inc., dated July 28, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(13)(B) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2017.
   

 

 

 

(d)(5) Investment Advisory Agreement with Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. for HVIA Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 20, 2016.
   
(d)(6) Investment Advisory Agreement with Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc., dated January 27, 2017, for the Meehan Focus Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on May 22, 2017.
   
(d)(7) Investment Advisory Agreement with Kempner Capital Management, Inc., dated April 14, 2017, for the Kempner Multi-Cap Deep Value Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 6, 2017.
   
(d)(8) Investment Advisory Agreement with Adler Asset Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.
   
(d)(9) Investment Advisory Agreement with Karner Blue Capital, LLC, for the Karner Blue Biodiversity Impact Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2019.
   
(d)(10) Investment Advisory Agreement with Q3 Asset Management Corporation, dated December 1, 2019, for the Q3 All-Weather Sector Rotation Fund and Q3 All-Weather Tactical Fund (the “Q3 Funds”), is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2020.
   
(d)(11)(i) Investment Advisory Agreement with Blueprint Fund Management LLC, for the Blueprint Growth Fund (the “Blueprint Fund”), is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 8, 2020.
   
(d)(11)(ii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Blueprint Investment Partners LLC, for the Blueprint Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(15)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 8, 2020.
   

 

 

 

(d)(12) Investment Advisory Agreement with Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 10, 2020.
   
(d)(13) Investment Advisory Agreement for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund with Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC will is filed herewith.

(e)(1)(A)(i) Distribution Agreement with Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, dated February 1, 2019, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(1)(A) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2019.

 

(e)(1)(A)(ii) Amended Schedule A to the Distribution Agreement, for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund is filed herewith.
   
(f) None
   
(g)(1)(A) Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated June 5, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 11, 2012.
   
(g)(1)(B) Third Amendment, dated December 31, 2012, to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated June 5, 2012, for Lyrical U.S. Value Equity Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 1, 2013.
   
(g)(1)(C) Fifth Amendment, dated September 11, 2013, to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated June 5, 2012, for Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2013.
   
(g)(1)(D) Seventh Amendment, dated August 26, 2014, to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated June 5, 2012, for Blue Current Global Dividend Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 15, 2014.
   
(g)(1)(E) Tenth Amendment, dated April 6, 2015, to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated June 5, 2012, for the Wavelength Interest Rate Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(J) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 12, 2015.
   

 

 

 

(g)(1)(F) Sixteenth Amendment to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated May 24, 2017, for Meehan Focus Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(N) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2017.
   
(g)(1)(G) Seventeenth Amendment to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated December 3, 2019 for the Q3 Funds, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(I) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 10, 2020.

 

(g)(1)(H) Eighteenth Amendment to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated August 20, 2020 for the Lyrical International Value Equity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(J) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 10, 2020.
   
(g)(1)(I) Nineteenth Amendment to the Custody Agreement with U.S. Bank, dated August 20, 2020 for the Evolutionary Tree Innovators Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1)(I) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 8, 2020.
   
(g)(2)(A) Global Custody Agreement with MUFG Union Bank, N.A., dated July 21, 2015, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), for Alambic Small Cap Value Fund, filed on August 19, 2015.
   
(g)(2)(B) Amended Appendix D to the Global Custody Agreement with MUFG Union Bank, N.A., for the Karner Blue Biodiversity Impact Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2)(B) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2019.
   
(g)(2)(C)

Custody Agreement with Fifth Third Bank, National Association, dated March 23, 2021, is filed herewith.

 

(h)(1)(A)(i) Master Services Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC dated July 24, 2018, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.
   
(h)(1)(A)(ii) Amended Schedule A to the Master Services Agreement, for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund is filed herewith.
   

 

 

 

(h)(1)(B) Fund Accounting Addendum, dated July 24, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1)(A) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.
   
(h)(1)(C) Amendment, dated January 23, 2019, to the Fund Administration Addendum, dated July 24, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1)(B) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2019.
   
(h)(1)(D) Transfer Agent and Shareholder Services Addendum, dated July 24, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(1)(C) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.

 

(h)(2)(A)(i) Compliance Consulting Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, dated June 5, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Exhibits (h)(xxiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on, June 29, 2012.

 

(h)(2)(A)(ii) Amended Schedule A, to the Compliance Consulting Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund is filed herewith.

 

(h)(3)(A) Expense Limitation Agreement with Wavelength Capital Management, LLC, dated April 25, 2019, for Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(A) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2019.
   
(h)(3)(B)(i) Third Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Lyrical Asset Management LP, dated January 22, 2020, for the Lyrical Funds, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(B) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2020.
   
(h)(3)(B)(ii)

Amended Schedule A to the Third Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Lyrical Asset Management LP, dated April 1, 2020, for the Lyrical Funds, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3)(B)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 of Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on March 30, 2021.

 

 

 

 

(h)(3)(C) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Edge Capital Group, LLC, dated December 17, 2019, for Blue Current Global Dividend Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(C) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 151 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on January 16, 2020.
   
(h)(3)(D) Second Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Marshfield Associates, Inc., dated November 1, 2018, for Marshfield Concentrated Opportunity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(I) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 28, 2018.
   
(h)(3)(E) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc., dated August 1, 2018, for HVIA Equity Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(L) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 28, 2018.
   
(h)(3)(F) Second Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc., dated November 01, 2018, for Meehan Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(M) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2019.
   
(h)(3)(G) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement with Kempner Capital Management, Inc., dated November 1, 2018, for Kempner Multi-Cap Deep Value Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(N) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 28, 2018.

 

(h)(3)(H) Expense Limitation Agreement with Adler Asset Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(P) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.
   
(h)(3)(I) Expense Limitation Agreement with Karner Blue Capital, LLC, for the Karner Blue Biodiversity Impact Fund, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(O) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2019.
   
(h)(3)(J)(i) Expense Limitation Agreement with Q3 Asset Management Corporation, dated December 1, 2019, for the Q3 Funds is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(N) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2020.
   

 

 

 

(h)(3)(J)(ii)

Amended Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement with Q3 Asset Management Corporation, dated January 22, 2021, for the Q3 Funds, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(3)(K)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 26, 2021.

 

(h)(3)(K) Expense Limitation Agreement with Blueprint Fund Management LLC, for the Blueprint Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(6)(O) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on March 31, 2020.
   
(h)(3)(L) Expense Limitation Agreement with Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 10, 2020.
   
(h)(3)(M) Expense Limitation Agreement with Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC is filed herewith.

(h)(4)(A) Administrative Services Plan for the Karner Blue Biodiversity Impact Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2019.
   
(h)(4)(B)(i) Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (h)(7)(B) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2020.
   
(h)(4)(B)(ii) Amended Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan will be filed by post-effective amendment.
   
(i) Opinion of Counsel is filed herewith.
   
(j) Inapplicable.
   
(k) Inapplicable.
   
(l) Initial Capital Agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (l) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 11, 2012.
   
(m)(1)(A)(i) Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Plan, dated June 5, 2012, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 15, 2014.
   

 

 

 

(m)(1)(A)(ii) Amended Appendix A to the Distribution (12b-1) Plan, for the Lyrical International Fund, Q3 Funds and Blueprint Fund is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (m)(1)(A)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 8, 2020.

 

(n)(1) Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan, dated June 6, 2013, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 6, 2013.
   
(n)(2) Amended Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan, dated April 24, 2017, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2017.
   
(o) Reserved.
   
(p)(1) Code of Ethics of the Registrant, dated June 5, 2012, amended April 23, 2018, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on November 28, 2018.
   
(p)(2) Amended Code of Ethics of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(2)(A) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 151 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on January 16, 2020.
   
(p)(3) Amended Code of Ethics of Lyrical Asset Management LP, dated October 2015, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2017.
   
(p)(4) Amended Code of Ethics of Wavelength Capital Management, LLC, dated September 1, 2016, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 6, 2017.
   
(p)(5) Amended Code of Ethics of Edge Capital Group, LLC (formerly Edge Capital Partners, LLC), dated January 1, 2018, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2018.
   
(p)(6) Amended Code of Ethics of Marshfield Associates, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2018.
   

 

 

 

(p)(7) Code of Ethics of Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 20, 2016.

 

(p)(8) Code of Ethics of Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on May 22, 2017.

 

(p)(9) Code of Ethics of Kempner Capital Management, Inc., dated September 2017, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 119 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2018.
   
(p)(10) Code of Ethics of Adler Asset Management, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 137 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 28, 2019.
   
(p)(11) Code of Ethics of Karner Blue Capital, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 27, 2019.
   
(p)(12) Code of Ethics of Q3 Asset Management Corporation is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 153 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on February 28, 2020.
   
(p)(13) Code of Ethics of Blueprint Fund Management LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on March 31, 2020.
   
(p)(14) Code of Ethics of Blueprint Investment Partners LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on March 31, 2020.
   
(p)(15) Code of Ethics of Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (p)(18) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 165 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on September 8, 2020.
   
(p)(16) Code of Ethics of Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC is filed herewith.
   

 

 

 

(q)(1)(A)(ii) Powers of Attorney for David M. Deptula, and Janine L. Cohen, dated July 27, 2018 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on July 31, 2018.
   
(q)(1)(B)(ii) Powers of Attorney for Jacqueline A. Williams, Clifford Schireson, and Robert E. Morrison are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (q)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 136 of Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-180308), filed on June 25, 2019.

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant

 

No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

 

Article VI of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of officers and Trustees as follows:

 

Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc.

 

Subject to and except as otherwise provided in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act, the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers, including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

 

Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses. The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding to the full extent permitted by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the 1940 Act, as amended, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1707, as amended. In the event any of these Federal laws conflict with Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13I, as amended, these Federal laws, and not Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13I, shall govern.

 

 

 

Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VI, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.”

 

The Investment Advisory Agreements with Lyrical Asset Management LP, Wavelength Capital Management, LLC, Edge Capital Group, LLC, Marshfield Associates, Inc., Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc., Kempner Capital Management, Inc., Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc., Adler Asset Management, LLC, Karner Blue Capital, LLC, Q3 Asset Management Corporation, Blueprint Fund Management LLC, Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC, and Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC (the “Advisers”) and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Blueprint Investment Partners LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”) provide that the Advisers and Sub-Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Funds in connection with the performance of their duties, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the 1940 Act) or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Advisers in the performance of their duties, or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

The Distribution Agreement with Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) provides that the Distributor, its directors, officers, employees, shareholders and control persons shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense (including the reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with the matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from the failure of Distributor or any such other person to comply with applicable law or the terms of the Agreement, or from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, including clerical errors and mechanical failures, on the part of any of such persons in the performance of Distributor’s duties or from the reckless disregard by any of such persons of Distributor’s obligations and duties under the Agreement.

 

The Distribution Agreement with the Distributor further also provides that the Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each person who has been, is, or may hereafter be a Trustee, officer, employee, shareholder or control person of the Trust against any loss, damage or expense (including the reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with any claim or in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which any of them may be a party, which arises out of or is alleged to arise out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary to make the statements not misleading, on the part of Distributor or any agent or employee of Distributor or any other person for whose acts Distributor is responsible, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon written information furnished by the Trust; (ii) Distributor’s failure to exercise reasonable care and diligence with respect to its services, if any, rendered in connection with investment, reinvestment, automatic withdrawal and other plans for Shares; and (iii) Distributor’s failure to comply with applicable laws and the Rules of FINRA.

 

 

 

The Registrant intends to maintain a standard mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy shall provide coverage to the Registrant, its Trustees and officers and the Adviser. Coverage under the policy will include losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

 

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers

 

(a) Lyrical Asset Management LP (“Lyrical”), located at 250 West 55th Street, 37th Floor, New York, New York 10022, has been registered as an investment adviser since 2008. Lyrical provides investment advisory services to high net worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, corporations and other businesses and a UCITS fund.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Lyrical are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Andrew Wellington – Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer
  (2) Jeffrey Keswin – Managing Partner
  (3) Jeffrey Moses, Chief Compliance Officer
  (4) Edward Peyton Gage, Chief Financial Officer

 

(b) Wavelength Capital Management, LLC (“Wavelength”), located at 250 West 57th Street, Suite 2032, New York, New York 10107, has been registered as an investment adviser since 2013.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Wavelength are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Andrew G. Dassori – Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer
  a. Partner at Den LLC / Den II LLC
  (2) Mark Landis – Founding Partner
         

(c) Edge Capital Group, LLC (“Edge”), located at 1380 Paces Ferry Road, NW, Suite 1000, Atlanta, Georgia 30327, has been registered as an investment adviser since 2006.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Edge are listed below along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

 

 

  (1) Henry M.T. Jones – Managing Partner
  (2) Albert Rayle – Partner
  (3) William Skeean – Partner
  (4) Barrett Karvis – Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer
  (5) Dennis Sabo – Partner
  (6) Elizabeth Mackie - Partner

 

(d) Marshfield Associates, Inc. (“Marshfield”), located at 21 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20036, has been registered as an investment adviser since 1989.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Marshfield are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Christopher M. Niemczewski – Managing Principal
  (2) Elise J. Hoffmann – Principal
  (3) Carolyn Miller – Principal
  (4) Melissa Vinick – Principal
  (5) William G. Stott – Principal
  (6) Chad Goldberg – Principal
  (7) Kimberly Vinick – Director of Operations
  (8) Carmen Colt – Chief Compliance Officer

 

The above individuals are also all principals and employees of Yogi Advisors, LLC and Bushido Capital Partners LLC.

 

(e) Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Hudson Valley”), located at 117 Grand Street, Suite 201, Goshen, New York 10924, has been registered as investment adviser since 1995.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Hudson Valley are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Gustave Scacco – CEO and Chief Investment Officer
  a. Chief Operating Officer and Senior Equity Analyst at TigerShark Management, LLC (February 2011 – February 2015)
  (2) Mark Lazarczyk –Chief Compliance Officer
         

 

 

 

  (3) Louis Heimbach –Director
  a. Chairman, President and CEO of Sterling Forest LLC
  b. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orange County Trust Company
  c. Director at Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation
  d. Trustee of Orange County Citizens Foundation
  e. Chairman of Stewart Airport Commission
  (4) Michael Gilfeather – Director
  a. President and CEO of Orange County Trust Company
  (5) Thomas Guarino – Director
  (6) Peter Larkin – Director
  (7) Michael Markhoff – Director
  a. Partner at Danziger & Markhoff LLP
  (8) Elizabeth Stradar - Director
         

(f) Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc. (“Edgemoor”), located at 7250 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 315, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, has been registered as an investment adviser since 1999.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Edgemoor are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Thomas P. Meehan – President
  (2) Paul P. Meehan – Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer
  (3) R. Jordan Smyth, Jr. – Managing Director

 

(g) Kempner Capital Management, Inc. (“Kempner”), located at 2201 Market Street, Galveston, 12th Floor, Texas 77550, has been registered as an investment adviser since 1982.

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Kempner are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Harris Leon Kempner, Jr. – President
  (2) Diana Bartula – Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Compliance Officer
  (3) Vera, Greene – Vice President and Head Trader
  (4) Michael S. Gault – Vice President and Portfolio Manager
  (5) Bridgette Landis – Asst. Vice President and Trader

 

 

 

 

(h) Adler Asset Management, LLC (“Adler”), located at 600 Third Avenue, Suite 26, New York, New York 10016

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Adler are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) David R. Adler – Chief Executive Officer

 

(i) Karner Blue Capital, LLC (“Karner Blue”), located at 2175 Cole Street, Birmingham, MI 48009

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Karner Blue are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Andrew K. Niebler – Managing Member, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
  (2) Vicky L. Benjamin – Managing Member, President and Treasurer
  (3) Wayne P. Pacelle, Managing Member

 

(j) Q3 Asset Management Corporation (“Q3AM”), located at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, #400, Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Q3AM are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Bradford Giaimo – President and Chief Compliance Officer
  (2) Adam Quiring – Vice President

 

(k) Blueprint Fund Management LLC (“Blueprint”), located at 1250 Revolution Mill Drive, Suite 150, Greensboro, NC 27405

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Blueprint, are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Brandon Langley – Chief Operating Officer
  (2) Jay Murray – Member
  (3) Rory Collins - Member

 

 

 

(l) Blueprint Investment Partners LLC (“Blueprint Investment”), located at 1250 Revolution Mill Drive, Suite 150, Greensboro, NC 27405

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Blueprint Investment, are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Jonathan Robinson – Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member
  (2) Brandon Langley – Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Member
  (3) Rick Bone – Partner and Director of Business Development
  (4) Thomas Mayes - Partner
     

(m) Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC (“Evolutionary Tree”), located at 1199 N. Fairfax St., Suite 801, Alexandria, VA 22314

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Evolutionary Tree are listed below, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

  (1) Thomas Ricketts – Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer

 

(n) Left Brain Wealth Management LLC (“Left Brain”), located at 215 Shuman Blvd., #304 Naperville, IL 60563

 

The directors, officers, and partners of Left Brain, to be added by Post-Effective Amendment, along with their position(s) within the firm and any other position in the capacity of director, officer, partner, or trustee, in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature that they have engaged at any time during the past two years, if any.

 

 

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

 

(a) The Distributor also acts as the principal underwriter for the following other open-end investment companies:

 

Caldwell & Orkin Funds Inc. Oak Associates Funds
Capitol Series Trust Papp Investment Trust
Centaur Mutual Funds Trust Piedmont Investment Trust
Conestoga Funds Peachtree Alternative Strategies Fund
CM Advisors Family of Funds Red Cedar Fund Trust
Chesapeake Investment Trust Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust
Commonwealth International Series Trust Schwartz Investment Trust
The Cutler Trust Unified Series Trust
Eubel Brady & Suttman Mutual Fund Trust Valued Advisers Trust
Bruce Fund, Inc. Wilshire Mutual Funds, Inc.
The First Western Funds Trust HC Capital Trust
FSI Low Beta Absolute Return Fund Wilshire Variable Insurance Trust
Hussman Investment Trust Williamsburg Investment Trust
The Investment House Funds VELA Funds
  Yorktown Funds

 

(b)  

 

Name Position with Distributor Position with Registrant
Kevin M. Guerette President None
Stephen L. Preston Chief Compliance Officer None
Douglas K. Jones Vice President None
Melvin Van Cleave Vice President None

 

The address of the Distributor and each of the above-named persons is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.

 

(c) Inapplicable

 

 

 

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

 

Accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained by the Registrant at the principal executive offices of its administrator or investment advisers:

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 

Adler Asset Management, LLC

600 Third Avenue, Suite 226

New York, New York 10016

 

Blueprint Fund Management LLC

1250 Revolution Mill Drive, Suite 150

Greensboro, NC 27405Edge

 

Blueprint Investment Partners

1250 Revolution Mill Dr., Suite 150

Greensboro, NC 27405

 

Edge Capital Group, LLC

1380 West Paces Ferry Rd., Suite 1000

Atlanta, Georgia 30327

 

Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc.

7250 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 315

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

Evolutionary Tree Capital Management LLC

1199 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 801

Alexandria, VA 22314

 

Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc.

117 Grand Street, Suite 201

Goshen, New York 10924

 

Karner Blue Capital, LLC

7315 Wisconsin Avenue, #400

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

Kempner Capital Management, Inc.

2201 Market Street

Galveston, Texas 77550

 

 

 

Left Brain Wealth Management

215 Shuman Blvd., #304

Naperville, IL 60563

 

Lyrical Asset Management LP

250 West 55th Street, 37th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

Marshfield Associates, Inc.

21 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 500

Washington, District of Columbia 20036

 

Q3 Asset Management Corporation

2175 Cole Street

Birmingham, MI 48009

 

Wavelength Capital Management, LLC

545 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

Certain records, including records relating to the possession of Registrant’s securities, may be maintained at the offices of Registrant’s custodians:

 

Fifth Third Bank, National Association

Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, Ohio 45263

 

U.S. Bank, N.A.

425 Walnut Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

MUFG Union Bank, N.A.

350 California Street, Suite 2018

San Francisco, California 94104

 

Pershing, LLC

One Pershing Plaza

Jersey City, New Jersey 07399

 

Item 34. Management Services Not Discussed in Parts A or B

 

Inapplicable

 

Item 35. Undertakings

 

Inapplicable

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, each as amended, the Registrant certifies that the Fund has caused this Post-Effective Amendment (“PEA”) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act, to be signed below on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 27, 2021.

 

  ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST
       
  By: /s/ Todd E. Heim  
    Todd E. Heim  
    President  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this PEA has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ David R. Carson   Trustee   April 27, 2021
David R. Carson        
         
*   Trustee   April 27, 2021
David M. Deptula        
         
*   Trustee   April 27, 2021
Janine L. Cohen        
         
*   Trustee   April 27, 2021
Jacqueline A. Williams        
         
*   Trustee   April 27, 2021
Clifford N. Schireson        
         
*   Trustee   April 27, 2021
Robert E. Morrison        
         
/s/ Jennifer L. Leamer   Treasurer/Controller/Principal Financial Officer   April 27, 2021
Jennifer L. Leamer        
         
/s/ David R. Carson   Vice President   April 27, 2021
David R. Carson        
         
/s/ Matthew J. Beck   Attorney-in-Fact*   April 27, 2021
Matthew J. Beck        

 

 

Exhibits

   
(d)(13)

Investment Advisory Agreement for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund with Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC

(e)(1)(A)(ii)

Amended Schedule A to the Distribution Agreement, for the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund

(g)(2)(C)

Custody Agreement with Fifth Third Bank, National Association

(h)(1)(A)(ii)

Amended Schedule A to the Master Services Agreement

(h)(2)(A)(ii)

Amended Schedule A, to the Compliance Consulting Agreement with Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

(h)(3)(M)

Expense Limitation Agreement with Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC

(i)

Opinion of Counsel

(p)(16) Code of Ethics of Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

This Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of April 22, 2021, by and between Ultimus Managers Trust, an Ohio business trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of each series of the Trust set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (individually the “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), a series of shares of the Trust, and Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC, a limited liability company (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and offers for sale distinct series of shares of beneficial interest, each corresponding to a distinct portfolio, including, the Fund; and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to avail itself of the services, information, advice, assistance and facilities of an investment adviser on behalf of the Fund, and to have that investment adviser provide or perform for the Fund various research, statistical and investment services; and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), and engages in the business of asset management and is willing to furnish such services to the Fund on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust and the Adviser hereby agree as follows:

 

1.         Employment of the Adviser. The Trust hereby employs the Adviser to invest and reinvest the assets of the Fund in the manner set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement subject to the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (“Trustees”) and the officers of the Trust, for the period, in the manner, and on the terms set forth hereinafter. The Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render the services and to assume the obligations herein set forth. The Adviser shall for all purposes herein be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, except as expressly provided or authorized (whether herein or otherwise), have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.

 

2. Obligations of Investment Adviser

 

(a)       Services. The Adviser agrees to perform the following services (the “Services”) for the Trust:

 

(1)       manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund;

 

(2)       continuously review, supervise, and administer the investment program of the Fund;

 

(3)       determine, in its discretion, the securities to be purchased, retained or sold (and implement those decisions) with respect to the Fund;

 

(4)       provide the Trust and the Fund with records concerning the Adviser’s activities under this Agreement which the Trust and the Fund are required to maintain;

   

 

(5)       render regular reports to the Trust’s Trustees and officers concerning the Adviser’s discharge of the foregoing responsibilities; and

 

(6)       perform such other services as agreed by the Adviser and the Trust from time to time.

 

The Adviser shall discharge the foregoing responsibilities subject to the control of the Trustees and officers of the Trust and in compliance with (i) such policies as the Trustees may from time to time establish; (ii) the Fund’s objectives, policies, and limitations as set forth in its prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“Statement of Additional Information”), as the same may be amended from time to time; and (iii) with all applicable laws and regulations. All Services to be furnished by the Adviser under this Agreement may be furnished through the medium of any directors, officers or employees of the Adviser or through such other parties as the Adviser may determine from time to time.

 

(b)       Expenses and Personnel. The Adviser agrees, at its own expense or at the expense of one or more of its affiliates, to render the Services and to provide the office space, furnishings, equipment and personnel as may be reasonably required in the judgment of the Trustees and officers of the Trust to perform the Services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein. The Adviser shall authorize and permit any of its officers, directors and employees, who may be elected as Trustees or officers of the Trust, to serve in the capacities in which they are elected. Except to the extent expressly assumed by the Adviser herein and except to the extent required by law to be paid by the Adviser, the Trust shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with its operation.

 

(c)       Books and Records. All books and records prepared and maintained by the Adviser for the Trust and the Fund under this Agreement shall be the property of the Trust and the Fund and, upon request therefor, the Adviser shall surrender to the Trust and the Fund such of the books and records so requested.

 

3.         Fund Transactions. The Adviser is authorized to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Fund. With respect to brokerage selection, the Adviser shall seek to obtain the best overall execution for Fund transactions, which is a combination of price, quality of execution and other factors. The Adviser may, in its discretion, purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers and dealers who provide the Adviser with brokerage, research, analysis, advice and similar services, and the Adviser may pay to these brokers and dealers, in return for such services, a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers and dealers, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of that particular transaction or of the overall responsibility of the Adviser to the Fund and its other clients and that the total commission paid by the Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to the Fund and its other clients over the long-term. The Adviser will promptly communicate to the Trustees and the officers of the Trust such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request.

 

4.         Compensation of the Adviser. As compensation for the services that the Adviser is to provide or cause to be provided pursuant to Paragraph 2, the Fund shall pay to the Adviser an annual fee, computed and accrued daily and paid in arrears monthly, at the rate set forth on Schedule A, which shall be a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund (computed in the manner set forth in the Fund’s most recent Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information) determined as of the close of business on each business day throughout the month. If the Adviser shall so request in writing, with the approval of the Trustees, some or all of such fee shall be paid directly to a sub-adviser. The fee for any partial month under this Agreement shall be calculated on a proportionate basis.

  2  

 

5.         Status of Investment Adviser. The services of the Adviser to the Trust and the Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its Services to the Trust and the Fund are not impaired thereby. The Adviser shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or the Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust or the Fund. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer or employee of the Adviser, who may also be a trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar nature or a dissimilar nature.

 

6.         Permissible Interests. Trustees, agents, and stockholders of the Trust are or may be interested in the Adviser (or any successor thereof) as directors, partners, officers, or stockholders, or otherwise; and directors, partners, officers, agents, and stockholders of the Adviser are or may be interested in the Trust as Trustees, stockholders or otherwise; and the Adviser (or any successor) is or may be interested in the Trust as a stockholder or otherwise.

 

7.         Limits of Liability; Indemnification. The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the Services called for hereunder. The Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or for any loss suffered by the Trust or the Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages shall be limited to the period and the amount set forth in Section 36(b)(3) of the Act) or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard on its part in the performance of, or from reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties under, this Agreement. It is agreed that the Adviser shall have no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the Trust’s registration statement under the Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), except for information supplied by the Adviser for inclusion therein. The Trust agrees to indemnify the Adviser to the full extent permitted by the Trust’s Declaration of Trust, a copy of which is on file with the Secretary of the State of Ohio. Notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trustees and not individually and that the obligations of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust (or if the matter relates only to a particular Fund, that Fund), and the Adviser shall look only to the assets of the Trust, or the particular Fund, for the satisfaction of such obligations or any liability arising in connection therewith, and no other series of the Trust shall incur any liability or obligation in connection therewith.

 

8.         Term. This Agreement shall remain in effect for an initial term of two years from the date hereof, and from year to year thereafter provided such continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, which vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; provided, however, that:

  3  

 

(a)        the Trust may, at any time and without the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement upon 60 days written notice of a decision to terminate this Agreement by (i) the Trustees; or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund;

 

(b)        the Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event of its assignment (within the meaning of the Act and the Rules thereunder);

 

(c)       the Adviser may, at any time and without the payment of any penalty, terminate this Agreement upon 60 days written notice to the Trust and the Fund; and

 

(d)       the terms of paragraph 7 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

9.         Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement shall be effective until approved by vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.

 

10.       Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the substantive laws of the State of Ohio without regard to the principles of the conflict of laws or the choice of laws.

 

11. Representations and Warranties

 

(a)       Representations and Warranties of the Adviser. The Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Trust as follows: (i) the Adviser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois and is fully authorized to enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder; and (ii) the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Advisers Act, and shall maintain such registration in effect at all times during the term of this Agreement.

 

(b)       Representations and Warranties of the Trust. The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Adviser as follows: (i) the Trust has been duly organized as a business trust under the laws of the State of Ohio and is authorized to enter into this Agreement and carry out its terms; (ii) the Trust is registered as an investment company with the SEC under the Act; (iii) shares of the Fund are registered for offer and sale to the public under the 1933 Act; and (iv) such registrations will be kept in effect during the term of this Agreement.

 

12.       Structure of Agreement. The Trust is entering into this Agreement solely on behalf of the Fund or Funds named herein individually and not jointly. Notwithstanding any to the contrary in this Agreement, no breach of any term of this Agreement shall create a right or obligation with respect to any series of the Trust other than the Fund; (b) under no circumstances shall the Adviser have the right to set off claims relating to the Fund by applying property of any other series of the Trust; and (c) the business and contractual relationships created by this Agreement, consideration for entering into this Agreement, and the consequences of such relationship and consideration relate solely to the Trust and the Fund.

  4  

 

13.       Compliance Procedures. The Adviser will, in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act, adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Advisers Act and will provide the Trust with copies of such written policies and procedures upon request.

 

14.       Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.


15.       Notice. Notices of any kind to be given to the Trust hereunder by the Adviser shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to the Ultimus Managers Trust at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, Attention: Director of Fund Administration, or to such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified by the Trust to the Adviser. Notices of any kind to be given to the Adviser hereunder by the Trust shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC at 215 Shuman Blvd., #304 Naperville, IL 60563, or at such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified by the Adviser to the Trust. Notices shall be deemed received when delivered in person or within four days after being deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested or upon receipt of proof of delivery when sent by overnight mail or overnight courier, addressed as stated above.

 

In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and the year first written above.

 

Ultimus Managers Trust, on behalf of the
Fund listed on Schedule A
  Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC
     
By:   By:
/s/ Todd E. Heim   /s/ Noland Langford
Name: Todd E. Heim   Name: Noland Langford
Title: President   Title: Chief Executive Officer

  5  

 

SCHEDULE A

TO

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

AND

 

LEFT BRAIN WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

Name of Fund   Fee*
Left Brain Compound Growth Fund   2.00%

 

* As a percent of average daily net assets. Note, however, that the Adviser shall have the right, but not the obligation, to voluntarily waive any portion of the advisory fee from time to time.
  6  

 

 

AMENDED SCHEDULE A

Dated April 21, 2021

 

to the DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Dated February 1, 2019

between

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

and

ULTIMUS FUND DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

 

TRUST SERIES

 

Adler Value Fund

Blue Current Global Dividend Fund

Blueprint Growth Fund

Evolutionary Tree Innovators Fund

HVIA Equity Fund

Karner Blue BioDiversity Impact Fund

Kempner Multi-Cap Deep Value Fund

Left Brain Compound Growth Fund

Lyrical International Value Equity Fund

Lyrical U.S. Value Equity Fund

Marshfield Concentrated Opportunity Fund

Meehan Focus Fund

Q3 All-Weather Sector Rotation Fund

Q3 All-Weather Tactical Fund

Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund

   

 

 

 

CUSTODY AGREEMENT

 

THIS CUSTODY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of March 23, 2021, by and between Ultimus Managers Trust a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Ohio, (the "Company or Customer"), executing this Agreement on behalf and for the benefit of those series set forth on Exhibit A (the “Fund(s)” and each, a “Fund”), and FIFTH THIRD BANK, National Association (the "Custodian").

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Securities and cash of certain of the investment portfolios of each Fund identified in Exhibit A hereto, which Exhibit may be added to from time-to-time by notice from the Company to the Custodian, be held and administered by the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and

 

WHEREAS, the Custodian represents that it is a bank having the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(i) of the 1940 Act;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein made, the Company on behalf and for the benefit of those Funds set forth on Exhibit A and the Custodian hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:

 

1.1       "Authorized Person" means any Officer or other person duly authorized by resolution of the Board of Trustees to give Oral Instructions and Written Instructions on behalf of the Company or a Fund and named in Exhibit B hereto or in such resolutions of the Board of Trustees, certified by an Officer, as may be received by the Custodian from time to time.

 

1.2       "Board of Trustees" shall mean the Trustees from time to time serving under the Company’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time amended.

 

1.3       "Business Day" shall mean any day recognized as a settlement day by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and any other day for which the Company computes the net asset value of the Funds.

 

1.4 "Custody Account" shall mean any account in the name of a Fund, which is provided for in Section 3.2 below.
   

 

1.5 "FINRA" shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

1.6       “Fund” means those series of the Company listed on Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.

 

1.7       “Foreign Depository” shall mean (a) Euroclear, (b) Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, (c) each Eligible Securities Depository as defined in Rule 17f-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, identified to the Company from time to time, and (d) the respective successors and nominees of the foregoing.

 

1.8       "Officer" shall mean the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

 

1.9       "Oral Instructions" shall mean instructions orally transmitted to and accepted by the Custodian because such instructions are: (i) reasonably believed by the Custodian to have been given by an Authorized Person, (ii) recorded and kept among the records of the Custodian made in the ordinary course of business and (iii) orally confirmed by the Custodian.

 

1.10       "Proper Instructions" shall mean Oral Instructions or Written Instructions. Proper Instructions may include the of recurring or continuous event only if they are Written Instructions.

 

1.11       "Securities" shall include, without limitation, common and preferred stocks, bonds, call options, put options, debentures, notes, bank certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, mortgage-backed securities, other money market instruments or other obligations, and any certificates, receipts, warrants or other instruments or documents representing rights to receive, purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or interests therein, or any similar property or assets that the Custodian has the facilities to clear and to service.

 

1.12       "Securities Depository" shall mean The Depository Trust Company and (provided that Custodian shall have received a copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees, certified by an Officer, specifically approving the use of such clearing agency as a depository for the Company on behalf of a Fund) any other clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 17A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), which acts as a system for the central handling of Securities where all Securities of any particular class or series of an issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of the Securities.

 

1.13 "Shares" shall mean the units of beneficial interest issued by a Fund.

 

1.14       “Specified Country” shall mean each country listed on Schedule I attached hereto and each country, other than the United States, constituting the primary market for a security with respect to which any Fund has given settlement instruction to Custodian (the “Custodian”) this Agreement.

   

 

1.15       "Written Instructions" shall mean (i) written communications actually received by the Custodian and signed by one or more persons as the Board of Trustees shall have from time to time authorized, or (ii) communications by telex or any other such system from a person or persons reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized Person, or (iii) communications transmitted electronically through the Institutional Delivery System (IDS), or any other similar electronic instruction system acceptable to Custodian and approved by resolutions of the Board of Trustees, a copy of which, certified by an Officer, shall have been delivered to the Custodian.

 

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN; SERIES TRUST

 

2.1       Appointment. The Company hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash of certain of the investment portfolios of each Fund identified in Exhibit A hereto owned by or in the possession of the applicable Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, provided that such Securities or cash at all times shall be and remain the property of the applicable Fund.

 

2.2       Acceptance. The Custodian hereby accepts appointment as such custodian and agrees to perform the duties thereof as hereinafter set forth and in accordance with the 1940 Act as amended. Except as specifically set forth herein, the Custodian shall have no liability and assumes no responsibility for any non-compliance by the Company or a Fund of any laws, rules or regulations.

 

2.3       Foreign Custody. If applicable and or necessary, Custodian hereby accepts the delegation of responsibilities with respect to each Specified Country and agrees in performing the responsibilities as a Foreign Custody Manager as defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of the Company’s or any Fund’s assets would exercise.

 

Custodian shall provide to the Board of Trustees at such times as deemed reasonable and appropriate based on the circumstances of the Company, any Fund’s foreign custody arrangements, written reports notifying the Board of Trustees of the placement of assets of a Fund with a particular Foreign Depository within a Specified Country and of any material change in the arrangements (including the contract governing such arrangements) with respect to assets of such Fund with any such Foreign Depository.

 

2.4       Series Trust. The Company has been established as a series trust. The assets and liabilities of each Fund set forth on Exhibit A are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Fund. All Securities and cash of a Fund shall remain the property of that Fund and no other Fund.

   

 

ARTICLE III

CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES

 

3.1       Segregation. All Securities and non-cash property held by the Custodian for the account of each Fund, except Securities maintained in a Securities Depository or Book- Entry System, shall be physically segregated from other Securities and non-cash property in the possession of the Custodian and shall be identified as subject to this Agreement.

 

3.2       Custody Account. The Custodian shall open and maintain in its trust department a custody account in the name of each Fund listed on Exhibit A (each a “Custody Account”), subject only to draft or order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry all Securities, cash and other assets of the Fund that are delivered to it.

 

3.3       Appointment of Agents. In its discretion, the Custodian may appoint, and at any time remove, any domestic bank or trust company that has been approved by the Board of Trustees and is qualified to act as a custodian under the 1940 Act, as sub-custodian to hold Securities and cash of any Fund and to carry out such other provisions of this Agreement as it may determine, and may also open and maintain one or more banking accounts with such a bank or trust company (any such accounts to be in the name of the Custodian and subject only to its draft or order), provided, however, that the appointment of any such agent shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement.

 

3.4       Appointment of Foreign Agents. Except as may otherwise be agreed upon in writing, assets of each Fund shall, when required, be maintained in custody of a Foreign Depository. With respect to holding property with an Eligible Foreign Custodian as defined in Rule 17f-1 under the 1940 Act (“Eligible Foreign Custodian”), it is expressly understood and agreed that:

 

(i)       Custodian will endeavor, to the extent feasible, to hold securities in the country or other jurisdiction in which the principal trading market for such Securities is located, where such Securities are to be presented for cancellation and/or payment and/or registration, or where such Securities are acquired;

 

(ii)       Cash which is maintained in a foreign country will be in any currency which may be legally held in such country and to the extent commercially reasonable, will be held in interest bearing accounts;

 

(iii)       Foreign Depositories may hold Securities in central securities depositories or clearing agencies in which such participates;

 

(iv)       Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto or otherwise required by local law or practice, Securities deposited with a Foreign Depository will be held in a single account in the name of Custodian or its designee sub- custodian as custodian or trustee for its customers;

   

 

(v)       Settlement of and payment for Securities received for, and delivered from the Custody Account may be made in accordance with the customary or established securities trading or securities processing practices and procedures in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction occurs, including without limitation, the delivery of Securities to a purchaser, broker, dealer or their prospective agents either against a receipt for future payment or without any payment (so-called "free delivery"); and

 

(vi)       Customer is solely responsible for the payment of and the reclamation, where applicable, of taxes. Custodian will, however, cooperate with Customers in connection with Customer's payment or reclamation of taxes and shall make the necessary filings in connection with obtaining tax exemptions and tax reclamations which are available to the Customer.

 

3.5       Delivery of Assets to Custodian. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian certain of a Fund’s applicable Securities, cash and other assets that will be custodied with the Custodian, including, as applicable, (a) certain payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions received by the Company with respect to such Fund Securities, cash or other assets owned by the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, and (b) certain cash received by the Company for the issuance, at any time during such period, of Fund shares. The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually received by it.

 

3.6       Securities Depositories and Book-Entry Systems. The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Securities of each Fund in a Securities Depository or in a Book-Entry System, subject to the following provisions:

 

(a) Prior to a deposit of Securities of a Fund in any Securities Depository or Book- Entry System, the Company shall deliver to the Custodian a resolution of the Board of Trustees, certified by an Officer, authorizing and instructing the Custodian on an on-going basis to deposit in such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and to make use of such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System to the extent possible and practical in connection with its performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of collateral consisting of Securities.

 

(b) Securities of a Fund kept in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall be kept in an account ("Depository Account") of the Custodian in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository which includes only assets held by the Custodian as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers.

 

(c) The records of the Custodian and the Custodian's account on the books of the Book-Entry System and Securities Depository as the case may be, with respect to Securities of a Fund maintained in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall, by book-entry, or otherwise identify such Securities as belonging to such Fund.
   

 

(d) If Securities purchased by a Fund are to be held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall pay for such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that such Securities have been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of such Fund. If Securities sold by such Fund are held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall transfer such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities depository that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of such Fund.

 

(e) Upon request, the Custodian shall provide the Company with copies of any report (obtained by the Custodian from a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository in which Securities of any Fund is kept) on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in such Book- Entry System or Securities Depository.

 

(f) Subject to satisfaction of the Custodian’s obligations under Section 7.1 of this Agreement and under Rule 17f-7 under 1940 Act, the Company hereby represents and warrants on behalf of each Fund, which representations and warranties shall be continuing and shall be deemed to be reaffirmed upon any delivery of a Certificate or any giving of Oral Instructions, Instructions, or Written Instructions, as the case may be, that the Fund or its investment adviser has determined that the custody arrangements of each Foreign Depository provide reasonable safeguards against the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with such Foreign Depository within the meaning of Rule 17f-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(g) Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Custodian shall be liable to the Company and any Fund for any loss or damage to the Company or any Fund resulting (i) from the use of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository by reason of any negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct on the part of Custodian or any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above or any of its or their employees, or (ii) from failure of Custodian or any such sub-custodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. At its election, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository or any other person for any loss or damage to the Company or any Fund arising from the use of such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, if and to the extent that the Company or any Fund has been made whole for any such loss or damage.
   

 

3.7 Disbursement of Moneys from Custody Accounts. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall disburse moneys from a Custody Account but only in the following cases:

 

(a) For the purchase of Securities for the applicable Fund but only upon compliance with Section 4.1 of this Agreement and only (i) in the case of Securities (other than options on Securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts), against the delivery to the Custodian (or any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above) of such Securities registered as provided in Section 3.10 below in proper form for transfer, or if the purchase of such Securities is effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.6 above;

(ii) in the case of options on Securities, against delivery to the Custodian (or such sub-custodian) of such receipts as are required by the customs prevailing among dealers in such options; (iii) in the case of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, against delivery to the Custodian (or such sub-custodian) of evidence of title thereto in favor of the Fund or any nominee referred to in Section 3.10 below; and (iv) in the case of repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the Company on behalf of the Fund and a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or between the Company on behalf of the Fund and a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities, against delivery of the purchased Securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's account at a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository for the account of the Fund with such Securities;

 

(b) In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender, as set forth in Section 3.8(f) below, of Securities owned by the Fund;

 

(c) For the payment of any dividends or capital gain distributions declared by the Fund;

 

(d) In payment of the redemption price of Shares as provided in Article V below;

 

(e) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest, taxes, administration, investment management, investment advisory, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, custodian, trustee and legal fees; and other operating expenses of the Fund; in all cases, whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or in part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

(f) For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company on behalf of the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of the FINRA, relating to compliance with rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
   

 

(g) For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company on behalf of the Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;

 

(h) For the funding of any uncertificated time deposit or other interest-bearing account with any banking institution (including the Custodian), which deposit or account has a term of one year or less; and

 

(i) For any other proper purposes, but only upon receipt, in addition to Proper Instructions, of a copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees, certified by an Officer, specifying the amount and purpose of such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

3.8 Delivery of Securities from a Custody Account. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall release and deliver Securities from a Custody Account but only in the following cases:

 

(a) Upon the sale of Securities for the account of a Fund but only against receipt of payment therefore in cash, by certified or cashiers check or bank credit;

 

(b) In the case of a sale effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.6 above;

 

(c) To an offeror's depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for Securities of a Fund; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

(d) To the issuer thereof or its agent (i) for transfer into the name of the Fund, the Custodian or any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above, or of any nominee or nominees of any of the foregoing, or (ii) for exchange for a different number of certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

(e) To the broker selling Securities, for examination in accordance with the "street delivery" custom;

 

(f) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the issuer of such Securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such Securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement, including surrender or receipt of underlying Securities in connection with the issuance or cancellation of depository receipts; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
   

 

(g) Upon receipt of payment therefore pursuant to any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement entered into by a Fund;

 

(h) Upon the exercise of warrants, rights or similar Securities, provided, however, that in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

(i) For delivery in connection with any loans of Securities of a Fund, but only against receipt of such collateral as the Fund shall have specified to the Custodian in Proper Instructions;

 

(j) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Company on behalf of a Fund requiring a pledge of assets by such Fund, but only against receipt by the Custodian of the amounts borrowed;

 

(k) Pursuant to any authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Company or a Fund;

 

(l) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company on behalf of the Fund, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of the FINRA, relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Company on behalf of a Fund;

 

(m) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company on behalf of a Fund, the Custodian, and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Company on behalf of a Fund; or

 

(n) For any other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt, in addition to Proper Instructions, of a copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees, certified by an Officer, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made.
   

 

3.9 Actions Not Requiring Proper Instructions. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, the Custodian shall with respect to all Securities held for a Fund;

 

(a) Subject to Section 7.4 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which the Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business;

 

(b) Present for payment and, subject to Section 7.4 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable;

 

(c) Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;

 

(d) Surrender interim receipts for Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form;

 

(e) Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and to the Company at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;

 

(f) Hold for a Fund, either directly or, with respect to Securities held therein, through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, all rights and similar securities issued with respect to Securities of the Fund; and

 

(g) In general, and except as otherwise directed in Proper Instructions, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with Securities and assets of any Fund.

 

3.10      Registration and Transfer of Securities. All Securities held for a Fund that are issued or issuable only in bearer form shall be held by the Custodian in that form, provided that any such Securities shall be held in a Book-Entry System for the account of a Fund, if eligible therefore. All other Securities held for a Fund may be registered in the name of the Fund, the Custodian, or any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 above, or in the name of any nominee of any of them, or in the name of a Book-Entry System, Securities Depository or any nominee of either thereof; provided, however, that such Securities are held specifically for the account of the Fund. The Company shall furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of any of the nominees hereinabove referred to or in the name of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, any Securities registered in the name of a Fund.

 

3.11      Records. (a) The Custodian shall maintain, by Fund, complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Fund, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefore and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest accrued; and (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto. The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Company or any Fund as the Company shall reasonably request, or as may be required by the 1940 Act, including, but not limited to these necessary to comply with Section 3.1 and Rule 31a-1, Rule 31a-2 and Rule 13a-3 promulgated thereunder.

   

 

(b)     All such books and records maintained by the Custodian shall (i) be maintained in a form acceptable to the Company and in compliance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, (ii) be the property of the Company and at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be made available upon request for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Company or the applicable Fund and employees or agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and (iii) if required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, be preserved for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

3.12      Fund Reports by Custodian. The Custodian shall furnish the Company with a daily activity statement by Fund and a summary of all transfers to or from each Fund’s Custody Account on the day following such transfers. At least monthly and from time to time, the Custodian shall furnish the Company with a detailed statement, by Fund, of the Securities and moneys held for the Company under this Agreement.

 

3.13      Other Reports by Custodian. The Custodian shall provide the Company with such reports as the Company may reasonably request from time to time on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities, which are employed by the Custodian or any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above.

 

3.14      Proxies. The Custodian, with respect to all Securities, however registered, shall cause the proxy voting rights to be exercised by the Company or its designee. Custodian shall forward all proxies and accompanying material actually received by the Custodian that are issued by any company whose Securities are held in a Custody Account to the applicable Fund’s Advisor. With respect to Securities issued outside of the United States, at the request of the Company, the Custodian or it’s agent will provide the Company or its designee with access to global proxy services (the cost of which will be paid by the Company on behalf of the applicable Fund(s)). Other than providing access to such provider of global proxy services, the Custodian or its agent shall have no obligation with respect to voting such proxies.

 

3.15.     Information on Corporate Actions. Custodian will promptly notify the Company of corporate actions limited to those Securities registered in nominee name and to those Securities held at a Depository or sub-Custodian acting as agent for Custodian. Custodian will be responsible only if the notice of such corporate actions is published by Xcitek, DTC, or received by first class mail from the transfer agent. For market announcements not yet received and distributed by Custodian's services, the Company will inform its custody representative with appropriate instructions. Custodian will, upon receipt of the Company’s response within the required deadline, affect such action for receipt or payment for the Company. For those responses received after the deadline, Custodian will affect such action for receipt or payment, subject to the limitations of the agent(s) affecting such actions. Custodian will promptly notify Company for put options only if the notice is received by first class mail from the agent. The Company will provide or cause to be provided to Custodian with all relevant information contained in the prospectus for any security which has unique put/option provisions and provide Custodian with specific tender instructions at least ten business days prior to the beginning date of the tender period.

   

 

3.16.     Securities Class Action Services. Custodian will only provide notification of class actions to the Company. Custodian’s reporting will be based on its actual knowledge of Securities that the Company has deposited with the Custodian during the term of this Agreement. Securities held by the Company elsewhere or not in the account at the time the Custodian began to provide custody services are deemed to be outside of the actual knowledge of the Custodian. Custodian will have no responsibility to file class action claims on behalf of the Company.

 

ARTICLE IV

PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND

 

4.1       Purchase of Securities. Promptly upon each purchase of Securities for a Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (a) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (b) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any) or other units purchased, (c) the date of purchase and settlement, (d) the purchase price per unit, (e) the total amount payable upon such purchase, and (f) the name of the person to whom such amount is payable. The Custodian shall upon receipt of such Securities purchased by a Fund pay out of the moneys held for the account of such Fund the total amount specified in such Written Instructions to the person named therein. The Custodian shall not be under any obligation to pay out moneys to cover the cost of a purchase of Securities for a Fund, if in the relevant Custody Account there is insufficient cash available to settle the purchase of Securities in the Fund.

 

4.2       Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased. In each and every case where payment for the purchase of Securities for a Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt for the account of the Fund of the Securities purchased but in the absence of specific Proper Instructions to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for such Securities to the same extent as if the Securities had been received by the Custodian.

 

4.3       Sale of Securities. Promptly upon each sale of Securities by a Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (a) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (b) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any), or other units sold, (c) the date of sale and settlement (d) the sale price per unit, (e) the total amount payable upon such sale, and (f) the person to whom such Securities are to be delivered. Upon receipt of the total amount payable to the Fund as specified in such Written Instructions, the Custodian shall deliver such Securities to the person specified in such Written Instructions. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.

   

 

4.4       Delivery of Securities Sold. Notwithstanding Section 4.3 above or any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian, when instructed to deliver Securities against payment, shall be entitled, if in accordance with generally accepted market practices and procedures in the foreign or domestic jurisdiction in which the transaction occurs, to deliver such Securities prior to actual receipt of final payment therefore. In any such case, the Fund shall bear the risk that final payment for such Securities may not be made or that such Securities may be returned or otherwise held or disposed of by or through the person to whom they were delivered, and the Custodian shall have no liability for any of the foregoing.

 

4.5       Payment for Securities Sold, etc. In its sole discretion and from time to time, the Custodian may credit the relevant Custody Account, prior to actual receipt of final payment thereof, with (i) proceeds from the sale of Securities which it has been instructed to deliver against payment, (ii) proceeds from the redemption of Securities or other assets of the Fund, and (iii) income from cash, Securities or other assets of the Fund. Any such credit shall be conditional upon actual receipt by Custodian of final payment and may be reversed if final payment is not actually received in full. The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, permit a Fund to use funds so credited to its Custody Account in anticipation of actual receipt of final payment. Any such funds shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by the Custodian at any time prior to the actual receipt of all final payments in anticipation of which funds were credited to the Custody Account.

 

4.6       Advances by Custodian for Settlement. The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, advance funds to a Fund or it’s designee to facilitate the settlement of a Trust transaction on behalf of a Fund in its Custody Account. In consideration of the services to be rendered pursuant to this agreement, the applicable Fund shall pay Custodian in accordance with the Fee Schedule annexed hereto as Schedule B. A compensating balance arrangement will be in place for each Fund’s Custody Account. Cash balance credits will be calculated daily in each Fund’s Custody Account. The monthly aggregate cash balance credit will offset the monthly aggregate overdraft balances with respect to each Fund. The net aggregate credit or overdraft balance amount will be applied to the monthly custody fee invoice for each Fund. No more than one month’s custody fee can be offset by any month’s net cash balance credit.

 

ARTICLE V

REDEMPTION OF TRUST SHARES

 

Transfer of Funds. From such funds as may be available for the purpose in the relevant Custody Account, and upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying that the funds are required to redeem Shares of a Fund, the Custodian shall wire each amount specified in such Proper Instructions to or through such bank as the Company may designate with respect to such amount in such Proper Instructions. Upon effecting payment or distribution in accordance with proper Instruction, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation or have any responsibility thereafter with respect to any such paying bank.

   

 

ARTICLE VI

SEGREGATED ASSETS

 

Certain Fund Transactions (e.g., when-issued securities, delayed delivery transactions, and reverse repurchase agreements) require the Fund to segregate liquid assets sufficient to cover the future liability involved in these transactions. The Fund’s investment advisor (the “Advisor”) will instruct the Custodian to segregate those assets on the Custodian’s books. The Custodian need not physically segregate the assets. The Custodian may note on its books that the selected assets are “segregated”. The Advisor will review the value of the segregated assets and will instruct the Custodian to place additional assets in the Segregated Asset status if the value of the assets falls below the commitment value of the Fund. The Custodian will provide Internet report access to authorized representatives of the Advisor. The Advisor will review the Custodian’s report for compliance with segregation requirements.

 

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN

 

7.1       Standard of Care. The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, and shall be without liability to the Company for any loss, damage, cost, expense (including attorneys' fees and disbursements), liability or claim unless such loss, damages, cost, expense, liability or claim arises from negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part or on the part of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 above or any of their agents. Neither party will be liable for special incidental or punitive damages. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel on all matters and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted in good faith pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Company of any action taken or omitted by the Custodian pursuant to advice of counsel. The Custodian shall not be under any obligation at any time to ascertain whether the Company is in compliance with the 1940 Act, the regulations thereunder, the provisions of the Company’s charter documents or by-laws, or its investment objectives and policies as then in effect.

 

With respect to each Foreign Depository, Custodian shall exercise reasonable care, prudence, and diligence (i) to provide the Fund with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Foreign Depository, and (ii) to monitor such custody risks on a continuing basis and promptly notify the Fund of any material change in such risks. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that such analysis and monitoring shall be made on the basis of, and limited by, information gathered from sub-custodians or through publicly available information otherwise obtained by Custodian, and shall not include any evaluation of Country Risks. As used herein the term “Country Risks” shall mean with respect to any Foreign Depository: (a) the financial infrastructure of the country in which it is organized, (b) such country’s prevailing settlement practices, (c) nationalization, expropriation or other governmental actions, (d) such country’s regulation of the banking or securities industry, (e) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and (f) market conditions which affect the order execution of securities transactions or affect the value of securities.

   

 

7.2       Actual Collection Required. The Custodian shall not be liable for, or considered to be the custodian of, any cash belonging to the Company or any money represented by a check, draft or other instrument for the payment of money, until the Custodian or its agents actually receive such cash or collect on such instrument.

 

7.3       No Responsibility for Title, etc. So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.4       Limitation on Duty to Collect. Custodian shall not be required to enforce collection, by legal means or otherwise, of any money or property due and payable with respect to Securities held for the Company if such Securities are in default or payment is not made after due demand or presentation.

 

7.5       Reliance Upon Documents and Instructions. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any certificate, notice or other instrument in writing received by it and reasonably believed by it to be genuine. The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any Oral Instructions and/or any Written Instructions actually received by it pursuant to this Agreement.

 

7.6       Express Duties Only. The Custodian shall have no duties or obligations whatsoever except such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no covenant or obligation shall be implied in this Agreement against the Custodian.

 

7.7       Cooperation. The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information, by the Company, to the entity or entities appointed by the Company to keep the books of account of any Fund and/or compute the value of the assets of any Fund. The Custodian shall take all such reasonable actions as the Company may from time to time request to enable the Company to obtain, from year to year, favorable opinions from the Company’s independent accountants with respect to the Custodian's activities hereunder in connection with (a) the preparation of any Fund’s report on Form N-1A and Form N-SAR and any other reports required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and (b) the fulfillment by the Company of any other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

8.1       Indemnification. The Company, on behalf of the applicable Fund, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above, and any nominee of the Custodian or of such sub-custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements), liability (including, without limitation, liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, and any state or foreign securities and/or banking laws) or claim related to such Fund’s Custody Account and arising directly or indirectly (a) from the fact that Securities are registered in the name of any such nominee, or (b) from any action or inaction by the Custodian or such sub-custodian (i) at the request or direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Company, or (ii) upon Proper Instructions, or (c) generally, from the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any sub-custody agreement with a sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4 above or, in the case of any such sub-custodian, from the performance of its obligations under such custody agreement, provided that neither the Custodian nor any such sub-custodian shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising from the Custodian's, such sub-custodian's, or their agent’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

   

 

8.2       Indemnity to be Provided. If the Company requests the Custodian to take any action with respect to Securities, which may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee becoming liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Custodian shall not be required to take such action until the Company, on behalf of the applicable Fund, shall have provided indemnity therefore to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to the Custodian.

 

8.3       Indemnity from Custodian. Custodian agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Company and the particular Fund from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements), liability (including, without limitation, liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, and any state or foreign securities and/or banking laws “Applicable Law”) or claim related to or arising directly or indirectly from (a) the negligence or willful misconduct of Custodian in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; and (ii) the violation of any Applicable Law by Custodian in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement. The foregoing provisions shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX

FORCE MAJEURE

 

Neither the Custodian nor the Company shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; strikes; epidemics; riots; power failures; computer failure and any such circumstances beyond its reasonable control as may cause interruption, loss or malfunction of utility, transportation, computer (hardware or software) or telephone communication service; accidents; labor disputes, acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation; provided, however, that the Custodian in the event of a failure or delay shall use its best efforts to ameliorate the effects of any such failure or delay. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian shall maintain sufficient disaster recovery procedures to minimize interruptions.

   

 

ARTICLE X

EFFECTIVE PERIOD; TERMINATION

 

10.1       Effective Period. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first set forth above and shall continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided.

 

10.2       Termination. Either party hereto may terminate this Agreement by giving to the other party a notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not less than ninety (90) days after the date of the giving of such notice. If a successor custodian shall have been appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of a written notice of acceptance by the successor custodian, on such specified date of termination (a) deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities (other than Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository) and cash then owned by the Company on behalf of each Fund and held by the Custodian as custodian, and (b) transfer any Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository to an account of or for the benefit of the Company on behalf of each Fund at the successor custodian, less any amounts due and owing the Custodian by an applicable Fund under this Agreement. Upon such delivery and transfer, the Custodian shall be relieved of all further custodian obligations under this Agreement. The Company may at any time immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by regulatory authorities in the State of Ohio or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.

 

10.3       Failure to Appoint Successor Custodian. If a successor custodian is not designated by the Company on or before the date of termination specified pursuant to Section 10.2 above, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company of its own selection, which is (a) a "Bank" as defined in the 1940 Act, (b) has aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits as shown on its then most recent published report of not less than $25 million, and (c) is doing business in New York, New York, all Securities, cash and other property held by Custodian under this Agreement and to transfer to an account of or for each Fund at such bank or trust company all Securities of the Trust held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. Upon such delivery and transfer, such bank or trust company shall be the successor custodian under this Agreement and the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement; provided that the Custodian used reasonable care in the selection of the successor custodian. If, after reasonable inquiry, Custodian cannot find a successor custodian as contemplated in this Section 10.3, then Custodian shall have the right to deliver to the Company all Securities and cash then owned by each Fund and to transfer any Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository to an account of or for each Fund. Prior to exercising this right, the Custodian shall provide sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Company that it intends to exercise this right (such notice to be in addition to any notice required under Section 10.2 of this Agreement). Thereafter, the Company shall be deemed to be its own custodian with respect to the assets in each Fund’s Custody Account and the Custodian shall be relieved of all further custodian obligations under this Agreement.

   

 

ARTICLE XI

COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN

 

In consideration of the services to be rendered pursuant to this Agreement, the Company on behalf of each Fund shall pay Custodian in accordance with the Fee Schedule annexed hereto as Schedule B, which Fee Schedule may be amended by Custodian from time to time upon sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Company.

 

In addition, the Company shall be responsible for and shall reimburse Custodian for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Custodian in connection with this Agreement, including (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) all brokerage fees and costs and transfer taxes incurred in connection with the purchase, sale or disposition of Property, and all income taxes or other taxes of any kind whatsoever which may be levied or assessed under existing or future laws upon or in respect to the Property, and all other similar expenses related to the administration of the Custody Accounts incurred by Custodian in the performance of its duties hereunder (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses). For the avoidance of doubt, all costs and expenses of running its own business, including employee salary and general overhead expenses will be borne by the Custodian.

 

Fees and reimbursement for costs and expenses shall be paid monthly. Custodian will submit an itemized statement to the Company each month. In the event Custodian does not receive such payment within sixty (60) days of the date of such statement with respect to a particular Fund, Custodian is hereby authorized to debit the Cash Accounts of such Fund for such fees, costs and expenses.

 

ARTICLE XII

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

The Company is a business trust organized under the laws of the State of Ohio and under a Declaration of Trust, to which reference is hereby made a copy of which is on file at the office of Secretary of State of Ohio as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement: (i) it is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Company on behalf of the Fund(s) hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the trustees, directors, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Company personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Company on behalf of the Fund(s) as provided in the Company’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time amended; and (ii) it is expressly agreed that the Company is entering into this Agreement solely on behalf of the Fund(s) named herein individually and not jointly and no obligation under or breach of this Agreement by one Fund shall create a right, obligation or liability against another Fund. It being understood and agreed, the Custodian shall not have the right to offset claims relating to one Fund by applying property or assets of another Fund. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the trustees of the Company on behalf of the Fund(s), and this Agreement has been signed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Company, acting as such, and neither such authorization by the trustees of the Company nor the execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Company as provided in the above mentioned Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

   

 

The Company is organized as a series trust. No Fund shall be liable for or charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Fund. If a matter relates only to a particular Fund, that Fund shall be solely responsible for all liabilities in connection with such matter, and the Custodian agrees to look solely to the assets of such Fund for the payment or performance thereof.

 

ARTICLE XIII

NOTICES

 

Unless otherwise specified herein, all demands, notices, instructions, and other communications to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent or delivered to the receipt set forth below:

 

  To the Company or a Fund:
   
  Ultimus Managers Trust
  c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
  225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
  Attention: Todd E. Heim President
  Tel: 513.587-3427
  Email: theim@ultimusfundsolutions.com

 

with a copy to: Thomas W. Steed III
  Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
  4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1400
  Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
  Tel: 919-420-1832
  Email: tsteed@kilpatricktownsend.com

 

  To the Custodian:
   
  Fifth Third Bank
Institutional Trust & Custody
  Attn: Ryan Henrich
  Mail Drop 1090CC
  38 Fountain Square Plaza
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
  Telephone: (513) 534-6721
  Facsimile: (513) 534-4735

   

 

or at such other address as either party shall have provided to the other by notice given in accordance with this Article XIII. Any notices under or pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly sent when delivered in hand or when mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or when sent by facsimile or email transmission with read receipt requested.

 

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.1       Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

 

14.2       References to Custodian and Trust. The Company shall not circulate any printed matter which contains any reference to Custodian without the prior written approval of Custodian, excepting printed matter contained in the prospectus or statement of additional information or its registration statement for the Trust and such other printed matter as merely identifies Custodian as custodian for the Company or any Fund. The Company shall submit printed matter requiring approval to Custodian in draft form, allowing sufficient time for review by Custodian and its counsel prior to any deadline for printing. The Custodian shall not circulate any printed matter which contains any reference to the Trust or any Fund without the prior written approval of the Company.

 

14.3       No Waiver. No failure by either party hereto to exercise and no delay by such party in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. The exercise by either party hereto of any right hereunder shall not preclude the exercise of any other right, and the remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided at law or in equity.

 

14.4       Amendments. This Agreement may be amended from time to time in whole or in part. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall become effective until expressed by an instrument in writing duly executed by the Custodian and the Company on behalf of the applicable Fund.

 

14.5       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

14.6       Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

14.7       Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other party hereto.

   

 

14.8       Headings. The headings of sections in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

14.9       Representations. Each party represents that (i) it is duly organized and in good standing in every jurisdiction where it is required so to be; (ii) it has the power and authority to sign and to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (iii) this Agreement is duly authorized and signed and is its legal, valid and binding obligation, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties generally; (iv) any act required by any relevant governmental or other authority to be done in connection with its execution and performance of this Agreement has been or will be done (and will be renewed if necessary); and (v) its performance of this Agreement will not violate or breach any applicable law, regulation, contract or other requirement. The Custodian also represents that (i) it has commercially reasonable privacy, data security, and business continuity controls and plans; (ii) has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement and (iii) is a bank within the meaning of Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act and is a U.S. Bank as defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(7) of the 1940 Act.

 

14.10       Privacy. Custodian agrees to adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Company pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified with notice from time to time. In this regard, the Custodian will have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonable designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Company and the Funds and their shareholders.

 

[SIGNATURES ARE ON NEXT PAGE] 

   

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered in its name and on its behalf by its representatives thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST,
  on behalf of and for the benefit of those Funds
listed on Exhibit A
   
  By: /s/ Todd E. Heim
     
  Its: President
   
  FIFTH THIRD BANK
     
  By: /s/ Anoopa McKim
     
  Its: Vice President

   

 

Dated: March 23, 2021

 

EXHIBIT A

TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT BETWEEN

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

AND FIFTH THIRD BANK

 

March 23, 2021

 

Name of Fund Date

 

Left Brain Compound Growth Fund Estimated launch: May 2021

 

 

Ultimus Managers Trust, on behalf of and for the

benefit of those Funds listed on Exhibit A

   
  By: /s/ Todd E. Heim
     
  Its: President
     
  FIFTH THIRD BANK
     
  By: /s/ Anoopa McKim
     
  Its: Vice President
   

 

Dated: March 23, 2021

 

EXHIBIT B

TO THE CUSTODY AGREEMENT BETWEEN

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

AND FIFTH THIRD BANK

 

March 23, 2021

 

OFFICERS AND OTHER PERSON DULY AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO GIVE ORAL INSTRUCTIONS AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY OR A FUND

 

Name of Fund Office Name and Title/Position

 

NONE as of March 23, 2021

   

 

Dated: March 23, 2021

 

SCHEDULE A

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK
GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK

 

COUNTRIES AND SUB-CUSTODIANS FOR

 

Series of Ultimus Managers Trust March 23, 2021

 

COUNTRY SUB-CUSTODIAN
Argentina Banco Rio de la Plata, SA
Australia Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Ltd.
Austria Bank Austria AG
Bangladesh Standard Chartered Bank
Belgium Banque Bruxelles Lambert
Bermuda The Bank of Bermuda
Botswana SCMB (Stanbic Bank Botswana)
Brazil The Bank of Boston
Bulgaria ING Bank Sofia
Canada Royal Bank of Canada
Chile The Bank of Boston
China Standard Chartered Bank
Colombia Cititrust
Croatia Privredna Banka
Cyprus Bank of Cyprus
Czech Republic Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Bank
Denmark Den Danske Bank
EASDAQ Banque Bruxelles Lambert
Ecuador Citibank
Egypt Citibank
Estonia Hansabank
Euromarkets Euroclear
Finland Merita Bank, Ltd.
France Banque Paribas
Germany Dresdner Bank
Ghana SCMB (Merchant Bank of Ghana Ltd.)
Greece Paribas, Athens
Hong Kong Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Hungary Citibank Budapest
Iceland Landsbanki

   

 

SCHEDULE A- cont’d

 

COUNTRY SUB-CUSTODIAN
India State Bank of India
Indonesia Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Ireland Allied Irish Banks Plc.
Israel Bank Leumi LE- Israel B.M.
Italy Banca Commerciale Italiana
Ivory Coast Societe Generale de Banques en Cote d’Ivoire
Japan Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ltd.
Jordan The British Bank of Middle East
Kenya SCMB (Stanbic Bank of Kenya Ltd)
Latvia Societe Generale
Lebanon The British Bank of the Middle East
Lithuania Vilniaus Bankas
Luxembourg Banque Internationale a Luxembourg
Malaysia Hongkong Bank Malaysia Berhad
Mauritius Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Mexico Banco Nacional de Mexico
Morocco Banque Commerciale du Maroc
Namibia SCMB (Stanbic Bank Nambia Ltd.)
Netherlands Mees Pierson
New Zealand ANZ Banking Group Ltd.
Nigeria SCMB (Stanbic Bank Nigeria Ltd.)
Norway Den Norske Bank
Oman The British Bank of the Middle East)
Pakistan Standard Chartered Bank
Peru Citibank NA
Philippines Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp
Poland Bank Handlowy W Warszawie
Portugal Banco Comercial Portugues
Romania ING Bank- Bucharest Branch
Russia (Min Fin only) Bank for Foreign Trade
Russia (Equities & Bonds) Unexim Bank
Russia (Equities) Credit Suisse First Bonston Ltd- Moscow Shanghai HK Connect
Singapore Development Bank of Singapore
Slovakia Ceskoslovenska Obchodna Banka
Slovenia Banka
South Africa Standard Bank of South Africa
South Korea Standard Chartered Bank
Spain Banco Bilbao Vizcaya
Sri Lanka Standard Chartered Bank
Swaziland SCMB (Stanbic Bank Swaziland Ltd)
Sweden Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken

   

 

SCHEDULE A- cont’d

 

COUNTRY SUB-CUSTODIAN
Switzerland Union Bank of Switzerland
Taiwan Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp.
Thailand Standard Chartered Bank
Tunisia Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie
Turkey Ottoman Bank
Ukraine Bank Ukraina
United Kingdom The Bank of New York
Uruguay BankBoston
Venezuela Citibank NA
Zambia SCMB (Stanbic Bank Zambia LTd)
Zimbabwe SCMB (Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Ltd)

   

 

 

AMENDED SCHEDULE A

To the

Master Services Agreement

between

Ultimus Managers Trust

and

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

Dated July 24, 2018

 

Fund Portfolio(s) (by fiscal year end)

 

HVIA Equity Fund February 28
Left Brain Compound Growth Fund February 28
Blueprint Growth Fund February 28
Adler Value Fund May 31
Evolutionary Tree Innovators Fund May 31
Karner Blue Biodiversity Impact Fund May 31
Kempner Multi-Cap Deep Value Fund May 31
Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund May 31
Blue Current Global Dividend Fund August 31
Marshfield Concentrated Opportunity Fund August 31
Meehan Focus Fund August 31
Lyrical International Value Equity Fund November 30
Lyrical U.S. Value Equity Fund November 30
Q3 All-Weather Sector Rotation Fund November 30
Q3 All-Weather Tactical Fund November 30

 

The parties duly executed this Amendment as of April 21, 2021.

 

  Ultimus Managers Trust     Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
         
By: /s/ Todd E. Heim   By: /s/ David James
Name: Todd E. Heim   Name: David James
Title: President   Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Legal and Risk Officer

   

 

 

 

AMENDED SCHEDULE A

dated April 21, 2021

to the

Compliance Services Agreement

dated June 5, 2012

between

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

and

ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC

 

FEES AND EXPENSES

 

Fees. Ultimus shall receive the fees described below, which are computed and payable monthly.

 

Asset-Based Fee: 0.01% per annum on average net assets of each series in excess of $100 million.

 

Annual base fee for each of the below: $12,000 per year for each series of the Trust.

 

Adler Value Fund Lyrical U.S. Value Equity Fund
Blue Current Global Dividend Fund Lyrical U.S. Value ETF
Blueprint Growth Fund Marshfield Concentrated Opportunity Fund
Evolutionary Tree Innovators Fund Meehan Focus Fund
HVIA Equity Fund Q3 All-Weather Sector Rotation Fund
Karner Blue Biodivesity Impact Fund Q3 All-Weather Tactical Fund
Kempner Multi-Cap Deep Value Fund Wavelength Interest Rate Neutral Fund
Left Brain Compound Growth Fund  
Lyrical International Equity Fund  

 

Annual base fee for each of the below: $15,000 per year for each series of the Trust.
   
  [   ]

 

Out-of-Pocket Expenses. The fees set forth above shall be in addition to the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, as provided for in Section 3 of the Agreement.

   

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this amended Schedule A as of the date first above written.

 

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST   ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC
         
By: /s/ Todd E. Heim   By: /s/ David James
Name: Todd E. Heim   Name: David James
Title: President   Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer

   

 

 

 

EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

FOR ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

 

THIS EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 22, 2021, is made and entered into by and between the ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST, an Ohio business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of each series of the Trust set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each a “Fund”), and Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC, a Illinois limited liability company (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser has been appointed the investment adviser of the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser desire to enter into the arrangements described herein relating to certain expenses of the Fund in order to help maintain the Fund’s expense ratio within a certain operating expense limit; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fund may, from time to time, invest in affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds or other investment companies such as exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), such underlying investments collectively referred to herein as “Acquired Funds”;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust and the Adviser hereby agree as follows:

 

1.       The Adviser agrees, subject to Section 2 hereof, to reduce the fees payable to it under the Advisory Agreement (but not below zero) and/or reimburse other expenses of each Fund, through the applicable termination date set forth on Schedule A, to the extent necessary to limit the total operating expenses of each class of shares of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund, Acquired Fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business) to the amount of the “Maximum Operating Expense Limit” applicable to the Fund and each class of shares thereof as set forth on the attached Schedule A.

 

2.       The Fund agrees to pay to the Adviser the amount of fees (including any amounts foregone through limitation or reimbursed pursuant to Section 1 hereof) that, but for Section 1 hereof, would have been payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement or which have been reimbursed in accordance with Section 1 hereof (the “Deferred Fees”), subject to the limitations provided in this Section 2. Such repayment shall be made monthly, but only if the operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund, Acquired Fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business) without regard to such repayment, are at an annual rate (as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund) that is equal to or less than the “Maximum Operating Expense Limit” of the respective class of shares of the Fund, as set forth on Schedule A. Furthermore, the amount of Deferred Fees paid by the Fund in any month shall be limited so that the sum of (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the other operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund Acquired Fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business) do not exceed (x) the “Maximum Operating Expense Limit” for the respective class of shares of the Fund then in effect and (y) the Maximum Operating Expense Limit for the respective class of shares of the Fund in effect at the time the expenses to be repaid were incurred.

   

 

Deferred Fees are subject to repayment by the Fund for a period of 36 months after the end of the fiscal month in which the Deferred Fees were incurred. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event will one Fund be obligated to pay any Deferred Fees with respect to any other series of the Trust.

 

3.       This Agreement with respect to the Fund shall continue in effect until the applicable termination date set forth on Schedule A and annually thereafter provided each such continuance is specifically approved by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who (i) are not “interested persons” of the Trust or any other party to this Agreement, as defined in the 1940 Act, and (ii) have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement (“Non-Interested Trustees”). Nevertheless, this Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto, without payment of any penalty, upon written notice at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of the then-current term of the Agreement to the other party at its principal place of business; provided that, in the case of termination by the Trust, such action shall be authorized by resolution of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees of the Trust or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. Any termination pursuant to this Section 3 shall become effective, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon, on the last day of the then-current term of the Agreement. This Agreement will terminate automatically as to the Fund if the Advisory Agreement with respect to that Fund is terminated. Upon the termination of the Agreement for any reason, the Adviser acknowledges and agrees that (i) it remains liable for all fee reductions and reimbursement obligations pursuant to Section 1 hereof that accrued prior to the termination of this Agreement and (ii) the obligations under Section 2 hereof shall cease and terminate as to the Fund if the entire Agreement is terminated, and if the entire Agreement is not terminated, as to each Fund with respect to which the Agreement is terminated.

 

4.       The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

5.       This agreement may be modified only at the request of either party and with the approval of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”).

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trust or the Fund to take any action contrary to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or By-Laws, or any applicable statutory or regulatory requirement to which it is subject or by which it is bound, or to relieve or deprive the Trust’s Board of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Trust or the Fund.

  2  

 

Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to the investment advisory fee, the computations of net asset values, and the allocation of expenses, having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from the terms and provisions of the Advisory Agreement or the 1940 Act, shall have the same meaning as and be resolved by reference to such Advisory Agreement for the Fund or the 1940 Act.

 

Notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund by an officer of the Trust as an officer and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property belonging to the Fund.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST   LEFT BRAIN WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC
       
By: /s/ Todd E. Heim   By: /s/ Noland Langford
Name: Todd E. Heim   Name: Noland Langford
Title: President   Title: Chief Executive Officer

  3  

 

SCHEDULE A

 

to

 

EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

DATED APRIL 22, 2021

 

FOR ULTIMUS MANAGERS TRUST

 

OPERATING EXPENSE LIMITS

 

 

  Maximum Operating  
Fund Name Expense Limit* Termination Date
     
Left Brain Compound Growth Fund 2.00% June 30, 2024

 

* Expressed as a percentage of a Fund’s average daily net assets. This amount is exclusive of brokerage costs, taxes, interest, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, costs to organize the Fund, Acquired Fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses such as litigation and merger or reorganization costs and other expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of such Fund’s business.
  4  

 

 

 

 

April 27, 2021

 

Ultimus Managers Trust

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 

Re: Ultimus Managers Trust, File Nos. 333-180308 and 811-22680

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter is in response to your request for our opinion in connection with the filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 179 to the Registration Statement, File Nos. 333-180308 and 811-22680 (the "Registration Statement"), of Ultimus Managers Trust (the "Trust").

 

We have examined a copy of the Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended; the Trust's Bylaws; the Trust's record of the various actions by the Trustees thereof; and all such agreements; certificates of public officials; certificates of officers and representatives of the Trust and others; and such other documents, papers, statutes and authorities as we deem necessary to form the basis of the opinion hereinafter expressed. We have assumed the genuineness of the signatures and the conformity to original documents of the copies of such documents supplied to us as copies thereof. The opinions expressed herein are limited to matters of Ohio business trust law and United States Federal law as such laws exist today; we express no opinion as to the effect of any applicable law of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to update or supplement our opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention, or changes in law that may occur hereafter.

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, after Post-Effective Amendment No. 179 is effective for purposes of applicable federal and state securities laws, the shares of the Left Brain Compound Growth Fund (the "Fund"), if issued in accordance with the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Fund, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We give you our permission to file this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 179 to the Registration Statement. This opinion may not be filed with any subsequent amendment, or incorporated by reference into a subsequent amendment, without our prior written consent. This opinion is prepared for the Trust and its shareholders, and may not be relied upon by any other person or organization without our prior written approval.

 

  Very truly yours,
  /s/
  THOMPSON HINE LLP

 

 

Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC
Left Brain Investment Management LLC

 

Code of Ethics

 

A. General

 

The Code of Ethics is predicated on the principle that Left Brain Wealth Management, LLC and Left Brain Investment Research LLC, as well as all of the firms’ officers, directors, employees, and independent contractors (hereinafter collectively referred to as “personnel”), owe a fiduciary duty to their clients. It is the responsibility of all personnel to ensure that the firm conducts its business with the highest level of ethical standards and in keeping with its fiduciary duties to its clients.

 

The firm and its personnel must avoid activities, interests, and relationships that run contrary to (or appear to run contrary to) the best interests of clients. At all times, personnel will be mindful to:

 

· Place client interests ahead of the firm’s. As a fiduciary, the firm will serve in its clients’ best interests. In other words, neither the firm nor its personnel may benefit at the expense of its clients.
· Engage in personal investing that is in full compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies. Personnel must review and abide by the firm’s Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policies, copies of which are provided to all applicable personnel at the commencement of their relationship with the firm and at least annually thereafter.
· Avoid taking advantage of their position. Personnel must not accept investment opportunities, gifts, or other gratuities from individuals seeking to conduct business with the firm or on behalf of an advisory client, unless in compliance with the firm’s policies.
· Maintain full compliance with federal securities laws. Personnel must abide by the standards set forth in Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and maintain full compliance with all other applicable federal securities laws.

 

Any questions with respect to the firm’s Code of Ethics should be directed to the firm’s Managing Principal or Chief Compliance Officer. As discussed in greater detail below, personnel must promptly report any violations of the Code of Ethics to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

B. Risks

 

In developing this policy and the procedures related thereto, the firm considered the potential material risks that may give rise to a conflict of interest or a breach of its fiduciary duties. This analysis included an assessment of potential issues such as the following:

 

· Personnel engage in an abuse of access to non-public information (e.g., trading ahead of a client; passing information to others for their personal trading use).
· Personnel cherry pick clients’ trades, systematically moving profitable trades to a personal account and leaving less profitable trades in client accounts.
· Personnel engage in an excessive volume of personal trading (as determined by the Chief Compliance Officer) that detracts from their ability to perform services for clients.

 

 
 

· Personnel take advantage of their position by accepting excessive gifts or other gratuities (including access to IPO investments) from individuals seeking to do business with the firm.
· Personnel engage in personal trading activity that does not comply with certain provisions of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act.
· Personnel serve as a trustee and/or director of an outside organization(s) without prior review and approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

The firm has established the following guidelines as an attempt to mitigate these risks.

 

C. Guiding Principles & Standards of Conduct

 

All personnel will act with competence, dignity, integrity, and in an ethical manner when dealing with clients, the public, prospects, and third-party service providers. The following set of principles frames the professional and ethical conduct that the firm expects from its personnel:

 

· Act with competence, integrity, diligence, respect, and in an ethical manner with the public, clients, prospective clients, and personnel.
· Place the integrity of the investment profession, the interests of clients, and the interests of the firm above one’s own personal interests.
· Adhere to the fundamental standard that one should not take inappropriate advantage of one’s position.

· Avoid any actual or potential material conflict of interest.
· Conduct all personal securities transactions and activities in a manner consistent with this policy.
· Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment actions, and engaging in other professional activities.
· Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect favorably on them and the profession.
· Promote the integrity of and uphold the rules governing capital markets.
· Maintain and improve one’s professional competence and strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.
· Comply with applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws and any related regulations.

 

D. Personal Security Transaction Policy

 

Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act requires all Access Persons to report, and the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer or designee to review, their personal securities transactions and holdings periodically as provided below. Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act defines an “Access Person” as any supervised person:

 

· who has access to nonpublic information regarding any client’s purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any “Reportable Fund,” as defined below; or
· who is involved in making securities recommendations to clients; or
· who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic; and
· the firm’s directors and officers.

 

 
 

A “Reportable Fund” is any fund (i) for which the firm serves as an investment adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(20) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; or (ii) whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls the firm, is controlled by the firm, or is under common control with the firm. For these purposes, “control” has the same meaning as it does in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Access Persons are subject to the firm’s Personal Securities Transaction Policy and related procedures. Access Persons may not purchase or sell any security in which they have a beneficial interest unless the transaction complies with the Personal Securities Transaction Policy as set forth below. A list of current Access Persons is maintained as a separate schedule by the firm..

 

D.1. Trade Pre-Clearance Procedures

 

Access Persons shall not be required to obtain prior approval from the manager or designee for any personal trading activity other than for participation in limited offerings and initial public offerings (“IPOs”). All pre-clearance requests must be submitted to the manager or designee for review and approval. The Access Person cannot effect a securities transaction subject to the trade pre- clearance until approval has been granted.

 

D.2. Reportable Securities

 

The firm requires its Access Persons to provide periodic reports (see the Reporting section under this Codes of Ethics) regarding transactions and holdings in any security, except that Access Persons are not required to report the following exempted securities:

 

· Direct obligations of the government of the United States
· Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high-quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements
· Shares issued by money market funds
· Shares issued by open-end funds other than reportable funds
  · Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open- end fund, none of which are reportable funds

 

Note: This exemption does not apply to shares of open-end mutual funds that are advised by the firm (or an affiliate) or are otherwise affiliated with the firm (or an affiliate). Access Persons must report any personal transaction in a reportable fund.

 

D.3. Reporting

 

To maintain compliance with Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, the firm must collect the following three reports from its Access Persons that include transaction and holding information regarding the personal trading activities of the Access Persons.

 

D.3.a. Quarterly Transaction Reports

 

Access Persons shall be required to report all reportable securities transactions that they have made in securities accounts during the quarter, as well as any new securities accounts that they have opened during the quarter. In order to fulfill this reporting requirement, Access Persons will be required to submit a Quarterly Transaction Report provided by GS Compliance Consulting via DocuSign. The form defines “reportable” and “non-reportable” securities.

 

 
 

Transaction reports must include the following information:

 

· The date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and principal amount of each reportable security involved;
· The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale, or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
· The price of the security at which the transaction was effected;
  · The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
  · The date the access person submits the report.

 

Note: Access Persons are reminded that they must also report their personal securities transactions and holdings as well as those of members of their immediate family, including spouse, children, and other members of the household, in accounts over which the Access Person has direct or indirect influence or control.

 

D.3.b. Initial and Annual Holdings Reports

 

New Access Persons are required to report all of their securities and securities accounts not later than 10 days after becoming an employee of the firm. All holdings reports must contain information that is current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an employee.

 

Access Persons are required to provide the Chief Compliance Officer with a complete list of reportable securities and securities accounts on an annual basis, or on or before January 30 of each year. The report shall be current as of December 31. Access Persons will be sent by GS Compliance Consulting via DocuSign the Annual Securities Holdings Report to complete. The report defines “reportable” and “non-reportable” securities.

 

Access Persons are required to submit their brokerage/custodial statements to the Chief Compliance Officer in order to fulfill the initial and annual holding requirements. However, Access Persons must be certain that their brokerage/custodial statements include at a minimum:

 

· The title and type of security;
· As applicable depending on the type of security, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares, and principal amount of each security;
· The name of any broker, dealer, investment company, or bank with which the Access Person maintains an account in which any security is held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit; and
· The date in which the Access Person submits the report.

 

D.3.c. Exceptions from Reporting Requirements

 

There are limited exceptions from certain of the three reporting requirements noted above. Specifically, Access Persons are not required to comply with the following:

 

· Quarterly transaction reporting for any transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan.
· Any of the three reporting requirements with respect to securities held in securities accounts over which applicable Access Persons had no direct or indirect influence or control. Note, however, that the Chief Compliance Officer may request that the Access Person provide documentation to substantiate that such Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control over the securities account (e.g., investment advisory agreement, etc.).

 

 
 

The Chief Compliance Officer will determine on a case-by-case basis whether an account qualifies for either of the aforementioned exceptions.

 

E. Trading and Review

 

The firm’s Personal Securities Transaction Policy is designed to not only ensure its technical compliance with Rule 204A-1, but also to mitigate any potential material conflicts of interest associated with Access Persons’ personal trading activities. Accordingly, the firm will closely monitor Access Persons’ investment patterns to detect abuses, which may include but is not limited to trading in companies included on the Restricted and Watch Lists.

 

The firm maintains Restricted and Watch Lists that prohibit Access Persons from trading in certain securities under a variety of circumstances. The Restricted and Watch Lists consist of any securities that may pose a conflict of interest for Access Persons. The Restricted and Watch Lists are maintained and updated as necessary by the firm. Personal trading records of Access Persons are compared against the Restricted and Watch Lists, and any violations are reported to the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

The firm strictly forbids “front-running” client accounts, which is a practice generally understood to be Access Persons personally trading ahead of client accounts. If the firm discovers that one of its Access Persons is personally trading contrary to the policies set forth above, the Access Person shall meet with the Chief Compliance Officer to review the facts surrounding the transactions.

 

F. Reporting Violations and Remedial Actions

 

The firm takes the potential for conflicts of interest caused by personal investing very seriously. As such, the firm requires its Access Persons to promptly report any violations of the Code of Ethics to the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer is aware of the potential matters that may arise as a result of this requirement and shall take action against any Access Person that seeks retaliation against another for reporting violations of the Code of Ethics.

 

If any violation of the firm’s Personal Securities Transaction Policy is determined to have occurred, the Chief Compliance Officer may impose sanctions and take such other actions including, without limitation, the following:

 

· Requiring that the trades in question be reversed
· Requiring the disgorgement of profits or gifts
· Issuing a letter of caution or warning
· Issuing a suspension of personal trading rights or suspension of employment (with or without compensation)
· Imposing a fine
· Making a civil referral to the SEC
· Making a criminal referral
· Terminating employment for cause
· Any combination of the foregoing

 

All sanctions and other actions taken shall be in accordance with applicable employment laws and regulations. Any profits or gifts forfeited shall be paid to the applicable client(s), if any, or given to a charity, as the Chief Compliance Officer shall determine is appropriate.

 

 
 

G. Confidentiality

 

Access Persons are prohibited from revealing information relating to the investment intentions, activities, or portfolios of advisory clients except to persons whose responsibilities require knowledge of the information.

 

H. Privacy of Client Information

 

Neither the firm nor any of its personnel should disclose any nonpublic personal information about a client to any nonaffiliated third party, other than to provide services to the client, unless the client expressly gives permission to the firm to do so. All investment advisory agreements, if applicable, should include express permission to the firm to share certain nonpublic information with nonaffiliated third parties for purposes of performing the firm’s services and assisting in the implementation of a client’s financial plan.

 

I. Firm Opportunities

 

Personnel may not take personal advantage of any opportunity properly belonging to any advisory client or the firm. This includes, but is not limited to, acquiring reportable securities for one’s own account that would otherwise be acquired for an advisory client.

 

J. Undue Influence

 

Access Persons shall not cause or attempt to cause any advisory client to purchase, sell, or hold any security in a manner calculated to create any personal benefit to such Access Person. If an Access Person stands to benefit from an investment decision for an advisory client that the Access Person is recommending or participating in, the Access Person must disclose to those persons with authority to make investment decisions for the advisory client the full nature of the beneficial interest that the Access Person has in that security, any derivative security of that security or the security issuer, where the decision could create a material benefit to the Access Person or the appearance of impropriety. The person to whom the Access Person reports the interest, in consultation with the Chief Compliance Officer, must determine whether or not the Access Person will be restricted in making investment decisions with respect to the subject security.

 

K. Compliance Certification

 

The firm is required to provide a copy of the Code of Ethics and amendments thereto to all personnel, and all personnel shall sign a certificate promptly upon becoming employed or otherwise associated with the firm, and annually thereafter, that evidences their receipt of this Code of Ethics and any amendments thereto. In addition, all Access Persons shall submit a complete report of their securities holdings. Annually in the month of January, all personnel will again be required to certify compliance by completing the Annual Policies Certification, which will be sent by GS Compliance Consulting via DocuSign.

 

L. Recordkeeping

 

The firm shall maintain a copy of its Codes of Ethics (and amendments), records of violations of the Code of Ethics, and actions taken as a result of the violations. In addition, the firm shall maintain copies of the written acknowledgments of receipt of the Code of Ethics (see Compliance Certification section above). The firm is further required to keep a record of the names of its Access Persons, the holdings and transaction reports made by Access Persons, and a record of any decisions to approve investments in IPOs and limited or private offerings. The firm must use reasonable diligence and institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of its Code of Ethics.

 

 
 

M. Responsibility

 

The Chief Compliance Officer and/or designee(s) will be responsible for administering the Personal Securities Transaction Policy. All questions regarding the policy should be directed to the Chief Compliance Officer.