As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012
File Nos. 333-159484 and 811-22298
 

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM N-1A
 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No.       
[   ]
Post-Effective Amendment No.   65  
[X]
and/or
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[X]
Amendment No.   69  
[X]
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
 
Starboard Investment Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
116 South Franklin Street, P. O. Box 69, Rocky Mount, NC  27802
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
252-972-9922
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
 
A. Vason Hamrick
116 S. Franklin Street, P.O. Box 69, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27802
 
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
With copy to :
Terrence Davis
Thompson Hine, LLP
1920 N. Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20036-1600

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:                     As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Registration Statement
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective: (check appropriate box)

[   ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[   ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[   ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[   ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[X] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[   ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
 
 
 

 
 
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST

CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT


This registration statement consists of the following papers and documents:

Cover Sheet
Contents of Registration Statement
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund                                                            
        Part A – Prospectus
Part B – Statement of Additional Information
        Part C – Other Information and Signature Page
Exhibit Index
Exhibits

 
 

 

PART A

FORM N-1A

PROSPECTUS
 
 

 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
Institutional Class Shares ( _____ )
Advisor Class Shares ( _____ )
 
A series of the
Starboard Investment Trust

 

 
PROSPECTUS
[ August __, 2012 ]
 
This prospectus contains information about the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund that you should know before investing.  You should read this prospectus carefully before you invest or send money, and keep it for future reference.  This prospectus relates to the Institutional Class Shares and Advisor Class Shares offered by the Fund.  The Fund also offers an additional class of shares, Wirehouse Class Shares, in a separate prospectus.  For questions or for Shareholder Services, please call 1-800-773-3863.
 
Investment Advisor
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
300 Four Falls Corporate Center
Suite 200
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
 
  The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
Summary
2
Principal Investment Objective, Strategies, and Risks
9
Investment Objectives
9
Principal Investment Strategies
9
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
11
Non-Principal Investment Policies and Risks
13
Management of the Fund
14
Investment Advisor
14
Distributor
15
Additional Infomration on Expenses
16
Investing in the Fund
17
Purchase Options
17
Purchase and Redemption Price
17
Buying or Selling Shares Through a Financial Intermediary
19
Purchasing Shares
19
Redeeming Shares
21
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions
24
Other Important Investment Information
26
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
26
Financial Highlights
26
Additional Information
Back Cover

 
 
 

 
SUMMARY
 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
 
The Arin Large Cap Theta Fund seeks maximum relative total return versus the S&P 500 Stock Index through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.
 
 
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
 
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
 
Shareholder Fees
   
(fees paid directly from your investment)
   
 
Institutional
Advisor
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed On Purchases  (as a % of offering price)
None
None
Redemption Fee
None
None
Exchange Fee
None
None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1
   
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
Institutional
Advisor
Management Fees
0.40%
0.40%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
0.40%
Other Expenses 2
0.68%
0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 3
0.09%
0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
1.17%
1.57%
   Fee Waiver and/or Expense Limitation 2
0.40%
0.40%
    Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses
0.77%
1.17%
 
1.     Since the Fund is newly organized, “Other Expenses” are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year.
 
2.     The Fund’s administrator has entered into a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Fund that covers the regular operating expenses of the Fund for an inclusive fee of 0.28% (with the exception of management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses), even if such operating expenses exceed the inclusive fee.  The agreement runs through June 30, 2013 and can only be terminated prior to that date at the discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.  The Fund’s administrator cannot recoup from the Fund any regular operating expenses in excess of the inclusive fee.  In conjunction with the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement, the Advisor has entered into an Operating Plan with the Fund’s administrator, also through June 30, 2013, under which it has agreed to make
 
 
2

 
payments to the administrator when the Fund is at lower asset levels and to assume certain expenses of the Fund outlined in the Operating Plan.  The Operating Plan can only be terminated prior to the conclusion of the current term with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.  The Advisor cannot recoup from the Fund any amounts paid under the Operating Plan.
 
3.     “Acquired Fund” means any investment company in which the Fund invests or has invested during the period.  Since the Fund is newly organized, “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year.
 
Example. This example shows you the expenses you may pay over time by investing in the Fund. Since all mutual funds use the same hypothetical conditions, this example should help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund versus other mutual funds. The example assumes the following conditions:
 
·  
You invest $10,000 in the Fund for the periods shown;
·  
You reinvest all dividends and distributions;
·  
You redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods;
·  
You earn a 5% return each year; and
·  
The Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.
 
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the following table shows you what your costs may be under the conditions listed above.
 
Class
1 Year
3 Years
Institutional Class
  $79
$332
Advisor Class
$119
$457
 
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.
 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
 
The Fund’s investment advisor, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in a portfolio of common stocks, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and futures contracts, while also engaging in option trades that the Advisor believes will be profitable due to perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.
 
 
3

 
As a matter of investment policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of securities whose value is based on companies with market capitalizations that qualify them as “large-cap” companies.  This policy may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60-days’ prior notice to shareholders.  The Advisor considers a company to be a “large cap” company if its market capitalization falls within the range of market capitalizations of companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.   While t he Fund typically invests in common stocks, ETFs, futures contracts, and options , it has the ability to invest in other types of equity securities, such as preferred stocks and warrants, that satisfy the Fund’s investment criteria.
 
A portion of the Fund’s assets will be invested in securities that track the performance of the U.S. large-cap equity market.  These securities include ETFs and futures contracts based on broad-based market indexes like the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.    These securities may also include a group of common stocks that the Advisor believes will track the performance of the large-cap equity market.  At times, a relatively high percentage of this portion of the portfolio may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers.  Securities will be selected based upon their ability to provide exposure to the large-cap equity market with minimal tracking error. The percentage of the Fund invested in these securities will change from time to time as the Advisor deems appropriate based on its analysis and allocation models.
 
Based on its exposure to the large-cap equity market, the Fund will trade options to try to take advantage of perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.  The Advisor identifies these trading opportunities by analyzing volatility.  The market price of an option is partially based on the expected volatility, or potential variation in price over time, of its underlying asset.  The Advisor evaluates differences between the volatility implied by the market price of a call option and the future volatility of its underlying security as forecast by the Advisor.  By analyzing the implied and forecasted volatilities of a security, and comparing them to the implied and forecasted volatilities of the large-cap equity market, the Advisor attempts to identify situations where a call option is relatively overvalued.  The Advisor then establishes a short position by selling the call option or establishes a position that is intended to achieve a similar result through a combination of long and short positions on call and put options.
 
In selecting the options that the Fund will trade, the Advisor first identifies exchange-traded options with a trading volume sufficient to preclude the Fund’s trades from influencing prices.  The Advisor then evaluates the available investment opportunities with a proprietary trading algorithm that assists the Advisor in determining when to buy and sell options.  The algorithm provides a scoring system based upon technical indicators and price patterns, observed market statistics, fundamental research, factor risk modeling, and economic indicators.  The Advisor also allocates a portion of the Fund’s assets to cash or cash equivalents, including money-market instruments and money-market mutual funds.
 
 
4

 

 
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
 
The loss of your money is a principal risk of investing in the Fund.  Investments in the Fund are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of some or the entire principal amount invested.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective.  Generally, the Fund will be subject to the following principal risks:
 
Common Stocks.   The Fund’s investments in common stocks, both directly and indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of other investment companies, may fluctuate in value 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.  During temporary or extended bear markets, the value of common stocks will decline, which could also result in losses for the Fund.
 
ETF Risks. The Fund’s investments in ETFs will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the portfolio of such ETFs and the value of the Fund’s investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of such portfolio.   Shareholders in the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.   These types of investments by the Fund could affect the timing, amount, and character of distributions and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
 
Futures Risk. The Fund’s use of stock index futures contracts exposes the Fund to leverage and tracking risks because a small investment in futures contracts may produce large losses and futures contracts may not accurately track the underlying securities.  Changes in the value of futures contracts may not track or correlate perfectly with the underlying index because of temporary, or even long-term, supply and demand imbalances and because futures do not pay dividends unlike the stocks upon which they are based.
 
General Market Risk. The Fund’s net asset value and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain securities held by the Fund may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
 
Investment Advisor Risk.   The Advisor’s ability to choose suitable investments has a significant impact on the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.  The Advisor was formed in 2009 and is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, the Advisor does not have previous experience managing an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Advisor’s inexperience managing a registered investment company may limit its effectiveness.  The experience of the portfolio managers is discussed in “Management of the Fund – Investment Advisor.”
 
 
5

 
Large-Cap Securities Risk.   Stocks of large companies as a group can fall out of favor with the market, causing the Fund to underperform investments that have a greater focus on mid-cap or small-cap stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies.
 
New Fund Risk.   The Fund was formed in 2012.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.  Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.
 
Operating Risk.   The Advisor and the Fund’s administrator have entered into an Operating Plan that facilitates the administrator’s assumption of the Fund’s regular operating expenses under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.  The Operating Plan obligates the Advisor to pay certain expenses of the Fund in order to help limit its annual operating expenses.  If the Advisor, however, does not have sufficient revenue to support those expenses, the Advisor may be compelled to either resign or become insolvent.  In addition, if the Fund incurs expenses in excess of those that the Fund’s administrator has agreed to pay and the Advisor is not able or willing to pay the excess costs, those excess costs will increase the Fund’s expenses.
 
Risks from Purchasing Options.   If a call or put option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, or, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a purchased option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Risks from Writing Options.   Writing option contracts can result in losses that exceed the Fund’s initial investment and may lead to additional turnover and higher tax liability.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a written option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Trading Strategies based on Volatility.   Trading strategies based on volatility are difficult to implement and require successful monitoring, modeling, and interpretation of market conditions.  Trading opportunities may be short-lived or limited as a result of a low trading volume in exchange-traded options, in which cases the Fund may be required to hold elevated cash balances.  Transaction costs have a significant impact on the profitability of these trading strategies.
 
 
6

 
 
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
Because the Fund has not been in operation for an entire calendar year, there is no Fund performance information to be presented here.  You may request a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund.
 
 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND’S PORTFOLIO
 
The Fund’s investment advisor is Arin Risk Advisors, LLC.  The Fund’s portfolio will be managed on a day-to-day basis by Lawrence Lempert and Joseph DeSipio.  Mr. Lempert has been the Trading Director of the Advisor since 2009 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011.  Mr. DeSipio is the co-founder of the firm and has been the Chief Market Strategist of the Advisor since 2009.
 
 
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
 
You can purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund by mail or bank wire.  The minimum initial investment is $25,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $100, although the minimums may be waived or reduced in some cases.  Purchase orders by mail should be sent to Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365.  Please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 to receive wire instructions for bank wire orders.  Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.
 
You can redeem Fund shares directly from the Fund by mail, facsimile, telephone, and bank wire.  Redemption orders by mail should be sent to Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804.  Redemption orders by facsimile should be transmitted to 252-972-1908.  Please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 to conduct telephone transactions or to receive wire instructions for bank wire orders.  Investors who wish to redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.
 
 
TAX INFORMATION
 
The Fund’s distributions will generally be taxed to you 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.  Distributions on investments made through tax deferred vehicles, such as 401(k) plans or IRAs, may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.
 
 
 
7

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

 
8

 
 

 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES, AND RISKS
 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
 
The Arin Large Cap Theta Fund seeks maximum relative total return versus the S&P 500 Stock Index through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.  The Fund’s investment objectives may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days’ prior written notice to shareholders.
 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
 
The Fund’s investment advisor, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in a portfolio of common stocks, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and futures contracts, while also engaging in option trades that the Advisor believes will be profitable due to perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.
 
 
 As a matter of investment policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of securities whose value is based on companies with market capitalizations that qualify them as “large-cap” companies.  This policy may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60-days’ prior notice to shareholders.  The Advisor considers a company to be a “large cap” company if its market capitalization falls within the range of market capitalizations of companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.   While t he Fund typically invests in common stocks, ETFs, futures contracts, and options , it has the ability to invest in other types of equity securities such as preferred stocks and warrants that satisfy the Fund’s investment criteria.               An ETF is an investment company that offers investors a proportionate share in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, commodities, or other securities. Like individual equity securities, ETFs are traded on a stock exchange and can be bought and sold throughout the day. Traditional ETFs attempt to achieve the same investment return as that of a particular market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. To mirror the performance of a market index, an ETF invests either in all of the securities in the index or a representative sample of securities in the index.  
 
A portion of the Fund’s assets will be invested in securities that track the performance of the U.S. large-cap equity market.  These securities include ETFs and futures contracts based on broad-based market indexes, like the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.  These securities may also include a group of common stocks that the Advisor believes will track the performance of the large-cap equity market.  At times, a relatively high percentage of this portion of the portfolio may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers.  Securities will be selected based upon their ability to provide exposure to the large-cap equity market with minimal tracking error. The percentage of the Fund invested in these securities will change from time to time as the Advisor deems appropriate based on its analysis and allocation models.
 
 
9

 
 
 
  Based on its exposure to the large-cap equity market, the Fund will trade options to try to take advantage of perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.  The Advisor identifies these trading opportunities by analyzing volatility.  The market price of an option is partially based on the expected volatility, or potential variation in price over time, of its underlying asset.  The Advisor evaluates differences between the volatility implied           A futures contract calls for delivery of an asset or its cash value for a set price in the future.  A stock index futures contract requires a cash settlement based on the value of a particular stock index.  Changes in the value of the stock index are reflected in the market value of the futures contract.  
by the market price of a call option and the future volatility of its underlying security as forecast by the Advisor.  By analyzing the implied and forecasted volatilities of a security, and comparing them to the implied and forecasted volatilities of the large-cap equity market, the Advisor attempts to identify situations where a call option is relatively overvalued.  The Advisor then establishes a short position by selling the call option or establishes a position that is intended to achieve a similar result through a combination of long and short positions on call and put options.  
 
In selecting the options that the Fund will trade, the Advisor first identifies exchange-traded options with a trading volume sufficient to preclude the Fund’s trades from influencing prices.  The Advisor then evaluates the available investment opportunities with a proprietary trading algorithm that determines when to buy and sell options.  The algorithm provides a scoring system based upon technical indicators and price patterns, observed market statistics, fundamental research, factor risk modeling, and economic indicators.  The Advisor also allocates a portion of the Fund’s assets to cash or cash equivalents, including money-market instruments and money-market mutual funds.
 
    Writing Options.   As the seller, or writer, of options, the Fund receives a premium from the purchaser.  For example, the purchaser of a call option on an individual security, like an ETF or stock, has the right to buy the security at a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on or before a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”).  If the purchaser does not exercise the call option, the Fund retains the premium.  If the purchaser exercises the call option, the Fund is required to deliver the underlying security.  If the Fund does not own the underlying security, then it may be required to purchase the security in order to meet the delivery requirements of the option contract.  The premium, the exercise price, and the value of the security determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of a call option.  The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In contrast to a call option, when the Fund sells a put option, it receives a premium and may be required to buy the underlying security from the purchaser.  Index options are settled with cash and do not involve the actual delivery of the underlying securities.  Upon exercise, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option.  
 

 
10

 
 
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
 

The loss of your money is a principal risk of investing in the Fund.  Investments in the Fund are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of some or the entire principal amount invested.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective.  Generally, the Fund will be subject to the following principal risks:
 
Common Stocks.   The Fund’s investments in common stocks, both directly and indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of ETFs, may fluctuate in value 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.  During temporary or extended bear markets, the value of common stocks will decline, which could also result in losses for the Fund.
 
ETF Risks. The Fund’s investments in ETFs will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the portfolio of such ETFs and the value of the Fund’s investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of such portfolio.   Shareholders in the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.   These types of investments by the Fund could affect the timing, amount, and character of distributions and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
 
Futures Risk. The Fund’s use of stock index futures contracts exposes the Fund to leverage and tracking risks because a small investment in futures contracts may produce large losses and futures contracts may not accurately track the underlying securities.  Changes in the value of futures contracts may not track or correlate perfectly with the underlying index because of temporary, or even long-term, supply and demand imbalances and because futures do not pay dividends unlike the stocks upon which they are based.
 
General Market Risk. The Fund’s net asset value and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain securities held by the Fund may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
 
Investment Advisor Risk.   The Advisor’s ability to choose suitable investments has a significant impact on the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.  The Advisor was formed in 2009 and is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, the Advisor does not have previous experience managing an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Advisor’s inexperience managing a registered investment company may limit its effectiveness.  The experience of the portfolio managers is discussed in “Management of the Fund – Investment Advisor.”
 
 
11

 
Large-Cap Securities Risk.   Stocks of large companies as a group can fall out of favor with the market, causing the Fund to underperform investments that have a greater focus on mid-cap or small-cap stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies.
 
New Fund Risk.   The Fund was formed in 2012.  Investors bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.  Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.
 
Operating Risk.   The Advisor and the Fund’s administrator have entered into an Operating Plan that facilitates the administrator’s assumption of the Fund’s regular operating expenses under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.  The Operating Plan obligates the Advisor to pay certain expenses of the Fund in order to help limit its annual operating expenses.  If the Advisor, however, does not have sufficient revenue to support those expenses, the Advisor may be compelled to either resign or become insolvent.  In addition, if the Fund incurs expenses in excess of those that the Fund’s administrator has agreed to pay and the Advisor is not able or willing to pay the excess costs, those excess costs will increase the Fund’s expenses.
 
Risks from Purchasing Options.   If a call or put option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, or, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a purchased option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Risks from Writing Options.   Writing option contracts can result in losses that exceed the Fund’s initial investment and may lead to additional turnover and higher tax liability.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a written option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Trading Strategies based on Volatility.   Trading strategies based on volatility are difficult to implement and require successful monitoring, modeling, and interpretation of market conditions.  Trading opportunities may be short-lived or limited as a result of a low trading volume in exchange-traded options, in which cases the Fund may be required to hold elevated cash balances.  Transaction costs have a significant impact on the profitability of these trading strategies.
 
 
 
12

 
NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS
 
An investment in the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.  Whether the Fund is not an appropriate investment for an investor will depend largely on his or her financial resources and individual investment goals and objectives.  Investors who engage in short-term trading or other speculative strategies and styles will not find the Fund to be an appropriate investment vehicle if they want to invest in the Fund for a short period of time.
 
Temporary Defensive Positions.   The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategy in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions.  During such an unusual set of circumstances, the Fund may hold up to 100% of its portfolio in cash or cash equivalent positions.  When the Fund takes temporary defensive positions, the Fund may not be able to achieve their investment objectives.
 
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings.    A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio securities can be found in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available from the Fund or on the SEC’s web site, www.sec.gov.
 
 
 
 
13

 
 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
 
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
 
The Fund’s investment advisor is Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, 300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428.  The Advisor was established in 2009 and is registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.  Subject to the authority of the Trustees and pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreements with the Trust, the Advisor provides a program of continuous supervision of the Fund’s assets, including developing the composition of its portfolio, and furnishes advice and recommendations with respect to investments, investment policies, and the purchase and sale of securities.  The Advisor is also responsible for the selection of broker-dealers through which the Fund executes portfolio transactions, subject to the brokerage policies established by the Trustees, and it provides certain executive personnel to the Fund.
 
Portfolio Managers.   The Fund’s portfolio is managed on a day-to-day basis by Lawrence Lempert and Joseph DeSipio.
 
Mr. Lempert has been the Trading Director of the Advisor since the firm’s founding in 2009 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011.  Prior to joining the Advisor, he founded and managed Bullock Capital, LLC's proprietary stock/option trading operation and previously served as a market maker/index/sector correlation and dispersion trader with Susquehanna International Group.  Mr. Lempert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics and Economics from Rutgers College, a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law.
 
Mr. DeSipio is the Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist of the Advisor since the firm’s founding in 2009.  He previously held Strategist and Lead Portfolio Manager positions with SEI Investments, Evergreen Investments, Wachovia, and Vector Capital Management, Inc. He founded Evergreen Investments’ Options Strategy Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. DeSipio earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of PA and Master of Arts degree in Economics from Temple University. He is a CFA charterholder and a Financial Risk Manager.
 
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of shares of the Fund.
 
Advisor Compensation.   As full compensation for the investment advisory services provided to the Fund, the Advisor receives monthly compensation based on the Fund’s average daily net assets at the annual rate of 0.40%.
 
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Investment Advisory Contracts.   A discussion regarding the Trustees’ basis for approving the investment advisory contracts for the Fund can be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended August 31, 2012.  You may obtain a copy of the semi-annual report, free of charge, upon request to the Fund.
 
 
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Operating Plan.   The Advisor has entered into an Operating Plan with the Fund’s administrator, through June 30, 2013, under which it has agreed to make payments to the administrator when the Fund is at lower asset levels and to assume certain expenses of the Fund outlined in the Operating Plan.  These expenses include the following: (i) marketing, distribution, and servicing expenses related to the sale or promotion of Fund shares that the Fund is not authorized to pay pursuant to the Investment Company Act and Rule 12b-1 thereunder; (ii) expenses incurred in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund; (iii) expenses incurred in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund; (iv) expenses related to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations; (v) fees and expenses related to legal, auditing, and accounting services that are in amounts greater than the limits or outside of the scope of ordinary services; and (vi) hiring employees and retaining advisers and experts as contemplated by Rule 0-1(a)(7)(vii) of the Investment Company Act.
 
The Operating Plan may be terminated by either party at the conclusion of the then current term upon: (i) written notice of non-renewal to the other party not less than sixty days prior to the end of the term, or (ii) mutual written agreement of the parties.  The Advisor cannot recoup from the Fund any amounts paid by the Advisor to the Fund’s administrator under the Operating Plan.  If the Operating Plan is terminated when the Fund is at lower asset levels, the administrator would likely need to terminate the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement in order to avoid incurring expenses without reimbursement from the Advisor.  Unless other expense limitation arrangements were put in place, the Fund’s expenses would likely increase.  The Fund’s administrator cannot recoup from the Fund any regular operating expenses in excess of the administration fees payable under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.
 
 
DISTRIBUTOR
 
Capital Investment Group, Inc. (“Distributor”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares and serves as the Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of the Fund shares.  The Distributor may sell the Fund’s shares to or through qualified securities dealers or others.
 
The Fund has adopted a plan of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Distribution Plan”).  Pursuant to the Distribution Plan, the Fund compensates the Distributor with assets attributable to the Advisor Class Shares for services rendered and expenses borne in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale or the servicing of those shares (this compensation is commonly referred to as “12b-1 fees”).  These activities include, among others, reimbursement to entities for providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Fund’s shares.
 
 
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The Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may annually pay the Distributor up to 0.40% of the average daily net assets attributable to its Advisor Class Shares.  The 0.40% fee for the Advisor Class Shares is comprised of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.15% distribution fee.  Because the 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, these fees, over time, will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales loads.
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXPENSES
 
Other Expenses.   The Fund is obligated to pay taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses on short sales, and acquired fund fees and expenses.  The Fund will be separately responsible for any extraordinary expenses, such as indemnification payments or damages awarded in litigation or settlements made.  All general Trust expenses are allocated among and charged to the assets of each separate fund series of the Trust (if any), on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be on the basis of relative net assets of each series or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each series.
 
Estimated Expenses.   In the sections of the prospectus entitled “Summary – Fees and Expenses of the Fund” with respect to the Fund, “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” sections are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year at an average Fund net asset level of $25 million.
 
 
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INVESTING IN THE FUND
 
PURCHASE OPTIONS
 
The Fund offers two different classes of shares through this prospectus.  The Fund also offers an additional class of shares, Wirehouse Class Shares, in a separate prospectus.  The share class available to an investor may vary depending on how the investor wishes to purchase shares of the Fund.  Each share class is sold at net asset value, represents interests in the same portfolio of investments, and has the same rights, but differs with respect to sales loads and ongoing expenses.  Set forth below is a brief description of the share classes offered through this prospectus.
 
Institutional Class Shares
 
·  
No front-end sales charge.
·  
No contingent deferred sales charges.
·  
Distribution and service plan (Rule 12b-1) fees of 0.00%.
·  
$25,000 minimum initial investment.
 
Advisor Class Shares
 
·  
No front-end sales charge.
·  
No contingent deferred sales charges.
·  
Distribution and service plan (Rule 12b-1) fees of 0.40%.
·  
$25,000 minimum initial investment.
 
You must choose a share class when you purchase shares of the Fund.  If none is chosen, your purchase request will not be considered complete and, therefore, will not be processed until the Fund receives this required information.
 
Information regarding the Fund’s sales charges, as well as information regarding reduced sales charges and waived sales charges, and the terms and conditions for the purchase, pricing, and redemption of Fund shares is not available on the Fund’s website since the Fund’s website contains limited information.  Further information is available free of charge by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863.
 
The Fund may, in the Advisor’s sole discretion, accept certain accounts with less than the minimum investment.
 
 
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PRICE
 
Determining the Fund’s Net Asset Value.   The price at which you purchase or redeem shares is based on the next calculation of net asset value (“NAV”) after an order is received, subject to the order being accepted by the Fund in good form.  An order is considered to be in good form if it includes all necessary information and documentation related to a purchase or redemption request and, if applicable, payment in full of the purchase amount.  The Fund’s NAV per share for each class of shares is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets attributable to that class, less liabilities (including Fund expenses, which are accrued daily) attributable to that class, by the total number of outstanding shares attributable to that class.  To the extent that the Fund holds portfolio securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price
 
 
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shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.  The NAV per share for each class of shares is normally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, the time regular trading closes on the New York Stock Exchange, provided that certain options and futures contracts are priced as of 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time.  The Fund does not calculate NAV on business holidays when the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
 
The pricing and valuation of portfolio securities is determined in good faith in accordance with policies established by, and under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.   In determining the value of the Fund’s total assets, portfolio securities are generally calculated at market value by quotations from the primary market in which they are traded.  Instruments with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.  The Fund normally uses third party pricing services to obtain market quotations.  Securities and assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or which cannot be accurately valued using the Funds’ normal pricing procedures are valued at fair value in good faith by either a valuation committee or the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by, and under the supervision of, the Board of Trustees.  F air value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) an exchange-traded portfolio security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that security over an extended period of time or the validity of a market quotation received is questionable; (ii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation .
 
Pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Advisor consults with the Fund’s administrator on a regular basis regarding the need for fair value pricing .   The Advisor is responsible for notifying the Board of Trustees (or the Fund’s valuation committee) when it believes that fair value pricing is required for a particular security .   The Fund’s policies regarding fair value pricing are intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects portfolio security values as of the time of pricing.   A portfolio security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures and the fair value price may differ from the price at which the security may ultimately be traded or sold.   If such fair value price differs from the price that would have been determined using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures, a shareholder may receive more or less proceeds or shares from redemptions or purchases of Fund shares, respectively, than a shareholder would have otherwise received if the security were priced using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures .   The performance of the Fund may also be affected if a portfolio security’s fair value
 
 
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price were to differ from the security’s price using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures .   To the extent the Fund invests in other open-end investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund’s net asset value calculations are based upon the net asset value 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 .
 
Other Matters.   Purchases and redemptions of shares of the same class by the same shareholder on the same day will be netted for the Fund .
 
 
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES
THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
 
Certain financial intermediaries have agreements with the Fund that allow them to enter purchase or redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers.  These orders will be priced at the NAV next computed after the orders are received by the financial intermediary, subject to the order being in good form.  Under this arrangement, the financial intermediary has a duty to transmit promptly to the Fund each purchase order or redemption request that the intermediary receives on the Fund’s behalf and must send your payment to the Fund by the time they price their shares on the following business day.  The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that a financial intermediary carries out its obligations.  You should look to the financial intermediary through whom you wish to invest for specific instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund .
 
 
PURCHASING SHARES
 
Purchases can be made directly from the Fund by mail or bank wire.  The Fund has also authorized one or more brokers to receive purchase and redemption orders on its behalf and such brokers are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries to receive orders on behalf of the Fund.  Such orders will be deemed to have been received by the Fund when an authorized broker, or broker-authorized designee, receives the order, subject to the order being in good form.  The orders will be priced at the NAV next computed after the orders are received by the authorized broker, or broker-authorized designee.  Investors may also be charged a fee by a broker or agent if shares are purchased through a broker or agent.
 
The Fund reserves the right to (i) refuse to accept any request to purchase shares for any reason and (ii) suspend the offering of shares at any time.
 
Regular Mail Orders.   Payment for shares by mail must be made by check from a U.S. financial institution and payable in U.S. dollars.  Cash, money orders, and traveler’s checks will not be accepted by the Funds.  If checks are returned due to insufficient funds or other reasons, your purchase will be canceled.  You will also be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the Funds and their administrator and transfer agent.  The Fund will charge a $35 fee and may redeem shares of the Fund owned by the purchaser or another identically registered account in another series of the Trust to recover any such losses.  For regular mail orders, please complete the Fund Shares Application and mail it, along with a check made payable to the Fund, to:
 
 
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Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365
 
The application must contain your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number.  If you have applied for a number prior to completing your account application but you have not received your number, please indicate this on the application and include a copy of the form applying for your number.  Taxes are not withheld from distributions to U.S. investors if certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Service are met regarding the Social Security Number and Taxpayer Identification Number.
 
Bank Wire Purchases.   Purchases may also be made through bank wire orders.  To establish a new account or add to an existing account by wire, please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863   for wire instructions and to advise the Fund of the investment, dollar amount, and the account identification number.
 
Additional Investments.   You may also add to your account by mail or wire at any time by purchasing shares at the then current net asset value.  The minimum additional investment is $100.  Before adding funds by bank wire, please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 for wire instructions and to advise the Fund of the investment, dollar amount, and the account identification number.  Mail orders should include, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that is attached to your confirmation statement.  Otherwise, please identify your account in a letter accompanying your purchase payment.
 
Automatic Investment Plan.   The automatic investment plan enables shareholders to make regular monthly or quarterly investments in shares through automatic charges to their checking account.  With shareholder authorization and bank approval, the Fund will automatically charge the shareholder’s checking account for the amount specified ($100 minimum), which will be automatically invested in shares at the public offering price on or about the 21st day of the month.  The shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing the Fund.
 
Share Certificates.   The Fund normally does not issue share certificates.  Evidence of ownership of shares is provided through entry in the Fund’s share registry.  Investors will receive periodic account statements (and, where applicable, purchase confirmations) that will show the number of shares owned.
 
Important Information about Procedures for Opening a New Account.   Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001), the Fund is required to obtain, verify, and record information that enables the Fund to form a reasonable belief as to the identity of each customer who opens an account.  Consequently, when an investor opens an account, the Fund will ask for the investor’s name, street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or other tax identification number (or proof that the investor has filed for such a number), and other information that will allow the Fund to identify the investor.  The Fund may also ask to see the driver’s license or other identifying documents of the investor.  An investor’s account application will not be considered “complete” and, therefore, an account will not be opened and the investor’s money will not be invested until the Fund receives this required information.  In addition, if after opening the investor’s account the Fund is unable to verify the investor’s identity after reasonable efforts, as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, the Fund may
 
 
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(i) restrict further investments until the investor’s identity is verified; and (ii) close the investor’s account without notice and return the investor’s redemption proceeds to the investor.  If the Fund closes an investor’s account because the Fund could not verify the investor’s identity, the Fund will value the account in accordance with the next NAV calculated after the investor’s account is closed.  In that case, the investor’s redemption proceeds may be worth more or less than the investor’s original investment.  The Fund will not be responsible for any losses incurred due to the Fund’s inability to verify the identity of any investor opening an account.
 
 
REDEEMING SHARES
 
Regular Mail Redemptions.   Regular mail redemption requests should be addressed to:
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
 
Regular mail redemption requests should include the following:
 
(1)
Your letter of instruction specifying the share class, account number, and number of shares (or the dollar amount) to be redeemed.  This request must be signed by all registered shareholders in the exact names in which they are registered;
(2)
Any required signature guarantees (see “Signature Guarantees” below); and
(3)
Other supporting legal documents, if required in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, partnerships, pension or profit sharing plans, and other entities.
 
Your redemption proceeds normally will be sent to you within 7 days after receipt of your redemption request.  The Funds may delay forwarding a redemption check for recently purchased shares while the Funds determine whether the purchase payment will be honored.  Such delay (which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase) may be reduced or avoided if the purchase is made by certified check or wire transfer.  In all cases, the NAV next determined after receipt of the request for redemption will be used in processing the redemption request.
 
Telephone and Bank Wire Redemptions.   Unless you decline the telephone transaction privileges on your account application, you may redeem shares of the Funds by telephone.  You may also redeem shares by bank wire under certain limited conditions.  The Funds will redeem shares in this manner when so requested by the shareholder only if the shareholder confirms redemption instructions in writing.
 
 
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The Funds may rely upon confirmation of redemption requests transmitted via facsimile (FAX# 252-972-1908).  The confirmation instructions must include the following:
 
(1)
Name of Fund and share class;
(2)
Shareholder name and account number;
(3)
Number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
(4)
Instructions for transmittal of redemption proceeds to the shareholder; and
(5)
Shareholder signature as it appears on the application on file with the Funds.
 
Redemption proceeds will not be distributed until written confirmation of the redemption request is received, per the instructions above.  You can choose to have redemption proceeds mailed to you at your address of record, your financial institution, or to any other authorized person, or you can have the proceeds sent by wire transfer to your financial institution ($5,000 minimum).  Redemption proceeds cannot be wired on days in which your financial institution is not open for business.  You can change your redemption instructions anytime you wish by filing a letter with your new redemption instructions with the Funds.  See “Signature Guarantees” below.
 
The Funds, in their discretion, may choose to pass through to redeeming shareholders any charges imposed by the Funds’ custodian for wire redemptions.  If this cost is passed through to redeeming shareholders by the Funds, the charge will be deducted automatically from your account by redemption of shares in your account.  Your bank or brokerage firm may also impose a charge for processing the wire.  If wire transfer of funds is impossible or impractical, the redemption proceeds will be sent by regular mail to the designated account.
 
You may redeem shares, subject to the procedures outlined above, by calling the Funds at 1-800-773-3863.  Redemption proceeds will only be sent to the financial institution account or person named in your Fund Shares Application currently on file with the Funds.  Telephone redemption privileges authorize the Funds to act on telephone instructions from any person representing him or herself to be the investor and reasonably believed by the Funds to be genuine.  The Funds will employ reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that instructions are genuine.  The Funds will not be liable for any losses due to fraudulent or unauthorized instructions.  The Funds will also not be liable for following telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
 
Systematic Withdrawal Plan.   A shareholder who owns Fund shares of a particular class valued at $25,000 or more at the current offering price may establish a systematic withdrawal plan (“Systematic Withdrawal Plan”) to receive a monthly or quarterly check in a stated amount (not less than $100).  Each month or quarter, as specified, the Fund will automatically redeem sufficient shares from your account to meet the specified withdrawal amount.  The shareholder may establish this service whether dividends and distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund or paid in cash.  Call or write the Funds for an application form.
 
 
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Minimum Account Size.   The Trustees reserve the right to redeem involuntarily any account having a NAV of less than $10,000 (due to redemptions, exchanges, or transfers, and not due to market action) upon 30-days’ prior written notice.  If the shareholder brings his account NAV up to at least $10,000 during the notice period, the account will not be redeemed.  Redemptions from retirement accounts may be subject to federal income tax.  Shareholders may also be charged a fee by their broker or agent if shares are redeemed or transferred through their broker or agent.
 
Redemptions in Kind.   The Funds do not intend, under normal circumstances, to redeem its shares by payment in kind.  It is possible, however, that conditions may arise in the future which would, in the opinion of the Trustees, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in cash.  In such cases, the Trustees may authorize payment to be made in readily marketable portfolio securities of the Fund.  Securities delivered in payment of redemptions would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the Fund’s NAV per share.  Shareholders receiving them bear the market risks associated with the securities until they have been converted into cash and may incur brokerage costs when these securities are sold.  An irrevocable election has been filed under Rule 18f-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, wherein the Funds must pay redemptions in cash, rather than in kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any 90-day period, the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s NAV at the beginning of such period.  Redemption requests in excess of this limit may be satisfied in cash or in kind at the Funds’ election.
 
Signature Guarantees.   To protect your account and the Funds from fraud, signature guarantees may be required to be sure that you are the person who has authorized a change in registration or standing instructions for your account.  Signature guarantees are generally required for (i) change of registration requests; (ii) requests to establish or to change exchange privileges or telephone and bank wire redemption service other than through your initial account application; (iii) transactions where proceeds from redemptions, dividends, or distributions are sent to a financial institution; and (iv) redemption requests in excess of $50,000.  Signature guarantees are acceptable from a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, a savings and loan institution, credit union (if authorized under state law), registered broker-dealer, securities exchange, or association clearing agency and must appear on the written request for change of registration, establishment or change in exchange privileges, or redemption request.
 
Miscellaneous.   The Funds reserve the right to delay the distribution of redemption proceeds involving recently purchased shares until the check for the recently purchased shares has cleared.  The Funds may also suspend redemptions, if permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, trading is restricted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Securities and Exchange Commission declares that an emergency exists.  Redemptions may be suspended during other periods permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.  During drastic economic and market changes, telephone redemption privileges may be difficult to implement.
 
 
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FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
 
Frequent purchases and redemptions (“Frequent Trading”) of shares of the Funds may present a number of risks to other shareholders of the Funds.  These risks may include, among other things, dilution in the value of shares of the Funds held by long-term shareholders, interference with the efficient management by the Advisor of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, and increased brokerage and administration costs.  Due to the potential of a thin market for the Funds; portfolio securities, as well as overall adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions that may affect the sale price of portfolio securities, the Funds could face untimely losses as a result of having to sell portfolio securities prematurely to meet redemptions.  Frequent Trading may also increase portfolio turnover which may result in increased capital gains taxes for shareholders of the Funds.
 
The Trustees have adopted a policy with respect to Frequent Trading that is intended to discourage such activity by shareholders of the Funds.  The Funds do not accommodate Frequent Trading.  Under the adopted policy, the Funds’ transfer agent provides a daily record of shareholder trades to the Advisor.  The Funds’ transfer agent also monitors and tests shareholder purchase and redemption orders for possible incidents of Frequent Trading.  The Advisor has the discretion to limit investments from an investor that the Advisor believes has a pattern of Frequent Trading that the Advisor considers not to be in the best interests of the other shareholders in the respective Fund by the Fund’s refusal of further purchase and/or exchange orders from such investor.  The Funds’ policy regarding Frequent Trading is to limit investments from investor accounts that purchase and redeem shares over a period of less than ten days having a redemption amount within ten percent of the purchase amount and greater than $10,000 on two or more occasions during a 60 calendar day period.  In the event such a purchase and redemption pattern occurs, an investor account and any other account with the same taxpayer identification number will be precluded from investing in the respective Fund (including investments that are part of an exchange transaction) for at least 30 calendar days after the redemption transaction.
 
The Advisor intends to apply this policy uniformly, except that the Funds may not be able to identify or determine that a specific purchase and/or redemption is part of a pattern of Frequent Trading or that a specific investor is engaged in Frequent Trading, particularly with respect to transactions made through accounts such as omnibus accounts or accounts opened through third-party financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers and banks (“Intermediary Accounts”).  Therefore, this policy is not applied to omnibus accounts or Intermediary Accounts.  Omnibus account arrangements permit multiple investors to aggregate their respective share ownership positions and to purchase, redeem, and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the particular shareholders being immediately known to the Funds.  Like omnibus accounts, Intermediary Accounts normally permit investors to purchase, redeem,
 
 
 
24

 
and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the underlying shareholder being immediately known to the Funds.  Accordingly, the ability of the Funds to monitor and detect Frequent Trading through omnibus accounts and Intermediary Accounts is limited, and there is no guarantee that the Funds can identify shareholders who might be engaging in Frequent Trading through such accounts or curtail such trading.  In addition, the policy will not apply if the Advisor determines that a purchase and redemption pattern does not constitute Frequent Trading activity, such as inadvertent errors that result in frequent purchases and redemptions.  Inadvertent errors shall include purchases and/or redemptions made unintentionally or by mistake (e.g., where an investor unintentionally or mistakenly invests in the Funds and redeems immediately after recognizing the error).  The investor shall have the burden of proving to the sole satisfaction of the Advisor that a frequent purchase and redemption pattern was a result of an inadvertent error.  In such a case, the Advisor may choose to allow further purchase and/or exchange orders from such investor account.
 

 
25

 
 
OTHER IMPORTANT INVESTMENT INFORMATION
 
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
 
The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. taxpayers.  Additional tax information appears in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.  Shareholders should rely on their own tax advisors for advice about the particular federal, state, and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
 
The Fund will distribute most of their income and realized gains to shareholders every year.  Income dividends paid by the Fund derived from net investment income, if any, will generally be paid monthly or quarterly and capital gains distributions, if any, will be made at least annually.  Shareholders may elect to take dividends from net investment income or capital gains distributions, if any, in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.  Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts they distribute, shareholders will generally be taxed on distributions paid by the Fund, regardless of whether distributions are received in cash or are reinvested in additional Fund shares.  Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as federal taxes.
 
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 the Fund shares.  An exchange of shares may be treated as a sale and any gain may be subject to tax.
 
As with all mutual funds, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the fourth lowest rate for taxpayers filing as unmarried individuals (presently 28%) for all taxable distributions payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification numbers or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the Internal Revenue Service ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due.  Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
 
Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to ensure that distributions and sale of Fund shares are treated appropriately on their income tax returns.
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Because the Fund is newly organized, there is no financial or performance information for the Fund in this prospectus.  You may request a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863.
 

 
 
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 


 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
 


 
More information about the Fund can be found in the Statement of Additional Information, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  More information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.  The annual reports will include discussions of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
 
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and the annual and semi-annual reports will be available, free of charge, on the website listed below and upon request by contacting the Fund (you may also request other information about the Fund or make shareholder inquiries) as follows:
 
 
By telephone:
1-800-773-3863
 
 
By mail:
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
 
 
By e-mail:
shareholders@ncfunds.com
 
 
On the Internet:
www.ncfunds.com
 
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information) can also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.  Inquiries on the operations of the public reference room may be made by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.  Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
 
Investment Company Act file number 811-22298
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
 
Wirehouse Class Shares ( _____ )
 
A series of the
Starboard Investment Trust
 


 
 
PROSPECTUS
 
 
[ August __, 2012 ]
 
This prospectus contains information about the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund that you should know before investing.  You should read this prospectus carefully before you invest or send money, and keep it for future reference.  This prospectus relates to the Wirehouse Class Shares offered by the Fund.  The Fund also offers additional classes of shares, Institutional Class Shares and Advisor Class Shares, in a separate prospectus.  For questions or for Shareholder Services, please call 1-800-773-3863.
 
Investment Advisor
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
300 Four Falls Corporate Center
Suite 200
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
 
 
  The securities offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
Summary
2
Principal Investment Objective, Strategies, and Risks
9
Investment Objectives
9
Principal Investment Strategies
9
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
11
Non-Principal Investment Policies and Risks
13
Management of the Fund
14
Investment Advisor
14
Distributor
15
Additional Infomration on Expenses
16
Investing in the Fund
17
Purchase Options
17
Purchase and Redemption Price
17
Buying or Selling Shares Through a Financial Intermediary
19
Purchasing Shares
19
Redeeming Shares
21
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions
24
Other Important Investment Information
26
Dividends, Distributions, and Taxes
26
Financial Highlights
26
Additional Information
Back Cover

 
 

 
 
SUMMARY
 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
 
The Arin Large Cap Theta Fund seeks maximum relative total return versus the S&P 500 Stock Index through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.
 
 
FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND
 
These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
 
Shareholder Fees
 
(fees paid directly from your investment)
 
 
Wirehouse
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed On Purchases
(as a % of offering price)
None
Redemption Fee
None
Exchange Fee
None

Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1
 
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
 
Wirehouse
Management Fees
0.40%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
1.00%
Other Expenses 2
0.68%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 3
0.09%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
2.17%
   Fee Waiver and/or Expense Limitation 2
0.40%
    Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses
1.77%
 
1.     Since the Fund is newly organized, “Other Expenses” are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year.
 
2.     The Fund’s administrator has entered into a Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with the Fund that covers the regular operating expenses of the Fund for an inclusive fee of 0.28% (with the exception of management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, expenses on short sales, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses), even if such operating expenses exceed the inclusive fee.  The agreement runs through June 30, 2013 and can only be terminated prior to that date at the discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.  The Fund’s administrator cannot
 
 
2

 
recoup from the Fund any regular operating expenses in excess of the inclusive fee.  In conjunction with the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement, the Advisor has entered into an Operating Plan with the Fund’s administrator, also through June 30, 2013, under which it has agreed to make payments to the administrator when the Fund is at lower asset levels and to assume certain expenses of the Fund outlined in the Operating Plan.  The Operating Plan can only be terminated prior to the conclusion of the current term with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.  The Advisor cannot recoup from the Fund any amounts paid under the Operating Plan.
 
3.     “Acquired Fund” means any investment company in which the Fund invests or has invested during the period.  Since the Fund is newly organized, “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year.
 
Example. This example shows you the expenses you may pay over time by investing in the Fund. Since all mutual funds use the same hypothetical conditions, this example should help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund versus other mutual funds. The example assumes the following conditions:
 
·  
You invest $10,000 in the Fund for the periods shown;
·  
You reinvest all dividends and distributions;
·  
You redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods;
·  
You earn a 5% return each year; and
·  
The Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.
 
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the following table shows you what your costs may be under the conditions listed above.
 
Class
1 Year
3 Years
Wirehouse Class
$180
$641
 
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.
 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
 
The Fund’s investment advisor, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in a portfolio of common stocks, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and futures contracts, while also engaging in option trades that the Advisor believes will be profitable due to perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.
 
 
3

 
As a matter of investment policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of securities whose value is based on companies with market capitalizations that qualify them as “large-cap” companies.  This policy may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60-days’ prior notice to shareholders.  The Advisor considers a company to be a “large cap” company if its market capitalization falls within the range of market capitalizations of companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.   While t he Fund typically invests in common stocks, ETFs, futures contracts, and options , it has the ability to invest in other types of equity securities, such as preferred stocks and warrants, that satisfy the Fund’s investment criteria.
 
A portion of the Fund’s assets will be invested in securities that track the performance of the U.S. large-cap equity market.  These securities include ETFs and futures contracts based on broad-based market indexes like the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.    These securities may also include a group of common stocks that the Advisor believes will track the performance of the large-cap equity market.  At times, a relatively high percentage of this portion of the portfolio may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers.  Securities will be selected based upon their ability to provide exposure to the large-cap equity market with minimal tracking error. The percentage of the Fund invested in these securities will change from time to time as the Advisor deems appropriate based on its analysis and allocation models.
 
Based on its exposure to the large-cap equity market, the Fund will trade options to try to take advantage of perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.  The Advisor identifies these trading opportunities by analyzing volatility.  The market price of an option is partially based on the expected volatility, or potential variation in price over time, of its underlying asset.  The Advisor evaluates differences between the volatility implied by the market price of a call option and the future volatility of its underlying security as forecast by the Advisor.  By analyzing the implied and forecasted volatilities of a security, and comparing them to the implied and forecasted volatilities of the large-cap equity market, the Advisor attempts to identify situations where a call option is relatively overvalued.  The Advisor then establishes a short position by selling the call option or establishes a position that is intended to achieve a similar result through a combination of long and short positions on call and put options.
 
In selecting the options that the Fund will trade, the Advisor first identifies exchange-traded options with a trading volume sufficient to preclude the Fund’s trades from influencing prices.  The Advisor then evaluates the available investment opportunities with a proprietary trading algorithm that assists the Advisor in determining when to buy and sell options.  The algorithm provides a scoring system based upon technical indicators and price patterns, observed market statistics, fundamental research, factor risk modeling, and economic indicators.  The Advisor also allocates a portion of the Fund’s assets to cash or cash equivalents, including money-market instruments and money-market mutual funds.
 
 
4

 

 
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
 
The loss of your money is a principal risk of investing in the Fund.  Investments in the Fund are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of some or the entire principal amount invested.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective.  Generally, the Fund will be subject to the following principal risks:
 
Common Stocks.    The Fund’s investments in common stocks, both directly and indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of other investment companies, may fluctuate in value 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.  During temporary or extended bear markets, the value of common stocks will decline, which could also result in losses for the Fund.
 
ETF Risks. The Fund’s investments in ETFs will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the portfolio of such ETFs and the value of the Fund’s investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of such portfolio.   Shareholders in the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.   These types of investments by the Fund could affect the timing, amount, and character of distributions and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
 
Futures Risk. The Fund’s use of stock index futures contracts exposes the Fund to leverage and tracking risks because a small investment in futures contracts may produce large losses and futures contracts may not accurately track the underlying securities.  Changes in the value of futures contracts may not track or correlate perfectly with the underlying index because of temporary, or even long-term, supply and demand imbalances and because futures do not pay dividends unlike the stocks upon which they are based.
 
General Market Risk. The Fund’s net asset value and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain securities held by the Fund may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
 
Investment Advisor Risk.    The Advisor’s ability to choose suitable investments has a significant impact on the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.  The Advisor was formed in 2009 and is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, the Advisor does not have previous experience managing an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Advisor’s inexperience managing a registered investment company may limit its effectiveness.  The experience of the portfolio managers is discussed in “Management of the Fund – Investment Advisor.”
 
 
5

 
Large-Cap Securities Risk.    Stocks of large companies as a group can fall out of favor with the market, causing the Fund to underperform investments that have a greater focus on mid-cap or small-cap stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies.
 
New Fund Risk.    The Fund was formed in 2012.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.  Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.
 
Operating Risk.   The Advisor and the Fund’s administrator have entered into an Operating Plan that facilitates the administrator’s assumption of the Fund’s regular operating expenses under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.  The Operating Plan obligates the Advisor to pay certain expenses of the Fund in order to help limit its annual operating expenses.  If the Advisor, however, does not have sufficient revenue to support those expenses, the Advisor may be compelled to either resign or become insolvent.  In addition, if the Fund incurs expenses in excess of those that the Fund’s administrator has agreed to pay and the Advisor is not able or willing to pay the excess costs, those excess costs will increase the Fund’s expenses.
 
Risks from Purchasing Options.   If a call or put option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, or, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a purchased option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Risks from Writing Options.    Writing option contracts can result in losses that exceed the Fund’s initial investment and may lead to additional turnover and higher tax liability.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a written option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Trading Strategies based on Volatility.   Trading strategies based on volatility are difficult to implement and require successful monitoring, modeling, and interpretation of market conditions.  Trading opportunities may be short-lived or limited as a result of a low trading volume in exchange-traded options, in which cases the Fund may be required to hold elevated cash balances.  Transaction costs have a significant impact on the profitability of these trading strategies.
 
 
6

 
 
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
Because the Fund has not been in operation for an entire calendar year, there is no Fund performance information to be presented here.  You may request a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund.
 
 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND’S PORTFOLIO
 
The Fund’s investment advisor is Arin Risk Advisors, LLC.  The Fund’s portfolio will be managed on a day-to-day basis by Lawrence Lempert and Joseph DeSipio.  Mr. Lempert has been the Trading Director of the Advisor since 2009 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011.  Mr. DeSipio is the co-founder of the firm and has been the Chief Market Strategist of the Advisor since 2009.
 
 
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
 
You can purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund by mail or bank wire.  The minimum initial investment is $25,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $100, although the minimums may be waived or reduced in some cases.  Purchase orders by mail should be sent to Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365.  Please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 to receive wire instructions for bank wire orders.  Investors who wish to purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.
 
You can redeem Fund shares directly from the Fund by mail, facsimile, telephone, and bank wire.  Redemption orders by mail should be sent to Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804.  Redemption orders by facsimile should be transmitted to 252-972-1908.  Please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 to conduct telephone transactions or to receive wire instructions for bank wire orders.  Investors who wish to redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly.
 
 
TAX INFORMATION
 
The Fund’s distributions will generally be taxed to you 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.  Distributions on investments made through tax deferred vehicles, such as 401(k) plans or IRAs, may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.
 
 
7

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

 
8

 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES, AND RISKS
 
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
 
The Arin Large Cap Theta Fund seeks maximum relative total return versus the S&P 500 Stock Index through a combination of capital appreciation and current income.  The Fund’s investment objectives may be changed without shareholder approval upon sixty days’ prior written notice to shareholders.
 
 
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY
 
The Fund’s investment advisor, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing in a portfolio of common stocks, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and futures contracts, while also engaging in option trades that the Advisor believes will be profitable due to perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.
 
 
 
As a matter of investment policy, the Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of securities whose value is based on companies with market capitalizations that qualify them as “large-cap” companies.  This policy may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60-days’ prior notice to shareholders.  The Advisor considers a company to be a “large cap” company if its market capitalization falls within the range of market capitalizations of companies included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.   While t he Fund typically invests in common stocks, ETFs, futures contracts, and options , it has the ability to invest in other types of equity securities such as preferred stocks and warrants that satisfy the Fund’s investment criteria.
    An ETF is an investment company that offers investors a proportionate share in a portfolio of stocks, bonds, commodities, or other securities. Like individual equity securities, ETFs are traded on a stock exchange and can be bought and sold throughout the day. Traditional ETFs attempt to achieve the same investment return as that of a particular market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. To mirror the performance of a market index, an ETF invests either in all of the securities in the index or a representative sample of securities in the index  
 
A portion of the Fund’s assets will be invested in securities that track the performance of the U.S. large-cap equity market.  These securities include ETFs and futures contracts based on broad-based market indexes, like the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.  These securities may also include a group of common stocks that the Advisor believes will track the performance of the large-cap equity market.  At times, a relatively high percentage of this portion of the portfolio may be invested in the securities of a single issuer or a limited number of issuers.  Securities will be selected based upon their ability to provide exposure to the large-cap equity market with minimal tracking error. The percentage of the Fund invested in these securities will change from time to time as the Advisor deems appropriate based on its analysis and allocation models.
 
 
9

 
 
 
Based on its exposure to the large-cap equity market, the Fund will trade options to try to take advantage of perceived pricing discrepancies in the options market.  The Advisor identifies these trading opportunities by analyzing volatility.  The market price of an option is partially based on the expected volatility, or potential variation in price over time, of its underlying asset.  The Advisor evaluates differences between the volatility implied
    A futures contract calls for delivery of an asset or its cash value for a set price in the future.  A stock index futures contract requires a cash settlement based on the value of a particular stock index.  Changes in the value of the stock index are reflected in the market value of the futures contract.    
by the market price of a call option and the future volatility of its underlying security as forecast by the Advisor.  By analyzing the implied and forecasted volatilities of a security, and comparing them to the implied and forecasted volatilities of the large-cap equity market, the Advisor attempts to identify situations where a call option is relatively overvalued.  The Advisor then establishes a short position by selling the call option or establishes a position that is intended to achieve a similar result through a combination of long and short positions on call and put options.  
 
In selecting the options that the Fund will trade, the Advisor first identifies exchange-traded options with a trading volume sufficient to preclude the Fund’s trades from influencing prices.  The Advisor then evaluates the available investment opportunities with a proprietary trading algorithm that determines when to buy and sell options.  The algorithm provides a scoring system based upon technical indicators and price patterns, observed market statistics, fundamental research, factor risk modeling, and economic indicators.  The Advisor also allocates a portion of the Fund’s assets to cash or cash equivalents, including money-market instruments and money-market mutual funds.
 
    Writing Options.   As the seller, or writer, of options, the Fund receives a premium from the purchaser.  For example, the purchaser of a call option on an individual security, like an ETF or stock, has the right to buy the security at a fixed price (the “exercise price”) on or before a certain date in the future (the “expiration date”).  If the purchaser does not exercise the call option, the Fund retains the premium.  If the purchaser exercises the call option, the Fund is required to deliver the underlying security.  If the Fund does not own the underlying security, then it may be required to purchase the security in order to meet the delivery requirements of the option contract.  The premium, the exercise price, and the value of the security determine the gain or loss realized by the Fund as the seller of a call option.  The Fund can also repurchase the call option prior to the expiration date, ending its obligation. In contrast to a call option, when the Fund sells a put option, it receives a premium and may be required to buy the underlying security from the purchaser.  Index options are settled with cash and do not involve the actual delivery of the underlying securities.  Upon exercise, the Fund pays the purchaser the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the option.  
 
 
 
10

 
PRINCIPAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND
 
The loss of your money is a principal risk of investing in the Fund.  Investments in the Fund are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of some or the entire principal amount invested.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will be successful in meeting its investment objective.  Generally, the Fund will be subject to the following principal risks:
 
Common Stocks.    The Fund’s investments in common stocks, both directly and indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of ETFs, may fluctuate in value 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.  During temporary or extended bear markets, the value of common stocks will decline, which could also result in losses for the Fund.
 
ETF Risks. The Fund’s investments in ETFs will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities comprising the portfolio of such ETFs and the value of the Fund’s investment will fluctuate in response to the performance of such portfolio.   Shareholders in the Fund will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.   These types of investments by the Fund could affect the timing, amount, and character of distributions and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.
 
Futures Risk. The Fund’s use of stock index futures contracts exposes the Fund to leverage and tracking risks because a small investment in futures contracts may produce large losses and futures contracts may not accurately track the underlying securities.  Changes in the value of futures contracts may not track or correlate perfectly with the underlying index because of temporary, or even long-term, supply and demand imbalances and because futures do not pay dividends unlike the stocks upon which they are based.
 
General Market Risk. The Fund’s net asset value and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities. Certain securities held by the Fund may be worth less than the price originally paid for them, or less than they were worth at an earlier time.
 
Investment Advisor Risk.    The Advisor’s ability to choose suitable investments has a significant impact on the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.  The Advisor was formed in 2009 and is registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  However, the Advisor does not have previous experience managing an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Advisor’s inexperience managing a registered investment company may limit its effectiveness.  The experience of the portfolio managers is discussed in “Management of the Fund – Investment Advisor.”
 
 
11

 
Large-Cap Securities Risk.  Stocks of large companies as a group can fall out of favor with the market, causing the Fund to underperform investments that have a greater focus on mid-cap or small-cap stocks. Larger, more established companies may be slow to respond to challenges and may grow more slowly than smaller companies.
 
New Fund Risk.    The Fund was formed in 2012.  Investors bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.  Such a liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.
 
Operating Risk.   The Advisor and the Fund’s administrator have entered into an Operating Plan that facilitates the administrator’s assumption of the Fund’s regular operating expenses under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.  The Operating Plan obligates the Advisor to pay certain expenses of the Fund in order to help limit its annual operating expenses.  If the Advisor, however, does not have sufficient revenue to support those expenses, the Advisor may be compelled to either resign or become insolvent.  In addition, if the Fund incurs expenses in excess of those that the Fund’s administrator has agreed to pay and the Advisor is not able or willing to pay the excess costs, those excess costs will increase the Fund’s expenses.
 
Risks from Purchasing Options.   If a call or put option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, or, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a purchased option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Risks from Writing Options.    Writing option contracts can result in losses that exceed the Fund’s initial investment and may lead to additional turnover and higher tax liability.  There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Where a position in a written option is used as a hedge against price movements in a related position, the price of the option may move more or less than the price of the related position.
 
Trading Strategies based on Volatility.   Trading strategies based on volatility are difficult to implement and require successful monitoring, modeling, and interpretation of market conditions.  Trading opportunities may be short-lived or limited as a result of a low trading volume in exchange-traded options, in which cases the Fund may be required to hold elevated cash balances.  Transaction costs have a significant impact on the profitability of these trading strategies.
 
 
12

 
 
NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RISKS
 
An investment in the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program.  Whether the Fund is not an appropriate investment for an investor will depend largely on his or her financial resources and individual investment goals and objectives.  Investors who engage in short-term trading or other speculative strategies and styles will not find the Fund to be an appropriate investment vehicle if they want to invest in the Fund for a short period of time.
 
Temporary Defensive Positions.   The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategy in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions.  During such an unusual set of circumstances, the Fund may hold up to 100% of its portfolio in cash or cash equivalent positions.  When the Fund takes temporary defensive positions, the Fund may not be able to achieve their investment objectives.
 
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings.    A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio securities can be found in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available from the Fund or on the SEC’s web site, www.sec.gov.
 
 
 
 
13

 
 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
 
INVESTMENT ADVISOR
 
The Fund’s investment advisor is Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, 300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428.  The Advisor was established in 2009 and is registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.  Subject to the authority of the Trustees and pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreements with the Trust, the Advisor provides a program of continuous supervision of the Fund’s assets, including developing the composition of its portfolio, and furnishes advice and recommendations with respect to investments, investment policies, and the purchase and sale of securities.  The Advisor is also responsible for the selection of broker-dealers through which the Fund executes portfolio transactions, subject to the brokerage policies established by the Trustees, and it provides certain executive personnel to the Fund.
 
Portfolio Managers.   The Fund’s portfolio is managed on a day-to-day basis by Lawrence Lempert and Joseph DeSipio.
 
Mr. Lempert has been the Trading Director of the Advisor since the firm’s founding in 2009 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011.  Prior to joining the Advisor, he founded and managed Bullock Capital, LLC's proprietary stock/option trading operation and previously served as a market maker/index/sector correlation and dispersion trader with Susquehanna International Group.  Mr. Lempert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics and Economics from Rutgers College, a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law.
 
Mr. DeSipio is the Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist of the Advisor since the firm’s founding in 2009.  He previously held Strategist and Lead Portfolio Manager positions with SEI Investments, Evergreen Investments, Wachovia, and Vector Capital Management, Inc. He founded Evergreen Investments’ Options Strategy Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. DeSipio earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University of PA and Master of Arts degree in Economics from Temple University. He is a CFA charterholder and a Financial Risk Manager.
 
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of shares of the Fund.
 
Advisor Compensation.   As full compensation for the investment advisory services provided to the Fund, the Advisor receives monthly compensation based on the Fund’s average daily net assets at the annual rate of 0.40%.
 
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Investment Advisory Contracts.   A discussion regarding the Trustees’ basis for approving the investment advisory contracts for the Fund can be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended August 31, 2012.  You may obtain a copy of the semi-annual report, free of charge, upon request to the Fund.
 
 
14

 
Operating Plan.    The Advisor has entered into an Operating Plan with the Fund’s administrator, through June 30, 2013, under which it has agreed to make payments to the administrator when the Fund is at lower asset levels and to assume certain expenses of the Fund outlined in the Operating Plan.  These expenses include the following: (i) marketing, distribution, and servicing expenses related to the sale or promotion of Fund shares that the Fund is not authorized to pay pursuant to the Investment Company Act and Rule 12b-1 thereunder; (ii) expenses incurred in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund; (iii) expenses incurred in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund; (iv) expenses related to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations; (v) fees and expenses related to legal, auditing, and accounting services that are in amounts greater than the limits or outside of the scope of ordinary services; and (vi) hiring employees and retaining advisers and experts as contemplated by Rule 0-1(a)(7)(vii) of the Investment Company Act.
 
The Operating Plan may be terminated by either party at the conclusion of the then current term upon: (i) written notice of non-renewal to the other party not less than sixty days prior to the end of the term, or (ii) mutual written agreement of the parties.  The Advisor cannot recoup from the Fund any amounts paid by the Advisor to the Fund’s administrator under the Operating Plan.  If the Operating Plan is terminated when the Fund is at lower asset levels, the administrator would likely need to terminate the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement in order to avoid incurring expenses without reimbursement from the Advisor.  Unless other expense limitation arrangements were put in place, the Fund’s expenses would likely increase.  The Fund’s administrator cannot recoup from the Fund any regular operating expenses in excess of the administration fees payable under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement.
 
 
DISTRIBUTOR
 
Capital Investment Group, Inc. (“Distributor”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares and serves as the Fund’s exclusive agent for the distribution of the Fund shares.  The Distributor may sell the Fund’s shares to or through qualified securities dealers or others.
 
The Fund has adopted a plan of distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Distribution Plan”).  Pursuant to the Distribution Plan, the Fund compensates the Distributor with assets attributable to the Wirehouse Class Shares for services rendered and expenses borne in connection with activities primarily intended to result in the sale or the servicing of those shares (this compensation is commonly referred to as “12b-1 fees”).  These activities include, among others, reimbursement to entities for providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Fund’s shares.
 
 
15

 
The Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may annually pay the Distributor up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to its Wirehouse Class Shares.  The 1.00% fee for the Wirehouse Class Shares is comprised of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.75% distribution fee.  Because the 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, these fees, over time, will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales loads.
 
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXPENSES
 
Other Expenses.    The Fund is obligated to pay taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses on short sales, and acquired fund fees and expenses.  The Fund will be separately responsible for any extraordinary expenses, such as indemnification payments or damages awarded in litigation or settlements made.  All general Trust expenses are allocated among and charged to the assets of each separate fund series of the Trust (if any), on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be on the basis of relative net assets of each series or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each series.
 
Estimated Expenses.    In the sections of the prospectus entitled “Summary – Fees and Expenses of the Fund” with respect to the Fund, “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” sections are based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year at an average Fund net asset level of $25 million.
 
 
16

 
INVESTING IN THE FUND
 
PURCHASE OPTIONS
 
The Fund offers Wirehouse Class Shares through this prospectus.  The Fund also offers two additional classes of shares, Institutional Class Shares and Advisor Class Shares, in a separate prospectus.  The share class available to an investor may vary depending on how the investor wishes to purchase shares of the Fund.  Each share class is sold at net asset value, represents interests in the same portfolio of investments, and has the same rights, but differs with respect to sales loads and ongoing expenses.  Set forth below is a brief description of share class offered through this prospectus.
 
Wirehouse Class Shares
 
·  
No front-end sales charge.
·  
No contingent deferred sales charges.
·  
Distribution and service plan (Rule 12b-1) fees of 1.00%.
·  
$25,000 minimum initial investment.
 
You must choose a share class when you purchase shares of the Fund.  If none is chosen, your purchase request will not be considered complete and, therefore, will not be processed until the Fund receives this required information.
 
The Fund may, in the Advisor’s sole discretion, accept certain accounts with less than the minimum investment.
 
 
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PRICE
 
Determining the Fund’s Net Asset Value.    The price at which you purchase or redeem shares is based on the next calculation of net asset value (“NAV”) after an order is received, subject to the order being accepted by the Fund in good form.  An order is considered to be in good form if it includes all necessary information and documentation related to a purchase or redemption request and, if applicable, payment in full of the purchase amount.  The Fund’s NAV per share for each class of shares is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets attributable to that class, less liabilities (including Fund expenses, which are accrued daily) attributable to that class, by the total number of outstanding shares attributable to that class.  To the extent that the Fund holds portfolio securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.  The NAV per share for each class of shares is normally determined at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, the time regular trading closes on the New York Stock Exchange, provided that certain options and futures contracts are priced as of 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time.  The Fund does not calculate NAV on business holidays when the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
 
 
17

 
The pricing and valuation of portfolio securities is determined in good faith in accordance with policies established by, and under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.   In determining the value of the Fund’s total assets, portfolio securities are generally calculated at market value by quotations from the primary market in which they are traded.  Instruments with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.  The Fund normally uses third party pricing services to obtain market quotations.  Securities and assets for which representative market quotations are not readily available or which cannot be accurately valued using the Funds’ normal pricing procedures are valued at fair value in good faith by either a valuation committee or the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by, and under the supervision of, the Board of Trustees.  F air value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) an exchange-traded portfolio security is so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that security over an extended period of time or the validity of a market quotation received is questionable; (ii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iii) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the Fund’s NAV calculation .
 
Pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Advisor consults with the Fund’s administrator on a regular basis regarding the need for fair value pricing .   The Advisor is responsible for notifying the Board of Trustees (or the Fund’s valuation committee) when it believes that fair value pricing is required for a particular security .   The Fund’s policies regarding fair value pricing are intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects portfolio security values as of the time of pricing.   A portfolio security’s “fair value” price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures and the fair value price may differ from the price at which the security may ultimately be traded or sold.   If such fair value price differs from the price that would have been determined using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures, a shareholder may receive more or less proceeds or shares from redemptions or purchases of Fund shares, respectively, than a shareholder would have otherwise received if the security were priced using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures .   The performance of the Fund may also be affected if a portfolio security’s fair value price were to differ from the security’s price using the Fund’s normal pricing procedures .   To the extent the Fund invests in other open-end investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund’s net asset value calculations are based upon the net asset value 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 .
 
Other Matters.   Purchases and redemptions of shares of the same class by the same shareholder on the same day will be netted for the Fund .
 
 
18

 
 
BUYING OR SELLING SHARES
THROUGH A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY
 
Certain financial intermediaries have agreements with the Fund that allow them to enter purchase or redemption orders on behalf of clients and customers.  These orders will be priced at the NAV next computed after the orders are received by the financial intermediary, subject to the order being in good form.  Under this arrangement, the financial intermediary has a duty to transmit promptly to the Fund each purchase order or redemption request that the intermediary receives on the Fund’s behalf and must send your payment to the Fund by the time they price their shares on the following business day.  The Fund is not responsible for ensuring that a financial intermediary carries out its obligations.  You should look to the financial intermediary through whom you wish to invest for specific instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares of the Fund .
 
 
PURCHASING SHARES
 
Purchases can be made directly from the Fund by mail or bank wire.  The Fund has also authorized one or more brokers to receive purchase and redemption orders on its behalf and such brokers are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries to receive orders on behalf of the Fund.  Such orders will be deemed to have been received by the Fund when an authorized broker, or broker-authorized designee, receives the order, subject to the order being in good form.  The orders will be priced at the NAV next computed after the orders are received by the authorized broker, or broker-authorized designee.  Investors may also be charged a fee by a broker or agent if shares are purchased through a broker or agent.
 
The Fund reserves the right to (i) refuse to accept any request to purchase shares for any reason and (ii) suspend the offering of shares at any time.
 
Regular Mail Orders.    Payment for shares by mail must be made by check from a U.S. financial institution and payable in U.S. dollars.  Cash, money orders, and traveler’s checks will not be accepted by the Funds.  If checks are returned due to insufficient funds or other reasons, your purchase will be canceled.  You will also be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the Funds and their administrator and transfer agent.  The Fund will charge a $35 fee and may redeem shares of the Fund owned by the purchaser or another identically registered account in another series of the Trust to recover any such losses.  For regular mail orders, please complete the Fund Shares Application and mail it, along with a check made payable to the Fund, to:
 
 
19

 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365
 
The application must contain your Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number.  If you have applied for a number prior to completing your account application but you have not received your number, please indicate this on the application and include a copy of the form applying for your number.  Taxes are not withheld from distributions to U.S. investors if certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Service are met regarding the Social Security Number and Taxpayer Identification Number.
 
Bank Wire Purchases.    Purchases may also be made through bank wire orders.  To establish a new account or add to an existing account by wire, please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863   for wire instructions and to advise the Fund of the investment, dollar amount, and the account identification num ber.
 
Additional Investments.   You may also add to your account by mail or wire at any time by purchasing shares at the then current net asset value.  The minimum additional investment is $100.  Before adding funds by bank wire, please call the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 for wire instructions and to advise the Fund of the investment, dollar amount, and the account identification number.  Mail orders should include, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that is attached to your confirmation statement.  Otherwise, please identify your account in a letter accompanying your purchase payment.
 
Automatic Investment Plan.    The automatic investment plan enables shareholders to make regular monthly or quarterly investments in shares through automatic charges to their checking account.  With shareholder authorization and bank approval, the Fund will automatically charge the shareholder’s checking account for the amount specified ($100 minimum), which will be automatically invested in shares at the public offering price on or about the 21st day of the month.  The shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing the Fund.
 
Share Certificates.    The Fund normally does not issue share certificates.  Evidence of ownership of shares is provided through entry in the Fund’s share registry.  Investors will receive periodic account statements (and, where applicable, purchase confirmations) that will show the number of shares owned.
 
Important Information about Procedures for Opening a New Account.    Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001), the Fund is required to obtain, verify, and record information that enables the Fund to form a reasonable belief as to the identity of each customer who opens an account.  Consequently, when an investor opens an account, the Fund will ask for the investor’s name, street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or other tax identification number (or proof that the investor has filed for such a number), and other information that will allow the Fund to identify the investor.  The Fund may also ask to see the driver’s license or other identifying documents of the investor.  An investor’s account application will not be considered “complete” and, therefore, an account will not be opened and the investor’s money will not be invested until the Fund receives this required information.  In addition, if after opening the investor’s account the Fund is unable to verify the investor’s identity after reasonable efforts, as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, the Fund may
 
 
20

 
(i) restrict further investments until the investor’s identity is verified; and (ii) close the investor’s account without notice and return the investor’s redemption proceeds to the investor.  If the Fund closes an investor’s account because the Fund could not verify the investor’s identity, the Fund will value the account in accordance with the next NAV calculated after the investor’s account is closed.  In that case, the investor’s redemption proceeds may be worth more or less than the investor’s original investment.  The Fund will not be responsible for any losses incurred due to the Fund’s inability to verify the identity of any investor opening an account.
 
 
REDEEMING SHARES
 
Regular Mail Redemptions.    Regular mail redemption requests should be addressed to:
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
 
Regular mail redemption requests should include the following:
 
(1)
Your letter of instruction specifying the share class, account number, and number of shares (or the dollar amount) to be redeemed.  This request must be signed by all registered shareholders in the exact names in which they are registered;
(2)
Any required signature guarantees (see “Signature Guarantees” below); and
(3)
Other supporting legal documents, if required in the case of estates, trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, partnerships, pension or profit sharing plans, and other entities.
 
Your redemption proceeds normally will be sent to you within 7 days after receipt of your redemption request.  The Funds may delay forwarding a redemption check for recently purchased shares while the Funds determine whether the purchase payment will be honored.  Such delay (which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase) may be reduced or avoided if the purchase is made by certified check or wire transfer.  In all cases, the NAV next determined after receipt of the request for redemption will be used in processing the redemption request.
 
Telephone and Bank Wire Redemptions.   Unless you decline the telephone transaction privileges on your account application, you may redeem shares of the Funds by telephone.  You may also redeem shares by bank wire under certain limited conditions.  The Funds will redeem shares in this manner when so requested by the shareholder only if the shareholder confirms redemption instructions in writing.
 
 
21

 
The Funds may rely upon confirmation of redemption requests transmitted via facsimile (FAX# 252-972-1908).  The confirmation instructions must include the following:
 
(1)
Name of Fund and share class;
(2)
Shareholder name and account number;
(3)
Number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
(4)
Instructions for transmittal of redemption proceeds to the shareholder; and
(5)
Shareholder signature as it appears on the application on file with the Funds.
 
Redemption proceeds will not be distributed until written confirmation of the redemption request is received, per the instructions above.  You can choose to have redemption proceeds mailed to you at your address of record, your financial institution, or to any other authorized person, or you can have the proceeds sent by wire transfer to your financial institution ($5,000 minimum).  Redemption proceeds cannot be wired on days in which your financial institution is not open for business.  You can change your redemption instructions anytime you wish by filing a letter with your new redemption instructions with the Funds.  See “Signature Guarantees” below.
 
The Funds, in their discretion, may choose to pass through to redeeming shareholders any charges imposed by the Funds’ custodian for wire redemptions.  If this cost is passed through to redeeming shareholders by the Funds, the charge will be deducted automatically from your account by redemption of shares in your account.  Your bank or brokerage firm may also impose a charge for processing the wire.  If wire transfer of funds is impossible or impractical, the redemption proceeds will be sent by regular mail to the designated account.
 
You may redeem shares, subject to the procedures outlined above, by calling the Funds at 1-800-773-3863.  Redemption proceeds will only be sent to the financial institution account or person named in your Fund Shares Application currently on file with the Funds.  Telephone redemption privileges authorize the Funds to act on telephone instructions from any person representing him or herself to be the investor and reasonably believed by the Funds to be genuine.  The Funds will employ reasonable procedures, such as requiring a form of personal identification, to confirm that instructions are genuine.  The Funds will not be liable for any losses due to fraudulent or unauthorized instructions.  The Funds will also not be liable for following telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
 
Systematic Withdrawal Plan.    A shareholder who owns Fund shares of a particular class valued at $25,000 or more at the current offering price may establish a systematic withdrawal plan (“Systematic Withdrawal Plan”) to receive a monthly or quarterly check in a stated amount (not less than $100).  Each month or quarter, as specified, the Fund will automatically redeem sufficient shares from your account to meet the specified withdrawal amount.  The shareholder may establish this service whether dividends and distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund or paid in cash.  Call or write the Funds for an application form.
 
 
22

 
Minimum Account Size.    The Trustees reserve the right to redeem involuntarily any account having a NAV of less than $10,000 (due to redemptions, exchanges, or transfers, and not due to market action) upon 30-days’ prior written notice.  If the shareholder brings his account NAV up to at least $10,000 during the notice period, the account will not be redeemed.  Redemptions from retirement accounts may be subject to federal income tax.  Shareholders may also be charged a fee by their broker or agent if shares are redeemed or transferred through their broker or agent.
 
Redemptions in Kind.    The Funds do not intend, under normal circumstances, to redeem its shares by payment in kind.  It is possible, however, that conditions may arise in the future which would, in the opinion of the Trustees, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in cash.  In such cases, the Trustees may authorize payment to be made in readily marketable portfolio securities of the Fund.  Securities delivered in payment of redemptions would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the Fund’s NAV per share.  Shareholders receiving them bear the market risks associated with the securities until they have been converted into cash and may incur brokerage costs when these securities are sold.  An irrevocable election has been filed under Rule 18f-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, wherein the Funds must pay redemptions in cash, rather than in kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any 90-day period, the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s NAV at the beginning of such period.  Redemption requests in excess of this limit may be satisfied in cash or in kind at the Funds’ election.
 
Signature Guarantees.    To protect your account and the Funds from fraud, signature guarantees may be required to be sure that you are the person who has authorized a change in registration or standing instructions for your account.  Signature guarantees are generally required for (i) change of registration requests; (ii) requests to establish or to change exchange privileges or telephone and bank wire redemption service other than through your initial account application; (iii) transactions where proceeds from redemptions, dividends, or distributions are sent to a financial institution; and (iv) redemption requests in excess of $50,000.  Signature guarantees are acceptable from a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, a savings and loan institution, credit union (if authorized under state law), registered broker-dealer, securities exchange, or association clearing agency and must appear on the written request for change of registration, establishment or change in exchange privileges, or redemption request.
 
Miscellaneous.    The Funds reserve the right to delay the distribution of redemption proceeds involving recently purchased shares until the check for the recently purchased shares has cleared.  The Funds may also suspend redemptions, if permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, trading is restricted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Securities and Exchange Commission declares that an emergency exists.  Redemptions may be suspended during other periods permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.  During drastic economic and market changes, telephone redemption privileges may be difficult to implement.
 
 
23

 
 
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
 
Frequent purchases and redemptions (“Frequent Trading”) of shares of the Funds may present a number of risks to other shareholders of the Funds.  These risks may include, among other things, dilution in the value of shares of the Funds held by long-term shareholders, interference with the efficient management by the Advisor of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, and increased brokerage and administration costs.  Due to the potential of a thin market for the Funds; portfolio securities, as well as overall adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions that may affect the sale price of portfolio securities, the Funds could face untimely losses as a result of having to sell portfolio securities prematurely to meet redemptions.  Frequent Trading may also increase portfolio turnover which may result in increased capital gains taxes for shareholders of the Funds.
 
The Trustees have adopted a policy with respect to Frequent Trading that is intended to discourage such activity by shareholders of the Funds.  The Funds do not accommodate Frequent Trading.  Under the adopted policy, the Funds’ transfer agent provides a daily record of shareholder trades to the Advisor.  The Funds’ transfer agent also monitors and tests shareholder purchase and redemption orders for possible incidents of Frequent Trading.  The Advisor has the discretion to limit investments from an investor that the Advisor believes has a pattern of Frequent Trading that the Advisor considers not to be in the best interests of the other shareholders in the respective Fund by the Fund’s refusal of further purchase and/or exchange orders from such investor.  The Funds’ policy regarding Frequent Trading is to limit investments from investor accounts that purchase and redeem shares over a period of less than ten days having a redemption amount within ten percent of the purchase amount and greater than $10,000 on two or more occasions during a 60 calendar day period.  In the event such a purchase and redemption pattern occurs, an investor account and any other account with the same taxpayer identification number will be precluded from investing in the respective Fund (including investments that are part of an exchange transaction) for at least 30 calendar days after the redemption transaction.
 
The Advisor intends to apply this policy uniformly, except that the Funds may not be able to identify or determine that a specific purchase and/or redemption is part of a pattern of Frequent Trading or that a specific investor is engaged in Frequent Trading, particularly with respect to transactions made through accounts such as omnibus accounts or accounts opened through third-party financial intermediaries such as broker-dealers and banks (“Intermediary Accounts”).  Therefore, this policy is not applied to omnibus accounts or Intermediary Accounts.  Omnibus account arrangements permit multiple investors to aggregate their respective share ownership positions and to purchase, redeem, and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the particular shareholders being immediately known to the Funds.  Like omnibus accounts, Intermediary Accounts normally permit investors to purchase, redeem,
 
 
24

 
 
and exchange Fund shares without the identity of the underlying shareholder being immediately known to the Funds.  Accordingly, the ability of the Funds to monitor and detect Frequent Trading through omnibus accounts and Intermediary Accounts is limited, and there is no guarantee that the Funds can identify shareholders who might be engaging in Frequent Trading through such accounts or curtail such trading.  In addition, the policy will not apply if the Advisor determines that a purchase and redemption pattern does not constitute Frequent Trading activity, such as inadvertent errors that result in frequent purchases and redemptions.  Inadvertent errors shall include purchases and/or redemptions made unintentionally or by mistake (e.g., where an investor unintentionally or mistakenly invests in the Funds and redeems immediately after recognizing the error).  The investor shall have the burden of proving to the sole satisfaction of the Advisor that a frequent purchase and redemption pattern was a result of an inadvertent error.  In such a case, the Advisor may choose to allow further purchase and/or exchange orders from such investor account.
 

 
25

 
 
OTHER IMPORTANT INVESTMENT INFORMATION
 
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
 
The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. taxpayers.  Additional tax information appears in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.  Shareholders should rely on their own tax advisors for advice about the particular federal, state, and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
 
The Fund will distribute most of their income and realized gains to shareholders every year.  Income dividends paid by the Fund derived from net investment income, if any, will generally be paid monthly or quarterly and capital gains distributions, if any, will be made at least annually.  Shareholders may elect to take dividends from net investment income or capital gains distributions, if any, in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.  Although the Fund will not be taxed on amounts they distribute, shareholders will generally be taxed on distributions paid by the Fund, regardless of whether distributions are received in cash or are reinvested in additional Fund shares.  Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as federal taxes.
 
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 the Fund shares.  An exchange of shares may be treated as a sale and any gain may be subject to tax.
 
As with all mutual funds, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at the fourth lowest rate for taxpayers filing as unmarried individuals (presently 28%) for all taxable distributions payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification numbers or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the Internal Revenue Service ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due.  Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
 
Shareholders should consult with their own tax advisors to ensure that distributions and sale of Fund shares are treated appropriately on their income tax returns.
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Because the Fund is newly organized, there is no financial or performance information for the Fund in this prospectus.  You may request a copy of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, once available, at no charge by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863.
 

 
26

 
 

 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 


 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
 


 
More information about the Fund can be found in the Statement of Additional Information, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  More information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.  The annual reports will include discussions of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
 
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information and the annual and semi-annual reports will be available, free of charge, on the website listed below and upon request by contacting the Fund (you may also request other information about the Fund or make shareholder inquiries) as follows:
 
 
By telephone:
1-800-773-3863
 
 
By mail:
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
 
 
By e-mail:
shareholders@ncfunds.com
 
 
On the Internet:
www.ncfunds.com
 
Information about the Fund (including the Statement of Additional Information) can also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.  Inquiries on the operations of the public reference room may be made by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.  Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
 
Investment Company Act file number 811-22298
 
 
 

 
PART B

FORM N-1A

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund

Institutional Class Shares – Ticker Symbol [ _____ ]
Advisor Class Shares   – Ticker Symbol [ _____ ]
Wirehouse Class Shares   – Ticker Symbol [ _____ ]
 
[ August __, 2012 ]
 

 
A series of the
Starboard Investment Trust
116 South Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
Telephone 1-800-773-3863
 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES
2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
12
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
13
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
14
MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
16
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
27
SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
28
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
29
NET ASSET VALUE
30
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION
31
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
33
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
34
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES
38

 

 
This Statement of Additional Information is meant to be read in conjunction with the prospectus for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, dated the same date as this Statement of Additional Information, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the prospectus.  Because this Statement of Additional Information is not itself a prospectus, no investment in shares of the Fund should be made solely upon the information contained herein.  Copies of the Fund’s prospectus, annual report, and/or semi-annual report may be obtained at no charge by writing or calling the Fund at the address or phone number shown above.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meanings as in the Fund’s prospectus.
 
 
 

 
OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES
 
Starboard Investment Trust (“Trust”) was organized on May 13, 2009 as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an open-end management investment company.  The Arin Large Cap Theta Fund (the “Fund”) is a separate, diversified series of the Trust.  The Fund’s investment advisor is Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”).  The Prospectus describes the Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategy, as well as the principal investment risks of the Fund.  The following descriptions and policies supplement these descriptions, and also include descriptions of certain types of investments that may be made by the Fund but are not principal investment strategies of the Fund.  Attached to the Statement of Additional Information is Appendix A, which contains descriptions of the rating symbols used by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations for securities in which the Fund may invest.
 
General Investment Risks.   All investments in securities and other financial instruments involve a risk of financial loss.  No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment program will be successful.  Investors should carefully review the descriptions of the Fund’s investments and their risks described in the Fund’s prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information.
 
Equity Securities.   The Fund may invest in equity securities, both directly and indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of other investment companies.  The equity portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be comprised of common stocks traded on domestic securities exchanges or on the over-the-counter market.  In addition to common stocks, the equity portion of the Fund’s portfolio may also include preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, and convertible bonds.  Prices of equity securities in which the Fund invests (either directly or indirectly through the Fund’s investment in shares of other investment companies) 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.  Market declines may continue for an indefinite period of time, and investors should understand that during temporary or extended bear markets, the value of equity securities will decline.
 
Investment Companies.   The Fund will invest in securities of other investment companies, including, without limitation, money market funds, closed-end funds, and exchange traded funds.  The Fund expects to rely on Rule 12d1-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 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, as defined in rule 2830(b)(8) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or service fee, as defined in Rule 2830(b)(9) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, charged in connection with the purchase, sale, or redemption of securities issued by the money market fund; or the Advisor waives its management fee in an amount necessary to offset any sales charge or service fee.  The Fund expects to rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 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 stock.  Under Section 12(d)(1)(C), the Fund may generally acquire shares of a closed-end fund unless, immediately after such acquisition, the Fund and its affiliated persons would hold more than 10% of the closed-end fund’s total outstanding stock.  To the extent these limitations apply to an investment the Fund wishes to make, the Fund may be prevented from allocating its investments in the manner that the Advisor considers optimal.  Also, in the event that there is a proxy vote with respect to shares of another investment company purchased and held by the Fund under Section 12(d)(1)(F), then the Fund will either (i) vote such shares in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities; or (ii) contact its shareholders for instructions regarding how to vote the proxy.  Investments by the Fund in other investment companies entail a number of risks unique to a fund of funds structure.  These risks include the following:
 
Multiple Layers of Fees.   By investing in other investment companies indirectly through the Fund, prospective investors will directly bear the fees and expenses of the Fund’s Advisor and indirectly bear the fees and expenses of other investment companies and other investment companies’ managers as well.  As such, this multiple or duplicative layer of fees will increase the cost of investments in the Fund.
 
 
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Lack of Transparency.   The Advisor will not be able to monitor the investment activities of the other investment companies on a continuous basis and the other investment companies may use investment strategies that differ from its past practices and are not fully disclosed to the Advisor and that involve risks that are not anticipated by the Advisor.  The Fund has no control over the risks taken by the underlying investment companies in which they invest.
 
Valuation of Investment Companies.   Although the Advisor will attempt to review the valuation procedures used by other investment companies’ managers, the Advisor will have little or no means of independently verifying valuations of the Fund’s investments in investment companies and valuations of the underlying securities held by other investment companies.  As such, the Advisor will rely significantly on valuations of other investment companies and the securities underlying other investment companies that are reported by other investment companies’ managers.  In the event that such valuations prove to be inaccurate, the NAV of the Fund could be adversely impacted and an investor could incur a loss of investment in the Fund.
 
Illiquidity of Investments By and In Other Investment Companies.   Other investment companies may invest in securities that are not registered, are subject to legal or other restrictions on transfer, or for which no liquid market exists.  The market prices, if any, for such securities tend to be volatile and restricted securities may sell at prices that are lower than similar securities that are not subject to legal restrictions on resale.  Further, the Fund may not be able to redeem their interests in other investment companies’ securities that it has purchased in a timely manner.  If adverse market conditions were to develop during any period in which the Fund is unable to redeem interests in other investment companies, the Fund may suffer losses as a result of this illiquidity.  As such, the lack of liquidity and volatility of restricted securities held by other investment companies could adversely affect the value of the other investment companies.  Any such losses could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and an investor could incur a loss of investment in the Fund.
 
Lack of Diversification.   There is no requirement that the underlying investments held by other investment companies be diversified.  As such, other investment companies’ managers may target or concentrate other investment companies’ investments in specific markets, sectors, or types of securities.  As a result, investments made by other investment companies are subject to greater volatility as a result of this concentration than if the other investment companies had non-concentrated and diversified portfolios of investments.  Thus, the Fund’s portfolios (and by extension the value of an investment in the Fund) may therefore be subject to greater risk than the portfolio of a similar fund with investments in diversified investment companies.
 
Use of Leverage.   The other investment companies may utilize leverage (i.e., borrowing) to acquire their underlying portfolio investments.  When other investment companies borrow money or otherwise leverage their portfolio of investments, doing so may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the shares of the other investment companies and in the return on the other investment companies’ investments.  Borrowing will also cost other investment companies interest expense and other fees.  As such, the value of the Fund’s investments in other investment companies may be more volatile and all other risks (including the risk of loss of an investment in other investment companies) tend to be compounded or magnified.  As a result, any losses suffered by other investment companies as a result of their use of leverage could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and an investor could incur a loss of investment in the Fund.
 
Exchange Traded Funds.   The Fund will invest in exchange traded funds (“ETF”).  An ETF is an investment company that holds a portfolio of common stock or bonds designed to track the performance of a securities index or sector of an index.  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).  In addition, all ETFs will have costs and expenses that will be passed on to the Fund and these costs and expenses will in turn increase the Fund’s expenses.  ETFs are also subject to the following risks that often do not apply to conventional investment companies: (i) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to the ETF’s net asset value, and as a result, ETFs may experience more price volatility than other types of portfolio investments and such volatility could negatively impact the Fund’s net asset values; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained at a sufficient volume; (iii) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange deems such action appropriate; and (iv)
 
 
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ETF shares may be delisted from the exchange on which they trade, or “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices used by the exchange) may temporarily halt trading in the ETF’s stock.  ETFs are also subject to the risks of the underlying securities or sectors that the ETF is designed to track.  Finally, there may be legal limitations and other conditions imposed by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission on the amount of the ETF shares that the Fund may acquire.
 
Fixed-Income Securities.   The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities directly or indirectly through its investments in shares of ETFs, including government and corporate bonds, money market instruments, high yield securities or “junk bonds” and zero-coupon bonds.  Zero-coupon bonds are purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the applicable coupon rate over a period of time.  Fixed-income securities purchased by the Fund may consist of obligations of any rating.  Fixed-income securities in the lowest investment grade categories have speculative characteristics, with changes in the economy or other circumstances more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the bonds to make principal and interest payments than would occur with bonds rated in higher categories.  High yield bonds are typically rated below “Baa” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.  (“Moody’s”) or below “BBB” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or below investment grade by other recognized rating agencies.  The Fund may invest in unrated securities, but only if, at the time of purchase, the Advisor believes that they are of comparable quality to rated securities that the Fund may purchase.  The Fund may also invest indirectly in unrated securities through ETFs and other investment companies that invest in unrated securities under certain circumstances.  Such bonds are subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than higher rated bonds for a variety of reasons, including:
 
Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Change.   The economy and interest rates affect high yield securities differently than other securities.  For example, the prices of high yield bonds have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic changes or individual corporate developments.  Also, during an economic downturn or substantial period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest obligations, to meet projected business goals, and to obtain additional financing.  If the issuer of a bond defaults, an underlying mutual fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.  In addition, periods of economic uncertainty and changes can be expected to result in increased volatility or market prices of high yield bonds and the Fund’s asset values.
 
Payment Expectations.   High yield bonds present certain risks based on payment expectations.  For example, high yield bonds may contain redemption and call provisions.  If an issuer exercises these provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund or an ETF the Fund invests in would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors.  Conversely, a high yield bond’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s or ETF’s assets.  If the Fund or an ETF the Fund invests in experiences unexpected net redemptions, it may be forced to sell its high yield bonds without regard to their investment merits, thereby decreasing the asset base upon which the Fund’s or ETF’s expenses can be spread and possibly reducing the Fund’s or ETF’s rate of return.
 
Liquidity and Valuation.   To the extent that there is no established retail secondary market, there may be thin trading of high yield bonds, and this may impact a fund’s ability to accurately value high yield bonds and may hinder a fund’s ability to dispose of the bonds.  Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield bonds, especially in a thinly traded market.
 
Credit Ratings.   Credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of high yield bonds.  Also, because credit rating agencies may fail to timely change the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events, the Fund or an ETF the Fund invests in must monitor the issuers of high yield bonds in their portfolios to determine if the issuers will have sufficient cash flow and profits to meet required principal and interest payments, and to assure the bonds’ liquidity so the Fund or an ETF the Fund invests in can meet redemption requests.
 
High-yield securities are deemed speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal over a long period of time.  Special tax considerations are associated with investing in high-yield securities structured as zero coupon or “pay-in-kind” securities.  The Fund or an ETF the Fund invests in will report the interest on these securities as income even though it receives no cash interest until the security’s maturity or payment date.  The payment of principal and interest on most fixed-income securities purchased by a fund will depend upon the ability of the issuers to meet their
 
 
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obligations.  An issuer’s obligations under its fixed-income securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by federal or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations.  The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on, and principal of, its fixed-income securities may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.
 
The ratings of S&P, Moody’s and other nationally recognized rating agencies represent their opinions as to the quality of fixed-income securities.  It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and fixed-income securities with the same maturity, interest rate, and rating may have different yields while fixed-income securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield.  For a more detailed description of ratings, please see Appendix A.
 
Money Market Instruments.   The Fund may invest in money market instruments including U.S. Government obligations or corporate debt obligations (including those subject to repurchase agreements) provided that they are eligible for purchase by the Fund.  Money market instruments also may include Banker’s Acceptances and Certificates of Deposit of domestic branches of U.S. banks, Commercial Paper, and Variable Amount Demand Master Notes (“Master Notes”).  Banker’s Acceptances are time drafts drawn on and “accepted” by a bank.  When a bank “accepts” such a time draft, it assumes liability for its payment.  When the Fund acquires a Banker’s Acceptance, the bank that “accepted” the time draft is liable for payment of interest and principal when due.  The Banker’s Acceptance 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 one of the top two rating categories by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, or Fitch Investors Service, Inc., or if not rated, of equivalent quality in the Advisor’s opinion.  Commercial Paper may include Master Notes of the same quality.  Master Notes are unsecured obligations that are redeemable upon demand of the holder and that 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 Advisor will monitor, on a continuous basis, the earnings power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios of the issuer of a Master Note held by the Fund.
 
U.S. Government Securities.   The Fund may invest in U.S. Government securities, defined to be (i) U.S. Treasury notes, U.S. Treasury bonds, U.S. Treasury bills, and other U.S. Government obligations; (ii) obligations of the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) and other U.S. Government sponsored entities that are guaranteed by the U.S. Government; and (iii) obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Federal Farm Credit Bank (FFCB), Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), Student Loan Marketing Association (SLMA), The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and other U.S. Government authorities, agencies, and instrumentalities.  While obligations of some U.S. Government sponsored entities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (e.g. GNMA), others are not.  No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities in the future since it is not obligated to do so by law.  The guarantee of the U.S. Government does not extend to the yield or value of the Fund’s shares.
 
Debentures.   A debenture is long-term, unsecured, debt instrument backed only by the integrity of the borrower, not by collateral, and documented by an indenture.  Governments often issue debentures, in part because they generally cannot guarantee debt with assets (government assets are public property).  The primary risk with this type of investment is that the issuer will default or go into bankruptcy.  As an unsecured creditor, in the event of default or bankruptcy, the holder of a debenture does not have a claim against any specific assets of the issuing firm, so the investor will only be paid from the issuer’s assets after the secured creditors have been paid.  The Fund may invest in all types of debentures, including corporate and government debentures.
 
Derivative Instruments Risk.   W hen the Fund enters into short sales, options, futures, and other forms of financial derivatives, such as foreign exchange contracts, the investments involve risks different from direct investments in the underlying securities .   While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks.  For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices, or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if they had not entered into any derivatives transactions.  Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.  If the Fund does use derivative instruments, the Fund will comply with current guidance from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding asset coverage requirements.
 
 
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When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative.  Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.
 
The Fund’s ability to hedge securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities.  In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument.  The Advisor will try to minimize this risk by investing only in those contracts whose behavior it expects to resemble with the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge.  However, if the Fund’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility, or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.
 
Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative.  Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:
 
·  
current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;
·  
a difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading of an instrument stops; and
·  
differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets, and the participation of speculators in such markets.
 
Derivatives based upon a narrow index of securities may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad index.  Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.
 
While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund.  A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness.  Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.
 
Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction.  Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded.  Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist.  If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out a position.  In an illiquid market, the Fund may:
 
·  
have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;
·  
have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;
·  
not be able to hedge its investments; and
·  
not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.
 
 
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Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions.  For example:
 
·  
an exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives, or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;
·  
unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;
·  
the facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;
·  
equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house, or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or
·  
investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.
 
If the Advisor incorrectly predicts securities market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives.  For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Advisor’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price.  Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Advisor’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.
 
Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage.  Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and they may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.
 
If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement.  The Fund may lose margin deposits if a broker with whom they have an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.
 
The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially, and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:
 
·  
actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;
·  
fiscal and monetary policies; and
·  
national and international political events.
 
Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day.  Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day.  Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit.  The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses.  Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.
 
Options.   The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities.  The purchase and writing of options involves certain risks.  During the option period, a call writer that holds the underlying security has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying securities above the exercise price, but, as long as its obligation as a writer continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline.  The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option.  Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying securities at the exercise price.  If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining
 
 
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value, and if the market price of the underlying security, in the case of a put, remains equal to or greater than the exercise price or, in the case of a call, remains less than or equal to the exercise price, the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option.  Also, where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the related security.  There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position.  Furthermore, if trading restrictions or suspensions are imposed on the options market, the Fund may be unable to close out a position.
 
The Fund may write a call or put option only if the option is “covered” by holding a position in the underlying securities or by other means which would permit immediate satisfaction of the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option.  A written call option creates a potential obligation to sell the underlying security.  In order to make sure that this obligation can be met, the Fund could (i) hold the security underlying the written option; (ii) hold an offsetting call option (one with a strike price that is the same or lower than the strike price of the written option); or (iii) segregate cash and liquid securities (which can be cash, U.S. Government securities, and other liquid debt or equity securities) that when added to collateral on deposit equals the market value of the underlying security.  A written put option creates a potential obligation to buy the underlying security.  In order to make sure that this obligation can be met, the Fund could (i) sell short the underlying security at the same or higher price than the strike price of the written put option; (ii) hold an offsetting put option (one with a strike price that is the same or higher than the strike price of the written option); or (iii) segregate cash and liquid securities that when added to collateral on deposit equals the strike price of the option.
 
Futures Contracts.   A futures contract is a bilateral agreement   to buy or sell a security (or deliver a cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contracts) for a set price in the future.  Futures contracts are designated by boards of trade that have been designated “contracts markets” by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).  No purchase price is paid or received when the contract is entered into.  Instead, the Fund, upon entering into a futures contract (and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts), would be required to deposit with its custodian in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or liquid, high-grade debt securities, known as “initial margin.”  The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract.  Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margin that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.  By using futures contracts as a risk management technique, given the greater liquidity in the futures market than in the cash market, it may be possible to accomplish certain results more quickly and with lower transaction costs.
 
If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin.  However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.  These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.”  The Fund is expected to earn interest income on initial and variation margin deposits.
 
The Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases and sells futures contracts.  Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held until delivery or cash settlement is required, but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions that may result in a gain or a loss.  While futures positions taken by the Fund will usually be liquidated in this manner, the Fund may instead make or take delivery of underlying securities whenever it appears economically advantageous for the Fund to do so.  A clearing organization associated with the exchange on which futures are traded assumes responsibility for closing out transactions and guarantees that as between the clearing members of an exchange, the sale and purchase obligations will be performed with regard to all positions that remain open at the termination of the contract.
 
In addition to the margin restrictions discussed above, transactions in futures contracts may involve the segregation of funds pursuant to requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Under those requirements, where the Fund has a long position in a futures contract, it may be required to establish a segregated account  (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) containing cash or certain liquid assets equal to the purchase price of the contract (less any margin on deposit).  However, segregation of assets is not required if the Fund “covers” a long position. For a short position in futures or forward contracts held by the Fund, those requirements may mandate the establishment of a segregated account (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) with cash or certain liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited as margin, equal the market value of the instruments underlying the futures contracts (but are not less than the price at which the short positions were established).
 
 
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Short Sales.   The Fund may sell securities short.  A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire (or that it owns but does not wish to deliver) in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.  When the Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security.  The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities.
 
If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers the short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain.  Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above.  The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
 
If the Fund does sell “short”, the Fund will comply with current guidance from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding asset coverage requirements.  In particular, the Fund will take measures to ensure its obligation to purchase the security in the future will be met, including (i) holding the security sold short; (ii) holding an offsetting call option (one with a strike price that is the same or lower than the price at which the security was sold short); or (iii) segregating liquid assets (which can be cash, U.S. Government securities, and other liquid debt or equity securities) on the Fund’s books or in a segregated account at the Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cover the current value of the securities to be replaced as well as any dividends, interest, and transaction costs due to the broker-dealer lender.  In determining the amount to be segregated, any securities that have been sold short by the Fund will be marked to market daily.  To the extent the market price of the securities sold short increases and more assets are required to meet the Fund’s short sale obligations, additional assets will be segregated to ensure adequate coverage of the Fund’s short position obligations.  If the Fund does not have the assets to cover a short sale, then the Fund’s potential losses on the short will be unlimited because the security’s price may appreciate indefinitely.
 
Liquidity Impact of Margin and Segregation Requirements.   Although the Fund will segregate cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to cover its open obligations with respect to written options and short sales, the segregated assets will be available to the Fund immediately upon closing out the positions, while settlement of securities transactions could take several days. However, because the Fund’s cash that may otherwise be invested would be held uninvested or invested in other liquid assets so long as the position remains open, the Fund’s return could be diminished due to the opportunity losses of foregoing other potential investments.
 
Swaps.   The Fund may invest in currency, equity, interest rate, index and other swaps, which involve the exchange by an investor with another party of their respective commitments, in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so, possibly at a lower cost than if the Fund had invested directly in the asset that yielded the desired return.  In the case of interest rate swaps, an investor may exchange with another party their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments.  Use of swaps subjects the investor to risk of default by the counterparties.  If there is a default by the counterparty to such a transaction, there may be contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction although contractual remedies may not be sufficient in the event that the counterparty to the transaction is insolvent.  The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and agents utilizing standardized swap documentation.  As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments which are traded in the interbank market.  An investor may also enter into currency swaps or other swaps which are similar to interest rate swaps but may be surrogates for other instruments such as currency forwards or options.
 
Forward Commitment and When-Issued Securities.   The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis or for settlement at a future date if the Fund holds sufficient assets to meet the purchase price.  In such purchase transactions, the Fund will not accrue interest on the purchased security until the actual settlement.  Similarly, if a security is sold for a forward date, the Fund will accrue the interest until the settlement of the sale.  When-issued security purchases and forward commitments have a higher degree of risk of price movement before settlement due to the extended time period between the
 
 
9

 
execution and settlement of the purchase or sale.  As a result, the exposure to the counterparty of the purchase or sale is increased.  Although the Fund would generally purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis with the intention of taking delivery, the Fund may sell such a security prior to the settlement date if the Advisor feels such action is appropriate.  In such a case, the Fund could incur a short-term gain or loss.
 
Repurchase Agreements.   A repurchase transaction occurs when an investor purchases a security (normally a U.S. Treasury obligation), and it then resells it to the vendor (normally a member bank of the Federal Reserve or a registered government securities dealer) and is required to deliver the security (and/or securities substituted for them under the repurchase agreement) to the vendor on an agreed upon date in the future.  The repurchase price exceeds the purchase price by an amount which 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, 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 Advisor will consider the creditworthiness of the vendor.  If the vendor 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.   Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities.
 
Illiquid Investments.   The Fund may hold up to 15% of net assets in illiquid securities, which are investments that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the prices at which they are valued.  This restriction is not limited to the time of purchase.  Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”), the Advisor determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, and through reports from the Advisor, the Trustees monitor investments in illiquid instruments.  In determining the liquidity of the Fund’s investments, the Advisor may consider various factors including (i) the frequency of trades and quotations; (ii) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace; (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market; (iv) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender features); and (v) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or offset the Fund’s rights and obligations relating to the investment).  If through a change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the Fund were in a position where more than 15% of its net assets were invested in illiquid securities, it would seek to take appropriate steps to protect liquidity.  Investment in illiquid securities poses risks of potential delays in resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund may be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
 
Restricted Securities.   Within its limitation on investment in illiquid securities, 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.  Restricted securities that can be offered and sold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and are determined to be liquid under guidelines adopted by and subject to the supervision of the Trustees are not subject to the limitations on illiquid securities.
 
Portfolio Turnover.   Portfolio turnover is a ratio that indicates how often the securities in a mutual fund’s portfolio change during a year’s time.  Higher numbers indicate a greater number of changes, and lower numbers indicate a smaller number of changes.  The Fund may sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been held in order to take advantage of new investment opportunities or changing market conditions.  Since portfolio turnover may involve paying brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, there could be additional expenses for the Fund.  High rates of portfolio turnover could lower performance of the Fund due to increased costs and may also result in the realization of capital gains.  If the Fund realizes capital gains when they sell portfolio investments, they must generally distribute those gains to shareholders, increasing their taxable distributions.  Under normal circumstances, the anticipated portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is expected to be less than 100%.
 
 
10

 
Lending of Portfolio Securities.   In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend portfolio securities in an amount up to 33% of total Fund assets to broker-dealers, major banks, or other recognized domestic institutional borrowers of securities which the Advisor has determined are creditworthy under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.  In determining whether the Fund will lend securities, the Advisor will consider all relevant facts and circumstances.  The Fund may not lend securities to any company affiliated with the Advisor.  Each loan of securities will be collateralized by cash, securities, or equivalent collateral.  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 cash or cash equivalent collateral.  While the loan is outstanding, the borrower will pay the Fund any 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.  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.
 
Securities lending involves counterparty risk, including the risk that the loaned securities may not be returned or returned in a timely manner and/or a loss of rights in the collateral if the borrower or the lending agent defaults or fails financially.  This risk will be increased if a continuation of the current downturn in the economic conditions in the United States and around the world, particularly the recent failures of several major financial services firms, causes further declines in the securities markets and/or causes further financial instability in the borrowers or lending agents.  This risk is increased when the Fund’s loans are concentrated with a single or limited number of borrowers.  There are no limits on the number of borrowers the Fund may use, and the Fund may lend securities to only one or a small group of borrowers.  Mutual funds participating in securities lending bear the risk of loss in connection with investments of the cash collateral received from the borrowers, which do not trigger additional collateral requirements from the borrower.
 
Borrowing.   The Fund may borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging.  Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity.  Such borrowing may make the Fund's NAV more volatile than funds that do not borrow for investment purposes because leverage magnifies changes in the Fund’s NAV and on the Fund’s investments.  Although the principal of borrowings will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding.  Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Fund.  To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Fund will have to pay, the Fund’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used.  Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Fund will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced.  The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.
 
The Fund may also borrow money to meet redemptions or for other emergency purposes.  Such borrowings may be on a secured or unsecured basis at fixed or variable rates of interest.  The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of not less than 300% with respect to all borrowings.  If such asset coverage should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to dispose of some of its portfolio holdings within three days in order to reduce the Fund’s debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to dispose of assets at that time.
 
The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit.  Either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
 
 
11

 
Borrowing by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income, but at the same time, creates special risk considerations.  For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on NAV of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
Temporary Defensive Positions.   The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions.  During such an unusual set of circumstances, the Fund may hold up to 100% of its portfolios in cash or cash equivalent positions (e.g., money market securities, U.S. Government securities, and/or similar securities).  When the Fund takes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective.
 
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
The Fund has adopted the following investment limitations, which cannot be changed without approval by holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund.  A “majority” for this purpose means the lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund’s outstanding shares represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of its outstanding shares.  Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations apply at the time of purchase of the applicable securities.
 
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:
 
(1)
Issue senior securities, except as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940;
 
(2)
Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (including, without limitation, borrowing to meet redemptions).  For purposes of this investment restriction, the entry into options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices shall not constitute borrowing;
 
(3)
Pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent necessary to secure permitted borrowings and to the extent related to the deposit of assets in escrow in connection with writing covered put and call options and the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices, and options on futures contracts or indices;
 
(4)
Act as an underwriter except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under certain federal securities laws;
 
(5)
Purchase or sell real estate or direct interests in real estate; provided, however, that the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies that invest or deal in real estate (including, without limitation, investments in REITs, mortgage-backed securities, and privately-held real estate funds);
 
(6)
Invest in commodities, except that the Fund may purchase and sell securities of companies that invest in commodities, options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to indices and currencies, and options on futures contracts, indices or currencies;
 
(7)
Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management over a portfolio company;
 
(8)
Make loans, 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, and bankers’ acceptances;
 
(9)
Concentrate its investments. The Fund’s concentration policy limits the aggregate value of holdings of a single industry or group of industries (except U.S. Government and cash items) to less than 25% of the Fund’s total assets; or
 
 
12

 
(10)
With respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not: (i) purchase 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer; or (ii) purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, 5% or more of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in that issuer’s securities.  This limitation does not apply to investments in (i) cash and cash items; (ii) securities of other registered investment companies; and (iii) obligations of the United States Government, its agencies, or instrumentalities.
 
Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The Investment Company Act of 1940 generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although it does not treat certain transactions as senior securities (“Permitted Senior Securities”), such as certain borrowings, short sales, firm commitment agreements, and standby commitments, with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligations.
 
The Investment Company Act of 1940 presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets).
 
With respect to the fundamental investment restrictions above (other than those involving Permitted Senior Securities and borrowings), 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).
 
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
Subject to the general supervision of the Trustees, the Advisor is responsible for, makes decisions with respect to, and places orders for all purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the Fund.  The Advisor shall manage the Fund’s portfolios in accordance with the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement by and between the Advisor and the Trust on behalf of the Fund (“Advisory Agreement”), which is described in detail under “Management and Other Service Providers – Investment Advisor.”  The Advisor serves as investment advisor for a number of client accounts, including the Fund.  Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those for any other series of the Trust, if any, and for any other investment companies and accounts advised or managed by the Advisor.
 
Brokerage Selection. The Fund has adopted, and the Trustees have approved, policies and procedures relating to the direction of mutual fund portfolio securities transactions to broker-dealers.  The Advisor may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in selecting broker-dealers to execute portfolio securities transactions.  The Advisor may, however, place portfolio transactions with broker-dealers that promote or sell the Fund’s shares so long as such transactions are done in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker’s execution and not on its sales efforts.  In selecting brokers to be used in portfolio transactions, the Advisor’s general guiding principle is to obtain the best overall execution for each trade, which is a combination of price and execution.  With respect to execution, the Advisor considers a number of discretionary factors, including, without limitation, the actual handling of the order, the ability of the broker to settle the trade promptly and accurately, the financial standing of the broker, the ability of the broker to position stock to facilitate execution, the Advisor’s past experience with similar trades, and other factors that may be unique to a particular order.  Recognizing the value of these discretionary factors, the Advisor may select brokers who charge a brokerage commission that is higher than the lowest commission that might otherwise be available for any given trade.
 
Under Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor 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 Advisor may include, without limitation: information on the United States and other world economies; information on specific industries, groups of securities, individual companies, and 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 Advisor to determine and track investment results; and trading systems that allow the Advisor to interface
 
 
13

 
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 Advisor may also be used by the Advisor 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 Advisor will make a reasonable allocation according to the use and will pay for the non-research function in cash using its own funds.
 
The research and investment information services described above make available to the Advisor for its analysis and consideration the views and information of individuals and research staffs of other securities firms.  These services may be useful to the Advisor in connection with advisory clients other than the Fund and not all such services may be useful to the Advisor in connection with the Fund.  Although such information may be a useful supplement to the Advisor’s own investment information in rendering services to the Fund, the value of such research and services is not expected to reduce materially the expenses of the Advisor in the performance of its services under the Advisory Agreement and will not reduce the management fees payable to the Advisor by the Fund.
 
The Fund may invest in securities traded in the over-the-counter market.  In these cases, the Fund may initiate trades through brokers on an agency basis and pay a commission in connection with the transaction.  The Fund may also effect these transactions by dealing directly with the dealers who make a market in the securities involved, in which case the costs of such transactions would involve dealer spreads rather than brokerage commissions.  With respect to securities traded only in the over-the-counter market, orders will be executed on a principal basis with primary market makers in such securities except where better prices or executions may be obtained on an agency basis or by dealing with those other than a primary market maker.
 
The Fund may participate, if and when practicable, in bidding for the purchase of Fund securities directly from an issuer in order to take advantage of the lower purchase price available to members of a bidding group.  The Fund will engage in this practice, however, only when the Advisor, in its sole discretion, believes such practice to be otherwise in the Fund’s interest.
 
Aggregated Trades. While investment decisions for the Fund are made independently of the Advisor’s other client accounts, the Advisor’s other client accounts may invest in the same securities as the Fund.  To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other investment companies or accounts in executing transactions.  When a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of the Fund and another investment company or account, the transaction will be averaged as to price and available investments allocated as to amount in a manner which the Advisor believes to be equitable to the Fund and such other investment company or account.  In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtained or sold by the Fund.
 
Portfolio Turnover.   The annualized portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the reporting period by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities owned during the reporting period.  The calculation excludes all securities whose maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition are one year or less.  Portfolio turnover of the Fund may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may be affected by cash requirements for redemption of shares and by requirements that enable the Fund to receive favorable tax treatment.  Portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor in making Fund decisions, and the Fund may engage in short-term trading to achieve its investment objectives.  High rates of portfolio turnover could lower performance of the Fund due to increased transaction costs and may also result in the realization of short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
 
The Trust, which is a statutory trust organized under Delaware law on May 13, 2009, is an open-end management investment company.  The Trust’s Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) authorizes the Trustees to divide shares into series, each series relating to a separate portfolio of investments, and to classify and reclassify any unissued shares into one or more classes of shares of each such series.  The Trust currently consists of eleven series: the Fund managed by the Advisor; the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund managed by Caritas Capital, LLC; the Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund, Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund, and the Crescent Strategic Income Fund managed by Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC; the FMX Growth Allocation Fund and FMX Total Return Fund managed by FolioMetrix, LLC; the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund managed by Presidio Capital Investments, LLC; the Roumell Opportunistic
 
 
14

 
Value Fund managed by Roumell Asset Management, LLC; the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund managed by Sentinel Capital Solutions, Inc.; and the Sector Rotation Fund managed by Navigator Money Management, Inc.  The shares of the Fund are divided into three classes which are described in the Prospectus: Institutional Class Shares, Advisor Class Shares, and Wirehouse Class Shares.  Additional series and/or classes may be created from time to time.  The number of shares in the Trust shall be unlimited.  When issued for payment as described in the Fund’s prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information, shares of the Fund will be fully paid and non-assessable and shall have no preemptive or conversion rights.  The Trust normally does not issue share certificates.
 
In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or an individual series, such as the Fund, shareholders of a particular series would be entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to such series.  Shareholders of a series are entitled to participate equally in the net distributable assets of the particular series involved on liquidation, based on the number of shares of the series that are held by each shareholder.  If there are any assets, income, earnings, proceeds, funds, or payments, that are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular series, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more of the series as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable.
 
Shareholders of all of the series of the Trust, including the Fund, will vote together and not separately on a series-by-series or class-by-class basis, except as otherwise required by law or when the Trustees determine that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular series or class.  The Trust has adopted a Rule 18f-3 Multi-class Plan for certain series that contain the general characteristics of and conditions under which such series may offer multiple classes of shares.  Rule 18f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 provides that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each 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 or any change in a fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a series only if approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of such series.  However, the rule also provides that the ratification of the appointment of independent accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts, 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.  Rights of shareholders can only be modified by a majority vote.
 
When used in the Prospectus or this SAI, a “majority” of shareholders means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Trust or the applicable series or class present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust or the applicable series or class.
 
Share­holders are entitled to one vote for each full share and a fractional vote for each fractional share held.  Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees, and in this event, the holders of the remaining shares voting will not be able to elect any Trustees.
 
The Trustees will hold office indefinitely, except that: (i) any Trustee may resign or retire, and (ii) any Trustee may be removed: (a) any time by written instrument signed by at least two-thirds of the number of Trustees prior to such removal; (b) at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust by a vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust; or (c) by a written declaration signed by shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust.  In case a vacancy on the Board of Trustees shall for any reason exist, the vacancy shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees, subject to certain restrictions under the Investment Company Act of 1940.  Otherwise, there will normally be no meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees, and the Trust does not expect to have an annual meeting of shareholders.
 
The Trust Instrument 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 a Trustee’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties.  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 Trust Instrument provides that a Trustee or officer is entitled to be indemnified against all liability in connection with the affairs of the Trust.
 
 
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MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
 
The Trustees are responsible for the management and supervision of the Fund.  The Trustees approve all significant agreements between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and those companies that furnish services to the Fund; review performance of the Advisor and the Fund; and oversee activities of the Fund.  This section of the Statement of Additional Information provides information about the persons who serve as Trustees and officers to the Trust and Fund, respectively, as well as the entities that provide services to the Fund.
 
Trustees and Officers.   Following are the Trustees and officers of the Trust, their age and address, their present position with the Trust or the Fund, and their principal occupation during the past five years.  Those Trustees who are “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) by virtue of their affiliation with either the Trust or the Advisor are indicated in the table.  The address of each Trustee and officer of the Trust, unless otherwise indicated, is 116 South Franklin Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804.
 
Name, Age
and Address
Position
held with
Funds or Trust
Length
of Time
Served
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees*
Jack E. Brinson
Age: 79
Independent Trustee, Chairman
Since 7/09
Retired; previously, President of Brinson Investment Co. (personal investments) and President of Brinson Chevrolet, Inc. (auto dealership).
11
Independent Trustee of Brown Capital Management Funds for its three series, DGHM Investment Trust for its two series, Gardner Lewis Investment Trust for its two series, Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust for its two series, and Tilson Investment Trust for its two series (all registered investment companies); previously, Independent Trustee of de Leon Funds Trust for its one series from 2000 to 2005, Giordano Investment Trust for its one series during 2011, and New Providence Investment Trust for its one series from inception until 2011 (all registered investment companies).
Michael G. Mosley
Age: 59
Independent Trustee
Since 7/10
Owner of Commercial Realty Services (real estate) since 2004.
11
None.
Theo H. Pitt, Jr.
Age: 76
Independent Trustee
Since 9/10
Senior Partner, Community Financial Institutions Consulting (financial consulting) since 1999; Partner, Pikar Properties (real estate) since 2001; Account Administrator, Holden Wealth Management Group of Wachovia Securities (money management firm) from 2003-2008.
11
Independent Trustee of DGHM Investment Trust for its two series, Gardner Lewis Investment Trust for its two series, and Hanna Investment Trust for its one series (all registered investment companies); previously, Independent Trustee of Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust for its two series from 2000 to 2009, NCM Capital Investment Trust for its one series from 2007 to 2009, New Providence Investment Trust from 2008 to 2009, and Tilson Investment Trust for its two series from 2004 to 2009 (all registered investment companies).
 
 
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Name, Age
and Address
Position
held with
Funds or Trust
Length
of Time
Served
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past 5 Years
James H. Speed, Jr.
Age: 58
Independent Trustee
Since 7/09
President and CEO of NC Mutual Insurance Company (insurance company) since 2003; President of Speed Financial Group, Inc. (consulting and private investments) from 2000 to 2003.
11
Independent Trustee of the following Brown Capital Management Funds for its three series, Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust for its two series, and Tilson Investment Trust for its two series (all registered investment companies).  Member of Board of Directors of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company.  Member of Board of Directors of M&F Bancorp.  Previously, Independent Trustee of New Providence Investment Trust for its one series from 2009 until 2011 (registered investment company).
J. Buckley Strandberg
Age: 52
Independent Trustee
Since 7/09
President of Standard Insurance and Realty (insurance and property management) since 1982.
11
None.
Other Officers
Robert G. Fontana
Age: 42
5950 Fairview Road
Suite 610-A
Charlotte, NC 28210
President and Treasurer  (Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund)
Since 7/09
President and CIO of Caritas Capital, LLC (advisor to the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund) since 2009; Portfolio Manager for Portfolio Capital Management (investment management) since 2006; previously, Portfolio Manager for Covenant Capital, LLC (investment management).
n/a
n/a
D. Jerry Murphey
Age: 54
821 Pacific Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68108
President (FMX Funds)
Since 7/09
Manager, President, and CEO of FolioMetrix, LLC (advisor to the FMX Funds) since 2009; principal of Uptrade Research Associates, LLC (investment research) since 2009; previously, Investment Management Consultant for Prudential Investments, Wealth Management Solutions (investment management).
n/a
n/a
Julie M. Koethe
Age: 31
821 Pacific Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68108
Treasurer (FMX Funds)
Since 4/10
Chief Operating Officer of FolioMetrix, LLC (advisor to the FMX Funds) since 2010; Insurance Accounting Supervisor for Applied Underwriters (workers compensation and payroll service provider) from 2003-2010.
n/a
n/a
Matthew R. Lee
Age: 30
1777 Borel Place,
Suite 415,
San Mateo, CA 94402
President (Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund)
Since 2/10
Chief Executive Officer of Presidio Capital Investments, LLC (advisor to the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund) since 2006;  Financial Planning Specialist with Smith Barney, a division of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (now known as Morgan Stanley Smith Barney) from 2004-2006; Associate at Bank of America Investments, Inc. (investment management) from 2003-2004.
n/a
n/a
 
 
17

 
Name, Age
and Address
Position
held with
Funds or Trust
Length
of Time
Served
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past 5 Years
James C. Roumell
Age: 50
2 Wisconsin Circle
Suite 660
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
President (Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund)
Since 9/10
President of Roumell Asset Management, LLC (advisor to the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund) since 1998.
n/a
n/a
Craig L. Lukin
Age:44
2 Wisconsin Circle
Suite 660
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Treasurer (Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund)
Since 9/10
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Roumell Asset Management, LLC since 2007; Research Analyst at Roumell Asset Management, LLC from 2003-2007; Private Equity Analyst for Dent & Company, Inc. (investment services) from 2000-2002; Corporate Value Consulting Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (accountancy and professional services) from 1994-2000.
n/a
n/a
Mark A. Grimaldi
Age: 49
1207 Route 9
Suite 10
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
President and Treasurer (Sector Rotation Fund)
Since 4/11
President and Chief Compliance Officer of Navigator Money Management, Inc. (advisor to the Sector Rotation Fund) since 1996; Vice President of The Prestige Organization, Inc. since 1996; and Co-Fund Manager of ETF Market Opportunity Fund (formerly Navigator Fund) from 2008-2009.
n/a
n/a
Cort F. Meinelschmidt
Age: 33
38 S. Potomac Street
Suite 304
Hagerstown, MD
21740
 
President (SCS Tactical Allocation Fund)
Since 10/11
President of Sentinel Capital Solutions, Inc. (advisor to the Guardian Diversified Fund) since 2011; Financial Advisor for Centra Financial Services (investment services) from 2010-2011; Financial Advisor for Edward Jones (investment services) from 2004-2010.
n/a
n/a
J. Philip Bell
Age: 58
104 Maxwell Avenue
P.O. Box 3181
Greenwood, SC 29648
President (Crescent Funds)
Since 10/11
President and Chief Compliance Officer of Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC (advisor to the Crescent Funds) since 1985.
n/a
n/a
Michael W. Nix
Age: 39
104 Maxwell Avenue
P.O. Box 3181
Greenwood, SC 29648
Treasurer (Crescent Funds)
Since 10/11
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC since 2011; previously Chief Investment Officer from 2007 to 2011 and Portfolio Manager/Analyst from 2003 to 2007.
n/a
n/a
 
 
18

 
 
Name, Age
and Address
Position
held with
Funds or Trust
Length
of Time
Served
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past 5 Years
Joseph DeSipio
Age: 46
300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
President (Arin Funds)
Since 3/12
Co-Founder and Chief Market Strategist of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (advisor to the Arin Funds) since 2009.  Previously, Investment Strategist of SEI Investment Company (financial services) from 2007 until 2009 and Director of Options Strategy Group for Evergreen Investments (investment management) from 2000 until 2007.
n/a
n/a
Lawrence Lempert
Age: 44
300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Treasurer (Arin Funds)
Since 3/12
Trading Director of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC since 2009 and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011.  Previously, managing member of Bullock Capital, LLC (securities brokerage) from 2004 through 2010 .
n/a
n/a
T. Lee Hale, Jr.
Age: 34
Chief Compliance Officer; Assistant Treasurer
Since 7/09 and 4/10
Financial Reporting Manger for The Nottingham Company (fund administrator) since 2009; previously, principal of Lee Hale Contracting (marine industry consulting).
n/a
n/a
A. Vason Hamrick
Age: 35
Secretary
Since 7/09
Corporate Counsel for The Nottingham Company since 2004.
n /a
n/a
 
*All of the Trustees are presently considered Independent Trustees.
 
 
The Board met four times during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.  Each Trustee attended all of the Board meetings.
 
Board Structure
 
The Trust’s Board of Trustees includes five independent Trustees, one of which, Mr. Brinson, is Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  The Board has established several standing committees: the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee, Proxy Voting Committee, Governance Committee, and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee.  These standing committees are comprised entirely of the Independent Trustees.  Other information about these standing committees is set forth below.  The Board has determined that the Board’s structure is appropriate given the characteristics, size, and operations of the Trust.  The Board also believes that its leadership structure, including its committees, helps facilitate effective oversight of Trust management.  The Board reviews its structure annually.
 
With respect to risk oversight, the Board considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year.  The Board holds four regular board meetings each year during which the Board receives risk management reports and/or assessments from Trust management, the Fund’s advisor, administrator, transfer agent, and distributor, and receives an annual report from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”).  The Audit Committee also meets with the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm on an annual basis, to discuss among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function.  When appropriate, the Board may hold special meeting or communicate directly with Trust management, the CCO, the Trust’s third party service providers, legal counsel, or independent public accountants to address matters arising between regular board meeting or needing special attention.  In addition, the Board has adopted policies and procedures for the Trust to help detect and prevent and, if necessary, correct violations of federal securities laws.
 
 
19

 
Qualification of Trustees
 
The Board has considered each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills in light of the Board’s function and the Trust’s business and structure, and has determined that each Trustee possesses experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills that enable the Trustee to be an effective member of the Board.
 
Mr. Brinson has experience as an investor, including his role as trustee of several other investment companies and business experience as President of a company in the business of private investing.  Mr. Speed also has experience as an investor as trustee of several other investment companies and business experience as President and CEO of an insurance company and as President of a company in the business of consulting and private investing.  Mr. Strandberg also has investment experience as a former trustee of another investment company and business experience as President of an insurance and property management company.  Mr. Mosley has had business experience as an owner of a real estate company.  Mr. Pitt has experience as an investor, including his role as trustee of several other investment companies and business experience as Senior Partner of a financial consulting company, as a Partner of a real estate partnership and as an Account Administrator for a money management firm.
 
The Board has determined that each of the Trustees’ careers and background, combined with their interpersonal skills and general understanding of financial and other matters, enable the Trustees to effectively participate in and contribute to the Board’s functions and oversight of the Trust.  References to the qualifications, attributes, and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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.
 
 
Trustee Standing Committees.   The Trustees have established the following standing committees:
 
Audit Committee.   All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, reviews the results of the annual audits of the Fund’s financial statements, and interacts with the Fund’s independent auditors on behalf of all the Trustees.  The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter and meets periodically as necessary.  The Audit Committee met five times during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.
 
Governance Committee. The Independent Trustees are the current members of the Governance Committee.  The Governance Committee assists the Board of Trustees in adopting fund governance practices and meeting certain fund governance standards.  The Governance Committee operates pursuant to a Governance Committee Charter and normally meets annually, but may also meet as often as necessary to carry out its purpose.  The Governance Committee met once during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.
 
Nominating Committee.   All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee nominates, selects, and appoints independent trustees to fill vacancies on the Board of Trustees and to stand for election at meetings of the shareholders of the Trust.  The Nominating Committee meets only as necessary.  The Nominating Committee generally will not consider nominees recommended by shareholders of the Trust.  The Nominating Committee did not meet during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.
 
Proxy Voting Committee.   All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Proxy Voting Committee.  The Proxy Voting Committee will determine how the Fund should vote, if called upon by the Board or the Advisor, when a matter with respect to which the Fund is entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s Advisor, principal underwriter, or an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment advisor, or principal underwriter, on the other hand.  The Proxy Voting Committee will also review the Trust’s Proxy Voting Policy and recommend any changes to the Board as it deems necessary or advisable.  The Proxy Voting Committee will also decide if the Fund should participate in a class action settlement, if called upon by the Advisor, in cases where a class action settlement with respect to which the Fund is eligible to participate presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Advisor, on the other hand.  The Proxy Voting Committee meets only as necessary and did not meet during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.
 
 
20

 
Qualified Legal Compliance Committee.   The Independent Trustees are the current members of the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee.  The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee receives, investigates, and makes recommendations as to appropriate remedial action in connection with any report of evidence of a material violation of securities laws or breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Trust, its officers, Trustees, or agents.  The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee meets only as necessary and did not meet during the twelve-month period ended February 29, 2012.
 
Beneficial Equity Ownership Information.   The table below shows for each Trustee, the amount of Fund equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee, and the aggregate value of all investments in equity securities of the Fund complex, as of valuation date of December 31, 2011 and stated as one of the following ranges:  A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; and E = over $100,000.
 
Name of
Trustee
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the
Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment
Companies Overseen By
Trustee In Family of
Investment Companies*
Jack E. Brinson
A
A
Michael G. Mosley
A
A
Theo H. Pitt, Jr.
A
A
James H. Speed, Jr.
A
A
J. Buckley Strandberg
A
A
 
* Includes all the funds of the Trust managed by the Advisor.
 
Ownership of Securities of Advisor, Distributor, or Related Entities.   As of December 31, 2011, none of the Independent Trustees and/or their immediate family members own securities of the Advisor, Distributor, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisor or Distributor.
 
Compensation.   Officers of the Trust and Trustees who are interested persons of the Trust or the Advisor will receive no salary or fees from the Trust.  Independent Trustees receive $2,000 per Fund each year.  The Trust reimburses each Trustee and officers of the Trust for his or her travel and other expenses relating to attendance at such meetings.  Because the Fund has not been in operation for a full year, the following table presents the estimated compensation for each Trustee for the first full fiscal year.
 
Name of Trustee
Aggregate
Compensation  
From the Fund
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
As Part of Fund
Expenses
Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
Total
Compensation
 From Fund and
Fund Complex
Paid to Trustees*
Jack E. Brinson
$2,000
None
None
$21,500
Michael G. Mosley
$2,000
None
None
$21,500
Theo H. Pitt, Jr.
$2,000
None
None
$21,500
James H. Speed, Jr.
$2,000
None
None
$21,500
J. Buckley Strandberg
$2,000
None
None
$21,500
 
*Each of the Trustees serves as a Trustee to all series of the Trust.
 
Codes of Ethics.   The Trust and Advisor each have adopted a code of ethics, as required under Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust and Advisor 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 each such code of ethics).  There can be no assurance that the codes will be effective in preventing such activities.  The codes permit employees and officers of the Trust and Advisor to invest in securities, subject to certain restrictions and pre-approval requirements.  In addition, the Advisor’s code requires that portfolio managers and other investment personnel of the Advisor report their personal securities transactions and holdings, which are reviewed for compliance with the Trust’s and Advisor’s code of ethics.
 
 
21

 
Anti-Money Laundering Program.   The Trust has adopted an anti-money laundering program, as required by applicable law, which is designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities.  The Trust’s Chief 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 the program.  The anti-money laundering program is subject to the continuing oversight of the Trustees.
 
Proxy Voting Policies.   The Trust has adopted a proxy voting and disclosure policy that delegates to the Advisor the authority to vote proxies for the Fund, subject to oversight by the Trustees.  Copies of the Trust’s Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy and the Advisor’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures are included as Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information.  No later than August 31st of each year, the Fund will file Form N-PX stating how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th.  Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies as set forth in its most recent filing of Form N-PX will be available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863; and (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Principal Holders of Voting Securities.   As of March 1, 2012, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned beneficially (i.e., had direct or indirect voting and/or investment power) none of the then outstanding shares of each class of shares of the Fund. On that same date, the following shareholders owned of record more than 5% of the outstanding shares of each class of shares of the Fund.  Except as provided below, no person is known by the Trust to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a class of shares of the Fund as of March 1, 2012.
 
Institutional Class Shares
 
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
Percent
None
   
 
Advisor Class Shares
 
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
Percent
None
   
 
Investment Advisor.   Information about the Advisor, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, 300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428, and its duties and compensation as Advisor is contained in the Fund’s prospectus.  The Advisor is controlled by Joseph DeSipio, Managing Member, and Lawrence Lempert, Chief Compliance Officer.  The Advisor supervises the Fund’s investments pursuant to the Advisory Agreement.  The Advisory Agreement is effective for an initial two-year period and will be renewed thereafter only so long as such renewal and continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities, provided the continuance is also approved by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party.  The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on 60 calendar days’ written notice by the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities or upon 60 calendar days’ written notice by the Advisor.  The Advisory Agreement provides that it will terminate automatically in the event of its “assignment,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
 
22

 
The Advisor manages the Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the approval of the Trustees.  The Advisor is responsible for investment decisions, and provides the Fund with portfolio managers who are authorized by the Trustees to execute purchases and sales of securities.
 
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of such agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Advisor in the performance of its duties; or from its reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under the Advisory Agreement.
 
The Advisor will receive a monthly management fee equal to an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s net assets.
 
Portfolio Managers.   The Fund’s portfolios will be managed on a day-to-day basis by Joseph DeSipio and Lawrence Lempert .
 
Compensation.   The portfolio managers’ compensation varies with the general success of the Advisor as a firm.  Each portfolio manager’s compensation is based on net revenue after all firm expenses and profit sharing.  The portfolio managers’ compensation is not directly linked to the Fund’s performance, although positive performance and growth in managed assets are factors that may contribute to the Advisor’s distributable profits and assets under management.
 
Ownership of Fund Shares.   The table below shows the amount of the Fund’s equity securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of February 29, 2012 and stated as one of the following ranges: A = None; B = $1-$10,000; C = $10,001-$50,000; D = $50,001-$100,000; E = $100,001-$500,000; F = $500,001-$1,000,000; and G = over $1,000,000.
 
Name of
Portfolio Manager
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund
Joseph DeSipio
A
Lawrence Lempert
A
 
Other Accounts.   In addition to the Fund, the portfolio manager is 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 29, 2012.
 
Portfolio Manager
Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of Accounts
Total Assets
Number of Accounts
Total Assets
Number of Accounts
Total Assets
All Accounts
Joseph DeSipio
0
$0
0
$0
33
$202 million
Lawrence Lempert
0
$0
0
$0
0
$0
Accounts with Performance-Based Advisory Fee
Joseph DeSipio
0
$0
0
$0
33
$202 million
Lawrence Lempert
0
$0
0
$0
0
$0
 
Conflicts of Interests.   The portfolio manager’s 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.  The other accounts consist of separately managed private clients (“Other Accounts”).  The Other Accounts might have similar investment objectives as the Fund, be compared to the same index as the Fund, or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased, or sold by the Fund.
 
 
23

 
Knowledge of the Timing and Size of Fund Trades:   A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of the Fund.  The portfolio manager knows the size and timing of trades for the Fund and the Other Accounts, and may be able to predict the market impact of Fund trades.  It is theoretically possible that the portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of Other Accounts it manages and to the possible detriment of the Fund, or vice versa.
 
Investment Opportunities:   The Advisor provides investment supervisory services for a number of investment products that have varying investment guidelines.  The portfolio manager works across different investment products.  Differences in the compensation structures of the Advisor’s investment products may give rise to a conflict of interest by creating an incentive for the Advisor 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.
 
Administrator.   The Trust has entered into the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement with The Nottingham Company (“Administrator”), 116 South Franklin Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804.  The Administrator assists the Trust in the performance of its administrative responsibilities to the Fund, coordinates and pays for the services of each vendor and the operating expense to the Fund, and provides the Fund with certain administrative, fund accounting, and compliance services.  As part of its services and consolidated fee arrangement, the Administrator receives compensation based on the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The annual rate is 0.280% if the average daily net assets are under $250 million and gradually decreases to an annual rate of 0.192% if the average daily net assets are $2.07 billion or more.  The fee paid to the Administrator is calculated by multiplying the average daily net assets of the Fund by the highest applicable annual rate.
 
In addition, the Advisor has entered into an Operating Plan with the Fund’s administrator, through June 30, 2013, under which it has agreed to make payments to the Administrator when the Fund is at lower asset levels and assume certain expenses of the Fund in order to help limit the Fund’s operating expenses.  The Operating Plan may be terminated by either party at the conclusion of the then current term upon (i) written notice of non-renewal to the other party not less than sixty days prior to the end of the term, or (ii) mutual written agreement of the parties.  The Operating Plan can only be terminated prior to the conclusion of the current term with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.  The Advisor cannot recoup from the Fund any amounts paid by the Advisor to the Administrator under the Operating Plan.  In part because of the Advisor’s obligations under the Operating Plan, the Trustees review the financial condition of the Advisor, including its stability and profitability, when considering the approval of the Operating Plan.
 
The Administrator pays all expenses not assumed by the Advisor, including, without limitation: the fees and expenses of its independent accountants and of its legal counsel; the costs of printing and mailing to shareholders annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto; the costs of printing registration statements; bank transaction charges and custodian’s fees; any proxy solicitors’ fees and expenses; ongoing filing fees; any federal, state or local income or other taxes; any interest; any membership fees of the Investment Company Institute and similar organizations; fidelity bond and Trustees’ liability insurance premiums.  All of the Fund’s service providers, other than the Advisor, are paid by the Administrator.
 
The Administrator’s responsibilities include the following services for the Fund: (i) procures on behalf of the Trust, and coordinates with, the custodian and monitors the services it provides to the Fund; (ii) coordinates with and monitors any other third parties furnishing services to the Fund; (iii) provides the Fund with necessary office space, telephones, and other communications facilities and personnel competent to perform administrative and clerical functions for the Fund; (iv) assists or supervises the maintenance by third parties of such books and records of the Fund as may be required by applicable federal or state law; (v) assists or supervises the preparation by third parties of all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports of the Fund required by applicable law; (vi) assists in the preparation and, after approval by the Trust, files and arranges for the distribution of proxy materials and periodic reports
 
 
24

 
to shareholders of the Fund as required by applicable law; (vii) assists in the preparation of and, after approval by the Trust, arranges for the filing of such registration statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal and state regulatory authorities as may be required by applicable law; (viii) reviews and submits to the officers of the Trust for their approval invoices or other requests for payment of Fund expenses and instructs the custodian to issue checks in payment thereof; and (ix) takes such other action with respect to the Fund as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrator to perform its duties under the agreement.  The Administrator will also provide certain accounting and pricing services for the Fund.
 
Transfer Agent.   The Trust has entered into a Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent Agreement with Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC (“Transfer Agent”), a North Carolina limited liability company, to serve as transfer, dividend paying, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund.  For its services, the Transfer Agent is entitled to receive compensation from the Administrator pursuant to the Administrator’s fee arrangements with the Fund.  The address of the Transfer Agent is 116 South Franklin Street, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365.
 
Distributor.   The Fund will conduct a continuous offering of their securities.  Capital Investment Group, Inc. (“Distributor”), Post Office Box 32249, Raleigh, North Carolina 27622, acts as the underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares for the purpose of facilitating the registration of shares of the Fund under state securities laws and assisting in sales of Fund shares pursuant to a distribution agreement (“Distribution Agreement”) approved by the Trustees.  In this regard, the Distributor has agreed at its own expense to qualify as a broker-dealer under all applicable federal or state laws in those states that the Fund shall from time to time identify to the Distributor as states in which the Fund wishes to offer its shares for sale, in order that state registrations may be maintained for the Fund.  The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.  The Distributor is entitled to receive an annual fee of $5,000 per Fund for performing certain recordkeeping, communication, and other administrative services for the Fund.  Such administrative services shall include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) maintaining records with respect to submissions to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, dealer discounts and brokerage fees and commissions, and selling agreements; (ii) maintaining an account with the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV System for the purpose of processing account registrations, maintaining accounts, and communicating transaction data; (iii) preparing reports for the Board of Trustees as shall be reasonably requested from time to time; and (iv) performing other services for the Trust as agreed to by the Distributor and the Trust from time to time.  The Distributor and Trust agree that the services described above are of an administrative nature and such services, as well as the fee provided in connection therewith, are not, nor are they intended to be, payment for marketing and/or distribution services related to, or the promotion of, the sale of the Fund’s shares.  The Distribution Agreement may be terminated by either party upon 60-days’ prior written notice to the other party and will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.  The Distributor serves as exclusive agent for the distribution of the shares of the Fund.
 
Rule 12b-1 Plan.   The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 for the Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund (the “Plan”).  Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay the Distributor a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.40% of the average daily net assets attributable to its Advisor Class Shares and up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to its Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund.  The 0.45% fee for the Advisor Class Shares is comprised of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.15% distribution fee.  The 1.00% fee for the Wirehouse Class Shares is comprised of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.75% distribution fee.  Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals, as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and the Distributor.
 
The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor as compensation for sales and providing account maintenance services to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators, and others to provide these services and paying compensation for these services.  The Plan compensates the Distributor regardless of its expenses.
 
The services to be provided by recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund’s investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund as the Distributor or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Distributor with respect to the Fund.
 
 
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The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.  Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Distributor to Recipients.
 
The initial term of the Plan is one year and will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (“Rule 12b-1 Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or the Fund by vote of a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund’s Advisor Class Shares or Wirehouse Class Shares, as applicable.
 
The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by a class of shares, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Fund’s Advisor Class Shares or Wirehouse Class Shares, as applicable.  All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. During the term of the Plan, the selection and nomination of non-interested Trustees of the Trust will be committed to the discretion of current non-interested Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of the Plan, any related agreements, and all reports, for a period of not less than six years from the date of such document and for at least the first two years in an easily accessible place.
 
Any agreement related to the Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Rule 12b-1 Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund’s Advisor Class Shares or Wirehouse Class Shares, as applicable; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Rule 12b-1 Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.
 
Custodian.   UMB Bank, n.a., with its principal place of business located in Kansas City, Missouri, serves as custodian for the Fund’s assets.  The custodian acts as the depository for the Fund, safekeeps its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect to portfolio securities, disburses monies at the Fund’s request, and maintains records in connection with its duties as custodian.  For its services, the custodian is entitled to receive a monthly fee from the Administrator based on the average net assets of the Fund plus additional out-of-pocket and transaction expenses as incurred by the Fund.  The Custodian’s compensation is subject to a minimum annual amount of $5,000 for the Fund.
 
Compliance Services Administrator.   The Trust has entered into an compliance services arrangement with Nottingham Compliance Services, LLC (“NCS”), 116 South Franklin Street, Post Office Box 69, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27802-0069, in which NCS, an affiliate of the Administrator, will assist the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer in preparing and updating the Trust’s compliance manual and in monitoring and testing compliance with the policies and procedures under the Trust’s compliance manual.  Fees paid to NCS for these compliance services are paid by the Administrator.
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.   The Trustees have selected the firm of [                                ] to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the current fiscal year and to audit the annual financial statements of the Fund, and prepare the Fund’s federal, state, and excise tax returns.  The independent registered public accounting firm will audit the financial statements of the Fund at least once each year.  Shareholders will receive annual audited and semi-annual (unaudited) reports when published and written confirmation of all transactions in their account.  A copy of the most recent annual report will accompany the Statement of Additional Information whenever a shareholder or a prospective investor requests it.
 
 
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Legal Counsel.   Thompson Hine LLP serves as legal counsel to the Trust and the Fund.
 
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
 
Reference is made to “Purchasing Shares” and “Redeeming Shares” in the Fund’s prospectus for more information concerning how to purchase and redeem shares.  The following information supplements the information regarding share purchases and share redemptions in the Fund’s prospectus:
 
Purchases.   Shares of the Fund are offered and sold on a continuous basis and may be purchased through authorized investment dealers or directly by contacting the Distributor, or the Fund directly.  Selling dealers have the responsibility of transmitting orders promptly to the Fund.  The purchase price of shares of the Fund is based on the net asset value next determined after the order is received, subject to the order being received by the Fund in good form.  Net asset value is normally determined at the time regular trading closes on the NYSE on days the NYSE is open for regular trading, as described under “Net Asset Value.”  The net asset value per share of the Fund is not calculated on business holidays when the NYSE is closed.  An order received prior to the time regular trading closes on the NYSE will be executed at the price calculated on the date of receipt and an order received after the time regular trading closes on the NYSE will be executed at the price calculated as of that time on the next business day.
 
The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to (i) suspend the offering of its shares; (ii) reject purchase orders when in the judgment of management such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders; and (iii) reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of Fund shares.
 
Redemptions.   The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment (i) during any period that the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or that trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission; (ii) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or to determine fairly the value of its assets; and (iii) for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may permit.  The Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.  Any redemption may be more or less than the shareholder’s cost depending on the market value of the securities held by the Fund.  No charge is made by the Fund for redemptions other than the possible charge for wiring redemption proceeds.
 
Involuntary Redemptions.   In addition to the situations described in the Fund’s prospectus under “Redeeming Fund Shares,” the Fund may redeem shares involuntarily to reimburse the Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder which is applicable to Fund shares as provided in the Fund’s prospectus from time to time or to close a shareholder’s account if the Fund is unable to verify the shareholder’s identity.
 
Other Information.   If an investor realizes a gain on the redemption, the reinvestment will not affect the amount of any federal capital gains tax payable on the gain.  If an investor realizes a loss on the redemption, the reinvestment may cause some or all of the loss to be disallowed as a tax deduction, depending on the number of shares purchased by reinvestment and the period of time that has elapsed after the redemption, although for tax purposes, the amount disallowed is added to the cost of the shares acquired upon the reinvestment.
 
 
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SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
 
The Fund offers the following special 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 or withdrawals from their account.  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 the reinvestment of a dividend or distribution, the shareholder will receive a confirm­ation statement showing the current transaction and all prior transactions in the shareholder account during the calendar year to date, along with a summary of the status of the account as of the transaction date.  As stated in the Fund’s prospectus, share certificates are normally not issued.
 
Automatic Investment Plan. The automatic investment plan enables shareholders to make regular monthly or quarterly investments in shares through automatic charges to their checking account.  With shareholder authorization and bank approval, the Administrator will automatically charge the checking account for the amount specified ($100 minimum) which will be automatically invested in shares at the public offering price on or about the 21st day of the month.  The shareholder may change the amount of the investment or discontinue the plan at any time by writing to the Fund.
 
Systematic Withdrawal Plan.   Shareholders owning Fund shares of a particular class with a value of $25,000 or more may establish a systematic withdrawal plan (“Systematic Withdrawal Plan”).  A shareholder may receive monthly or quarterly payments, in amounts of not less than $100 per payment, by authorizing the Fund to redeem the necessary number of shares periodically (each month, or quarterly) in order to make the payments requested.  The Fund has the capability of electronically depositing the proceeds of the systematic withdrawal directly to the shareholders personal bank account ($5,000 minimum per bank wire).  Instructions for establishing this service are included in the Fund Shares Application or are available by calling the Fund.  If the shareholder prefers to receive his systematic withdrawal proceeds in cash, or if such proceeds are less than the $5,000 minimum for a bank wire, checks will be made payable to the designated recipient and mailed with­in seven days of the valuation date.  If the designated recipient is other than the registered shareholder, the signature of each shareholder must be guaranteed on the application (see “Redeeming Shares – Signature Guarantees” in the Fund’s prospectus).  A corporation (or partnership) must also submit a “Corporate Resolution” (or “Certification of Partnership”) indi­cat­ing the names, titles, and required number of signatures auth­orized to act on its behalf.  The application must be signed by a duly authori­zed officer and the corporate seal affixed.  No redemption fees are charged to shareholders under this plan.  Costs in conjunction with the administration of the plan are borne by the Fund.  Shareholders should be aware that such systematic withdrawals may deplete or use up entirely their initial investment and may result in real­ized long-term or short-term capital gains or losses.  The Systematic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the Fund upon 60-days’ written notice or by a shareholder upon written notice to the Fund.  Applications and further details may be obtained by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863 or by writing to:
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
c/o Nottingham Shareholder Services
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 4365
Rocky Mount, NC 27803-0365
 
Purchases In Kind.   The Fund may accept securities in lieu of payment for the purchase of shares in the Fund.  The acceptance of such securities is at the sole discretion of the Advisor based upon the suitability of the securities accepted for inclusion as a long-term investment of the Fund, the marketability of such securities, and other factors that the Advisor may deem appropriate.  If accepted, the securities will be valued using the same criteria and methods as described in “Purchase and Redemption Price – Determining the Fund’s Net Asset Value” in the Fund’s prospectus.
 
Redemptions In-Kind. The Fund does not intend, under normal circumstances, to redeem its securities by payment in kind.  It is possible, however, that conditions may arise in the future which would, in the opinion of the Trustees, make it undesirable for the Fund to pay for all redemptions in cash.  In such case the Trustees may authorize payment to be made in readily marketable portfolio securities of the Fund.  Securities delivered in payment of redemptions would be valued at the same value assigned to them in computing the net asset value per share.  Shareholders receiving them would incur brokerage
 
 
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costs when these securities are sold.  An irrevocable election has been filed under Rule 18f-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, wherein the Fund committed to pay redemptions in cash, rather than in kind, to any shareholder of record of the Fund who redeems during any ninety day period, the lesser of (a) $250,000 or (b) one percent (1%) of the Fund’s net asset value at the beginning of such period.
 
Transfer of Registration.   To transfer shares to another owner, send a written request to the Fund at the address shown above.  Your request should include the following:  (i) the Fund name and existing account registration; (ii) signatures of the registered owners exactly as the signature appear on the account registration; (iii) the new account registration, address, social security or taxpayer identification number, and how dividends and capital gains are to be distributed; (iv) signature guarantees (See the Fund’s prospectus under the heading “Signature Guarantees”); and (v) any additional documents which are required for transfer by corporations, administrators, executors, trustees, guardians, etc.  If you have any questions about transferring shares, call or write the Fund.
 
Employees and Affiliates of the Fund.   The Fund has adopted initial investment minimums for the purpose of reducing the cost to the Fund (and consequently to the shareholders) of communicating with and servicing its shareholders.  At the discretion of the Advisor, the Fund may allow investments in the Fund with a reduced minimum initial investment from its Trustees, officers, and employees; the Advisor and certain parties related thereto; including clients of the Advisor or any sponsor, officer, committee member thereof, or the immediate family of any of them.  In addition, accounts having the same mailing address may be aggregated for purposes of the minimum investment if they consent in writing to sharing a single mailing of shareholder reports, proxy statements (but each such shareholder would receive his/her own proxy), and other Fund literature.
 
Dealers.   The Distributor, at its expense, may provide additional compensation in addition to dealer discounts and brokerage commissions to dealers in connection with sales of shares of the Fund.  Compensation may include financial assistance to dealers in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their employees, seminars for the public, advertising campaigns regarding the Fund, and/or other dealer-sponsored special events.  In some instances, this compensation may be made available only to certain dealers whose representatives have sold or are expected to sell a significant amount of such shares.  Compensation may include payment for travel expenses, including lodging, incurred in connection with trips taken by invited registered representatives and members of their families to locations within or outside of the United States for meetings or seminars of a business nature.  Dealers may not use sales of the Fund shares to qualify for this compensation to the extent such may be prohibited by the laws of any state or the Financial Industries Regulatory Authority or any other self-regulatory agency.  None of the aforementioned compensation is paid directly by the Fund or its shareholders although the Distributor may use a portion of the payment it receives under the Plan to pay these expenses.
 
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
 
The Trustees have adopted a policy that governs the disclosure of portfolio holdings.  This policy is intended to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Fund and to address possible conflicts of interest.  Under the Fund’s policy, the Fund and Advisor generally will not disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings to a third party unless such information is made available to the public.  The policy provides that the Fund and Advisor may disclose non-public portfolio holdings information as required by law and under other limited circumstances that are set forth in more detail below.
 
The Fund will make available to the public a complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as reported on a fiscal quarter basis.  This information is generally available within 60 days of the Fund’s fiscal quarter end and will remain available until the next fiscal quarter’s portfolio holdings report becomes available.  You may obtain a copy of these quarterly portfolio holdings reports by calling the Fund at 1-800-773-3863.  The Fund will also file these quarterly portfolio holdings reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q, as applicable.  The Fund’s Form N-CSR and Form
 
 
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N-Q are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC.  The first and third quarter portfolio holdings reports will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-Q and the second and fourth fiscal quarter portfolio holdings reports will be included with the semi-annual and annual financial statements, respectively, which are sent to shareholders and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR.  Other than Fund’s Form N-CSR and Form N-Q, shareholders and other persons generally will not be provided with information regarding the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
 
Consistent with policies approved by the Board, the officers of the Fund and/or Advisor may share non-public portfolio holdings information with the Fund’s service providers that require such information for legitimate business and Fund oversight purposes, such as the Fund’s fund accountant and administrator, transfer agent, distributor, custodian, compliance services administrator, independent registered public accounting firm, and legal counsel as identified in the Fund’s prospectuses and statement of additional information, and V.G. Reed & Sons, PrintGrafix (a division of Sunbelt Graphic Systems, Inc.), Riverside Printing, Inc., and PrinterLink Communications Group, Inc., financial printers the Fund may engage for, among other things, the printing and/or distribution of regulatory and compliance documents.  The Fund and/or Advisor may also provide non-public portfolio holdings information to appropriate regulatory agencies as required by applicable laws and regulations.  The Fund’s service providers receiving such non-public information are subject to confidentiality obligations requiring such service providers to keep non-public portfolio holdings information confidential.    In some, but not all, cases by these confidentiality obligations are established by written agreements.  The Board of Trustees has concluded that the confidentiality obligations in place are adequate to safeguard the Fund from unauthorized disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information.  In addition, persons receiving non non-public portfolio holdings information are subject to a duty not to trade on such information.  Certain of the service providers have codes of ethics that prohibit trading based on, among other things, non-public portfolio holdings information.
 
The Fund currently does not provide non-public portfolio holdings information to any other third parties.  In the future, the Fund may elect to disclose such information to other third parties if the Advisor determines that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so, determines that the disclosure is in the shareholders' best interest, and the recipient is subject to a duty of confidentiality.  The Advisor is responsible for determining which other third parties have a legitimate business purpose for receiving the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.
 
The Fund’s policy regarding disclosure of portfolio holdings is subject to the continuing oversight and direction of the Trustees.  Oversight includes: (i) review of the policy on disclosure of portfolio holdings as necessary and periodic assessment of compliance in connection with a report from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, (ii) receipt of reports on any conflicts of interest where disclosure of information about portfolio holdings may conflict or appear to conflict with the interests of the Fund’s investment advisor, any principal underwriter for the Trust or an affiliated person of the Trust, and (iii) receipt of reports on any known disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to unauthorized third parties.  The Fund has not (and do not intend to) enter into any arrangement providing for the receipt of compensation or other consideration in exchange for the disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information, other than the benefits that result to the Fund and its shareholders from providing such information, which include the publication of Fund ratings and rankings.
 
NET ASSET VALUE
 
The net asset value and net asset value per share of the Fund normally is determined at the time regular trading closes on the NYSE (currently 4:00 p.m., New York time, Monday through Friday, provided that certain options and futures contracts trade until 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time).  The Fund’s net asset value is not calculated on business holidays when the NYSE is closed.  The NYSE generally recognizes the following holidays:  New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  Any other holiday recognized by the NYSE will be deemed a business holiday on which the net asset value of the Fund will not be calculated.
 
The net asset value per share of each class of shares of the Fund is calculated separately by adding the value of the Fund’s securities and other assets belonging to the Fund and attributable to a class of shares, subtracting the liabilities charged to the Fund and to the class of shares, and dividing the result by the number of outstanding shares of such class of shares.  “Assets belonging to” the Fund consist of the consideration received upon the issuance of shares of the Fund together with all net investment income, realized gains/losses and proceeds derived from the investment thereof, including any proceeds from the sale of such investments, any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, and a portion of any general assets of the Trust not belonging to a particular series of shares.  Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of the Fund not allocated to a particular class of shares will be allocated to each class on the basis of the net asset value of that class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.  Assets belonging to the Fund are charged with the direct liabilities of the Fund and with a share of the general liabilities of the Trust, which are
 
 
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normally allocated in proportion to the number of or the relative net asset values of all of the Trust’s series at the time of allocation or in accordance with other allocation methods approved by the Trustees.  Certain expenses attributable to a particular class of shares (such as the distribution and service fees) will be charged against that class.  Certain other expenses attributable to a particular class of shares (such as registration fees, professional fees, and certain printing and postage expenses) may be charged against that class if such expenses are actually incurred in a different amount by that class or if the class receives services of a different kind or to a different degree than other classes, and the Trustees approve such allocation.  Subject to the provisions of the Trust Instrument, determinations by the Trustees as to the direct and allocable liabilities, and the allocable portion of any general assets, with respect to the Fund and the classes of the Funds are conclusive.
 
The pricing and valuation of portfolio securities is determined in good faith in accordance with procedures established by, and under the direction of, the Trustees.  Values are determined according to accepted accounting practices and all laws and regulations that apply.  Using methods approved by the Trustees, the assets of each Fund are valued as follows:
 
·  
Securities that are listed on a securities exchange are valued at the last quoted sales price at the time the valuation is made.  Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded by the Fund.
 
·  
Securities that are listed on an exchange and which are not traded on the valuation date are valued at the bid price.
 
·  
Unlisted securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest quoted sales price, if available, at the time of valuation, otherwise, at the latest quoted bid price.
 
·  
Temporary cash investments with maturities of 60 days or less will be valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
 
·  
Securities for which no current quotations are readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith using methods approved by the Trustees.  Securities may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when such prices are believed to reflect the fair market value of such securities.
 
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION
 
The following summarizes certain additional tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not described in the Fund’s prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders or any particular category of shareholders.  The discussions here and in the Fund’s prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning and are based on United States federal income tax laws that are in effect on the date hereof and which may be changed by legislative, judicial, or administrative action.  In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a special tax status such as a financial institution, REIT, insurance company, regulated investment company, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or non-U.S. investor.  Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax.  Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the common shares are held by U.S. persons and that such shares are held as capital assets.  Investors are advised to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations.
 
The Fund, and any other series of the Trust, will be treated as a separate corporate entity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and intends to qualify or remain qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of 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,
 
 
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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 interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.  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.
 
An investment company 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.  In general, at least 50% of the value of its 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 or 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 (i) the securities (other than government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer; (ii) 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 Internal Revenue Service Regulations, engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses; or (iii) the securities of one or more publicly traded partnerships.  The Fund intends to satisfy all requirements on an ongoing basis for continued qualification as a regulated investment company.
 
The 2003 Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act reduced the federal tax rate on most dividends paid by U.S. corporations to individuals after December 31, 2002.  Through December 31, 2012, these qualifying corporate dividends are taxable at long-term capital gains tax rates.  Some, but not all, of the dividends paid by the Fund may be taxable at the reduced long-term capital gains tax rate for individual shareholders.  If the Fund designates a dividend as qualified dividend income, it generally will be taxable to individual shareholders at the long-term capital gains tax rate, provided certain holding period requirements are met.
 
Taxable dividends paid by the Fund to corporate shareholders will be taxed at corporate income tax rates.  Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction (“DRD”) for a portion of the dividends paid and designated by the Fund as qualifying for the DRD.
 
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 they 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.
 
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, and any other series of the Trust, will designate (i) any dividend of qualified dividend income as qualified dividend income; (ii) any distribution of long-term capital gains as a capital gain dividend; and (iii) any dividend eligible for the corporate DRD as such in a written notice mailed to shareholders within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year.  Shareholders should note that, upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares, if such shares have not been held 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.
 
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.  Every year, each shareholder will receive a statement detailing the tax status of any Fund distributions for that year.
 
 
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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) at the Fund level.  In such event, dividend distributions (whether or not derived from interest on tax-exempt securities) would be taxable as qualified dividends to individual shareholders in taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2012, to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and would be eligible for the DRD for corporations, provided in each case that certain holding period and other requirements are met.
 
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 the Fund shares.  An exchange of shares may be 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 equal to the fourth lowest tax rate for unmarried individuals (presently 28%) of taxable dividends or of gross proceeds realized upon sale paid to shareholders who (i) have failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number in the manner required; (ii) are subject to back-up withholding by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to include properly on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends; or (iii) have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so.  Back-up withholding is not an additional tax.  Any amounts withheld from payments to you may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
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.
 
Dividends paid by the Fund to non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% unless reduced by treaty (and the shareholder files a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or other applicable form, with the Fund certifying foreign status and treaty eligibility) or the non-U.S. shareholder files an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or other applicable form, with the Fund certifying that the investment to which the distribution relates is effectively connected to a United States trade or business of such non-U.S. shareholder (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment maintained by such non-U.S. shareholder).  The Fund may elect not to withhold the applicable withholding tax on any distribution representing a capital gain dividend to a non-U.S. shareholder.  Special rules may apply to non-U.S. shareholders with respect to the information reporting requirements and withholding taxes and non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisors with respect to the application of such reporting requirements and withholding taxes.
 
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 Fund shares and no matter how long the shareholder has held Fund shares, even if they reduce the net asset value of shares below the shareholder’s cost and thus, in effect, result in a return of a part of the shareholder’s investment.
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Because the Fund is newly organized, there is no financial information 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 1-800-773-3863.
 
 
33

 
APPENDIX A –DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
 
The Fund may acquire from time to time certain securities that meet the following minimum rating criteria (“Investment-Grade Debt Securities”) (or if not rated, of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor).  The various ratings used by the nationally recognized securities rating services are described below.
 
A rating by a rating service represents the service’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 Fund 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 service, each rating is evaluated independently.  Ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by the rating services 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.
 
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.   The following summarizes the highest four ratings used by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”), a division of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., for bonds which are deemed to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities by the Advisor:
 
AAA – This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
AA – Debt rated AA differs from AAA issues only in a small degree.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
 
A – Debt rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.  However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
 
BBB – Debt rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters.  However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the AA, A, and BBB ratings may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within these major rating categories.
 
Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are not considered by the Advisor to be Investment-Grade Debt Securities and are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics.  BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation.  While such bonds may have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
 
Commercial paper rated A-1 by S&P indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted A-1+.  Capacity for timely payment on commercial paper rated A-2 is satisfactory, but the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1.
 
The rating SP-1 is the highest rating assigned by S&P to short term notes and indicates 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.
 
 
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Moody’s Investor Service, Inc.   The following summarizes the highest four ratings used by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) for fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more, which are deemed to be Investment-Grade Securities by the Advisor:
 
Aaa – Bond obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.
 
Aa – Bond obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
 
A – Bond obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
 
Baa – Bond obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk.  They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
 
Obligations that 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 have speculative elements 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 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.
 
Short-Term Ratings.
 
Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations.  Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs, or individual short-term debt instruments.  Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.
 
Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:
 
P-1 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
P-2 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
P-3 – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
NP – Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
 
Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor, or support-provider.
 
US Municipal Short-Term Debt And Demand Obligation Ratings.
 
Short-Term Debt Ratings.   There are three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade.  These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels – MIG 1 through MIG 3.  In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.
 
 
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MIG 1 – This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
 
MIG 2 – This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.
 
MIG 3 – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
 
SG – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.
 
Demand Obligation Ratings.   In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating.  The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.
 
When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.
 
VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.
 
VMIG 1 – This designation denotes superior credit quality.  Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
VMIG 2 – This designation denotes strong credit quality.  Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
VMIG 3 – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality.  Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
SG – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality.  Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
 
Fitch Ratings.   The following summarizes the highest four ratings used by Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”):
 
Long-Term Ratings.
 
AAA – Highest credit quality.  The rating AAA denotes that the lowest expectation of credit risk.  They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
 
AA – Very high credit quality.  The rating AA denotes a very low expectation of credit risk.  They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.  This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
 
 
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A – High credit quality.  The rating A denotes a low expectation of credit risk.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong.  This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher rating.
 
BBB – Good credit quality.  The rating BBB indicates that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk.  The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.  This is the lowest investment grade category.
 
Long-term securities rated below BBB by Fitch are not considered by the Advisor to be investment-grade securities.  Securities rated BB and B are regarded as speculative with regard to a possible credit risk developing.  BB is considered speculative and B is considered highly speculative.  Securities rated CCC, CC, and C are regarded as a high default risk.  A rating CC indicates that default of some kind appears probable, while a rating C signals imminent default.  Securities rated DDD, D, and D indicate a default has occurred.
 
Short-Term Ratings.
 
F1 – Highest credit quality.  The rating F1 indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added (+) to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
 
F2 – Good credit quality.  The rating F2 indicates a satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitment, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
 
F3 – Fair credit quality.  The rating F3 indicates the capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
 
B – Speculative.  The rating B indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
 
Short-term rates B, C, and D by Fitch are considered by the Advisor to be below investment-grade securities.  Short-term securities rated B are considered speculative, securities rated C have a high default risk, and securities rated D denote actual or imminent payment default.
 
(+) or (-) suffixes may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories.  Such suffixes are not added to long-term ratings “AAA” category, categories below “CCC”, or short-term ratings other than “F1”.  The suffix “NR” indicates that Fitch does not publicly rate the issuer or issue in question.
 

 
37

 
 
 
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES
 
The following proxy voting policies are provided:
 
(1)
The Trust’s Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy; and
 
(2)
The Advisor’s Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy, including a detailed description of the Advisor’s specific proxy voting guidelines.
 

 
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Trust’s Proxy Voting Disclosure Policy
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted rules and forms under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940 to require registered investment companies to provide disclosure about how they vote proxies for their portfolio securities.  Each series of shares of the Trust (individually and collectively referred to as the “Fund”) is required to disclose the policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies for portfolio securities.  The Fund is also required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to make available to their shareholders the specific proxy votes cast for portfolio securities.  This policy is designed to ensure that the Fund complies with these requirements and otherwise fulfills its obligations with respect to proxy voting, disclosure, and recordkeeping.  The overall goal is to ensure that the Fund’s proxy voting is managed in an effort to act in the best interests of its shareholders.  While decisions about how to vote must be determined on a case-by-case basis, proxy voting decisions will be made considering these guidelines and following the procedures recited herein.
 
Specific Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
 
A. General
 
The Board of Trustees believes that the voting of proxies is an important part of portfolio management as it represents an opportunity for shareholders to make their voices heard and to influence the direction of a company.  The Trust and Fund are committed to voting corporate proxies in the manner that best serves the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.  
 
B. Delegation to Fund’s Investment Advisor
 
The Board of Trustees believes that the Fund’s investment advisor is in the best position to make individual voting decisions for the Fund consistent with this policy.  Therefore, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees, the Fund’s investment advisor is delegated the following duties:
 
1.  
To make the proxy voting decisions for the Fund; and
 
2.  
To assist the Fund in disclosing the Fund’s proxy voting record as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, including providing the following information for each matter with respect to which the Fund was entitled to vote: (a) information identifying the matter voted on; (b) whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder; (c) whether and how the Fund cast its vote; and (d) whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management.
 
The Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, shall approve the Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy of the Fund’s investment advisor as it relates to the Fund.  The Board of Trustees shall also approve any material changes to such policy no later than six (6) months after adoption by the Fund’s investment advisor.
 
C. Conflicts
 
In cases where a matter with respect to which a Fund is entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s investment advisor, principal underwriter, or an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment advisor or principal underwriter, on the other hand, the Fund shall always vote in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders.  For purposes of this Policy, a vote shall be considered in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders (i) when a vote is cast consistent with a specific voting policy set forth in the Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy of the Fund’s investment advisor, provided such specific voting policy was approved by the Board of Trustees, or (ii) when a vote is cast consistent with the decision of the Trust’s Proxy Voting Committee.  In addition, provided the Fund’s investment advisor is not affiliated with the Fund’s principal underwriter or an affiliated person of the principal underwriter and neither the Fund’s principal underwriter nor an affiliated person of the principal underwriter has influenced the advisor with respect to a matter to which the Fund is entitled to vote, a vote by the advisor shall not be considered a conflict between the Fund’s shareholders and the Fund’s principal underwriter or affiliated person of the principal underwriter.
 
 
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D. Other Investment Companies
 
To the extent the Fund invests in shares of other investment companies in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund’s investment advisor shall vote proxies with respect to such investment company securities in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such securities.
 
Fund Disclosure
 
 
 A.
Disclosure of Fund Policies and Procedures With Respect to Voting Proxies Relating to Portfolio Securities
 
The Fund shall disclose this policy, or a description of the policy, to its shareholders by including it as an appendix to its Statement of Additional Information on Form N-1A.  The Fund will also notify its shareholders in the Fund’s shareholder reports that a description of this policy is available upon request, without charge, by calling a specified toll-free telephone number.  The Fund will send this description of the policy within three business days of receipt of any shareholder request, by first-class mail, or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.
 
 
 B.
Disclosure of the Fund’s Complete Proxy Voting Record
 
In accordance with Rule 30b1-4 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund will file Form N-PX with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than August 31 of each year, even if August 31 falls on a non-business day.  The Fund shall disclose to its shareholders on Form N-PX the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the twelve-month period ended June 30.
 
The Fund shall disclose the following information on Form N-PX for each matter relating to a portfolio security considered at any shareholder meeting held during the period covered by the report and with respect to which to the Fund was entitled to vote:
 
 
(i)      The name of the issuer of the portfolio security;
 
(ii)     The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security (if available through reasonably practicable means);
 
(iii)    The Council on Uniform Security Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number for the portfolio security (if available through reasonably practicable means);
 
(iv)    The shareholder meeting date;
 
(v)     A brief identification of the matter voted on;
 
(vi)    Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;
 
(vii)   Whether the Fund cast its vote on the matter;
 
(viii)   How the Fund cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and
 
(ix)     Whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management.
 
The Fund shall make its proxy voting record available to shareholders either upon request or by making available an electronic version on or through the Fund’s website, if applicable.  If the Fund discloses its proxy voting record on or through its website, the Fund shall post the information disclosed in the Fund’s most recently filed report on Form N-PX on the website beginning the same day it files such information with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The Fund shall also include a statement in its annual reports, semi-annual reports, and Statement of Additional Information that information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge upon request, by calling a specified toll-free (or collect) telephone number, or (if applicable) on or through the Fund’s website at a specified internet address; and (ii) on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  If the Fund discloses that its proxy voting record is available by calling a toll-free (or collect) telephone number, it shall send the information disclosed in the Fund’s most recently filed report on Form N-PX within three business days of receipt of a request for this information, by first-class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery.
 
 
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Recordkeeping
 
The Trust shall keep the following records for a period of at least five years, the first two in an easily accessible place:
 
(i)  
A copy of this Policy;
(ii)  
Proxy statements received regarding the Fund’s securities;
(iii)  
Records of votes cast on behalf of the Fund; and
(iv)  
A record of each shareholder request for proxy voting information and the Fund’s response, including the date of the request, the name of the shareholder, and the date of the response.
 
The foregoing records may be kept as part of the records of the Fund’s investment advisor.
 
A Fund may rely on proxy statements filed on the SEC EDGAR system instead of keeping its own copies, and may rely on proxy statements and records of proxy votes cast by the Fund’s investment advisor that are maintained with a third party such as a proxy voting service, provided that an undertaking is obtained from the third party to provide a copy of the documents promptly upon request.
 
Proxy Voting Committee
 
A.  
General
 
The Trust’s Proxy Voting Committee shall be composed entirely of Independent Trustees and may be comprised of one or more such Independent Trustees as the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, decide.  The purpose of the Proxy Voting Committee shall be to determine how the Fund should cast its vote, if called upon by the Board of Trustees or the Fund’s investment advisor, when a matter with respect to which the Fund is entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s investment advisor, principal underwriter, or an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment advisor, or principal underwriter, on the other hand.
 
B.  
Powers and Methods of Operation
 
The Proxy Voting Committee shall have all the powers necessary to fulfill its purpose as set forth above and such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, grant or assign to the Proxy Voting Committee.  The Proxy Voting Committee shall meet at such times and places as the Proxy Voting Committee or the Board of Trustees may, from time to time, determine.  The act of a majority of the members of the Proxy Voting Committee in person, by telephone conference, or by consent in writing without a meeting shall be the act of the Proxy Voting Committee.  The Proxy Voting Committee shall have the authority to utilize Trust counsel at the expense of the Trust if necessary.  The Proxy Voting Committee shall prepare minutes of each meeting and keep such minutes with the Trust’s records.  The Proxy Voting Committee shall review this Policy and recommend any changes to the Board of Trustees as it deems necessary or advisable.
 
Other
 
This policy may be amended, from time to time, as determined by the Board of Trustees.
 
 
41

 

 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
 
Proxy Voting/Class Action Lawsuits
 
Policy
 
ARA has authority to vote proxies or participate in class action lawsuits on behalf of some of its clients.   In general, when ARA has been given authority to vote proxies or participate in class action lawsuits on behalf of its clients, ARA will determine how to vote proxies (or participate in class action lawsuits) based on ARA's reasonable judgment of that vote or act most likely to produce favorable financial results for its clients. Proxy votes generally will be cast in favor of proposals that maintain or strengthen the shared interests of shareholders and management, increase shareholder value, maintain or increase shareholder influence over the issuer's board of directors and management, and maintain or increase the rights of shareholders; proxy votes generally will be cast against proposals having the opposite effect.  However, we will consider both sides of each proxy issue.  Consistent with the Company’s paramount commitment to the financial investment goals of our clients, social considerations will not be considered absent contrary instructions by a client.
 
Background
 
Proxy voting and Participation in Class Action Lawsuits is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.
 
Investment Advisors registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisors Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which must include how an Advisor addresses material conflicts that may arise between an Advisor's interests and those of its clients; (b) to disclose to clients how they may obtain information from the Advisor with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) to describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the Advisor's proxy voting activities when the Advisor does have proxy voting authority.
 
Responsibility
 
The CCO has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our proxy/class action policy and to ensure that the firm does accept and/or exercise any proxy voting/class action authority on behalf of those clients where ARA has been given authority to vote proxies or join class action lawsuits.
 
Procedure
 
The firm’s procedure is:
 
•  
ARA generally does not receive proxies or notifications of class action lawsuits on behalf of its clients.  To the extent such materials are received directly by ARA on behalf of clients for which ARA has no authority to vote proxies, ARA shall forward such materials to the client. The determination as to who votes proxies/class action lawsuits is fully disclosed in the client agreement.  In the case of ERISA Plans, the CCO confirms the Plan Sponsor specifically maintains the right and duty to vote proxies or has appointed a designee for same.
 
•  
In general, when ARA has been given authority to vote proxies or join class action lawsuits on behalf of its clients, ARA believes that each proxy proposal should be individually reviewed to determine whether the proposal is in the best interests of its clients.  As a result, similar proposals for different companies may receive different votes because of different corporate circumstances.  Upon receipt of a corporate proxy by the Company, the special or annual report and the proxy are submitted to Joseph DeSipio (“the Proxy Manager”).  The Proxy Manager will then vote the proxy in accordance with this policy. ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party provider, such as a proxy voting service.
 
 
42

 
•  
The Proxy Manager shall be responsible for reviewing the special or annual report, proxy proposals, and proxy proposal summaries.  The reviewer shall take into consideration what vote is in the best interests of clients and the provisions of the Company’s Voting Guidelines in Section 2 below.  The Proxy Manager will then vote the proxies. ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party provider, such as a proxy voting service.
 
•  
The Proxy Manager shall be responsible for maintaining copies of each annual report, proposal, proposal summary, actual vote, and any other information required to be maintained for a proxy vote under Rule 204-2 of the Advisers Act (see discussion in Section 3 below).  With respect to proxy votes on topics deemed, in the opinion of the Proxy Manager, to be controversial or particularly sensitive, the Proxy Manager will provide a written explanation for the proxy vote, which will be maintained with the record of the actual vote in the Company’s files.
 
•  
While ARA's policy is to review each proxy proposal on its individual merits, ARA has adopted guidelines for certain types of matters to assist the Proxy Manager in the review and voting of proxies.  ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party provider, such as a proxy voting service
 
These guidelines are set forth below:
 
A.  
Corporate Governance
 
 
1.  
Election of Directors and Similar Matters
 
In an uncontested election, ARA will generally vote in favor of management’s proposed directors.  In a contested election, ARA will evaluate proposed directors on a case-by-case basis.  With respect to proposals regarding the structure of a company’s Board of Directors, ARA will review any contested proposal on its merits.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to support proposals to:
 
a.  
Expand directors’ liability and limit directors’ indemnification rights
 
b.  
Generally vote against proposals to Adopt or continue the use of a classified Board structure; and
 
c.  
Add special interest directors to the board of directors (e.g., efforts to expand the board of directors to control the outcome of a particular issue)
 
 
2.  
Audit Committee Approvals
 
ARA generally supports proposals that help ensure that a company’s auditors are independent and capable of delivering a fair and accurate opinion of a company’s finances.  ARA will generally vote to ratify management’s recommendation and selection of auditors.
 
 
3.  
Shareholder Rights
 
ARA may consider all proposals that will have a material effect on shareholder rights on a case by case basis.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to generally support proposals to:
 
 
43

 
a.  
Adopt confidential voting and independent tabulation of voting results; and
 
b.  
Require shareholder approval of “poison pills;”
 
And expects to generally vote against proposals to:
 
a.  
Adopt super-majority voting requirements; and
 
b.  
Restrict the rights of shareholders to call special meetings, to amend the bylaws, or to act by written consent.
 
 
4.  
Anti-Takeover Measures, Corporate Restructurings and Similar Matters
 
ARA may review any proposal to adopt an anti-takeover measure, to undergo a corporate restructuring (e.g., change of entity form or state of incorporation, mergers, or acquisitions) or to take similar action by reviewing the potential short and long-term effects of the proposal on ARA.  These effects may include, without limitation, the economic and financial impact the proposal may have on the company, and the market impact that the proposal may have on the company’s stock.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to generally support proposals to:
 
a.  
Prohibit the payment of greenmail (i.e., the purchase by the company of its own shares to prevent a hostile takeover);
 
b.  
Adopt fair price requirements (i.e., requirements that all shareholders be paid the same price in a tender offer or takeover context), unless the Proxy Manager deems them sufficiently limited in scope; and
 
c.  
Require shareholder approval of “poison pills.”
 
And expects to generally vote against proposals to:
 
a.  
Adopt classified boards of directors;
 
b.  
Reincorporate a company where the primary purpose appears to the Proxy Manager to be the creation of takeover defenses; and
 
c.  
Require a company to consider the non-financial effects of mergers or acquisitions.
 
 
5.  
Capital Structure Proposals
 
ARA will seek to evaluate capital structure proposals on their own merits on a case-by-case basis.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to generally support proposals to:
 
a.  
Eliminate preemptive rights.
 
 
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B.  
Compensation
 
 
1.  
General
 
ARA generally supports proposals that encourage the disclosure of a company’s compensation policies.  In addition, ARA generally supports proposals that fairly compensate executives, particularly those proposals that link executive compensation to performance.  ARA may consider any contested proposal related to a company’s compensation policies on a case-by-case basis.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to generally support proposals to:
 
a.  
Require shareholders approval of “golden parachutes;” and
 
b.  
Adopt “golden parachutes” that do not exceed 1 to 3 times the base compensation of the applicable executives.
 
And expects to generally   vote against proposals to:
 
a.  
Adopt measures that appear to the Proxy Manager to arbitrarily determine executive or employee benefits.
 
 
2.  
Stock Option Plans and Share Issuances
 
ARA evaluates proposed stock option plans and share issuances on a case-by-case basis.  In reviewing proposals regarding stock option plans and issuances, ARA may consider, without limitation, the potential dilutive effect on shareholders and the potential short and long-term economic effects on ARA. The Company believes that stock option plans do not necessarily align the interest of executives and outside directors with those of shareholders and that well thought out cash compensation plans can achieve these objectives without diluting shareholders ownership. Therefore, the Company generally will vote against stock option plans. However, these proposals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine that shareholders interests are being represented. ARA is in favor of management, directors, and employees owning stock, but prefers that the shares be purchased in the open market.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARA expects to generally vote against proposals to:
 
a.  
Establish or continue stock option plans and share issuances that are not in the best interest of the shareholders.
 
C.  
Corporate Responsibility and Social Issues
 
ARA generally believes that ordinary business matters (including, without limitation, positions on corporate responsibility and social issues) are primarily the responsibility of a company’s management that should be addressed solely by the company’s management.  These types of proposals, often initiated by shareholders, may request that the company disclose or amend certain business practices.
 
ARA will generally vote against proposals involving corporate responsibility and social issues, although ARA may vote for corporate responsibility and social issue proposals that ARA believes will have substantial positive economic or other effects on a company or ARA’s stock.
 
 
45

 
D.  
Record-Keeping Requirements Pertaining to Proxy Voting .
 
Rule 204-2, requires that the following proxy voting records be maintained. The CCO shall be responsible for maintaining these records relating to proxy voting. ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party service to provide these records
 
1.  
Copies of all policies and procedures required by Rule 206(4)-6.
 
2.  
A copy of each proxy statement that the  ARA receives regarding a client’s securities. ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party provider, such as a proxy voting service, or the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system.
 
3.  
A record of each vote cast by the investment ARA on behalf of a client. ARA may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third-party service to provide these records. The third party must be capable of providing documents promptly upon request.
 
4.  
A copy of any document created by ARA that was material in making a decision on how to vote proxies on a client’s behalf or that articulates the basis for that decision.
 
5.  
A copy of each written client request for information on how ARA voted proxies on his or her behalf, as well as a copy of any written response by the investment ARA to any written or oral client request for information.
 
E.  
Conflicts of Interest Pertaining to Proxy Voting
 
Conflicts of interest between ARA or a principal of ARA and ARA’s clients in respect of a proxy issue conceivably may arise, for example, from personal or professional relationships with a company or with the directors, candidates for director, or senior executives of a company that is the issuer of client securities.
 
If the CCO determines that a material conflict of interest exists, the following procedures shall be followed:
 
1.  
ARA may disclose the existence and nature of the conflict to the client(s) owning the securities, and seek directions on how to vote the proxies;
 
2.  
ARA may abstain from voting, particularly if there are conflicting client interests (for example, where client accounts hold multiple client securities in a competitive merger situation); or
 
3.  
ARA may follow the recommendations of an independent proxy voting service in voting the proxies.
 
ARA keeps certain records required by applicable law in connection with its proxy voting activities for clients and shall provide proxy-voting information to clients upon their written or oral request.  A copy of ARA’s proxy-voting policies shall be made available to clients upon request.
 
•  
Class Action Litigation
 
From time to time, securities held in the accounts of clients may be the subject of class action lawsuits brought by plaintiff attorneys on various grounds. These class action lawsuits will sometimes result in settlements or verdicts in which all shareholders are eligible to participate.
 
 
46

 
Where ARA has disclaimed its responsibility (in Form ADV, Part 2A and client contracts) to evaluate a client’s eligibility or submit a claim to participate in the proceeds of a securities class action settlement or verdict, affecting securities owned by a client, it must follow the notification procedures established below.
 
Where ARA has undertaken the obligation to evaluate the client’s eligibility to participate in the proceeds of a securities class action settlement or verdict and determine whether to submit a claim, ARA will inform the client of the action, inform the client that he or she may opt in or opt out of the lawsuit, advise the client that ARA cannot render legal services, advise the client to consult with an attorney, and advise the client that the failure to do so may negatively affect his or her rights.  ARA will take any actions as instructed by the client’s attorney or the client and in the absence of any such instructions, ARA shall take any actions (other than those which would be required to be performed by an attorney) which in its sole discretion is determined to be in the best interests of its clients.
 
Notification Procedures Re: Securities Class Action Lawsuits
 
Where ARA receives written or electronic notice of a securities class action lawsuit, settlement or verdict, the notification procedure is as follows:
 
1.  
All notices, proof of claim forms, and other materials will be forwarded upon receipt to the CCO, or a person designated by the CCO.
 
2.  
The CCO, or the designated person, will log in the notices, proof of claim forms, and other materials.
 
3.  
The CCO, or the designated person, will forward all documentation and proof of claim forms received to the client. Electronic mail is acceptable where appropriate, if the client has authorized contact in this manner.
 
•  
ARA will retain records of these notifications in accordance with Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
 
•  
The CEO or CCO reviews and signs all advisory agreements which specifically defines ARA's authority regarding proxy voting and advice on class action lawsuits.
 
•  
The CCO also completes a monthly checklist certifying that this procedure has been implemented.
 

 
 
 
47

 
PART C

FORM N-1A

OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 28.    Exhibits
 
(a)
Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”). 1
(b)
By-Laws. 1
(c)
Articles III, V, and VI of the Trust Instrument, Exhibit 23(a) hereto, defines the rights of holders of the securities being registered.  (Certificates for shares are not issued.)
(d)(1)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Caritas Capital, LLC, as investment advisor for the   Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund. 2
(d)(2)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and FolioMetrix, LLC, as investment advisor for the   FMX Growth Allocation Fund. 3
(d)(3)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and FolioMetrix, LLC, as investment advisor for the   FMX Total Return Fund. 3
(d)(4)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Presidio Capital Investments, LLC, as investment advisor for the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund. 4
(d)(5)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Roumell Asset Management, LLC, as investment advisor for the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 5
(d)(6)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Navigator Money Management, Inc., as investment advisor for the Sector RotationFund. 8
(d)(7)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Sentinel Capital Solutions, as investment advisor for the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund). 11
(d)(8)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC, as investment advisor for the Crescent Funds. 12
(d)(9)
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, as investment advisor for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 17
(e)
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Capital Investment Group, Inc., as distributor for each series of the Trust. 16
(f)
Not Applicable.
(g)
Custody Agreement between the Registrant, UMB Bank, n.a., and The Nottingham Company. 16
 
 
 

 
(h)(1)
Amended and Restated Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund. 13
(h)(2)
Amended and Restated Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the FMX Growth Allocation Fund and the FMX Total Return Fund. 7
(h)(3)
Amended and Restated Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund. 10
(h)(4)
Amended Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 9
(h)(5)
Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for The Sector Rotation Fund. 8
(h)(6)
Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund). 11
(h)(7)
Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the Crescent Funds. 12
(h)(8)
Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Registrant and The Nottingham Company, as administrator for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 16
(h)(9)
Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent Agreement between the Registrant and Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC, as transfer agent for the Registrant. 16
(h)(10)
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Sentinel Capital Solutions as investment advisor for the   Guardian Diversified Fund . 11
(h)(11)
Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC , as investment advisor for the   Crescent Funds . 12
(h)(12)
Amended Operating Plan between Presidio Capital Investments, LLC and The Nottingham Company. 10
(h)(13)
Amended Operating Plan between Roumell Asset Management, LLC and The Nottingham Company. 10
(h)(14)
Amended and Restated Operating Plan between FolioMetrix, LLC and The Nottingham Company. 7
(h)(15)
Operating Plan between Navigator Money Management, Inc. and The Nottingham Company. 8
(h)(16)
Operating Plan between Caritas Capital, LLC and The Nottingham Company. 13
(h)(17)
Operating Plan between Arin Risk Advisors, LLC and The Nottingham Company. 16
(i)
Opinion and Consent of counsel. 9
(j)
Consent of the independent public accountants. 17
 
 
 

 
(k)
Not applicable.
(l)(1)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund. 2
(l)(2)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the FMX Growth Allocation Fund and the FMX Total Return Fund. 3
(l)(3)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund. 14
(l)(4)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 14
(l)(5)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund). 15
(l)(6)
Initial Subscription Agreement for the Crescent Funds. 14
(l)(7)
Form Initial Subscription Agreement for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 16
(m)(1)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund. 2
(m)(2)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund. 4
(m)(3)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 5
(m)(4)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the FMX Growth Allocation Fund. 6
(m)(5)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the FMX Total Return Fund. 6
(m)(6)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund). 11
(m)(7)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the Crescent Funds. 12
(m)(8)
Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 16
(n)(1)
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 5
(n)(2)
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for the FMX Funds. 6
(n)(3)
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for the Crescent Funds. 12
(n)(4)
Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 16
(o)
Reserved.
(p)(1)
Code of Ethics for the Registrant. 2
(p)(2)
Code of Ethics for Caritas Capital, LLC, investment advisor to the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund. 2
(p)(3)
Code of Ethics for FolioMetrix, LLC, investment advisor to the FMX Growth Allocation Fund and the FMX Total Return Fund. 3
 
 
 

 
(p)(4)
Code of Ethics for Presidio Capital Investments, LLC, investment advisor to the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund. 4
(p)(5)
Code of Ethics for Roumell Asset Management, LLC, investment advisor to the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund. 5
(p)(6)
Code of Ethics for Navigator Money Management, Inc., investment advisor to The Sector Rotation Fund. 8
(p)(7)
Code of Ethics for Sentinel Capital Solutions, investment advisor to the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund). 11
(p)(8)
Code of Ethics for Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC, investment advisor to the Crescent Funds. 12
(p)(9)
Code of Ethics for Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, investment advisor to the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund . 16
(q)
Copy of Power of Attorney. 16
 
=======================
1.
Incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on May 26, 2009.
2.
Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on July 24, 2009.
3.
Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on August 19, 2009.
4.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February 26, 2010.
5.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November 15, 2010.
6 .
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November 19, 2010.
7.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on February 9, 2011.
8.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on June 27, 2011.
9.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September 28, 2011.
10.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on September 28, 2011.
11.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 54 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November 4, 2011.
12.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on November 14, 2011.
13.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 1, 2011.
14.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 29, 2011.
15.
Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A filed on December 29, 2011.
16.
Filed herewith.
17.
Filed by amendment.


ITEM 29.   Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Registrant
 
No person is controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.
 
 
 

 
ITEM 30.   Indemnification
 
Under Delaware law, Section 3817 of the Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts empowers Delaware business trusts to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee or beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever, subject to such standards and restrictions as may be set forth in the governing instrument of the business trust.  The Registrant’s Trust Instrument contains the following provisions:
 
Article VII. Section 2.   Indemnification and Limitation of Liability .  The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Advisor or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and, as provided in Section 3 of this Article VII, the Trust out of its assets shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee's performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee or officer from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
 
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
 
Article VII. Section 3.   Indemnification.
 
(a)           Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection (b) below:
 
(i)           every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee or agent of the Trust (including any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and
 
(ii)           as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys, fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
 
(b)           No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
 
(i)           who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
 
 
 

 
(ii)           in the event the matter is not adjudicated by a court or other appropriate body, unless there has been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office: by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry).
 
(c)           The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.
 
(d)           To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section; provided, however, that either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section.
 
(e)           Any repeal or modification of this Article VII by the Shareholders, or adoption or modification of any other provision of the Declaration or By-laws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.
 
In addition, the Registrant has entered into Investment Advisory Agreements with its Advisors and Distribution Agreements with its Distributor.  These agreements provide indemnification for those entities and their respective affiliates.  The Advisors’ and Distributor’s personnel may serve as trustees and officers of the Trust.
 
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Trust Instrument or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, is unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.
 
ITEM 31.    Business and other Connections of the Investment Advisor
 
See the section of the Prospectuses entitled “Management of the Fund – The Investment Advisor” and the section of the Statements of Additional Information entitled “Management and Other Service Providers” for the activities and affiliations of the officers and directors of the investment advisors to the Registrant.   The investment advisors provide investment advisory services to numerous institutional and individual clients in addition to the Registrant.
 
 
 

 
ITEM 32.   Principal Underwriter
 
(a)
Capital Investment Group, Inc. is underwriter and distributor for Arin Large Cap Theta Fund, Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund, Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund, Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund, Crescent Strategic Income Fund, FMX Growth Allocation Fund, FMX Total Return Fund, Giordano Fund, SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund), The Hillman Focused Advantage Fund, The Hillman Advantage Equity Fund, Paladin Long Short Fund, Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund, Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund, and The Sector Rotation Fund .
 
(b)
Set forth below is information concerning each director and officer of the Distributor.  The principal business address of the Distributor and each such person is 17 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, N.C. 27622, 919-831-2370.
 
(1)
(2)
(3)
Name
Position and Offices
With Underwriter
Positions and Offices
with Registrant
Richard K. Bryant
President
None
E.O. Edgerton, Jr.
Vice President
None
Con T. McDonald
Assistant Vice-President
None
W. Harold Eddins, Jr.
Assistant Vice-President
None
Kurt A. Dressler
Assistant Vice-President
None
Ronald L. King
Chief Compliance Officer
None
(c)
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 33.     Location of Accounts and Records
 
All account books and records not normally held by UMB Bank, n.a., the custodian to the Registrant, are held by the Registrant in the offices of The Nottingham Company, fund accountant and administrator to the Registrant; Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC, transfer agent to the Registrant; or by each of the investment advisors to the Registrant.
 
The address of UMB Bank, n.a., is 928 Grand Boulevard, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri  64106 .  The address of The Nottingham Company is 116 South Franklin Street, Post Office Box 69, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27802-0069.  The address of Nottingham Shareholder Services, LLC is 116 South Franklin Street, Post Office Box 4365, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803-0365.  The address of Caritas Capital, LLC, investment advisor to the Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund, is 5950 Fairview Road, Suite 610-A, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210.  The address of FolioMetrix, LLC, investment advisor to the FMX Growth Allocation Fund and the FMX Total Return Fund, is 821 Pacific Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68108 .   The address for Presidio Capital Investments, LLC, investment advisor to the Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund, is 1777 Borel Place, Suite 415, San Mateo, CA 94402.  The address for Roumell Asset Management, LLC, investment advisor to the Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund, is 2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 660, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815.   The address for Navigator Money Management, Inc., investment advisor to The Sector Rotation Fund, is 1207 Route 9, Suite 10, Wappingers Falls, NY
 
 
 

 
 
12590.  The address for Sentinel Capital Solutions, Inc., investment advisor to the SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund) , is 38 S. Potomac Street, Suite 304, Hagerstown, MD 21740.   The address for Greenwood Capital Associates, LLC, investment advisor for the Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund, Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund, and Crescent Strategic Income Fund , is 104 Maxwell Avenue, Greenwood, South Carolina 29646.  The address for Arin Risk Advisors, LLC, investment advisor for the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund , is 300 Four Falls Corporate Center, Suite 200, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428.

 
ITEM 34.  Management Services
 
None.
 
ITEM 35.  Undertakings
 
None.
 
 
 

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Rocky Mount, and State of North Carolina on this 4 th day of May 2012.

 
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST

By:            /s/ A. Vason Hamrick                                            
A. Vason Hamrick, Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 
Signature
Title
Date
     
                 *                      
Trustee & Chairman
May 4, 2012
Jack E. Brinson
   
     
                  *                      
Trustee
May 4, 2012
Michael G. Mosley
   
     
       *         
Trustee
May 4, 2012
Theo H. Pitt, Jr.
   
     
                  *                      
Trustee
May 4, 2012
James H. Speed, Jr.
   
     
                  *                      
Trustee
May 4, 2012
J. Buckley Strandberg
   
     
                  *                      
President, FMX Funds
May 4, 2012
D.J. Murphey
   
     
                  *                      
Treasurer, FMX Funds
May 4, 2012
Julie M. Koethe
   
     
                  *                      
President & Treasurer,
May 4, 2012
Robert G. Fontana
Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
 
     
                  *                      
President & Treasurer,
May 4, 2012
Matthew R. Lee
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
 
     
                  *                      
President, Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
May 4, 2012
James C. Roumell
   
 
 
 

 
     
                  *                      
Treasurer, Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
May 4 2012
Craig L. Lukin
   
     
                  *                      
President & Treasurer,
May 4, 2012
Mark A. Grimaldi
The Sector Rotation Fund
 
     
                  *                      
President & Treasurer,
May 4, 2012
Cort F. Meinelschmidt
SCS Tactical Allocation  Fund
 
     
                  *                      
President, Crescent Funds
May 4, 2012
J. Philip Bell
   
     
                  *                      
Treasurer, Crescent Funds
May 4, 2012
Michael W. Nix
   
     
                  *                      
President, Arin Funds
May 4, 2012
Joseph J. DeSipio
   
     
                  *                      
Treasurer, Arin Funds
May 4, 2012
Lawrence H. Lempert
   
     
/s/ T. Lee Hale, Jr.  
Chief Compliance Officer & Assistant Treasurer
May 4, 2012
T. Lee Hale, Jr.
   
     
* By: /s/ A. Vason Hamrick
Dated: May 4, 2012
 
A. Vason Hamrick,
Secretary and Attorney-in-Fact
 
     


 
 
 
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
 
 
 
This AGREEMENT, dated July 16, 2009 between STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST , a statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”) and CAPITAL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC. , a North Carolina corporation (the “Distributor”).
 
WITNESSETH:
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end management investment company and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) representing interests in a series of securities and other assets, as identified in Appendix A (each a “Fund”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust offers the Shares of such Fund and has registered (or will register) the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form N-1A “Registration Statement”), including a prospectus “Prospectus”) and a statement of additional information(“SAI”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust has adopted a Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Distribution Plan”) with respect to Shares of certain classes of the Funds, and may enter into related agreements providing for the distribution of such Shares; and
 
WHEREAS, Distributor has agreed to act as distributor of the Shares for the term of this Agreement;
 
 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed between the parties hereto as follows:
 
 
 
1.
 
Appointment of Distributor.
 
(a)        The Trust appoints Distributor its exclusive agent for the distribution of the Shares in jurisdictions wherein such Shares may be legally offered for sale; provided, however , that the Trust in its absolute discretion may issue Shares in connection with (i) the payment or reinvestment of dividends or distributions; (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Trust or of a Fund with any other investment company or trust or any personal holding company, or the acquisition of the assets of any such entity or another Fund of the Trust; or (iii) any offer of exchange permitted by Section 11 of the 1940 Act, or any other applicable provision.
 
(b)        Distributor accepts such appointment as exclusive agent for the distribution of the Shares and agrees that it will sell the Shares as agent for the Trust at prices determined as hereinafter provided and on the terms hereinafter set forth, all according to applicable federal and state laws and regulations and to the Trust’s Declaration of the Trust.
 
(c)        Distributor may sell Shares to or through qualified securities dealers or others. Distributor will require each dealer or other such party to conform to the provisions hereof, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and SAI, and applicable law; and neither Distributor nor any such dealers or others shall withhold the placing of purchase orders for Shares so as to make a profit thereby.
 
(d)        Distributor shall order Shares from the Trust only to the extent that it shall have received purchase orders therefor. Distributor will not make, or authorize any dealers or others to make: (i) any short sales of Shares; or (ii) any sales of Shares to any Trustee or officer of the Trust or to any officer or director of Distributor or of any corporation or association furnishing
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 

investment advisory, managerial, or supervisory services to the Trust, or to any such corporation or association, unless such sales are made in accordance with the then current Prospectus and SAI.
 
(e)        Distributor is not authorized by the Trust to give any information or make any representations regarding the Shares of a Fund, except such information or representations as are contained in the Registration Statement or in the current Prospectus or SAI of the applicable Fund, or in advertisements and sales literature prepared by or on behalf of the Trust for Distributor’s use.
 
(f)        Notwithstanding any provision hereof, the Trust may terminate, suspend, or withdraw the offering of Shares of any Fund whenever, in its sole discretion, it deems such action to be desirable.
 
2.           Offering Price of Shares. All Shares sold under this Agreement shall be sold at the public offering price per Share in effect at the time of the sale, as described in the then current Prospectus of the applicable Fund. The excess, if any, of the public offering price over the net asset value of the Shares sold by Distributor, as agent, shall be retained by Distributor as a commission for its services hereunder. Out of such commission Distributor may allow commissions or concessions to dealers and may allow them to others in its discretion in such amounts as Distributor shall determine from time to time. Except as may be otherwise determined by Distributor from time to time, such commissions or concessions shall be uniform to all dealers. At no time shall the Trust receive less than the full net asset value of the Shares, determined in the manner set forth in the then current Prospectus and SAI for the applicable Fund. Distributor shall also be entitled to such commissions and other fees and payments as may be authorized by the Trustees of the Trust from time to time under the Distribution Plan.
 
3.           Furnishing of Information. The Trust shall furnish to Distributor copies of any information, financial statements, and other documents that Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the sale of Shares under this Agreement. The Trust shall also make available a sufficient number of copies of each Fund’s current Prospectus and SAI for use by the Distributor.
 
 
 
4.
 
Fees and Expenses.
 
(a)        In addition to any commissions, fees, or payments authorized by the Trustees under the Distribution Plan, the Trust will pay or cause to be paid to the Distributor for services provided and expenses assumed by the Distributor the fee of $5,000.00 per annum per Fund. Such fee shall be paid to the Distributor in monthly installments.
 
(b)        The Trust will also pay or cause to be paid the following expenses: (i) preparation, printing, and distribution to shareholders of the Prospectus and SAI for each Fund; (ii) preparation, printing, and distribution of reports and other communications to shareholders of each Fund; (iii) registration of the Shares under the federal securities laws; (iv) qualification of the Shares for sale in certain states; (v) qualification of the Trust as a dealer or broker under state law as well as qualification of the Trust as an entity authorized to do business in certain states; (vi) maintaining facilities for the issue and transfer of Shares; (vii) supplying information, prices, and other data to be furnished by the Trust under this Agreement; (viii) certain taxes applicable to the sale or delivery of the Shares or certificates therefore, and (ix) such other compensation to the Distributor as the Trustees may authorize, from time to time, in their sole discretion.
 
(c)        Except to the extent such expenses are borne by the Trust pursuant to the Distribution Plan, Distributor will pay or cause to be paid the following expenses: (i) payments to sales representatives of the Distributor and to securities dealers and others in respect of the sale of Shares; (ii) payment of compensation to and expenses of employees of the Distributor and any of its affiliates to the extent they engage in or support distribution of the Shares or render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trust’s transfer agent, administrator, or custodian, including, but not limited to, answering routine inquiries regarding each Fund, processing
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
 

shareholder transactions, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request; (iii) formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine, and other mass media advertising; (iv) preparation, printing, and distribution of sales literature and of Prospectuses and SAIs and reports of the Trust for recipients other than existing shareholders of a Fund; and (v) obtaining such information, analyses, and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.
 
(d)        If so requested by the Trustees in connection with the Distribution Plan, Distributor shall prepare and deliver reports to the Trustees of the Trust on a regular basis, at least quarterly, showing the expenditures with respect to any Fund pursuant to the Distribution Plan and the purposes therefor, as well as any supplemental reports as the Trustees of the Trust, from time to time, may reasonably request.
 
5.           Repurchase of Shares. Distributor as agent and for the account of the Trust may repurchase Shares offered for resale to it and redeem such Shares at their net asset value.
 
6.           Indemnification by the Trust. In absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of Distributor, the Trust agrees to indemnify Distributor and its officers and partners against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, and expenses that Distributor may incur under the 1933 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or SAI of a Fund, or in any advertisements or sales literature prepared by or on behalf of the Trust for Distributor’s use, or any omission to state a material fact therein, the omission of which makes any statement contained therein misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by or on behalf of Distributor. Nothing herein contained shall require the Trust to take any action contrary to any provision of its Agreement and Declaration of Trust or any applicable statute or regulation.
 
7.           Indemnification by Distributor. Distributor agrees to indemnify the Trust and its officers and Trustees against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, and expenses that the Trust may incur under the 1933 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon (i) any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or SAI of any Fund, or in any advertisements or sales literature prepared by or on behalf of the Trust for Distributor’s use, or any omission to state a material fact therein, the omission of which makes any statement contained therein misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust in connection therewith by or on behalf of Distributor; or (ii) any act or deed of Distributor or its sales representatives, or securities dealers and others authorized to sell Shares hereunder, or their sales representatives, that has not been authorized by the Trust in any Prospectus or SAI of any Fund or by this Agreement.
 
 
 
8.
 
Term and Termination.
 
(a)        With respect to any Fund, this Agreement shall become effective upon the commencement of operations of the Fund. Unless terminated as herein provided, with respect to a Fund, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date of the Fund’s commencement of operations and, with respect to a Fund, shall continue in full force and effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is approved (i) by either the Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund and, in either event, (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement or in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreement related thereto (“Independent Trustees”), cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
 
 
 
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(b)        With respect to any Fund, this Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by vote of the Trustees of the Trust or a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the applicable Fund or by Distributor, on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other party.
 
(c)        This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
 
9.           Subcontract. The Distributor may, at its expense and with the approval of the Trustees, appoint another firm or company as its sub-distributor or agent. The Distributor shall not, however, be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such sub-distributor or agent.
 
10.         Limitation of Liability. The obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, officers, or shareholders of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust. The term “Starboard Investment Trust” means and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been authorized by the Trustees, and this Agreement has been signed on behalf of the Trust by an authorized officer of the Trust, acting as such and not individually, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust as provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
 
11.          Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Distributor agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s request.
 
12.         Notices. Notices of any kind to be given to the Trust hereunder by the Distributor shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Starboard Investment Trust, Attn: Secretary, 116 S. Franklin Street, Raleigh, NC 27804 or to such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified by the Trust to the Distributor. Notices of any kind to be given to the Distributor hereunder by the Trust shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Capital Investment Group, Inc., P.O. Box 4365, Rocky Mount, NC 27803, or at such other address or to such individual as shall be so specified by the Distributor to the Trust. Notices shall be effective upon delivery.
 
13.         Anti-Money Laundering. The Distributor agrees to perform such anti-money laundering (“AML”) functions with respect to the Shares as the Trust may reasonably delegate to the Distributor from time to time or as the Distributor is otherwise obligated to perform. In accordance with mutually agreed procedures, the Distributor shall use commercially reasonable efforts in carrying out such functions under the Trust’s AML program as it relates to a Fund. It is understood and agreed that shareholders of the Funds are not customers of the Distributor and the Trust and Funds retain legal responsibility under the USA PATRIOT Act for AML compliance with respect to transactions in Shares. The Distributor agrees to allow federal examiners having jurisdiction over the Funds to obtain information and records relating to the Trust’s AML program in its possession and to inspect the Distributor for purposes thereof.
 
14.         Confidentiality. The Distributor agrees, on behalf of itself and its officers, directors, agents, and employees, to treat as confidential all records and other information relating to the Trust and its prior, present, and future shareholders (“Confidential Information”) and not to use or disclose the Confidential Information for any purpose other than in performance of its responsibilities and duties under the Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Distributor may divulge the Confidential Information (i) with the prior written consent of the Trust; (ii) when the Distributor, in good faith, believes it may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 

for failure to comply with court orders or when requested by duly constituted governmental authorities or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority pursuant to their respective legal authority, upon prior written notice to the Trust, unless prohibited by the court order or governmental authority; (iii) to the Trust’s investment adviser(s), administrator, transfer agent, custodian, outside legal counsel, or independent public accountants, in the ordinary course of business, to the extent necessary for those service providers to perform their respective services to the Trust; (iv) to the Trust, when requested by the Trust; or (v) when requested by a shareholder, but only with respect to Confidential Information that specifically relates to such shareholder and the shareholder’s account. For purposes of this section, the following records and other information shall not be considered Confidential Information: any record or other information relating to the Trust and its prior, present, and future shareholders (a) which is or becomes publicly available through no negligent or unauthorized act or omission by the Distributor; (b) which is disseminated by the Trust in a public filing with the SEC or posted on the website of the Trust, the Funds, each Fund’s investment adviser, or any of the Funds’ other service providers for general public review; (c) which is lawfully obtained from third parties who are not under an obligation of confidentiality to the Trust or its prior, present, and future shareholders; or (d) previously known by the Distributor prior to the date of the Agreement.
 
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 
 
 
By: /s/ Jack E. Brinson
 
Print Name: Jack E. Brinson
 
Title:
 
Chairman
 
 
 
CAPITAL INVESTMENT GROUP, INC.
 
 
 
By: /s/ Richard K. Bryant
 
Print Name: Richard K. Bryant
 
Title: President
 
5
 
 
 
 

APPENDIX A
 
SERIES OF THE TRUST
(each a “Fund”)
Updated: March 8, 2012


Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
 
FMX Growth Allocation Fund
 
FMX Total Return Fund
 
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
 
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
 
The Sector Rotation Fund
 
SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund)
 
Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund
 
Crescent Strategic Income Fund
 
Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 

 
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 
 







CUSTODY AGREEMENT

Dated September 9, 2011

Between

UMB BANK, N.A.

and

STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
On Behalf Of Each Of Its Fund Series

and

THE NOTTINGHAM COMPANY
Solely In Its Role As Payor Per Section 11

 
 

 

CUSTODY AGREEMENT
 
This agreement made as of the date first set forth above between UMB Bank, n.a., a national banking association with its principal place of business located in Kansas City, Missouri (hereinafter “Custodian”), the Starboard Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, on behalf of each of the Funds listed on Appendix B hereof, together with such additional Funds which shall be made parties to this Agreement by the execution of Appendix B hereto (individually, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and The Nottingham Company, a North Carolina corporation, solely in its role as payor in accordance with  Section 11.
 
WITNESSETH :
 
WHEREAS, each Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“the 1940 Act”); and
 
WHEREAS , each Fund desires to appoint Custodian as its custodian for the custody of Assets (as hereinafter defined) owned by such Fund, which Assets are to be held in such accounts as such Fund may establish from time to time; and
 
WHEREAS , Custodian is willing to accept such appointment on the terms and conditions hereof.
 
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, mutually covenant and agree as follows:
 
1.    APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN.
 
Each Fund hereby constitutes and appoints the Custodian as custodian of Assets belonging to each such Fund which have been or may be from time to time delivered to and accepted by the Custodian.  Custodian accepts such appointment as a custodian and agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities of Custodian as set forth herein on the conditions set forth herein.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Assets” shall include Securities, monies, and other property held by the Custodian for the benefit of a Fund.  “Security” or “Securities” shall mean stocks, bonds, rights, warrants, certificates, instruments, obligations and all other negotiable or non-negotiable paper commonly known as Securities which have been or may from time to time be delivered to and accepted by the Custodian.
 
2.    INSTRUCTIONS.
 
(a)  An “Instruction,” as used herein, shall mean a request, direction, instruction or certification initiated by a Fund and conforming to the terms of this paragraph.  An Instruction may be transmitted to the Custodian by any of the following means:
 
(i)  a writing manually signed on behalf of a Fund by an Authorized Person;
 
(ii)  a telephonic or other oral communication from a person the Custodian reasonably believes to be an Authorized Person;
 
(iii)  a facsimile transmission that the Custodian reasonably believes has been signed or otherwise originated by an Authorized Person;
 
 
 

 
(iv)   a communication effected through the internet or web-based functionality (including without limitation, emails, data files and other communications) on behalf of a Fund (“Electronic Communication”); or
 
(v)   other means reasonably acceptable to both parties.
 
Instructions in the form of oral communications shall be confirmed by the appropriate Fund by either a writing (as set forth in (i) above), a facsimile (as set forth in (iii) above), or an Electronic Communication (as set forth in (iv) above), but the lack of such confirmation shall in no way affect any action taken by the Custodian in reliance upon such oral Instructions prior to the Custodian’s receipt of such confirmation.  Each Fund authorizes the Custodian to record any and all telephonic or other oral Instructions communicated to the Custodian.  The parties acknowledge and agree that, with respect to Instructions transmitted by facsimile, the Custodian cannot verify that the signature of an Authorized Person has been properly affixed and, with respect to Instructions transmitted by an Electronic Communication, the Custodian cannot verify that the Electronic Communication has been initiated by an Authorized Person; accordingly, the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of actions taken in reliance on unauthorized facsimile or Electronic Communication Instructions.  The Custodian recommends that any Instructions transmitted by a Fund via email be done so through a secure system or process.
 
(b)  “Special Instructions,” as used herein, shall mean Instructions countersigned or confirmed in writing by the Treasurer or any other  officer of a Fund , which countersignature or confirmation shall be on the same instrument containing the Instructions or on a separate instrument relating thereto.
 
(c)  Instructions and Special Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian at the address and/or telephone, facsimile transmission or email address agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and each Fund.
 
(d)  Where appropriate, Instructions and Special Instructions shall be continuing Instructions.
 
(e)  An Authorized Person shall be responsible for assuring the accuracy and completeness of Instructions. If the Custodian reasonably determines that an Instruction is unclear or incomplete, the Custodian may notify a Fund of such determination, in which case the Fund shall be responsible for delivering to the Custodian an amended Instruction.  The Custodian shall have no obligation to take any action until the Fund re-delivers to the Custodian an Instruction that is clear and complete.
 
(f)  The Fund shall be responsible for delivering to the Custodian Instructions or Special Instructions in a timely manner, after considering such factors as the involvement of subcustodians, brokers or agents in a transaction, time zone differences, reasonable industry standards, etc.  The Custodian shall have no liability if a Fund delivers Instructions or Special Instructions to the Custodian after any deadline established by the Custodian.
 
(g)  By providing Instructions to acquire or hold Foreign Assets (as defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(2) under the 1940 Act), each Fund shall be deemed to have confirmed to the Custodian that the Fund has (i) considered and accepted responsibility for all Sovereign Risks and Country Risks (as hereinafter defined) associated with investing in a particular country or jurisdiction, and (ii) made all determinations and provided to shareholders and other investors all disclosures required of registered investment companies by the 1940 Act.
 
 
 

 
3.   DELIVERY OF CORPORATE DOCUMENTS.
 
Each of the parties to this Agreement represents that its execution does not violate any of the provisions of its respective charter, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, declaration of trust, articles of association or bylaws, that all required corporate or organizational action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement has been taken, and that the person signing this Agreement is authorized to bind such party (and, in the case of the Funds, that the person signing this Agreement is authorized to bind each of the Funds listed on Appendix B, as such Appendix may be amended from time to time).
 
Each Fund agrees to provide the Custodian, upon request, documentation regarding the Fund, including, by way of example: certificates of incorporation or trust, by-laws, resolutions, registration statements, W-9s and other tax-related documentation, compliance policies and procedures and other compliance documents, etc.
 
In addition, each Fund has delivered or will promptly deliver to the Custodian, copies of the Resolution(s) of its Board of Directors or Trustees and all amendments or supplements thereto, properly certified or authenticated, designating certain officers or employees of each such Fund who will have continuing authority to certify to the Custodian: (a) the names, titles, signatures and scope of authority of all persons authorized to give Instructions or any other notice, request, direction, instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of each Fund, and (b) the names, titles and signatures of those persons authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions on behalf of each Fund (in both cases collectively, the “Authorized Persons” and individually, an “Authorized Person”).  Such Resolutions and certificates may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until delivery to the Custodian of a similar Resolution or certificate to the contrary; provided, however, that the Custodian may rely upon any written designation furnished by the Treasurer or other officer of the Fund designating persons authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions (as provided in Section 2(b)).  Upon delivery of a certificate which deletes or does not include the name(s) of a person previously authorized to give Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special Instructions, such person shall no longer be considered an Authorized Person authorized to give Instructions or to countersign or confirm Special Instructions.  Unless the certificate specifically requires that the approval of anyone else will first have been obtained, the Custodian will be under no obligation to inquire into the right of the person giving such Instructions or Special Instructions to do so. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no Instructions or Special Instructions received by the Custodian from a Fund will be deemed to authorize or permit any director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of such Fund to withdraw any of the Assets of such Fund upon the mere receipt of such authorization, Special Instructions or Instructions from such director, trustee, officer, employee or agent.
 
4.    POWERS AND DUTIES OF CUSTODIAN AND DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIAN.
 
Except for Assets held by any Foreign Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian or Eligible Securities Depository  appointed pursuant to Sections 5(b), (c), or (f) of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have and perform the powers and duties hereinafter set forth in this Section 4.  For purposes of this Section 4 all references to powers and duties of the “Custodian” shall also refer to any Domestic Subcustodian appointed pursuant to Section 5(a).
 
(a)   Safekeeping.
 
The Custodian will keep safely the Assets of each Fund which are delivered to and accepted by it from time to time.  The Custodian shall notify a Fund if it is unwilling or unable to accept custody of any asset of such Fund.  The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of a Fund held by a Fund and not delivered to the Custodian or for any pre-existing faults or defects in Assets that are delivered to the Custodian.
 
 
 

 
(b)   Manner of Holding Securities.
 
(1)  The Custodian shall at all times hold Securities of each Fund either: (i) by physical possession of the share certificates or other instruments representing such Securities, in registered or bearer form; in the vault of the Custodian, Domestic Subcustodian, a Special Custodian, depository or agent of the Custodian;  or in an account maintained by the Custodian or agent at a Securities System (as hereinafter defined); or (ii) in book-entry form by a Securities System in accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (3) below.
 
(2)  The Custodian may hold registrable portfolio Securities which have been delivered to it in physical form, by registering the same in the name of the appropriate Fund or its nominee, or in the name of the Custodian or its nominee, for whose actions such Fund and Custodian, respectively, shall be fully responsible.  Upon the receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall hold such Securities in street certificate form, so called, with or without any indication of representative capacity.  However, unless it receives Instructions to the contrary, the Custodian will register all such portfolio Securities in the name of the Custodian’s authorized nominee.  All such Securities shall be held in an account of the Custodian containing only assets of the appropriate Fund or only assets held by the Custodian for the benefit of customers, provided that the records of the Custodian shall indicate at all times the Fund or other customer for which such Securities are held in such accounts and the respective interests therein.
 
(3)  The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by a Fund in, and each Fund hereby approves use of:  (a) The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation; (b)  any other clearing agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities depository; and (c) a Federal Reserve Bank or other entity authorized to operate the federal book-entry system described in the regulations of the Department of the Treasury or book-entry systems operated pursuant to comparable regulations of other federal agencies.  Upon the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic Securities owned by a Fund in any other domestic clearing agency that may otherwise be authorized by the SEC to serve in the capacity of depository or clearing agent for the Securities or other assets of investment companies and that acts as a Securities depository.  Each of the foregoing shall be referred to in this Agreement as a “Securities System”, and all such Securities Systems shall be listed on the attached Appendix A.  Use of a Securities System shall be in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and SEC rules and regulations, if any, and subject to the following provisions:
 
(i)  The Custodian may deposit the Securities directly or through one or more agents or Subcustodians which are also qualified to act as custodians for investment companies.
 
(ii)  Securities held in a Securities System shall be subject to any agreements or rules effective between the Securities System and the Custodian or a Subcustodian, as the case may be.
 
(iii)  Any Securities deposited or maintained in a Securities System shall be held in an account (“Account”) of the Custodian or a Subcustodian in the Securities System that includes only assets held by the Custodian or a Subcustodian as a custodian or otherwise for customers.
 
(iv)  The books and records of the Custodian shall at all times identify those Securities belonging to any one or more Funds which are maintained in a Securities System.
 
 
 

 
(v)  The Custodian shall pay for Securities purchased for the account of a Fund only upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that such Securities have been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in accordance with the rules of the Securities System, and (b) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of such Fund.  The Custodian shall transfer Securities sold for the account of a Fund only upon (a) receipt of advice from the Securities System that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Account of the Custodian in accordance with the rules of the Securities System, and (b) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of such Fund.  Copies of all advices from the Securities System relating to transfers of Securities for the account of a Fund shall be maintained for such Fund by the Custodian.  Such copies may be maintained by the Custodian in electronic form.  The Custodian shall make available to the Fund or its agent on the next business day, by Electronic Communication, facsimile, or other means reasonably acceptable to both parties, daily transaction activity that shall include each day’s transactions for the account of such Fund.
 
(vi)  The Custodian shall, if requested by a Fund pursuant to Instructions, provide such Fund with reports obtained by the Custodian or any Subcustodian with respect to a Securities System’s accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in the Securities System.
 
(c)   Free Delivery of Assets.
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and except as provided in Section 3 hereof, the Custodian, upon receipt of Special Instructions, will undertake to make free delivery of Assets, provided such Assets are on hand and available, in connection with a Fund’s transactions and to transfer such Assets to such broker, dealer, Subcustodian, bank, agent, Securities System or otherwise as specified in such Special Instructions.
 
(d)   Exchange of Securities.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will exchange Securities held by it for a Fund for other Securities or cash paid in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, conversion, or similar event, and will deposit any such Securities in accordance with the terms of any reorganization or protective plan.
 
Unless otherwise directed by Instructions, the Custodian is authorized to exchange Securities held by it in temporary form for Securities in definitive form, to surrender Securities for transfer into a name or nominee name as permitted in Section 4(b)(2), to effect an exchange of shares in a stock split or when the par value of the stock is changed, to sell any fractional shares, and, upon receiving payment therefor, to surrender bonds or other Securities held by it at maturity or call.
 
(e)   Purchases of Assets.
 
(1)   Securities Purchases.   In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian shall, with respect to a purchase of Securities, pay for such Securities out of monies held for a Fund’s account for which the purchase was made, but only insofar as monies are available therein for such purpose, and receive the Securities so purchased.  Unless the Custodian has received Special Instructions to the contrary, such payment will be made only upon delivery of such Securities to the Custodian, a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member, or a Securities System in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in connection with a repurchase agreement, the Custodian may release funds to a Securities System prior to the receipt of advice from the Securities System that the Securities underlying such repurchase agreement have been transferred by book-entry into the Account maintained with such Securities System by the Custodian, provided that the Custodian’s instructions to the Securities System require that the Securities System may make payment of such funds to the other party to the repurchase agreement
 
 
 

 
only upon transfer by book-entry of the Securities underlying the repurchase agreement into such Account; (ii) in the case of options, Interest Bearing Deposits,  currency deposits and other deposits, and foreign exchange transactions, pursuant to Sections 4(g), 4(k), and 4(l) hereof, the Custodian may make payment therefor before receipt of an advice of transaction; and (iii) the Custodian may make payment for Securities or other Assets prior to delivery thereof in accordance with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Security or other Asset, including, but not limited to, Securities and other Assets as to which payment for the Security and receipt of the instrument evidencing the Security are under generally accepted trade practices or the terms of the instrument representing the Security expected to take place in different locations or through separate parties.
 
(2)   Other Assets Purchased.   Upon receipt of Instructions and except as otherwise provided herein, the Custodian shall pay for and receive other Assets for the account of a Fund as provided in Instructions.
 
(f)    Sales of Assets.
 
(1)   Securities Sold .  In accordance with Instructions, the Custodian shall, with respect to a sale, deliver or cause to be delivered the Securities thus designated as sold to the broker or other person specified in the Instructions relating to such sale.  Unless the Custodian has received Special Instructions to the contrary, such delivery shall be made only upon receipt of payment therefor in the form of: (a) cash, certified check, bank cashier’s check, bank credit, or bank wire transfer; (b) credit to the account of the Custodian with a clearing corporation of a national securities exchange of which the Custodian is a member; or (c) credit to the Account of the Custodian with a Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(b)(3) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Custodian may deliver Securities and other Assets prior to receipt of payment for such Securities in accordance with Instructions, applicable laws, generally accepted trade practices, or the terms of the instrument representing such Security or other Asset.  For example, Securities held in physical form may be delivered and paid for in accordance with “street delivery custom” to a broker or its clearing agent, against delivery to the Custodian of a receipt for such Securities, provided that the Custodian shall have taken reasonable steps to ensure prompt collection of the payment for, or return of, such Securities by the broker or its clearing agent, and provided further that the Custodian shall not be responsible for the selection of or the failure or inability to perform of such broker or its clearing agent or for any related loss arising from delivery or custody of such Securities prior to receiving payment therefor.
 
(2) Other Assets Sold.   Upon receipt of Instructions and except as otherwise provided herein, the Custodian shall receive payment for and deliver other Assets for the account of a Fund as provided in Instructions.
 
(g)   Options.
 
(1)  Upon receipt of Instructions relating to the purchase of an option or sale of a covered call option, the Custodian shall:  (a) receive and retain Instructions or other documents, to the extent they are provided to the Custodian, evidencing the purchase or writing of the option by a Fund; (b) if the transaction involves the sale of a covered call option, deposit and maintain in a segregated account the Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System) subject to the covered call option written on behalf of such Fund; and (c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash or
 
 
 

 
other Assets in accordance with any notices or other communications evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such options which are furnished to the Custodian by the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”), the securities or options exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such option transactions.
 
(2)  Upon receipt of Instructions relating to the sale of a naked option (including stock index and commodity options), the Custodian, the appropriate Fund and the broker-dealer shall enter into an agreement to comply with the rules of the OCC or of any registered national securities exchange or similar organizations(s).  Pursuant to that agreement and such Fund’s Instructions, the Custodian shall:  (a) receive and retain Instructions or other documents, if any, evidencing the writing of the option; (b) deposit and maintain in a segregated account, Securities (either physically or by book-entry in a Securities System), cash and/or other Assets; and (c) pay, release and/or transfer such Securities, cash or other Assets in accordance with any such agreement and with any notices or other communications evidencing the expiration, termination or exercise of such option which are furnished to the Custodian by the OCC, the securities or options exchanges on which such options were traded, or such other organization as may be responsible for handling such option transactions.  The appropriate Fund and the broker-dealer shall be responsible for determining the quality and quantity of assets held in any segregated account established in compliance with applicable margin maintenance requirements and the performance of other terms of any option contract.
 
(h)   Segregated Accounts.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall establish and maintain on its books a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of a Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred Assets of such Fund, including Securities maintained by the Custodian in a Securities System pursuant to Paragraph (b)(3) of this Section 4, said account or accounts to be maintained (i) for the purposes set forth in Sections 4(g) and 4(m);  and (ii) for the purpose of compliance by such Fund with the procedures required by  SEC Investment Company Act Release Number 10666 or any subsequent release or releases relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies; or (iii) for such other purposes as may be set forth, from time to time, in Special Instructions.  The Custodian shall not be responsible for the determination of the type or amount of Assets to be held in any segregated account referred to in this paragraph, or for compliance by the Fund with required procedures noted in (ii) above.
 
(i)   Depositary Receipts.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall surrender or cause to be surrendered Securities to the depository used for such Securities by an issuer of American Depositary Receipts or International Depositary Receipts (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as “ADRs”), against a written receipt therefor adequately describing such Securities and written evidence satisfactory to the organization surrendering the same that the depository has acknowledged receipt of instructions to issue ADRs with respect to such Securities in the name of the Custodian or a nominee of the Custodian, for delivery in accordance with such instructions.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall surrender or cause to be surrendered ADRs to the issuer thereof, against a written receipt therefor adequately describing the ADRs surrendered and written evidence satisfactory to the organization surrendering the same that the issuer of the ADRs has acknowledged receipt of instructions to cause its depository to deliver the Securities underlying such ADRs in accordance with such instructions.
 
 
 

 
(j)   Corporate Actions, Put Bonds, Called Bonds, Etc.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) deliver warrants, puts, calls, rights or similar Securities to the issuer or trustee thereof (or to the agent of such issuer or trustee) for the purpose of exercise or sale, provided that the new Securities, cash or other Assets, if any, acquired as a result of such actions are to be delivered to the Custodian; and (b) deposit Securities upon invitations for tenders thereof, provided that the consideration for such Securities is to be paid or delivered to the Custodian, or the tendered Securities are to be returned to the Custodian.
 
Unless otherwise directed to the contrary in Instructions, the Custodian shall comply with the terms of all mandatory or compulsory exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions, or similar rights of security ownership of which the Custodian receives notice through data services or publications to which it normally subscribes, and shall promptly notify the appropriate Fund of such action.
 
Each Fund agrees that if it gives an Instruction for the performance of an act on the last permissible date of a period established by the Custodian or any optional offer or on the last permissible date for the performance of such act, the Fund shall hold the Custodian harmless from any adverse consequences in connection with acting upon or failing to act upon such Instructions.
 
If a Fund wishes to receive periodic corporate action notices of exchanges, calls, tenders, redemptions and other similar notices pertaining to Securities and to provide Instructions with respect to such Securities via the internet, the Custodian and such Fund may enter into a Supplement to this Agreement whereby such Fund will be able to participate in the Custodian’s Electronic Corporate Action Notification Service.
 
(k)   Interest Bearing Deposits.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions directing the Custodian to purchase interest bearing fixed-term certificates of deposit or call deposits (hereinafter referred to, collectively, as “Interest Bearing Deposits”) for the account of a Fund, the Custodian shall purchase such Interest Bearing Deposits with such banks or trust companies, including the Custodian, any Subcustodian or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Custodian (hereinafter referred to as “Banking Institutions”), and in such amounts as such Fund may direct pursuant to Instructions.  Such Interest Bearing Deposits shall be denominated in U.S. dollars.  Interest Bearing Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be in the name of the Fund.  Interest Bearing Deposits issued by another Banking Institution may be in the name of the Fund or the Custodian or in the name of the Custodian for its customers generally.  The responsibilities of the Custodian to a Fund for Interest Bearing Deposits issued by the Custodian shall be that of a U.S. bank for a similar deposit.  With respect to Interest Bearing Deposits issued by any other Banking Institution, (a) the Custodian shall be responsible for the collection of income and the transmission of cash to and from such accounts; and (b) the Custodian shall have no duty with respect to the selection of the Banking Institution or for the failure of such Banking Institution to pay upon demand.
 
(l)   Foreign Exchange Transactions.
 
(l)  Each Fund may appoint the Custodian as its agent in the execution of all currency exchange transactions.  If requested, the Custodian agrees to provide exchange rate and U.S. Dollar information, in writing, or by other means agreeable to both parties, to the Funds.
 
(2)  Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall settle foreign exchange contracts or options to purchase and sell foreign currencies for spot and future delivery on behalf of and for the account of a Fund with such currency brokers or Banking Institutions as such Fund may determine and direct pursuant to Instructions.  If, in its Instructions, a Fund does not direct the Custodian to utilize a particular currency broker or Banking Institution, the Custodian is authorized to select such currency broker or Banking Institution as it deems appropriate to execute the Fund’s foreign currency transaction.  It is understood that all such transactions shall be undertaken by the Custodian as agent for the Funds.
 
 
 

 
(3)  Each Fund accepts full responsibility for its use of third party foreign exchange brokers and for execution of said foreign exchange contracts and understands that the Fund shall be responsible for any and all costs and interest charges which may be incurred as a result of the failure or delay of its third party broker to deliver foreign exchange.  The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to the selection of the currency brokers or Banking Institutions with which a Fund deals or the performance or non-performance of such brokers or Banking Institutions.
 
(4)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon receipt of Instructions the Custodian may, in connection with a foreign exchange contract, make free outgoing payments of cash in the form of U.S. Dollars or foreign currency prior to receipt of confirmation of such foreign exchange contract or confirmation that the countervalue currency completing such contract has been delivered or received.
 
(m)   Pledges or Loans of Securities.
 
(1)  Upon receipt of Instructions from a Fund, the Custodian will release or cause to be released Securities held in custody to the pledgees designated in such Instructions by way of pledge or hypothecation to secure loans incurred by such Fund with various lenders including but not limited to UMB Bank, n.a.; provided, however, that the Securities shall be released only upon payment to the Custodian of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure existing borrowings, further Securities may be released or delivered, or caused to be released or delivered for that purpose upon receipt of Instructions.  Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will pay, but only from funds available for such purpose, any such loan upon re-delivery to it of the Securities pledged or hypothecated therefor and upon surrender of the note or notes evidencing such loan.  In lieu of delivering collateral to a pledgee, the Custodian, on the receipt of Instructions, shall transfer the pledged Securities to a segregated account for the benefit of the pledgee.
 
(2)  Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian will release securities to a securities lending agent appointed by the Fund and designated in such Instructions.  The Custodian shall act upon Instructions from the Fund and/or such agent in order to effect securities lending transactions on behalf of the Fund.  For its services in facilitating a Fund’s securities lending activities through such agent, the Custodian may receive from the agent a portion of the agent’s securities lending revenue or a fee directly from the Fund.  The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any losses arising in connection with the agent’s actions or omissions, including but not limited to the delivery of Securities prior to the receipt of collateral, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian.
 
(n)   Stock Dividends, Rights, Etc.
 
The Custodian shall receive and collect all stock dividends, rights, and other items of like nature and, upon receipt of Instructions, take action with respect to the same as directed in such Instructions.
 
(o)   Routine Dealings.
 
The Custodian will, in general, attend to all routine and operational matters in accordance with industry standards in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer, or other dealings with Securities or other property of each Fund, except as may be otherwise provided in this Agreement or directed from time to time by Instructions from any particular Fund.  The Custodian may also make payments to itself or others from the Assets for disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses incidental to handling Securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the appropriate Fund.
 
 
 

 
(p)   Collections.
 
The Custodian shall (a) collect amounts due and payable to each Fund with respect to Securities and other Assets; (b) promptly credit to the account of each Fund all income and other payments relating to Securities and other Assets held by the Custodian hereunder upon Custodian’s receipt of such income or payments or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Custodian and any particular Fund; (c) promptly endorse and deliver any instruments required to effect such collection; and (d) promptly execute ownership and other certificates, affidavits and other documents for all federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to Securities and other Assets, or in connection with the transfer of such Securities or other Assets; provided, however, that with respect to Securities registered in so-called street name, or physical Securities with variable interest rates, the Custodian shall use its best efforts to collect amounts due and payable to any such Fund.  The Custodian shall not be responsible for the collection of amounts due and payable with respect to Securities or other Assets that are in default.
 
Any advance credit of cash or Securities expected to be received shall be subject to actual collection and may, when the Custodian determines collection unlikely, be reversed by the Custodian.
 
(q)   Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions.
 
To enable each Fund to pay dividends or other distributions to shareholders of each such Fund and to make payment to shareholders who have requested repurchase or redemption of their shares of each such Fund (collectively, the “Shares”), the Custodian shall release cash or Securities insofar as available. In the case of cash, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Instructions, transfer such funds by check or wire transfer to any account at any bank or trust company designated by each such Fund in such Instructions.  In the case of Securities, the Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Special Instructions, make such transfer to any entity or account designated by each such Fund in such Special Instructions.
 
(r)   Proceeds from Shares Sold.
 
The Custodian shall receive funds representing cash payments received for shares issued or sold from time to time by each Fund, and shall credit such funds to the account of the appropriate Fund.  The Custodian shall notify the appropriate Fund of Custodian’s receipt of cash in payment for shares issued by such Fund by facsimile transmission or in such other manner as such Fund and the Custodian shall agree.  Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall: (a) deliver all federal funds received by the Custodian in payment for shares as may be set forth in such Instructions and at a time agreed upon between the Custodian and such Fund; and (b) make federal funds available to a Fund as of specified times agreed upon from time to time by such Fund and the Custodian, in the amount of checks received in payment for shares which are deposited to the accounts of such Fund.
 
(s)   Proxies and Notices; Compliance with the Shareholders Communication Act of 1985.
 
The Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the appropriate Fund, or its designated agent or proxy service provider, all forms of proxies, all notices of meetings, and any other notices or announcements affecting or relating to Securities owned by such Fund that are received by the Custodian and, upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall execute and deliver, or cause a Subcustodian or nominee to execute and deliver such proxies or other authorizations as may be required.  Except as directed pursuant to Instructions, the Custodian shall not vote upon any such Securities, or execute any proxy to vote thereon, or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto.
 
 
 

 
The Custodian will not release the identity of any Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and any such Fund unless a particular Fund directs the Custodian otherwise pursuant to Instructions.
 
(t)   Books and Records.
 
The Custodian shall maintain such records relating to its activities under this Agreement as are required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act and to preserve them for the periods prescribed in Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.  These records shall be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents (including independent public accountants) of the appropriate Fund during normal business hours of the Custodian.
 
The Custodian shall provide accountings relating to its activities under this Agreement as shall be agreed upon by each Fund and the Custodian, including the following recordkeeping requirements:
 
(1) Custodian shall render to the Fund a daily report showing (i) each transaction involving Securities effected by or reported to Custodian and (ii) stating the Fund’s account holdings.
 
(2) Custodian shall give reports to the Fund showing (i) each transaction involving Securities effected by or reported to Custodian; (ii) the identity and location of Securities held by Custodian as of the date of the report; (iii) any transfer of location of Securities not otherwise reported; and (iv) such other information as shall be agreed upon by the Fund and Custodian.  Unless otherwise agreed upon by the Fund and Custodian, Custodian shall provide the reports described in this paragraph on at least a monthly basis.
 
(3) Custodian shall create, maintain and retain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the Act, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 there under.
 
All records maintained by the Custodian in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement will remain the property of the Fund and in the event of termination of this Agreement will be returned to the Fund.
 
(u)   Opinion of Fund’s Independent Certified Public Accountants.
 
The Custodian shall take all reasonable action as each Fund may request to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from each such Fund’s independent certified public accountants with respect to the Custodian’s activities hereunder and in connection with the preparation of each such Fund’s periodic reports to the SEC and with respect to any other requirements of the SEC.
 
(v)   Reports by Independent Certified Public Accountants.
 
At the request of a Fund, the Custodian shall deliver to such Fund a written report, which may be in electronic form, prepared by the Custodian’s independent certified public accountants with respect to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Custodian’s accounting system, internal accounting control, financial strength and procedures for safeguarding cash, Securities and other Assets, including cash, Securities and other Assets deposited and/or maintained in a Securities System or with a Subcustodian.  Such report shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail as may reasonably be required by such Fund and as may reasonably be obtained by the Custodian.
 
 
 

 
(w)   Bills and Other Disbursements.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall pay, or cause to be paid, all bills, statements, or other obligations of a Fund.
 
(x)   Precious Metals.
 
A Fund may, upon Special Instructions, direct the Custodian to appoint, or instruct the Domestic Subcustodian to appoint, a depository for the safekeeping and storage of gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals (“Precious Metals”) on behalf of such Fund.
 
(y)   Sweep or Automated Cash Management.
 
Upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall invest any otherwise uninvested cash of any Fund held by the Custodian in a money market mutual fund, a cash deposit product, or other cash investment vehicle made available by the Custodian from time to time, in accordance with the directions contained in such Instructions.  A fee may be charged or a spread may be received by the Custodian for investing the Fund’s otherwise uninvested cash in the available cash investment vehicles or products.
 
So long as Custodian acts in accordance with Instructions from Fund with respect to sweep or automated cash management, (i) the Custodian shall have no responsibility to determine whether any purchases of money market mutual fund shares or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product by or on behalf of the Funds under the terms of this section will cause any Fund to exceed the limitations contained in the 1940 Act on ownership of shares of another registered investment company or any other asset or portfolio restrictions or limitations contained in applicable laws or regulations or the Funds’ prospectus.  Each Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian from all losses, damages and expenses (including attorney’s fees) suffered or incurred by the Custodian as a result of a violation by such Fund of the limitations on ownership of shares of another registered investment company or any other cash investment vehicle or cash deposit product.
 
(z)  Custodian shall ensure that (i) the Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien, or claim of any kind in favor of Custodian or any Sub-Custodian except for Custodian’s expenses relating to the Securities’ safe custody and  administration  and any taxes, charges, fees, assessments, obligations, claims or liabilities incurred by Custodian in connection with acting in such capacity for the Funds, or, in the case of cash deposits, liens, or rights in favor of the creditors of the Sub-Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws, and (ii) the beneficial ownership of the Securities will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody and administration.
 
5.    SUBCUSTODIANS .
 
From time to time, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement, (i) the Custodian may appoint one or more Domestic Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians or Interim Subcustodians (each as hereinafter defined) to act on behalf of any one or more Funds; and (ii) the Custodian may be directed, pursuant to an agreement between a Fund and the Custodian (“Delegation Agreement”), to appoint a Domestic Subcustodian to perform the duties of the Foreign Custody Manager (as such term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act) (“Approved Foreign Custody Manager”) for such Fund so long as such Domestic Subcustodian is so eligible under the 1940 Act.  Such Delegation Agreement shall provide that the appointment of any Domestic Subcustodian as the Approved Foreign Custody Manager must be governed by a written
 
 

 

agreement between the Custodian and the Domestic Subcustodian, which provides for compliance with Rule 17f-5.  The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may then appoint a Foreign Subcustodian or Interim Subcustodian in accordance with this Section 5.  For purposes of this Agreement, all Domestic Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Foreign Subcustodians and Interim Subcustodians shall be referred to collectively as “Subcustodians.”
 
(a)   Domestic Subcustodians.
 
The Custodian may, at any time and from time to time, appoint any bank as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act or any trust company or other entity, any of which meets the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, to act for the Custodian on behalf of any one or more Funds as a subcustodian for purposes of holding Assets of such Fund(s) and performing other functions of the Custodian within the United States (a “Domestic Subcustodian”).  Each Fund shall approve in writing the appointment of the proposed Domestic Subcustodian; and the Custodian’s appointment of any such Domestic Subcustodian shall not be effective without such prior written approval of the Fund(s). Each such duly approved Domestic Subcustodian shall be reflected on Appendix A hereto as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(b)   Foreign Subcustodians.
 
(1)           The Approved Foreign Custody Manager may appoint any entity meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian, as such term is defined in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, and which term shall also include a bank that qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act or by SEC order is exempt therefrom (each a “Foreign Subcustodian” in the context of either a subcustodian or a sub-subcustodian), provided that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s appointments of such Foreign Subcustodians shall at all times be governed by an agreement that complies with Rule 17f-5.
 
(2)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Approved Foreign Custody Manager determines that it will not provide delegation services (i) in a country in which a Fund has directed that the Fund invest in a security or other Asset or (ii) with respect to a specific Foreign Subcustodian which the Fund has directed be used, the Custodian shall, or shall cause the Approved Foreign Custody Manager to, promptly notify the Fund in writing by facsimile transmission, Electronic Communication, or otherwise of the unavailability of the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s delegation services in such country.  The Custodian and the Approved Foreign Custody Manager (or Domestic Subcustodian) as applicable, shall be entitled to rely on and shall have no liability or responsibility for following such direction from the Fund as a Special Instruction and shall have no duties or liabilities under this Agreement save those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each particular instance.  Upon the receipt of such Special Instructions, the Custodian may, in it absolute discretion, designate, or cause the Approved Foreign Custody Manager
 
 
 

 
 
to designate, an entity (defined herein as “Interim Subcustodian”) designated by the Fund in such Special Instructions, to hold such security or other Asset.  In such event, the Fund represents and warrants that it has made a determination that the arrangement with such Interim Subcustodian satisfies the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 17f-5, if applicable).  It is further understood that where the Approved Foreign Custody Manager and the Custodian do not agree to provide fully to the Fund the services under this Agreement and the Delegation Agreement with respect to a particular country or specific Foreign Subcustodian, the Fund may delegate such services to another delegate pursuant to Rule 17f-5.
 
(c)   Special Subcustodians.
 
Upon receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian shall, on behalf of a Fund, appoint one or more banks, trust companies or other entities designated in such Special Instructions to act for the Custodian on behalf of such Fund as a subcustodian for purposes of: (i) effecting third-party repurchase transactions with banks, brokers, dealers or other entities through the use of a common custodian or subcustodian; (ii) providing depository and clearing agency services with respect to certain variable rate demand note Securities, (iii) providing depository and clearing agency services with respect to dollar denominated Securities; and (iv) effecting any other transactions designated by such Fund in such Special Instructions. Each such designated subcustodian (hereinafter referred to as a “Special Subcustodian”) shall be listed on Appendix A attached hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.  In connection with the appointment of any Special Subcustodian, the Custodian may enter into a subcustodian agreement with the Special Subcustodian.
 
(d)   Termination of a Subcustodian.
 
The Custodian may, at any time in its discretion upon notification to the appropriate Fund(s), terminate any Subcustodian of such Fund(s) in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement, and upon the receipt of Special Instructions, the Custodian shall terminate any Subcustodian in accordance with the termination provisions under the applicable subcustodian agreement.
 
(e)   Information Regarding Foreign Subcustodians.
 
Upon request of a Fund, the Custodian shall deliver, or cause any Approved Foreign Custody Manager to deliver, to the Fund a letter or list stating:  (i) the identity of each Foreign Subcustodian then acting on behalf of the Custodian; (ii) the Eligible Securities Depositories (as defined in Section 5(f)) in each foreign market through which each Foreign Subcustodian is then holding cash, securities and other Assets of the Fund; and (iii) such other information as may be requested by the Fund to ensure compliance with rules and regulations under the 1940 Act.
 
(f)   Eligible Securities Depositories.
 
(1)  The Custodian or the Domestic Subcustodian may place and maintain a Fund’s Foreign Assets  with an Eligible Securities Depository (as defined in Rule 17f-7, which term shall include any other securities depository for which the SEC by exemptive order has permitted registered investment companies to maintain their assets).
 
(2)  Upon the request of a Fund, the Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to provide to the Fund (including the Fund’s board of directors or trustees) and/or the Fund’s adviser or other agent an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets with such Eligible Securities Depository utilized directly or indirectly by the Custodian or the Domestic Subcustodian as of the date hereof (or, in the case of an Eligible Securities Depository not so utilized as of the date hereof, prior to the placement of the Fund’s Foreign Assets at such depository) and at which any Foreign Assets of the Fund are held or are expected to be held.  The Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to monitor the custody risks associated with maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets at each such Eligible Securities Depository on a continuing basis and shall promptly notify the Fund or its adviser of any material changes in such risks through the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s letter, market alerts or other periodic correspondence.
 
 
 

 
(3)  The Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to determine the eligibility under Rule 17f-7 of each foreign securities depository before maintaining the Fund’s Foreign Assets therewith and shall promptly advise the Fund if any Eligible Securities Depository ceases to be so eligible.  Notwithstanding Subsection 17(c) hereof, Eligible Securities Depositories may, subject to Rule 17f-7, be added to or deleted from such list from time to time.
 
(4) Withdrawal of Assets.  If an arrangement with an Eligible Securities Depository no longer meets the requirements of Rule 17f-7, the Custodian shall direct the Domestic Subcustodian to withdraw the Fund’s Foreign Assets from such depository as soon as reasonably practicable.
 
(5)  Standard of Care.  In fulfilling its responsibilities under this Section 5(f), the Custodian will exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence.
 
6.     STANDARD OF CARE.
 
(a)   General Standard of Care.
 
The Custodian shall exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duties hereunder.  The Custodian shall be liable to a Fund for all losses, damages and reasonable costs and expenses suffered or incurred by such Fund resulting from the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian (notwithstanding language in Sections 2(a), 2(f), 6(f), and 6(g)); provided, however, in no event shall the Custodian be liable for attorneys’ fees or for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
 
(b)   Actions Prohibited by Applicable Law, Etc.
 
In no event shall the Custodian incur liability hereunder if the Custodian or any Subcustodian or Securities System, or any Subcustodian, Eligible Securities Depository utilized by any such Subcustodian, or any nominee of the Custodian or any Subcustodian (individually, a “Person”) is prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed, by reason of:  (i) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or of any foreign country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction (and neither the Custodian nor any other Person shall be obligated to take any action contrary thereto); or (ii) any “Force Majeure,” which for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean any circumstance or event which is beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian, a Subcustodian or any agent of the Custodian or a Subcustodian and which adversely affects the performance by the Custodian of its obligations hereunder, by the Subcustodian of its obligations under its subcustodian agreement or by any other agent of the Custodian or the Subcustodian, unless in each case, such delay or nonperformance is caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian.  Such Force Majeure events may include any event caused by, arising out of or involving (a)
 
 

 

an act of God, (b) accident, fire, water damage or explosion, (c) any computer, system outage or downtime or other equipment failure or malfunction caused by any computer virus or any other reason or the malfunction or failure of any communications medium, (d) any interruption of the power supply or other utility service, (e) any strike or other work stoppage, whether partial or total, (f) any delay or disruption resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk (as defined below), (g) any disruption of, or suspension of trading in, the securities, commodities or foreign exchange markets, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, (h) any encumbrance on the transferability of cash, currency or a currency position on the actual settlement date of a foreign exchange transaction, whether or not resulting from or reflecting the occurrence of any Sovereign Risk, or (i) any other cause similarly beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian.  However, Custodian shall use reasonable efforts to replace Securities lost or damaged due to such causes with securities of the same class and issue with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto.
 
Subject to the Custodian’s general standard of care set forth in Subsection 6(a) hereof and the requirements of Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act and Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7 thereunder, the Custodian shall not incur liability hereunder if any Person is prevented, forbidden or delayed from performing, or omits to perform, any act or thing which this Agreement provides shall be performed or omitted to be performed by reason of any (i) “Sovereign Risk,” which for the purpose of this Agreement shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including but not limited to the United States of America, where investments are acquired or held under this Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange control restrictions by any governmental authority, (c) the confiscation, expropriation or nationalization of any investments by any governmental authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any devaluation or revaluation of the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other charges affecting investments, (f) any change in the applicable law, or (g) any other economic, systemic or political risk incurred or experienced that is not directly related to the economic or financial conditions of the Eligible Foreign Custodian, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Delegation Agreement, or (ii) “Country Risk,” which for the purpose of this Agreement shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of investments in a jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and markets factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of investments, including (a) the prevalence of crime and corruption in such jurisdiction, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial information (unrelated to the Approved Foreign Custody Manager’s duties imposed by Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act or to the duties imposed on the Custodian by Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act), (c) the instability or volatility of banking and financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which such investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation of any Eligible Securities Depository, it being understood that this provision shall not excuse the Custodian’s performance under the express terms of this Agreement, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents, counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer agents, (g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets, and (h) the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of a Fund’s Foreign Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that, in compliance with Rule 17f-5, neither Sovereign Risk nor Country Risk shall include the custody risk of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian of a Fund’s Foreign Assets.
 
(c)   Liability for Past Records.
 
Neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall have any liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by a Fund, insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of the Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian in reliance upon records that were maintained for such Fund by entities other than the Custodian or any Domestic Subcustodian prior to the Custodian’s employment hereunder.
 
 
 

 
(d)   Advice of Counsel.
 
The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be entitled to receive and act upon advice of counsel of its own choosing on all matters.  The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be without liability for any actions taken or omitted in good faith pursuant to the advice of counsel.
 
(e)   Advice of the Fund and Others.
 
The Custodian and any Domestic Subcustodian may rely upon the advice of any Fund and upon statements of such Fund’s accountants and other persons believed by it in good faith to be expert in matters upon which they are consulted, and neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall be liable for any actions taken or omitted, in good faith, pursuant to such advice or statements.
 
(f)   Information Services.
 
The Custodian may rely upon information received from issuers of Securities or agents of such issuers, information received from Subcustodians or depositories, information from data reporting services that provide detail on corporate actions and other securities information, and other commercially reasonable industry sources; and, provided the Custodian has acted in accordance with the standard of care set forth in Section 6 (a), the Custodian shall have no liability as a result of relying upon such information sources, including but not limited to errors in any such information.
 
(g)   Instructions Appearing to be Genuine.
 
The Custodian and all Domestic Subcustodians shall be fully protected and indemnified in acting as a custodian hereunder upon any Resolutions of the Board of Directors or Trustees, Instructions, Special Instructions, advice, notice, request, consent, certificate, instrument or paper appearing to it to be genuine and to have been properly executed and shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, be entitled to receive as conclusive proof of any fact or matter required to be ascertained from any Fund hereunder a certificate signed by any officer of such Fund authorized to countersign or confirm Special Instructions.  The Custodian shall have no liability for any losses, damages or expenses incurred by a Fund arising from the use of a non-secure form of email or other non-secure electronic system or process.
 
(h)   No Investment Advice.
 
The Custodian shall have no duty to assess the risks inherent in Securities or other Assets or to provide investment advice, accounting or other valuation services regarding any such Securities or other Assets.
 
(i)   Exceptions from Liability.
 
Without limiting the generality of any other provisions hereof, neither the Custodian nor any Domestic Subcustodian shall be under any duty or obligation to inquire into, nor be liable for:
 
(i)  the validity of the issue of any Securities purchased by or for any Fund, the legality of the purchase thereof or evidence of ownership required to be received by any such Fund, or the propriety of the decision to purchase or amount paid therefor;
 
 
 

 
(ii) the legality of the sale, transfer or movement of any Securities by or for any Fund, or the propriety of the amount for which the same were sold; or
 
(iii)  any other expenditures, encumbrances of Securities, borrowings or similar actions with respect to any Fund’s Assets;
 
and may, until notified to the contrary, presume that all Instructions or Special Instructions received by it are not in conflict with or in any way contrary to any provisions of any such Fund’s Declaration of Trust, Partnership Agreement, Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or votes or proceedings of the shareholders, trustees, partners or directors of any such Fund, or any such Fund’s currently effective Registration Statement on file with the SEC.
 
7.    LIABILITY OF THE CUSTODIAN FOR ACTIONS OF OTHERS.
 
(a)   Domestic Subcustodians.
 
Except as provided in Section 7(d), the Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of any Domestic Subcustodian to the same extent as if such actions or omissions were performed by the Custodian itself.
 
(b)   Liability for Acts and Omissions of Foreign Subcustodians.
 
The Custodian shall be liable to a Fund for any loss or damage to such Fund caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of any Foreign Subcustodian to the extent that, under the terms set forth in the subcustodian agreement between the Custodian or a Domestic Subcustodian and such Foreign Subcustodian, the Foreign Subcustodian has failed to perform in accordance with the standard of conduct imposed under such subcustodian agreement and the Custodian or Domestic Subcustodian recovers from the Foreign Subcustodian under the applicable subcustodian agreement.
 
(c)   Securities Systems, Interim Subcustodians, Special Subcustodians, Eligible Securities Depositories.
 
The Custodian shall not be liable to any Fund for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by such Fund resulting from or occasioned by the actions or omissions of a Securities System, Interim Subcustodian, Special Subcustodian, or Eligible Securities Depository unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian.
 
(d)   Failure of Third Parties.
 
The Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by any Fund resulting from or occasioned by the actions, omissions, neglects, defaults, insolvency or other failure of any (i) issuer of any Securities or of any agent of such issuer; (ii) any counterparty with respect to any Security or other Asset, including any issuer of any option, futures, derivatives or commodities contract; (iii) investment adviser or other agent of a Fund; or (iv) any broker, bank, trust company or any other person with whom the Custodian may deal (other than any of such entities acting as a Subcustodian, Securities System or Eligible Securities Depository, for whose actions the liability of the Custodian is set out elsewhere in this Agreement); or (v) any agent or depository (including but not limited to a securities lending agent or precious metals depository) with whom the Custodian may deal at the direction of, and behalf of, a Fund; unless such loss, damage or expense is caused by, or results from, the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian or the Custodian’s breach of the terms of any contract between the Funds and the Custodian.
 
 
 

 
8.    INDEMNIFICATION.
 
(a)   Indemnification by Fund.
 
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, each Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and its nominees from all losses, damages and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) suffered or incurred by the Custodian or its nominee caused by or arising from actions taken by the Custodian, its employees or agents in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any indemnification obligations undertaken by the Custodian under any relevant subcustodian agreement; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not apply to the extent the Custodian is liable under Sections 6 or 7 hereof.
 
If any Fund requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to Securities, which action involves the payment of money or which may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to such Fund being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, such Fund, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.
 
(b)   Indemnification by Custodian.
 
Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the Custodian agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Fund from all losses, damages and expenses (with the exception of those damages and expenses referenced in Section 6(a)) suffered or incurred by each such Fund caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian.
 
9.   ADVANCES.
 
In the event that the Custodian or any Subcustodian, Securities System, or Eligible Securities Depository acting either directly or indirectly under agreement with the Custodian (each of which for purposes of this Section 9 shall be referred to as “Custodian”), makes any payment or transfer of funds on behalf of any Fund as to which there would be, at the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer, insufficient funds held by the Custodian on behalf of any such Fund, the Custodian may, in its discretion without further Instructions, provide an advance (“Advance”) to any such Fund in an amount sufficient to allow the completion of the transaction by reason of which such payment or transfer of funds is to be made.  In addition, in the event the Custodian is directed by Instructions to make any payment or transfer of funds on behalf of any Fund as to which it is subsequently determined that such Fund has overdrawn its cash account with the Custodian as of the close of business on the date of such payment or transfer, said overdraft shall constitute an Advance.  Any Advance shall be payable by the Fund on behalf of which the Advance was made on demand by Custodian, unless otherwise agreed by such Fund and the Custodian, and shall accrue interest from the date of the Advance to the date of payment by such Fund to the Custodian at a rate determined from time to time by the Custodian.  It is understood that any transaction in respect of which the Custodian shall have made an Advance, including but not limited to a foreign exchange contract or transaction in respect of which the Custodian is not acting as a principal, is for the account of and at the risk of the Fund on behalf of which the Advance was made, and not, by reason of such Advance, deemed to be a transaction undertaken by the Custodian for its own account and risk.  The Custodian and each of the Funds which are parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the purpose of Advances is to finance temporarily the purchase or sale of Securities for prompt delivery in accordance with the settlement terms of such
 
 

 
 
transactions or to meet emergency expenses not reasonably foreseeable by a Fund. The Custodian shall promptly notify the appropriate Fund of any Advance.  Such notification may be communicated by telephone, Electronic Communication or facsimile transmission or in such other manner as the Custodian may choose.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to create an obligation on the part of the Custodian to advance monies to a Fund.
 
10.   SECURITY INTEREST.
 
To secure the due and prompt payment of all  Advances, together with any taxes, charges, fees, expenses, assessments, obligations, claims or liabilities incurred by the Custodian in connection with its or their performance of any duties under this Agreement, including Securities safe custody and administration (collectively, “Liabilities”), except for any Liabilities arising from or the Custodian’s negligence or willful  misconduct, each Fund grants to the Custodian a security interest in all of the Fund’s Securities and other Assets now or hereafter in the possession of the Custodian and all proceeds thereof (collectively, the “Collateral”), provided that no Fund shall be liable for the obligations of any other Fund, including Funds that are series of the same business trust.  A Fund shall promptly reimburse the Custodian for any and all such Liabilities.  In the event that a Fund fails to satisfy any of the Liabilities as and when due and payable, the Custodian shall have in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies arising hereunder or under local law, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code.  Without prejudice to the Custodian’s rights under applicable law, the Custodian shall be entitled, without notice to the Fund,  to withhold delivery of any Collateral, sell, set-off, or otherwise realize upon or dispose of any such Collateral and to apply the money or other proceeds and any other monies credited to the Fund  in satisfaction of the Liabilities.  This includes, but is not limited to, any interest on any such unpaid Liability as the Custodian deems reasonable, and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred by the Custodian in connection with the sale, set-off or other disposition of such Collateral.
 
11.    COMPENSATION.
 
It is understood and agreed that The Nottingham Company shall be responsible for paying to the Custodian such compensation as is agreed to in writing by the Custodian and the Fund from time to time out of compensation received by The Nottingham Company under the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between The Nottingham Company and the Fund.
 
In addition, each Fund shall reimburse the Custodian for actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with this Agreement, but excluding salaries and usual overhead expenses.  Such compensation and expenses shall be billed to each such Fund and paid in cash to the Custodian. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by a Fund to the Custodian shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
 
12.    POWERS OF ATTORNEY.
 
Upon request, each Fund shall deliver to the Custodian such proxies, powers of attorney or other instruments as may be reasonable and necessary or desirable in connection with the performance by the Custodian or any Subcustodian of their respective obligations under this Agreement or any applicable subcustodian agreement.
 
13.   TAX LAWS.
 
The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on a Fund or on the Custodian as custodian for such Fund by the tax law of any country or of any state or political subdivision thereof.  Each Fund agrees to indemnify the Custodian for and against any such obligations including taxes, tax reclaims, withholding and reporting requirements, claims for exemption or refund, additions for late payment, interest, penalties and other expenses (including legal expenses) that may be assessed against the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of a Fund.
 
 
 

 
14.   TERMINATION AND ASSIGNMENT.
 
Any Fund or the Custodian may terminate this Agreement by notice in writing, delivered or mailed, postage prepaid (certified mail, return receipt requested) to the other not less than 90 days prior to the date upon which such termination shall take effect.  Upon termination of this Agreement, the appropriate Fund shall pay to the Custodian such fees as may be due the Custodian hereunder as well as its reimbursable disbursements, costs and expenses paid or incurred.  The Fund and Custodian shall act in good faith and use best efforts to complete a conversion to the newly appointed custodian within the 90-day notice period.  However, in the event such conversion cannot be completed within such time period, Custodian shall continue to act as Custodian and shall be entitled to the applicable fees hereunder for a period not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days after the 90-day notice period has expired.  Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall deliver, at the terminating party’s expense, all Assets held by it hereunder to a successor custodian designated by the Fund or, if a successor custodian is not designated, then to the appropriate Fund or as otherwise designated by such Fund by Special Instructions.  Upon such delivery, the Custodian shall have no further obligations or liabilities under this Agreement except as to the final resolution of matters relating to activity occurring prior to the effective date of termination.  In the event that for any reason Securities or other Assets remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date such termination shall take effect, the Custodian shall be entitled to compensation at the same rates as agreed to by the Custodian and the Funds during the term of this Agreement as set forth in Section 11.
 
This Agreement may not be assigned by the Custodian or any Fund without the respective consent of the other.
 
15.   ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
 
An additional Fund or Funds may become a party to this Agreement after the date hereof by an instrument in writing to such effect signed by such Fund or Funds and the Custodian.  If this Agreement is terminated as to one or more of the Funds (but less than all of the Funds) or if an additional Fund or Funds shall become a party to this Agreement, there shall be delivered to each party an Appendix B or an amended Appendix B, signed by each of the additional Funds (if any) and each of the remaining Funds as well as the Custodian, deleting or adding such Fund or Funds, as the case may be.  The termination of this Agreement as to less than all of the Funds shall not affect the obligations of the Custodian and the remaining Funds hereunder as set forth on the signature page hereto and in Appendix B as revised from time to time.
 
16.   NOTICES.
 
As to each Fund, notices, requests, instructions and other writings delivered to Starboard Investment Trust, c/o The Nottingham Company, Attn: Legal, 116 South Franklin Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, 27804, postage prepaid, or to such other address as any particular Fund may have designated to the Custodian in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to a Fund.
 
Notices, requests, instructions and other writings delivered to the Custodian at its office at 928 Grand Blvd., 5th Floor, Attn: Bonnie Johnson, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, postage prepaid,  or to such other addresses as the Custodian may have designated to each Fund in writing, shall be deemed to have been properly delivered or given to the Custodian hereunder; provided, however, that procedures for the delivery of Instructions and Special Instructions shall be governed by Section 2(c) hereof.
 
 
 

 
17.   CONFIDENTIALITY.
 
The parties agree that all Information, books and records provided by the Custodian or the Funds to each other in connection with this Agreement, and all information provided by either party pertaining to its business or operations, is “Confidential Information.”  All Confidential Information shall be used by the party receiving such information only for the purpose of providing or obtaining services under this Agreement and, except as may be required to carry out the terms of this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any other party without the express consent of the party providing such Confidential Information.  The foregoing limitations shall not apply to any information that is available to the general public other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any entity having regulatory authority over a party hereto or any auditor of a party hereto or that is required to be disclosed as a result of a subpoena or other judicial process, or otherwise by applicable laws.
 
18. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE.
 
The Funds represent and warrant that they have established and maintain policies and procedures designed to meet the requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act, including policies and procedures designed to detect and prevent money laundering, including those required by the USA PATRIOT Act.  The Funds agree to provide to the Custodian, from time to time upon the request of the Custodian, certifications regarding its compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other anti-money laundering laws.  The Funds acknowledge that, because the Custodian will not have information regarding the shareholders of the Funds, the Funds will assume responsibility for customer identification and verification and other CIP requirements in regard to such shareholders.
 
19.   MISCELLANEOUS.
 
(a)  This Agreement is executed and delivered in the State of Missouri and shall be governed by the laws of such state.
 
(b)  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
 
(c)  No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived in any manner except in writing, properly executed by both parties hereto; provided, however, Appendix A may be amended from time to time as Domestic Subcustodians, Securities Systems, and Special Subcustodians are approved or terminated according to the terms of this Agreement.
 
(d)  The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
 
(e)  This Agreement shall be effective as of the date of execution hereof.
 
(f)  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
 
(g)  If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered severable and shall not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.
 
 
 

 
(h)  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Delegation Agreement (if applicable), as amended from time to time, constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter therein and accordingly, supersedes as of the effective date of this Agreement any custodian agreement heretofore in effect between the Funds and the Custodian.
 
(i)  The rights and obligations contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 17 of this Agreement shall continue, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, in order to fulfill the intention of the parties as described in such Sections.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Custody Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers.
 
   
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 
Attest: /s/ Meade B. Bridgers
 
 
By:  /s/  Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Title:  Chairman
   
 
Date:   9/22/11
     
   
 
UMB BANK, N.A.
 
Attest:  /s/  D. Riddle
 
 
By:  /s/ Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Name:  Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Title:  Vice-President
   
 
Date:  10/4/11
     
   
 
THE NOTTINGHAM COMPANY
Solely In Its Role As Payor Per Section 11
 
Attest:  /s/ Deborah A. Mills
 
 
By:  /s/  Jason B. Edwards
   
 
Name:  Jason B. Edwards
   
 
Title:  Chief Operating Officer
   
 
Date:  9/19/11


 
 

 

APPENDIX A

CUSTODY AGREEMENT

The following Subcustodians and Securities Systems are approved for use in connection with the Custody Agreement dated September 9, 2011.

SECURITIES SYSTEMS:

Depository Trust Company
Federal Book Entry


SPECIAL SUBCUSTODIANS:



DOMESTIC SUBCUSTODIANS:

Citibank (Foreign Securities Only)






STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 
UMB BANK, N.A.
 
By:   /s/ Jack E. Brinson
 
 
By:  /s/ Bonnie L. Johnson
 
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
 
 
Name:  Bonnie L. Johnson
 
Title:  Chairman
 
 
Title:  Vice-President
 
Date:  9/22/11
 
 
Date:  10/4/11
     
 
 
 

 
APPENDIX B
 
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
 
Updated: March 8, 2012
 
The following open-end management investment companies (“Funds”) are hereby made parties to the Custody Agreement dated September 9, 2011, with UMB Bank, n.a. (“Custodian”) and Starboard Investment Trust, and agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions contained in said Agreement:
 
Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
SCS Tactical Allocation Fund
FMX Growth Allocation Fund
Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund
FMX Total Return Fund
Crescent Strategic Income Fund
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
The Sector Rotation Fund
 

 
   
STARBOARD  INVESTMENT TRUST
 
Attest: / s / Deborah A. Mills
 
 
By:  /s/ Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Title:  Chairman
   
 
Date:   3/13/2012
     
   
 
UMB BANK, N.A.
 
Attest:  /s/ D. Riddle
 
 
By:  /s/ Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Name:  Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Title:  Vice-President
   
 
Date:  3/22/2012
     
   
 
THE NOTTINGHAM COMPANY
Solely In Its Role As Payor Per Section 11
 
Attest:  / s / Deborah A. Mills
 
 
By: /s/ Jason B. Edwards
   
 
Name:  Jason B. Edwards
   
 
Title:  Chief Operating Officer
   
 
Date:  3/21/2012




 
 


 
 

 
RULE 17f-5 DELEGATION AGREEMENT
 
By its execution of this Delegation Agreement by and between UMB Bank, n.a. (the Custodian ), a national banking association, with its principal office in Kansas City, Missouri, and each of the registered investment companies (on behalf of any series thereof, if applicable) listed on the Appendix to this Agreement, together with such additional companies as shall be made parties to this Agreement by the execution of a revised Appendix to this Agreement (such companies, and any series thereof, are referred to individually as a “Fund” and, collectively, as the “Funds”), the Funds hereby direct the Custodian to appoint Citibank, N.A., a National Banking Association under the laws of the United States of America, as the Approved Foreign Custody Manager (the Delegate ) under the terms of the Custody Agreement between the Funds and the Custodian to perform certain functions with respect to the custody of the Funds’ Assets (as defined in Section 13 of this Delegation Agreement) outside the United States of America.
WHEREAS, the Delegate has agreed to provide global custody services to the Custodian on behalf of the Funds through a Custodian Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Funds and Custodian agree as follows.  Capitalized terms shall have the meaning indicated in Section 13 of this Delegation Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
1.            Maintenance of Funds’ Assets Abroad .  Each Fund, acting through its Board of Directors or Trustees (the Board ), or its duly authorized representative, hereby instructs the Custodian to enter into a written agreement with the Delegate to place and maintain the Fund’s Assets outside the United States in accordance with instructions received from the Fund’s investment adviser.  (An investment adviser may include any duly authorized sub-adviser to the Fund.)  Such instruction shall represent a Special Instruction under the terms of the Custody Agreement between the Fund and the Custodian (the Custody Agreement ).  Each Fund acknowledges that: (a) the Custodian shall direct the Delegate to perform services hereunder only with respect to the countries where the Delegate provides custodial services to the Fund as indicated on the Delegate’s Subcustodian Network Listing; (b) depending on conditions in the particular country, advance notice may be required before the Delegate, upon the Custodian’s direction, shall be able to perform its duties in or with respect to such country (such advance notice to be reasonable in light of the specific facts and circumstances attendant to account set-up
 
 
 

 
and performance of duties in such country); and (c) nothing in this Delegation Agreement shall require the Custodian to direct the Delegate to provide delegated or custodial services in a specific country or countries, and there may from time to time be countries as to which the Delegate determines it will not provide delegation services.
2.            Delegation .  Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act ), and on behalf of and at the direction of the Funds, each Fund’s Board hereby directs the Custodian, and the Custodian hereby agrees, to appoint the Delegate to perform only those duties set forth in this Delegation Agreement concerning the safekeeping of each Funds’ Assets in each of the countries as to which Custodian has reported to the Funds that the Custodian shall have appointed the Delegate to act pursuant to Rule 17f-5.  The Custodian is hereby authorized to take such actions, and to direct the Delegate to take such actions, on behalf of or in the name of the Funds as are reasonably required to discharge its duties under this Delegation Agreement, including, without limitation, to cause the Funds’ Assets to be placed with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian in accordance herewith.  Each Fund confirms that it’s Board or investment adviser has considered and accepted the Sovereign Risk and prevailing Country Risk as part of its continuing investment decision process.
 
 
 

 
3.            Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian and Contract Administration .  The Custodian shall direct the Delegate pursuant to a written agreement to perform the following duties with respect to the selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians and administration of certain contracts governing the Funds’ foreign custodial arrangements:
(a)            Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodian .  The Delegate shall place and maintain the Funds’ Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian; provided that, the Delegate shall be required to determine that the Funds’ Assets will be subject to reasonable care based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including without limitation:
(i)           The Eligible Foreign Custodian's practices, procedures, and internal controls, including, but not limited to, the physical protections available for  certificated securities (if applicable), the controls and procedures for dealing with any Eligible Securities Depository, the method of keeping custodial records, and the security and data protection practices;
(ii)           Whether the Eligible Foreign Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for the Funds’ Assets;
(iii)           The Eligible Foreign Custodian's general reputation and standing; and
(iv)           Whether the Funds will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Eligible Foreign Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of such Eligible Foreign Custodian in the United States or such Eligible Foreign Custodian's appointment of an agent for service of process in the United States or consent to jurisdiction in the United States.
 
 
 

 
The Delegate shall be required to make the foregoing determination consistent with the standard of care set forth in Section 8 of this Delegation Agreement.
(b)            Contract Administration .  The Custodian shall require that the Delegate cause that the foreign custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian be governed by a written contract that the Delegate has determined will provide reasonable care for the Funds’ Assets based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of the Funds’ Assets as specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).  Each such contract shall, except as set forth in the last paragraph of this subsection (b), include provisions that provide:
(i)           For indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Funds will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract;
(ii)           That the Funds’ Assets will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Eligible Foreign Custodian or its creditors, except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration or, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of such Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws;
 
 
 

 
 
(iii)           That beneficial ownership of each Fund’s Assets will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration;
(iv)           That adequate records will be maintained identifying each Fund’s Assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund;
(v)           That each Fund's independent public accountants will be given access to those records described in (iv) above or confirmation of the contents of such records; and
(vi)           That the Fund will receive sufficient and timely periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of each Fund’s Assets, including, but not limited to, notification of any transfer to or from the Fund's account or a third party account containing foreign assets held for the benefit of the Fund.
The Custodian may permit in its agreement with the Delegate that such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in this Section 3(b), such other provisions that the Delegate determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for the Funds’ Assets as the specified provisions, in their entirety.
(c)            Limitation to Delegated Selection .  Notwithstanding anything in this Delegation Agreement to the contrary, the agreement between the Custodian and the Delegate may provide that the duties under this Section 3 shall apply only to Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Delegate and shall not apply to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate is directed to use pursuant to Section 7 of this Delegation Agreement.
 
 
 

 
4.            Monitoring .  The Custodian shall enter into an agreement with the Delegate that requires the Delegate to establish a system to monitor the appropriateness of maintaining each Fund’s Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian that has been selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Agreement.  The Custodian shall direct the Delegate to monitor the continuing appropriateness of placement of each Fund’s Assets in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(a) of this Delegation Agreement and such Eligible Foreign Custodian’s actual performance in accordance with the written contract as provided in Section 3(b) of this Delegation Agreement.  The Custodian shall direct the Delegate to monitor the continuing appropriateness of the contract governing each Fund's arrangements in accordance with the criteria established under Section 3(b) of this Delegation Agreement.
5.            Reporting .  The Custodian shall enter into an agreement with the Delegate providing that, initially,  prior to the placement of a Fund’s Assets with any Eligible Foreign Custodian, and thereafter, at least annually and at such other times as the Board deems reasonable and appropriate based on the circumstances of the Fund’s arrangements, the Delegate shall provide to the Board of each Fund, or to the Custodian for prompt provision to such Board,  written  reports specifying placement of the Fund’s Assets with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate pursuant to Section 3 of this Delegation Agreement and shall promptly report as to any material changes to such foreign custody arrangements.  Such reporting will include the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s Assets with a particular custodian under paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 17f-5 and the performance of the contract under paragraph (c)(2) of Rule 17f-5.  The agreement may provide that the Delegate will prepare such a report with respect to any Eligible Foreign Custodian that the Delegate has been instructed to use pursuant to Section 7 hereunder only to the extent specifically agreed with respect to the particular situation.
 
 
 

 
6.             Withdrawal of Fund Assets .  The Custodian shall enter into an agreement with the Delegate providing that, if the Delegate determines that an arrangement with a specific Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Delegate consistent with Section 3 of this Delegation Agreement no longer meets the requirements of said Section, the Delegate shall give the Custodian prompt notice of such determination and upon instructions the Delegate shall withdraw each Fund’s Assets from the non-complying arrangement as soon as reasonably practicable.  The Delegate shall use good faith to notify the Custodian as to any facts known to the Delegate, considering whether such withdrawal would require liquidation of any of the Fund’s Assets or would materially impair the liquidity, value or other investment characteristics of the Fund’s Assets.   Any such instructions from the Fund or the Fund's investment adviser to the Custodian regarding liquidation or withdrawal shall be in the form of Special Instructions.
7.            Direction as to Eligible Foreign Custodian .  Notwithstanding this Delegation Agreement, each Fund, acting through its Board, its investment adviser or its other authorized representative, may instruct the Custodian to direct the Delegate to place and maintain the Fund’s Assets in a particular country or with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian, including without limitation with respect to investment in countries as to which the Delegate reasonably determines that it will not provide delegation services.  In the event that the Delegate determines that it will provide delegation services in such country or with such Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Custodian will comply with the provisions otherwise set forth in this Delegation Agreement.  In the event that the Delegate reasonably determines that it will not provide delegation services in such country or with such Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Custodian and
 
 
 

 
Delegate shall be entitled to rely on any such instruction as a Special Instruction and shall have no duties or liabilities under this Delegation Agreement with respect to such arrangement save those that it may undertake specifically in writing with respect to each particular instance; provided that this Delegation Agreement and the Custodian Agreement shall not constitute the Custodian or the Delegate as the exclusive delegate of any of the Funds for purposes of Rule 17f-5 and, particularly where Custodian does not agree to provide fully the services under this Delegation Agreement and the Custody Agreement to a Fund with respect to a particular country, the Fund may delegate such services to another delegate pursuant to Rule 17f-5.
8.            Standard of Care .  In carrying out its duties under this Delegation Agreement, the Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for safekeeping the Funds’ Assets would exercise.  In addition, the Custodian will enter into a written agreement with the Delegate providing that, in carrying out its duties under its agreement with the Custodian, the Delegate will exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for safekeeping of the Funds’ Assets would exercise.
9.            Liability of the Custodian for Actions of Other Persons .  The Custodian shall be liable for the actions or omissions of the Delegate or any Eligible Foreign Custodian (excluding any Securities Depository appointed by them) to the extent that the Custodian fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, except as provided in Section 8 hereunder.
10.            Representations .  The Custodian hereby represents and warrants that it is a U.S. Bank and that this Delegation Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Custodian and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Custodian enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy laws and any other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and by equitable principles.  The Custodian will enter into an agreement with the Delegate in which the Delegate will represent and warrant that
 
 
 

 
it is a U.S. Bank and that the agreement between the Custodian and the Delegate has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Delegate and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Delegate enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy laws and any other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and by equitable principles.
Each Fund hereby represents and warrants that its Board has determined that it is reasonable to rely on the Custodian to direct the Delegate to perform the delegated responsibilities provided for herein and that this Delegation Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Fund enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy laws and any other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and by equitable principles.
11.            Effectiveness; termination .  This Delegation Agreement shall be effective as of September 9, 2011.  This Delegation Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party.  Such termination shall be effective on the 60th day following the date on which the non-terminating party shall receive the foregoing notice.  The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, this Delegation Agreement shall be deemed to have been terminated concurrently with the termination of the Custody Agreement.  The Custodian shall terminate its agreement with the Delegate pursuant to this Delegation Agreement concurrently with any termination of this Delegation Agreement.
 
 
 

 
12.            Notices .  Notices and other communications under this Delegation Agreement are to be made in accordance with the arrangements designated for such purpose under the Custody Agreement unless otherwise indicated in a writing referencing this Delegation Agreement and executed by both parties.
13.            Definitions .  Capitalized terms in this Delegation Agreement have the following meanings:
(a)            Country Risk - shall mean, with respect to the acquisition, ownership, settlement or custody of investments in a jurisdiction, all risks relating to, or arising in consequence of, systemic and market factors affecting the acquisition, payment for or ownership of investments including (a) the prevalence of crime and corruption except for crime or corruption by the Eligible Foreign Custodian or its employees, directors or officers for which the liability of the Custodian, the Delegate or the Approved Foreign Custody Manager is not predicated upon recovery of such damages from the Eligible Foreign Custodian, as set forth in the Delegate’s Subcustodian Network Listing, (b) the inaccuracy or unreliability of business and financial information (unrelated to the Custodian’s duties imposed by Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act or to the duties imposed upon it by Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act), (c) the instability or volatility of banking and financial systems, or the absence or inadequacy of an infrastructure to support such systems, (d) custody and settlement infrastructure of the market in which such investments are transacted and held, (e) the acts, omissions and operation of any  Eligible Securities
 
 

 
Depository, it being understood that this provision shall not excuse the Custodian’s performance under the express terms of this Agreement and its liability therefore, (f) the risk of the bankruptcy or insolvency of banking agents, counterparties to cash and securities transactions, registrars or transfer agents, (g) the existence of market conditions which prevent the orderly execution or settlement of transactions or which affect the value of assets, and (h) the laws relating to the safekeeping and recovery of a Fund’s Assets held in custody pursuant to the terms of the Custody Agreement; provided, however, that, in compliance with Rule 17f-5, neither Sovereign Risk nor Country Risk shall include the custody risk of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian of the Fund’s Assets.
(b)            Eligible Foreign Custodian - shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) and shall also include a bank that qualifies to serve as a custodian of assets of investment companies under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act.
(c)            Fund’s Assets - shall mean any of a Fund's investments (including currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States, and such currencies as are reasonably necessary to effect the Fund's transactions in such investments.
(d)            Special Instructions - shall have the meaning set forth in the Custody Agreement.
(e)           Eligible Securities Depository - shall have the meaning for an “Eligible Securities Depository” as set forth in Rule 17f-7.
(f)            Sovereign Risk - shall mean, in respect of any jurisdiction, including the United States of America, where investments are acquired or held hereunder or under the Custody Agreement, (a) any act of war, terrorism, riot, insurrection or civil commotion, (b) the imposition of any investment, repatriation or exchange control restrictions by any governmental authority, (c) the confiscation, expropriation or nationalization of any investments by any governmental authority, whether de facto or de jure, (d) any devaluation or revaluation of the currency, (e) the imposition of taxes, levies or other
 
 

 
charges affecting investments, (f) any change in the applicable law, or (g) any other economic, systemic or political risk incurred or experienced that is not directly related to the economic or financial conditions of the Eligible Foreign Custodian, except as otherwise provided in this Delegation Agreement or the Custody Agreement.
(g)            U. S. Bank – shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(7) under the 1940 Act.
14.            Governing Law and Jurisdiction .  This Delegation Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri.  The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal courts sitting in the State of Missouri.
15.            Fees .  The Custodian shall perform its functions under this Delegation Agreement for the compensation determined under the Custody Agreement.  Neither the Custodian nor the Delegate shall receive separate compensation from a Fund for the performance of the duties and services set forth in this Delegation Agreement.
16.            Integration .  This Delegation Agreement supplements and/or amends the Custody Agreement with respect to the selection and monitoring of Eligible Foreign Custodians, the administration of contracts with Eligible Foreign Custodians, the withdrawal of assets from Eligible Foreign Custodians and the issuance of letters or reports in connection with such duties; provided that, in the event that there are any inconsistencies between the Delegation Agreement and the Custody Agreement, the provisions of the Delegation Agreement shall govern for the purpose of compliance with Rule 17f-5.  The terms
 
 

 
of the Custody Agreement shall apply generally as to matters not expressly covered in this Delegation Agreement, including dealings with the Eligible Foreign Custodians in the course of discharge of the Custodian’s obligations under the Custody Agreement, and the Custodian’s obligation to indemnify the Funds as set forth in the Custody Agreement, and the Funds’ obligation to indemnify the Custodian as set forth in the Custody Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this Delegation Agreement to be duly executed.
 
Starboard Investment Trust
By:     /s/ Jack E. Brinson                                                   
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
Title:  Chairman
UMB Bank, n.a.
By:    /s/ Bonnie L. Johnson                                                    
Name:  Bonnie L. Johnson
Title:  Vice President
Effective Date:  September 22, 2011
 
 

 
APPENDIX


The following open-end registered investment companies ("Funds") are hereby made parties to the Rule 17f-5 Delegation Agreement between UMB Bank, n.a., as Custodian, and Starboard Investment Trust, and agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions contained in said Agreement:
Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
FMX Growth Allocation Fund
FMX Total Return Fund
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
The Sector Rotation Fund
 





   
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 
Attest:  /s/  Meade B. Bridgers
 
 
By:  /s/ Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
   
 
Title:  Chairman
   
 
Date:  9/22/11
     
   
 
UMB BANK, N.A.
 
Attest:  /s/  D. Riddle
 
 
By:  /s/ Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Name:  Bonnie L. Johnson
   
 
Title:     Vice President
   
 
Date:  10/4/11


Fund Accounting And Administration Agreement
 
Dated: March 8, 2012
 
This Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement (“Agreement”), is entered into as of the date noted above by and between the Starboard Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”), and The Nottingham Company, a North Carolina corporation (“Administrator”).
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”);
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to create separate series, each with its own separate investment portfolio (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”);
 
WHEREAS, Administrator is, among other things, in the business of providing fund administration services for the benefit of its customers;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the Trust and Administrator agree as follows:
 
1.
Engagement.   The Trust, being duly authorized, engages Administrator to perform the services described in this Agreement.  Administrator shall perform such services upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.  Any services undertaken by Administrator pursuant to this Agreement, as well as any other activities undertaken by Administrator on behalf of the Trust pursuant hereto, shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
 
Administrator shall at all times conform to, and shall use reasonable efforts to cause each Fund to conform to: (i) all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder; (ii) the provisions of the Registration Statement of the Trust under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act as amended from time to time; (iii) the provisions of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the Trust; and (iv) any other applicable provisions of state and federal law.
 
2.
Administration.   Subject to the direction and control of the Trust, Administrator shall serve as administrator of each Fund.  In addition, to the extent not otherwise provided by other parties under agreements with the Trust, Administrator shall supply:  (i) non-investment related statistical and research data; and (ii) executive and administrative services.  Administrator shall prepare or oversee the preparation by the Trust’s service providers, working with other professional firms where appropriate, of (i) filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, state securities commissions and other applicable agencies and authorities, (ii) financial statements and reports to shareholders, (iii) tax returns; (iv) proxy materials and post-effective amendments to the Trust’s registration statement; and (v) necessary materials for meetings of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.  Administrator shall provide personnel to serve as officers of the Trust if so elected by the Board of Trustees.
 
Executive and administrative services include, but are not limited to:
 
 
a)
the negotiation and retention of all third parties, selected by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, to furnish services to the Fund, subject to the input, oversight, and approval of the Board of Trustees;
 
 
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b)
review of the books and records of the Fund maintained by such third parties;
 
 
c)
review and payment of invoices or other requests for payment of Fund expenses;
 
 
d)
the services set forth on Schedule A; and
 
 
e)
such other action with respect to the Fund as may be necessary in the opinion of Administrator to perform its duties hereunder.
 
3.
Fund Accounting.   Administrator shall maintain and keep current the general ledger for each Fund, recording all income and expenses, capital share activity and security transactions of the Fund.  Administrator shall calculate the net asset value of each Fund and the per share net asset value of each Fund, in accordance with the Fund’s current prospectus and statement of additional information, once daily as of the time selected by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.  Administrator shall prepare and maintain a daily valuation of all securities and other assets of the Fund in accordance with instructions from a designated officer of the Trust and in the manner set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus and statement of additional information.  In valuing securities of the Trust, Administrator may contract with, and rely upon market quotations provided by, outside services.
 
Administrator shall also perform for each Fund all such fund accounting services and duties as are customary and necessary in the mutual fund industry for an investment company registered under the 1940 Act that elects to be taxable as a regulated investment company.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, (i) Administrator shall process each request received from the Trust or its authorized agents for payment of the Fund’s expenses, and (ii) upon receipt of written instructions signed by an officer or other authorized agent of the Trust, Administrator shall remit the appropriate amounts which shall be signed by an authorized signatory on behalf of the Trust and mailed to the appropriate party.
 
4.
Allocation of Charges and Expenses.   Except as noted in this section, Administrator shall assume all operating expenses of each Fund not specifically assumed by the Fund, including without limitation:
 
a)  
Compensation and expenses of any employees of the Trust and of any other persons rendering any services to the Fund;
 
b)  
clerical and shareholder service staff salaries;
 
c)  
office space and other office expenses;
 
d)  
fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company organizations;
 
e)  
fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and Trust;
 
f)  
fees and expenses of counsel to the Fund and Trust engaged to assist with preparation of Fund and Trust documents and filings and provide other ordinary legal services;
 
g)  
fees and expenses of independent public accountants to each Fund, including fees and expense for tax preparation;
 
 
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h)  
expenses of registering shares under federal and state securities laws;
 
i)  
insurance expenses;
 
j)  
fees and expenses of the custodian; shareholder servicing, dividend disbursing and transfer agent; administrator; distributor; and accounting and pricing services agent(s) of each Fund;
 
k)  
compensation for a chief compliance officer for the Trust;
 
l)  
expenses, including clerical expenses, of issue, sale, redemption, or repurchase of shares of the Fund;
 
m)  
the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders;
 
n)  
the cost of printing or preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information for delivery to the Fund’s current shareholders;
 
o)  
the cost of printing or preparing documents, statements or reports to shareholders; and
 
p)  
 and all other operating expenses not specifically assumed by the Fund.
 
With respect to Sections 4(e), 4(f), 4(g), and 4(j) above, the Administrator shall use reasonable commercial efforts to cause each service provider to execute written agreements waiving its right to bring a collection action against the Trust (including its Trustees, employees, and agents) with respect to its fee and expenses up to the maximum amount that the Administrator is required to pay such service provider.
 
The Administrator shall prepare periodic reports for the Board of Trustees regarding the operating expenses of each Fund.  The reports shall contain such information and be submitted on such periodic basis as requested by the Board of Trustees.
 
Administrator shall not be responsible for:
 
a)  
fees and expenses of the investment advisor of each Fund;
 
b)  
marketing, distribution, and servicing expenses related to the sale or promotion of Fund shares;
 
c)  
expenses incurred in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of a Fund;
 
d)  
expenses incurred in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of a Fund;
 
e)  
expenses related to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations;
 
f)  
indirect expenses of the Fund, such as expenses incurred by other investment companies in which the Fund invests;
 
g)  
hiring employees and retaining advisers and experts as contemplated by Rule 0-1(a)(7)(vii) of the 1940 Act; and
 
 
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h)  
expenses that the Funds are obligated to pay, as described in the following paragraph.
 
The Fund shall pay all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest or dividend expenses on securities sold short).  The Fund shall also pay all expenses which it is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  Administrator may obtain reimbursement from the Fund, at such time or times as Administrator may determine in its sole discretion, for any of the expenses advanced by Administrator that the Fund is obligated to pay, and such reimbursement shall not be considered to be part of Administrator’s compensation pursuant to this Agreement.  The Fund shall also pay for litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Trust’s trustees and officers with respect thereto.
 
5.
Compensation.   For the performance of Administrator’s obligations under this Agreement, each Fund listed on Schedule B shall pay Administrator a monthly fee as set forth on Schedule B following the end of each month.
 
6.
Recordkeeping and Other Information.   Administrator shall create and maintain all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to records required by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time, pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to contract with the Trust.  Where applicable, such records shall be maintained by Administrator for the periods and in the places required by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.  Administrator acknowledges that such records are the property of the Trust and will be surrendered promptly on request.
 
Administrator shall make available to the Trust during regular business hours all records and other data created and maintained pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Agreement for reasonable audit and inspection by the Trust or any regulatory agency having authority over the Trust.
 
7.
Equipment Failure.   In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its control, Administrator shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues beyond Administrator’s control.  Administrator shall make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of Administrator.  Administrator agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.  Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect Administrator’s premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of Administrator, upon reasonable notice to Administrator.
 
8.
Limitation of Liability.   Administrator may rely on information reasonably believed by it to be accurate and reliable.  Except as may otherwise be required by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, neither Administrator nor its shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, control persons or affiliates of any thereof (collectively, the “Administrator Employees”) shall be subject to any liability for, or any damages, expenses or losses incurred by the Trust in connection with, any error or judgment, mistake of law, any act or omission in connection with or arising out of any services rendered under or payments made pursuant to this Agreement or any other matter to which this Agreement relates, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of any such persons in the performance of the duties of Administrator under this Agreement or by reason of reckless disregard by any of such persons of the obligations and duties of Administrator under this Agreement.
 
Further, in no event shall Administrator be liable under any provision of, or in connection with, this agreement (regardless of whether a claim is based on contract, tort, or otherwise) for any damages other than actual and direct damages, and Administrator shall have no liability for any incidental, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary damages or losses which the Fund may incur or suffer, whether or not the likelihood or possibility of such damages was known to Administrator in advance.
 
 
-4-

 
Any person, even though also a director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent of Administrator, who may be or become an officer, trustee, employee or agent of the Trust, shall be deemed, when rendering services to the Trust or acting on any business of the Trust (other than services or business in connection with Administrator’s duties hereunder), to be rendering such services to or acting solely for the Trust (other than services or business in connection with Administrator’s duties hereunder) and not as a director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent, or one under the control or direction of Administrator, even though paid by it.
 
9.
Indemnification.   Subject to and except as otherwise provided in the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the interpretations thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Trust shall indemnify Administrator and each Administrator Employee (hereinafter collectively 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 serving as the administrator for a Fund hereunder or as a Administrator Employee, or, thereafter, by reason of being or having been the administrator for the Fund or a Administrator Employee, including but not limited to liabilities arising due to any misrepresentation or misstatement in the Fund’s prospectus or statement of additional information, other regulatory filings, and amendments thereto, or in other documents originating from the Trust.  In no case shall a Covered Person be indemnified against any liability to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties of such Covered Person.
 
Administrator shall indemnify the Trust, the Trustees, and the officers and employees of the Trust 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 accountant and counsel fees and disbursements, that the Trust, the Trustees, and the officers and the employees of the Trust may sustain or incur arising out of Administrator’s refusal or failure to pay the operating expenses specified in Section 4 of this agreement, its refusal or failure  to otherwise comply with the terms of this Agreement, or its bad faith, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.
 
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation which presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification.  The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee
 
 
-5-

 
against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
 
Performance by the Administrator of its obligations under this Agreement does not absolve or release the Trust or the Trust’s investment advisor from their fiduciary responsibilities to the Funds or the Funds’ shareholders.
 
10.
Services for Others.   Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Administrator or any affiliated person of Administrator from providing services for any other person, firm, or corporation, including other investment companies; provided, however, that Administrator expressly represents that it will undertake no activities that, in its judgment, will adversely affect the performance of its obligations to the Trust under this Agreement.
 
11.
Compliance with the 1940 Act.   The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that nothing contained herein shall be construed to require Administrator to perform any services for any Fund that could cause Administrator to be deemed an “investment advisor” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(20) of the 1940 Act or to supersede or contravene the prospectus or statement of additional information of any Fund or any provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
 
12.
Term of Agreement.   This agreement shall continue in effect until June 30, 2013 and shall thereafter be renewed automatically for successive terms with one-year periods.  The Trust may terminate this agreement (i) at any time by giving not less than sixty days’ prior written notice to the Administrator; or (ii) for cause, in the event of misconduct, negligence, or material breach of this agreement by the Administrator, by giving not less than thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrator.  The Administrator may terminate this agreement at the conclusion of the then current term by giving not less than sixty days’ prior written notice of non-renewal to the Trust.
 
13.
Duties in the Event of Termination.   Upon termination of this Agreement, the Administrator and the Trust agree to cooperate in good faith in transferring records and other information in the Administrator’s possession and wrapping up their relationship under this Agreement in a commercially reasonable manner.  The Trust shall pay to the Administrator such compensation as may be due to the Administrator under this Agreement for services performed prior to the date of termination, including any out-of-pocket reimbursements due and payable hereunder.
 
Upon termination of this Agreement, Administrator shall be paid the termination fee set forth on Schedule B.  The termination fee is not a penalty, but a charge to compensate Administrator for its service in assisting in transferring records and reports and otherwise wrapping up its services under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Administrator shall not be entitled to the termination fee if Administrator elects to terminate this Agreement or Administrator is terminated due to its willful misconduct, gross negligence, or breach of this Agreement.
 
 
-6-

 
14.
The Trust.   The term “Starboard Investment Trust” means and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust as the same may subsequently thereto have been, or subsequently hereto may be, amended.  It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agent, or employees of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the assets or property of the Fund or Funds as to which the obligations relate.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees of the Trust and signed by an officer of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets or property of the Fund or Funds or to which the obligations relate.
 
15.
Governing Law.   This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of North Carolina, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws; provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
 
16.
Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue.   The parties hereto submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue in the Superior Court in Nash County, North Carolina or the United States Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina for any action brought by the parties hereto arising out of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement.
 
17.
Confidentiality.   Administrator agrees on behalf of itself and its employees to treat confidential all records and other information relative to the Trust and its prior, present or potential shareholders and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than performance of its responsibilities and duties under this Agreement, except after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Administrator may divulge such confidential records and information where Administrator may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, when requested by duly constituted authorities, when so requested by the Trust’s investment advisor, principal underwriter, custodian, transfer agent, outside legal counsel or independent public accountants, or when so requested by the Trust.  For purposes of this section, the following records and other information shall not be considered confidential: (i) any record or other information which is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Administrator; (ii) any record and other information which is released by the Trust in a public release; (iii) any record or other information which is lawfully obtained from third parties who are not under an obligation to keep such information confidential, and (iv) any record or other information previously known by Administrator.
 
18.
Independent Contractor.   For purposes stated in this Agreement, Administrator shall be deemed an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, shall have no authority to act or represent the Trust in any way and will not be deemed an agent of the Trust.
 
 
-7-

 
19.
Assignment.   This Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the written consent of the other party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Administrator may, at its expense unless provided otherwise in the Agreement, subcontract with any entity or person concerning the provision of the services contemplated hereunder.  Administrator shall not, however, be relieved of any of its obligations under this Agreement by the appointment of such subcontractor.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
 
20.
Amendments.   This Agreement or any part hereof may be changed or waived only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.
 
21.
Notices.   Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other party shall be in writing and will be deemed sufficient if personally delivered or sent by electronic delivery (followed up by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) addressed by the party giving notice to the other party at the following addresses (or such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
 
a.           If to Trust, at:
 
Starboard Investment Trust
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 69
Rocky Mount, NC  27802-0069
Attn:  Secretary
 
With a copy to:
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
300 Four Falls Corporate Center
Suite 200
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428
Attn: Joseph DeSipio
 
b.           If to Administrator, at:
 
The Nottingham Company
116 South Franklin Street
Post Office Box 69
Rocky Mount, NC  27802-0069
Attn:  Legal
 
22.
Construction.   If any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, shall be determined to be void or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such determination shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, all of which other provisions and portions thereof shall remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, is capable of two interpretations, one of which would render the provision, or portion thereof, void and the other which would render the provision, or portion thereof, valid, then the provision, or portion thereof, shall have the meaning that renders it valid.  In addition, the language used herein shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against either party.
 
 
-8-

 
23.
Multiple Originals.   This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
 
24.
Entire Agreement.   This Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules, and attachments, comprises the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, and letters related to this Agreement.  The headings in this Agreement have been inserted solely for ease of reference and shall not be considered in the interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the Agreement to be duly signed as of the day and year first above written.
 

 
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 

 
By:        /s/ Jack E. Brinson                                                          
 
Name:  Jack E. Brinson
 
Title:  Chairman
 

 
THE NOTTINGHAM COMPANY
 

 
By:         /s/ Jason B. Edwards                                                         
 
Name:  Jason B. Edwards
 
Title:  Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 
-9-

 
 

 
SCHEDULE A
 
List of Services
 
The Administrator shall provide, or cause to be provided by others, the following services:
 
1.
Accounting and Administrative Services.   The Administrator will provide the Trust with customary administrative services, regulatory reporting, fund accounting, and related portfolio accounting services, adequate office space, equipment, personnel, and facilities (including facilities for regular trustees’ meetings) for handling the affairs of the Fund(s), and such other services as the Trustees may, from time to time, reasonably request, and the Administrator may, from time to time, reasonably determine to be necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement. In addition, at the request of the Trustees, the Administrator will make reports to the Trustees concerning the performance of its obligations hereunder.
 
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator will:
 
 
a)
Calculate contractual Trust expenses and control all disbursements for the Trust, and, as appropriate, compute each Fund’s yields, total return, expense ratios, portfolio turnover rate and, if required, portfolio average dollar-weighted maturity;
 
 
b)
Assist Trust counsel with the preparation of prospectuses, statements of additional information, and registration statements;
 
 
c)
Assist in the preparation of such reports, applications, and documents (including reports regarding the sale and redemption of shares as may be required in order to comply with Federal and/or state securities laws) as may be necessary or desirable to register the Trust’s shares with state securities authorities, assist in monitoring the sale of the Trust’s shares for compliance with state securities laws, and assist in the preparation and filing with the appropriate state securities authorities the registration statements and reports for the Trust and the Trust’s shares with state securities authorities to enable the Trust to make a continuous offering of its shares;
 
 
d)
Assist in the development and preparation of communications to shareholders, including the semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders (the “Shareholder Reports”), coordinate mailing prospectuses, notices (including privacy policy notices), proxy statements, proxies, and other reports (including, without limitation, semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders) to Trust shareholders, and supervise and facilitate the solicitations of proxies solicited by the Trust for all shareholder meetings (including, without limitation, the tabulation process for shareholder meetings);
 
 
e)
Coordinate with Trust counsel the preparation and negotiation of, and administer contracts on behalf of the Trust with, among others, the Trust’s investment advisor(s), distributor(s), custodian(s), and transfer agent(s);
 
 
f)
Maintain the Trust’s general ledger and prepare the financial statements, including expense accruals and payments, determine the net asset value of the Trust’s assets and of the Trust’s shares, and coordinate with the Trust’s transfer agent(s) with respect to payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders;
 
 
A-1

 
 
g)
Calculate performance data of the Trust and its Fund(s) for dissemination to information services covering the investment company industry;
 
 
h)
Assist in the preparation and filing of the Trust’s tax returns;
 
 
i)
Assist with the examination and review of the operations and performance of the various organizations providing services to the Trust or any Fund of the Trust, including the Trust’s investment advisor(s), distributor(s), custodian(s), transfer agent(s), outside legal counsel, and independent public accountants, and at the request of the Board of Trustees, report to the Trustees on the performance of such organizations;
 
 
j)
Assist with the layout and printing of publicly disseminated prospectuses and assist with and coordinate layout and printing of the Trust’s semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders;
 
 
k)
Provide internal legal and administrative services as reasonably requested by the Trust from time to time, including, without limitation, preparation of materials for the quarterly and annual meetings of the Board of Trustees;
 
 
l)
Assist with the design, development, and operation of the Trust, including new funds and class investment objectives, policies, and structure;
 
 
m)
Assist in identifying individuals acceptable to the Trustees for nomination, appointment, or election as officers of the Trust, who will be responsible for the management of certain of the Trust’s affairs as determined by the Trustees;
 
 
n)
Advise the Trust and its Trustees on matters concerning the Trust and its affairs;
 
 
o)
Coordinate and assist the Trust in obtaining and keeping in effect a fidelity bond and Trustees and officers/errors and omissions insurance policies for the Trust in accordance with the requirements of Rules 17g-1 and 17d-1(7) under the 1940 Act as such bonds and policies are approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees;
 
 
p)
Monitor and advise the Trust and its Fund(s) on its registered investment company status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
 
 
q)
Perform other normal and customary administrative services and functions of the Trust and each Fund to the extent administrative services and functions are not provided to the Trust or such Fund pursuant to the Trust’s or such Fund’s investment advisory agreement, distribution agreement, custodian agreement, or transfer agent agreement or similar type of service provider agreement;
 
 
A-2

 
 
r)
Furnish advice and recommendations with respect to other aspects of the business and affairs of the Fund(s) as the Trust and the Administrator shall determine desirable; and
 
 
s)
Assist with the preparation of and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the semi-annual and annual reports for the Trust on Form N-SAR and N-CSR and all required notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2.
 
2.
Other Services.   The Administrator will perform other services for the Trust as agreed to by the Administrator and the Trust from time to time, including, but not limited to performing internal audit examinations, preparation of materials for special board meetings, assisting Trust counsel in the preparation of proxy materials, and assisting in the development of new Funds or Fund classes.
 

 

 
A-3

 
 

SCHEDULE B
 
Covered Funds and Compensation
 
The following Fund(s) are covered by this agreement:
 
·  
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
Each Fund shall pay the Administrator a fee at the annual rate of the average daily net assets of each Fund as set forth in the schedule below.  Such fee shall be calculated and accrued daily, and paid to the Administrator monthly.
 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
Less than $250,000,000
0.280%
$250,000,000 but less than $255,000,000
0.278%
$255,000,000 but less than $260,000,000
0.276%
$260,000,000 but less than $265,000,000
0.274%
$265,000,000 but less than $270,000,000
0.273%
$270,000,000 but less than $275,000,000
0.271%
$275,000,000 but less than $280,000,000
0.269%
$280,000,000 but less than $285,000,000
0.268%
$285,000,000 but less than $290,000,000
0.266%
$290,000,000 but less than $295,000,000
0.265%
$295,000,000 but less than $300,000,000
0.263%
$300,000,000 but less than $305,000,000
0.262%
$305,000,000 but less than $310,000,000
0.261%
$310,000,000 but less than $315,000,000
0.259%
$315,000,000 but less than $320,000,000
0.258%
$320,000,000 but less than $325,000,000
0.257%
$325,000,000 but less than $330,000,000
0.256%
$330,000,000 but less than $335,000,000
0.255%
$335,000,000 but less than $340,000,000
0.254%
$340,000,000 but less than $345,000,000
0.253%
$345,000,000 but less than $350,000,000
0.252%
$350,000,000 but less than $355,000,000
0.251%
$355,000,000 but less than $360,000,000
0.250%
$360,000,000 but less than $365,000,000
0.249%
$365,000,000 but less than $370,000,000
0.248%
$370,000,000 but less than $375,000,000
0.247%
$375,000,000 but less than $380,000,000
0.246%
$380,000,000 but less than $385,000,000
0.245%
$385,000,000 but less than $390,000,000
0.244%
$390,000,000 but less than $395,000,000
0.243%
$395,000,000 but less than $400,000,000
0.243%
$400,000,000 but less than $405,000,000
0.242%
$405,000,000 but less than $410,000,000
0.241%
$410,000,000 but less than $415,000,000
0.240%
$415,000,000 but less than $420,000,000
0.240%
$420,000,000 but less than $425,000,000
0.239%
$425,000,000 but less than $430,000,000
0.238%
$430,000,000 but less than $435,000,000
0.238%
$435,000,000 but less than $440,000,000
0.237%
$440,000,000 but less than $445,000,000
0.236%
$445,000,000 but less than $450,000,000
0.236%
 
 
B-1

 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$450,000,000 but less than $455,000,000
0.235%
$455,000,000 but less than $460,000,000
0.235%
$460,000,000 but less than $465,000,000
0.234%
$465,000,000 but less than $470,000,000
0.233%
$470,000,000 but less than $475,000,000
0.233%
$475,000,000 but less than $480,000,000
0.232%
$480,000,000 but less than $485,000,000
0.232%
$485,000,000 but less than $490,000,000
0.231%
$490,000,000 but less than $495,000,000
0.231%
$495,000,000 but less than $500,000,000
0.230%
$500,000,000 but less than $505,000,000
0.230%
$505,000,000 but less than $510,000,000
0.229%
$510,000,000 but less than $515,000,000
0.229%
$515,000,000 but less than $520,000,000
0.228%
$520,000,000 but less than $525,000,000
0.228%
$525,000,000 but less than $530,000,000
0.227%
$530,000,000 but less than $535,000,000
0.227%
$535,000,000 but less than $540,000,000
0.227%
$540,000,000 but less than $545,000,000
0.226%
$545,000,000 but less than $550,000,000
0.226%
$550,000,000 but less than $555,000,000
0.225%
$555,000,000 but less than $560,000,000
0.225%
$560,000,000 but less than $565,000,000
0.225%
$565,000,000 but less than $570,000,000
0.224%
$570,000,000 but less than $575,000,000
0.224%
$575,000,000 but less than $580,000,000
0.223%
$580,000,000 but less than $585,000,000
0.223%
$585,000,000 but less than $590,000,000
0.223%
$590,000,000 but less than $595,000,000
0.222%
$595,000,000 but less than $600,000,000
0.222%
$600,000,000 but less than $605,000,000
0.222%
$605,000,000 but less than $610,000,000
0.221%
$610,000,000 but less than $615,000,000
0.221%
$615,000,000 but less than $620,000,000
0.221%
$620,000,000 but less than $625,000,000
0.220%
$625,000,000 but less than $630,000,000
0.220%
$630,000,000 but less than $635,000,000
0.220%
$635,000,000 but less than $640,000,000
0.219%
$640,000,000 but less than $645,000,000
0.219%
$645,000,000 but less than $650,000,000
0.219%
$650,000,000 but less than $655,000,000
0.218%
$655,000,000 but less than $660,000,000
0.218%
$660,000,000 but less than $665,000,000
0.218%
$665,000,000 but less than $670,000,000
0.218%
$670,000,000 but less than $675,000,000
0.217%
$675,000,000 but less than $680,000,000
0.217%
$680,000,000 but less than $685,000,000
0.217%
$685,000,000 but less than $690,000,000
0.217%
$690,000,000 but less than $695,000,000
0.216%
$695,000,000 but less than $700,000,000
0.216%
$700,000,000 but less than $705,000,000
0.216%
$705,000,000 but less than $710,000,000
0.216%
 
 
B-2

 
 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$710,000,000 but less than $715,000,000
0.215%
$715,000,000 but less than $720,000,000
0.215%
$720,000,000 but less than $725,000,000
0.215%
$725,000,000 but less than $730,000,000
0.215%
$730,000,000 but less than $735,000,000
0.214%
$735,000,000 but less than $740,000,000
0.214%
$740,000,000 but less than $745,000,000
0.214%
$745,000,000 but less than $750,000,000
0.214%
$750,000,000 but less than $755,000,000
0.213%
$755,000,000 but less than $760,000,000
0.213%
$760,000,000 but less than $765,000,000
0.213%
$765,000,000 but less than $770,000,000
0.213%
$770,000,000 but less than $775,000,000
0.213%
$775,000,000 but less than $780,000,000
0.212%
$780,000,000 but less than $785,000,000
0.212%
$785,000,000 but less than $790,000,000
0.212%
$790,000,000 but less than $795,000,000
0.212%
$795,000,000 but less than $800,000,000
0.212%
$800,000,000 but less than $805,000,000
0.211%
$805,000,000 but less than $810,000,000
0.211%
$810,000,000 but less than $815,000,000
0.211%
$815,000,000 but less than $820,000,000
0.211%
$820,000,000 but less than $825,000,000
0.211%
$825,000,000 but less than $830,000,000
0.210%
$830,000,000 but less than $835,000,000
0.210%
$835,000,000 but less than $840,000,000
0.210%
$840,000,000 but less than $845,000,000
0.210%
$845,000,000 but less than $850,000,000
0.210%
$850,000,000 but less than $855,000,000
0.210%
$855,000,000 but less than $860,000,000
0.209%
$860,000,000 but less than $865,000,000
0.209%
$865,000,000 but less than $870,000,000
0.209%
$870,000,000 but less than $875,000,000
0.209%
$875,000,000 but less than $880,000,000
0.209%
$880,000,000 but less than $885,000,000
0.209%
$885,000,000 but less than $890,000,000
0.208%
$890,000,000 but less than $895,000,000
0.208%
$895,000,000 but less than $900,000,000
0.208%
$900,000,000 but less than $905,000,000
0.208%
$905,000,000 but less than $910,000,000
0.208%
$910,000,000 but less than $915,000,000
0.208%
$915,000,000 but less than $920,000,000
0.208%
$920,000,000 but less than $925,000,000
0.207%
$925,000,000 but less than $930,000,000
0.207%
$930,000,000 but less than $935,000,000
0.207%
$935,000,000 but less than $940,000,000
0.207%
$940,000,000 but less than $945,000,000
0.207%
$945,000,000 but less than $950,000,000
0.207%
$950,000,000 but less than $955,000,000
0.207%
$955,000,000 but less than $960,000,000
0.206%
$960,000,000 but less than $965,000,000
0.206%
$965,000,000 but less than $970,000,000
0.206%
 
 
B-3

 
 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$970,000,000 but less than $975,000,000
0.206%
$975,000,000 but less than $980,000,000
0.206%
$980,000,000 but less than $985,000,000
0.206%
$985,000,000 but less than $990,000,000
0.206%
$990,000,000 but less than $995,000,000
0.206%
$995,000,000 but less than $1,000,000,000
0.205%
$1,000,000,000 but less than $1,005,000,000
0.205%
$1,005,000,000 but less than $1,010,000,000
0.205%
$1,010,000,000 but less than $1,015,000,000
0.205%
$1,015,000,000 but less than $1,020,000,000
0.205%
$1,020,000,000 but less than $1,025,000,000
0.205%
$1,025,000,000 but less than $1,030,000,000
0.205%
$1,030,000,000 but less than $1,035,000,000
0.205%
$1,035,000,000 but less than $1,040,000,000
0.204%
$1,040,000,000 but less than $1,045,000,000
0.204%
$1,045,000,000 but less than $1,050,000,000
0.204%
$1,050,000,000 but less than $1,055,000,000
0.204%
$1,055,000,000 but less than $1,060,000,000
0.204%
$1,060,000,000 but less than $1,065,000,000
0.204%
$1,065,000,000 but less than $1,070,000,000
0.204%
$1,070,000,000 but less than $1,075,000,000
0.204%
$1,075,000,000 but less than $1,080,000,000
0.204%
$1,080,000,000 but less than $1,085,000,000
0.203%
$1,085,000,000 but less than $1,090,000,000
0.203%
$1,090,000,000 but less than $1,095,000,000
0.203%
$1,095,000,000 but less than $1,100,000,000
0.203%
$1,100,000,000 but less than $1,105,000,000
0.203%
$1,105,000,000 but less than $1,110,000,000
0.203%
$1,110,000,000 but less than $1,115,000,000
0.203%
$1,115,000,000 but less than $1,120,000,000
0.203%
$1,120,000,000 but less than $1,125,000,000
0.203%
$1,125,000,000 but less than $1,130,000,000
0.203%
$1,130,000,000 but less than $1,135,000,000
0.202%
$1,135,000,000 but less than $1,140,000,000
0.202%
$1,140,000,000 but less than $1,145,000,000
0.202%
$1,145,000,000 but less than $1,150,000,000
0.202%
$1,150,000,000 but less than $1,155,000,000
0.202%
$1,155,000,000 but less than $1,160,000,000
0.202%
$1,160,000,000 but less than $1,165,000,000
0.202%
$1,165,000,000 but less than $1,170,000,000
0.202%
$1,170,000,000 but less than $1,175,000,000
0.202%
$1,175,000,000 but less than $1,180,000,000
0.202%
$1,180,000,000 but less than $1,185,000,000
0.201%
$1,185,000,000 but less than $1,190,000,000
0.201%
$1,190,000,000 but less than $1,195,000,000
0.201%
$1,195,000,000 but less than $1,200,000,000
0.201%
$1,200,000,000 but less than $1,205,000,000
0.201%
$1,205,000,000 but less than $1,210,000,000
0.201%
$1,210,000,000 but less than $1,215,000,000
0.201%
$1,215,000,000 but less than $1,220,000,000
0.201%
$1,220,000,000 but less than $1,225,000,000
0.201%
$1,225,000,000 but less than $1,230,000,000
0.201%
 
 
B-4

 
 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$1,230,000,000 but less than $1,235,000,000
0.201%
$1,235,000,000 but less than $1,240,000,000
0.201%
$1,240,000,000 but less than $1,245,000,000
0.200%
$1,245,000,000 but less than $1,250,000,000
0.200%
$1,250,000,000 but less than $1,255,000,000
0.200%
$1,255,000,000 but less than $1,260,000,000
0.200%
$1,260,000,000 but less than $1,265,000,000
0.200%
$1,265,000,000 but less than $1,270,000,000
0.200%
$1,270,000,000 but less than $1,275,000,000
0.200%
$1,275,000,000 but less than $1,280,000,000
0.200%
$1,280,000,000 but less than $1,285,000,000
0.200%
$1,285,000,000 but less than $1,290,000,000
0.200%
$1,290,000,000 but less than $1,295,000,000
0.200%
$1,295,000,000 but less than $1,300,000,000
0.200%
$1,300,000,000 but less than $1,305,000,000
0.200%
$1,305,000,000 but less than $1,310,000,000
0.199%
$1,310,000,000 but less than $1,315,000,000
0.199%
$1,315,000,000 but less than $1,320,000,000
0.199%
$1,320,000,000 but less than $1,325,000,000
0.199%
$1,325,000,000 but less than $1,330,000,000
0.199%
$1,330,000,000 but less than $1,335,000,000
0.199%
$1,335,000,000 but less than $1,340,000,000
0.199%
$1,340,000,000 but less than $1,345,000,000
0.199%
$1,345,000,000 but less than $1,350,000,000
0.199%
$1,350,000,000 but less than $1,355,000,000
0.199%
$1,355,000,000 but less than $1,360,000,000
0.199%
$1,360,000,000 but less than $1,365,000,000
0.199%
$1,365,000,000 but less than $1,370,000,000
0.199%
$1,370,000,000 but less than $1,375,000,000
0.199%
$1,375,000,000 but less than $1,380,000,000
0.199%
$1,380,000,000 but less than $1,385,000,000
0.198%
$1,385,000,000 but less than $1,390,000,000
0.198%
$1,390,000,000 but less than $1,395,000,000
0.198%
$1,395,000,000 but less than $1,400,000,000
0.198%
$1,400,000,000 but less than $1,405,000,000
0.198%
$1,405,000,000 but less than $1,410,000,000
0.198%
$1,410,000,000 but less than $1,415,000,000
0.198%
$1,415,000,000 but less than $1,420,000,000
0.198%
$1,420,000,000 but less than $1,425,000,000
0.198%
$1,425,000,000 but less than $1,430,000,000
0.198%
$1,430,000,000 but less than $1,435,000,000
0.198%
$1,435,000,000 but less than $1,440,000,000
0.198%
$1,440,000,000 but less than $1,445,000,000
0.198%
$1,445,000,000 but less than $1,450,000,000
0.198%
$1,450,000,000 but less than $1,455,000,000
0.198%
$1,455,000,000 but less than $1,460,000,000
0.198%
$1,460,000,000 but less than $1,465,000,000
0.197%
$1,465,000,000 but less than $1,470,000,000
0.197%
$1,470,000,000 but less than $1,475,000,000
0.197%
$1,475,000,000 but less than $1,480,000,000
0.197%
$1,480,000,000 but less than $1,485,000,000
0.197%
$1,485,000,000 but less than $1,490,000,000
0.197%
 
 
B-5

 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$1,490,000,000 but less than $1,495,000,000
0.197%
$1,495,000,000 but less than $1,500,000,000
0.197%
$1,500,000,000 but less than $1,505,000,000
0.197%
$1,505,000,000 but less than $1,510,000,000
0.197%
$1,510,000,000 but less than $1,515,000,000
0.197%
$1,515,000,000 but less than $1,520,000,000
0.197%
$1,520,000,000 but less than $1,525,000,000
0.197%
$1,525,000,000 but less than $1,530,000,000
0.197%
$1,530,000,000 but less than $1,535,000,000
0.197%
$1,535,000,000 but less than $1,540,000,000
0.197%
$1,540,000,000 but less than $1,545,000,000
0.197%
$1,545,000,000 but less than $1,550,000,000
0.197%
$1,550,000,000 but less than $1,555,000,000
0.196%
$1,555,000,000 but less than $1,560,000,000
0.196%
$1,560,000,000 but less than $1,565,000,000
0.196%
$1,565,000,000 but less than $1,570,000,000
0.196%
$1,570,000,000 but less than $1,575,000,000
0.196%
$1,575,000,000 but less than $1,580,000,000
0.196%
$1,580,000,000 but less than $1,585,000,000
0.196%
$1,585,000,000 but less than $1,590,000,000
0.196%
$1,590,000,000 but less than $1,595,000,000
0.196%
$1,595,000,000 but less than $1,600,000,000
0.196%
$1,600,000,000 but less than $1,605,000,000
0.196%
$1,605,000,000 but less than $1,610,000,000
0.196%
$1,610,000,000 but less than $1,615,000,000
0.196%
$1,615,000,000 but less than $1,620,000,000
0.196%
$1,620,000,000 but less than $1,625,000,000
0.196%
$1,625,000,000 but less than $1,630,000,000
0.196%
$1,630,000,000 but less than $1,635,000,000
0.196%
$1,635,000,000 but less than $1,640,000,000
0.196%
$1,640,000,000 but less than $1,645,000,000
0.196%
$1,645,000,000 but less than $1,650,000,000
0.196%
$1,650,000,000 but less than $1,655,000,000
0.196%
$1,655,000,000 but less than $1,660,000,000
0.195%
$1,660,000,000 but less than $1,665,000,000
0.195%
$1,665,000,000 but less than $1,670,000,000
0.195%
$1,670,000,000 but less than $1,675,000,000
0.195%
$1,675,000,000 but less than $1,680,000,000
0.195%
$1,680,000,000 but less than $1,685,000,000
0.195%
$1,685,000,000 but less than $1,690,000,000
0.195%
$1,690,000,000 but less than $1,695,000,000
0.195%
$1,695,000,000 but less than $1,700,000,000
0.195%
$1,700,000,000 but less than $1,705,000,000
0.195%
$1,705,000,000 but less than $1,710,000,000
0.195%
$1,710,000,000 but less than $1,715,000,000
0.195%
$1,715,000,000 but less than $1,720,000,000
0.195%
$1,720,000,000 but less than $1,725,000,000
0.195%
$1,725,000,000 but less than $1,730,000,000
0.195%
$1,730,000,000 but less than $1,735,000,000
0.195%
$1,735,000,000 but less than $1,740,000,000
0.195%
$1,740,000,000 but less than $1,745,000,000
0.195%
$1,745,000,000 but less than $1,750,000,000
0.195%
 
 
B-6

 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$1,750,000,000 but less than $1,755,000,000
0.195%
$1,755,000,000 but less than $1,760,000,000
0.195%
$1,760,000,000 but less than $1,765,000,000
0.195%
$1,765,000,000 but less than $1,770,000,000
0.195%
$1,770,000,000 but less than $1,775,000,000
0.195%
$1,775,000,000 but less than $1,780,000,000
0.194%
$1,780,000,000 but less than $1,785,000,000
0.194%
$1,785,000,000 but less than $1,790,000,000
0.194%
$1,790,000,000 but less than $1,795,000,000
0.194%
$1,795,000,000 but less than $1,800,000,000
0.194%
$1,800,000,000 but less than $1,805,000,000
0.194%
$1,805,000,000 but less than $1,810,000,000
0.194%
$1,810,000,000 but less than $1,815,000,000
0.194%
$1,815,000,000 but less than $1,820,000,000
0.194%
$1,820,000,000 but less than $1,825,000,000
0.194%
$1,825,000,000 but less than $1,830,000,000
0.194%
$1,830,000,000 but less than $1,835,000,000
0.194%
$1,835,000,000 but less than $1,840,000,000
0.194%
$1,840,000,000 but less than $1,845,000,000
0.194%
$1,845,000,000 but less than $1,850,000,000
0.194%
$1,850,000,000 but less than $1,855,000,000
0.194%
$1,855,000,000 but less than $1,860,000,000
0.194%
$1,860,000,000 but less than $1,865,000,000
0.194%
$1,865,000,000 but less than $1,870,000,000
0.194%
$1,870,000,000 but less than $1,875,000,000
0.194%
$1,875,000,000 but less than $1,880,000,000
0.194%
$1,880,000,000 but less than $1,885,000,000
0.194%
$1,885,000,000 but less than $1,890,000,000
0.194%
$1,890,000,000 but less than $1,895,000,000
0.194%
$1,895,000,000 but less than $1,900,000,000
0.194%
$1,900,000,000 but less than $1,905,000,000
0.194%
$1,905,000,000 but less than $1,910,000,000
0.194%
$1,910,000,000 but less than $1,915,000,000
0.193%
$1,915,000,000 but less than $1,920,000,000
0.193%
$1,920,000,000 but less than $1,925,000,000
0.193%
$1,925,000,000 but less than $1,930,000,000
0.193%
$1,930,000,000 but less than $1,935,000,000
0.193%
$1,935,000,000 but less than $1,940,000,000
0.193%
$1,940,000,000 but less than $1,945,000,000
0.193%
$1,945,000,000 but less than $1,950,000,000
0.193%
$1,950,000,000 but less than $1,955,000,000
0.193%
$1,955,000,000 but less than $1,960,000,000
0.193%
$1,960,000,000 but less than $1,965,000,000
0.193%
$1,965,000,000 but less than $1,970,000,000
0.193%
$1,970,000,000 but less than $1,975,000,000
0.193%
$1,975,000,000 but less than $1,980,000,000
0.193%
$1,980,000,000 but less than $1,985,000,000
0.193%
$1,985,000,000 but less than $1,990,000,000
0.193%
$1,990,000,000 but less than $1,995,000,000
0.193%
$1,995,000,000 but less than $2,000,000,000
0.193%
$2,000,000,000 but less than $2,005,000,000
0.193%
$2,005,000,000 but less than $2,010,000,000
0.193%
 
 
B-7

 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
$2,010,000,000 but less than $2,015,000,000
0.193%
$2,015,000,000 but less than $2,020,000,000
0.193%
$2,020,000,000 but less than $2,025,000,000
0.193%
$2,025,000,000 but less than $2,030,000,000
0.193%
$2,030,000,000 but less than $2,035,000,000
0.193%
$2,035,000,000 but less than $2,040,000,000
0.193%
$2,040,000,000 but less than $2,045,000,000
0.193%
$2,045,000,000 but less than $2,050,000,000
0.193%
$2,050,000,000 but less than $2,055,000,000
0.193%
$2,055,000,000 but less than $2,060,000,000
0.193%
$2,060,000,000 but less than $2,065,000,000
0.193%
$2,065,000,000 but less than $2,070,000,000
0.193%
$2,070,000,000 or more
0.192%
 
The average value of the daily net assets of each Fund shall be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Trust’s Declaration of Trust or a resolution of the Board, if required.  If, pursuant to such provisions, the determination of net asset value of a Fund is suspended for any particular business day, then for the purposes of this paragraph, the value of the net assets of a Fund as last determined shall be deemed to be the value of the net assets as of the close of the business day, or as of such other time as the value of a Fund’s net assets may lawfully be determined, on that day.  If the determination of the net asset value of a Fund has been suspended for a period including such month, Administrator’s compensation payable at the end of such month shall be computed on the basis of the value of the net assets of that Fund as last determined (whether during or prior to such month).
 
If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the first day of the month or terminates before the last day of the month, Administrator’s compensation for that part of the month in which this Agreement is in effect will be prorated in a manner consistent with the calculation of the fees as set forth above.
 
In accordance with Section 13 of this Agreement, Administrator shall be entitled to be paid a fee upon termination of this Agreement with respect to any Fund.  The termination fee shall be equal to $22,833 .  As stated in Section 13 of this Agreement, Administrator shall not be entitled to the termination fee if Administrator elects to terminate this Agreement or Administrator is terminated due to its willful misconduct, gross negligence, or breach of this Agreement.
 

 
 
B-8

 
 
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AND TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT
THIS DIVIDEND DISBURSING AND TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 16, 2009 by and between STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”), and NOTTINGHAM SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (“Transfer Agent”).
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company of the series type which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Transfer Agent is in the business of providing dividend disbursing, transfer agent, and shareholder services to investment companies;
 
NOW THEREFORE, the Trust and the Transfer Agent do mutually promise and agree as follows:
 
1.          Employment. The Trust hereby employs Transfer Agent to act as dividend disbursing and transfer agent for each series of shares of the Trust listed on Schedule 1 (each a “Fund”). Transfer Agent, at its own expense, shall render the services and assume the obligations herein set forth subject to being compensated therefore as herein provided.
 
2.          Delivery of Documents. The Trust has furnished the Transfer Agent with copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following:
 
a)           The Trust’s Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) and Certificate of Trust, as filed with the State of Delaware (such Trust Instrument, as presently in effect and as it shall from time to time be amended);
 
b)           The Trust’s By-Laws (such By-Laws, as presently in effect and as they shall from time to time be amended, are herein called the “By-Laws”);
 
c)           Resolutions of the Trust’s board of trustees (“Board of Trustees”) authorizing the appointment of the Transfer Agent and approving this Agreement; and
 
d)           The Trust’s registration statement (“Registration Statement”) on Form N-1A under the 1940 Act and under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, (“1933 Act”), including all exhibits, relating to shares of beneficial interest of, and containing the prospectus (“Prospectus”) of, each Fund of the Trust (herein called the “Shares”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and all amendments thereto.
 
The Trust will also furnish the Transfer Agent with copies, properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing.
 
3.          Duties of the Transfer Agent. Subject to the policies and direction of the Board of Trustees, the Transfer Agent will provide day-to-day supervision for the dividend disbursing, transfer agent, and shareholder servicing operations of each of the Trust’s Funds. Services to be provided shall be in accordance with the Trust’s organizational and registration documents as listed in paragraph 2 hereof and with the Prospectus of each Fund of the Trust. The Transfer Agent further agrees that it:
 
a)           Will conform to all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and will, in addition, conduct its activities under this Agreement in accordance with regulations of any other federal and state agency that may now or in the future have jurisdiction over its activities;
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 

b)           Will provide, at its expense, the non-executive personnel and data processing equipment and software necessary to perform the Shareholder Servicing functions shown on Exhibit A hereof; and
 
c)           Will provide all office space and general office equipment necessary for the dividend disbursing, transfer agent, and shareholder servicing activities of the Trust except as may be provided by third parties pursuant to separate agreements with the Trust.
 
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Transfer Agent (including its directors, officers, employees, and agents) shall not be required to perform any of the duties of, assume any of the obligations or expenses of, or be liable for any of the acts or omissions of, any investment advisor of a Fund of the Trust or other third party subject to separate agreements with the Trust. The Transfer Agent shall not be responsible hereunder for the administration of the code of ethics of the Trust (“Code of Ethics”) which shall be under the responsibility of the investment advisors, except insofar as the Code of Ethics applies to the personnel of the Transfer Agent. It is the express intent of the parties hereto that the Transfer Agent shall not have control over or be responsible for the placement (except as specifically directed by a shareholder of the Trust), investment or reinvestment of the assets of any Fund of the Trust. The Transfer Agent may from time to time, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, obtain at its own expense the services of consultants or other third parties to perform part or all of its duties hereunder, and such parties may be affiliates of the Transfer Agent.
 
4.          Services Not Exclusive. The services furnished by the Transfer Agent hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Transfer Agent shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.
 
5.          Books and Records. In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 1940 Act, the Transfer Agent hereby agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust are the property of the Trust and further agrees to surrender promptly to the Trust any of such records upon the Trust’s request.
 
6.          Expenses. During the term of this Agreement, the Transfer Agent will furnish at its own expense its office space and the executive, supervisory, and clerical personnel reasonably necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Trust assumes and shall be responsible for all other expenses of the Trust and/or Fund(s) not otherwise allocated in this Agreement.
 
7.          Compensation. For the services provided and the expenses assumed by the Transfer Agent pursuant to this Agreement, the Trust will pay the Transfer Agent and the Transfer Agent will accept as full compensation the fees and expenses as set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto. Special projects, not included herein and requested in writing by the Board of Trustees, shall be completed by the Transfer Agent and invoiced to the Trust on terms mutually agreed upon.
 
8.          Limitation of Liability. The Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or liability related to or resulting from the placement (except as specifically directed by a Shareholder of the Trust), investment, or reinvestment of assets in any Fund of the Trust or the acts or omissions of any Fund’s investment advisor or any other third party subject to separate agreements with the Trust. Further, the Transfer Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or damage suffered by the Trust in connection with the performance of this Agreement or any agreement with a third party, except a loss resulting directly from (i) a breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the Transfer Agent with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; or (ii) willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard on the part of the Transfer Agent in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement.
 
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
 

The provisions contained in section shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, shall be deemed to include and protect the Transfer Agent and its directors, officers, employees, and agents and shall inure to the benefit of its/their respective successors, assigns, and personal representatives.
 
9.          Indemnification of Transfer Agent. Subject to the limitations set forth in this section, and provided the Transfer Agent has exercised reasonable customary care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless (from the assets of the Fund or Funds to which the conduct in question relates) the Transfer Agent against all loss, damage, and liability, 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 the Transfer Agent 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, related to or resulting from this Agreement or the performance of services hereunder, except with respect to any matter as to which it has been determined that the loss, damage, or liability is a direct result of (i) a breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the Transfer Agent with respect to the receipt of compensation for services; or (ii) willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard on the part of the Transfer Agent in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties under this Agreement (either and both of the conduct described in clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to hereinafter as “Disabling Conduct”). A determination that the Transfer Agent is entitled to indemnification may be made by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Transfer Agent was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against the Transfer Agent for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, or (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Transfer Agent was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) vote of a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust as the quoted phrase is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act nor parties to the action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds that is then or has been pending or threatened (such quorum of such Trustees being referred to hereinafter as the “Independent Trustees”) or (b) an independent legal counsel approved by the Trustees, including a majority of Independent Trustees, (hereinafter referred to as an “independent legal counsel”) in a written opinion. Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by the Transfer Agent (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Fund or Funds to which the conduct in question related in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided, that the Transfer Agent shall have undertaken to repay the amounts so paid unless it is ultimately determined that it is entitled to indemnification of such expenses under this section and if (i) the Transfer Agent shall have provided security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of the Independent Trustees, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Transfer Agent ultimately will be entitled to indemnification hereunder.
 
As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by the Transfer Agent referred to in this section, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless such indemnification shall be approved (i) by a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. Approval by the Independent Trustees pursuant to clause (i) shall not prevent the recovery from the Transfer Agent of any amount paid to the Transfer Agent in accordance with either of such clauses as indemnification of the Transfer Agent is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Transfer Agent’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in its conduct under the Agreement.
 
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
 

The right of indemnification provided by this section shall not be exclusive of or affect any of the rights to which the Transfer Agent may be entitled. Nothing contained in this section shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trustees, officers, or other personnel of the Trust, 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 Board of Trustees of the Trust shall take all such action as may be necessary and appropriate to authorize the Trust hereunder to pay the indemnification required by this section including, without limitation, to the extent needed, to determine whether the Transfer Agent is entitled to indemnification hereunder and the reasonable amount of any indemnity due it hereunder, or employ independent legal counsel for that purpose.
 
The provisions contained in section shall survive the expiration or other termination of this Agreement, shall be deemed to include and protect the Transfer Agent and its directors, officers, employees, and agents and shall inure to the benefit of its/their respective successors, assigns, and personal representatives.
 
10.        Confidentiality. The Transfer Agent agrees, on behalf of itself and its officers, directors, agents, and employees, to treat as confidential all records and other information relating to the Trust and its prior, present, and future shareholders (“Confidential Information”) and to not use or disclose the Confidential Information for any purpose other than in performance of its responsibilities and duties under the Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Transfer Agent may divulge the Confidential Information (i) with the prior written consent of the Trust; (ii) when the Transfer Agent, in good faith, believes it may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply with court orders or when requested by duly constituted governmental authorities or the National Association of Securities Dealers pursuant to their respective legal authority, upon prior written notice to the Trust, unless prohibited by the court order or governmental authority; (iii) to the Trust’s investment adviser(s), administrator, distributor, custodian, outside legal counsel, or independent public accountants, in the ordinary course of business, to the extent necessary for those service providers to perform their respective services to the Trust; (iv) to the Trust, when requested by the Trust; or (v) when requested by a shareholder, but only with respect to Confidential Information that specifically relates to such shareholder and the shareholder’s account. For purposes of this section, the following records and other information shall not be considered Confidential Information: any record or other information relating to the Trust and its prior, present, and future shareholders (a) which is or becomes publicly available through no negligent or unauthorized act or omission by the Transfer Agent; (b) which is disseminated by the Trust in a public filing with the SEC or posted on the website of the Trust, the Fund, the Fund’s investment adviser, or any of the Fund’s other service providers for general public review; (c) which is lawfully obtained from third parties who are not under an obligation of confidentiality to the Trust or its prior, present, and future shareholders; or (d) previously known by the Transfer Agent prior to the date of the Agreement.
 
11.         Duration and Termination. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date hereof and shall thereafter continue in effect unless terminated as herein provided. This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto (without penalty) at any time by giving not less than 60 days’ prior written notice to the other party hereto. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall pay to the Transfer Agent such compensation as may be due as of the date of such termination, and shall likewise reimburse the Transfer Agent for any out-of-pocket expenses and disbursements reasonably incurred by the Transfer Agent to such date.
 
12.        Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties. If, at any time during the existence of this Agreement, the Trust deems it necessary or advisable in the best interests of the Trust that any amendment of this Agreement be made in order to comply with the recommendations or requirements of the SEC or state regulatory agencies or other
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
 

governmental authority, or to obtain any advantage under state or federal laws, and shall notify the Transfer Agent of the form of Amendment which it deems necessary or advisable and the reasons therefore, and if the Transfer Agent declines to assent to such amendment, the Trust may terminate this Agreement forthwith.
 
13.        Notice. Any notice that is required to be given by the parties to each other under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and will be deemed sufficient if personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mailed, postage prepaid, address to the other party at the principal place of business of such party. Notices shall be effective upon delivery.
 
14.        Construction. This Agreement shall be governed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to the principles of the conflict of laws or the choice of laws. If any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, shall be determined to be void or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such determination shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, all of which other provisions and portions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement, or portion thereof, is capable of two interpretations, one of which would render the provision, or portion thereof, void and the other of which would render the provision, or portion thereof, valid, then the provision, or portion thereof, shall have the meaning that renders it valid.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their duly authorized officers effective as of the date indicated above.
 
 
 
STARBOARD INVESTMENT TRUST
 
 
 
By: /s/ Jack E. Brinson
 
Print Name: Jack E. Brinson
 
Title:
 
Chairman
 
 
 
NOTTINGHAM SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, LLC
 
 
 
By: /s/ Joy Carawan
 
Print Name: Joy Carawan
 
Title:
 
Managing Member
 
 
 
 
 
 
5
 
 
 
 

EXHIBIT A
 
Dated: July 16, 2009
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FUNCTIONS
 
 
 
(1)
 
Process new accounts.
 
(2)
 
Process purchases of Fund shares, both initial and subsequent in accordance with conditions set forth in the Fund’s prospectus.
 
(3)
 
Transfer shares of capital stock to an existing account or to a new account upon receipt of required documentation in good order.
 
(4)
 
Distribute dividends and/or capital gain distributions. This includes disbursement as cash or reinvestment and to change the disbursement option at the request of shareholders.
 
(5)
 
Process exchanges between funds (process and direct purchase/redemption and initiate new account or process to existing account).
 
(6)
 
Make miscellaneous changes to records, including, but not necessarily limited to, address changes and changes in plans (such as systematic withdrawal, dividend reinvestment, etc.).
 
(7)
 
Prepare and mail a year-to-date confirmation and statement as each transaction is recorded in a shareholder account as follows: original to shareholder. Duplicate confirmations to be available on request within current year.
 
(8)
 
Handle telephone calls and correspondence in reply to shareholder requests except those items otherwise set forth herein.
 
(9)
 
Daily control and reconciliation of Fund shares.
 
(10)
 
Prepare address labels or confirmations for four reports to shareholders per year.
 
(11)
 
Mail and tabulate proxies for one Meeting of Shareholders annually, including preparation of certified shareholder list and daily report to Fund management, if required.
 
(12)
 
Prepare, with the assistance of the Trust’s accountants, and mail annual Form 1099 and 5498 to shareholders to whom dividends or distributions are paid, with a copy for the IRS.
 
(13)
 
Provide readily obtainable data that may from time to time be requested for audit purposes.
 
(14)
 
Replace lost or destroyed checks.
 
(15)
 
Continuously maintain all records for active and closed accounts according to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and regulations provided thereunder.
 
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 

EXHIBIT B
 
Dated: July 16, 2009
 
COMPENSATION SCHEDULE
 
 
 
For the services delineated in the DIVIDEND DISBURSING AND TRANSFER AGENT AGREEMENT, the Transfer Agent shall be compensated monthly, according to the following fee schedule.
 
 
 
Shareholder servicing fee:
 
 
 
$21.00 per shareholder per year per fund
 
Minimum fee of $1,750 per month per fund, plus $500 per month for each additional class of shares.
 
In addition, the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Transfer Agent on behalf of the Trust or the Fund.
 
 
 
 
 
 
7
 
 
 
 

SCHEDULE 1
 
Updated: March 8, 2012
 
SERIES OF THE TRUST
 

 
The following fund(s) are covered by the Agreement:
 
1.  
Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
 
2.  
FMX Growth Allocation Fund
 
3.  
FMX Total Return Fund
 
4.  
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
 
5.  
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
 
6.  
The Sector Rotation Fund
 
7.  
SCS Tactical Allocation Fund (f/k/a Guardian Diversified Fund)
 
8.  
Crescent Large Cap Macro Fund
 
9.  
Crescent Strategic Income Fund
 
10.  
Crescent Mid Cap Macro Fund
 
11.  
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
8
 
 
Arin Funds
Operating Plan
 
This Operating Plan, effective commencing March 8, 2012, is entered into by and between Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (“Advisor”) and The Nottingham Company (“Administrator”) with respect to the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Starboard Investment Trust (“Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust.
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is engaged in business as an open-end management investment company and is so registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”);
 
WHEREAS, the Trust has designated the Fund as a series of interests in the Trust;
 
WHEREAS, the Advisor has agreed to act as investment advisor to the Fund pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Advisor dated March 8, 2012 (“Investment Advisory Agreement”);
 
WHEREAS, Administrator has agreed to provide fund accounting and administration services to the Fund pursuant to the Fund Accounting and Administration Agreement between the Trust and Administrator dated March 8, 2012 (“Fund Administration Agreement”);
 
WHEREAS, it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to limit the expenses of the Fund;
 
WHEREAS, in order to help limit the expenses of the Fund, Administrator has agreed to pay certain of the operating expenses of the Fund as described in the Fund Administration Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, the Advisor wishes to facilitate and support Administrator’s payment of the operating expenses described in the Fund Administration Agreement;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Advisor and Administrator agree that the Operating Plan shall provide as follows:
 
1.
Payments by the Advisor.   The Advisor shall pay to Administrator a fee based on the daily average net assets of each Fund based upon the schedules set forth in Appendix A.
 
2.
Other Expenses.   The Advisor shall pay Fund expenses that have not been (i) assumed by Administrator pursuant to the Fund Administration Agreement or (ii) specifically assumed by the Fund.  These expenses include the following items:
 
 
a)
Marketing, distribution, and servicing expenses related to the sale or promotion of Fund shares that the Fund is not authorized to pay pursuant to the Investment Company Act and Rule 12b-1 thereunder;
 
 
b)
Expenses incurred in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund;
 
 
c)
Expenses incurred in connection with the dissolution and liquidation of the Fund;
 
 
-1-

 
 
d)
Expenses related to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations proposed by the Advisor or necessitated by actions of the Advisor;
 
 
e)
Fees and expenses incurred by the Fund for services provided by legal and audit firms engaged by the Fund that are in amounts greater than the limits or outside of the scope of ordinary services outlined in Appendix C and have not been specifically assumed by the Fund per the instructions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees;
 
 
f)
Hiring employees and retaining advisers and experts as contemplated by Rule 0-1(a)(7)(vii) of the Investment Company Act; and
 
 
g)
Amounts due to Administrator in the event the compensation received by Administrator for services pursuant to its Fund Administration Agreement with the Trust is less than the minimum operating cost set forth in Appendix B.
 
3.
Duration and Termination.   This Operating Plan shall become effective upon the commencement of operations of the Fund and shall continue in effect until June 30, 2013 .  This Operating Plan and shall then renew automatically for successive terms with one-year periods unless terminated by either party at the conclusion of the then-current term upon (i) written notice of non-renewal to the other party not less than sixty days prior to the end of the term, or (ii) mutual written agreement of the parties .   This Operating Plan may be terminated at anytime upon mutual written agreement of the parties and approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
 
4.
Amendment.   This Operating Plan and any one or more of the Appendices attached hereto may be amended at any time by a written instrument signed by the parties and approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
 
5.            Miscellaneous.
 
 
a)
Captions.   The captions in this Operating Plan are included for convenience of reference only and in no other way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
 
 
b)
Interpretation.   Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Fund or Trust 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 Trustees of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Fund or Trust.
 
 
c)
Inconsistent Terms.   In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Operating Plan and those of either the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Fund Administration Agreement, the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement or Fund Administration Agreement shall control, but only to the extent of such inconsistency.
 
 
d)
Severability.   If any provision of this Operating Plan shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of this Operating Plan shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Operating Plan shall be deemed to be severable.
 
 
-2-

 
 
e)
Counterparts.   This Operating Plan may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Operating Plan to be executed as of the date first written above.
 

 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
 

 
By:           /s/ Joseph Desipio                                                  
 
Name:      Joseph Desipio                                                     
 
Title:        Managing Member                                                   
 

 
The Nottingham Company
 

 
By:       /s/ Jason B. Edwards                                                       
 
Name: Jason B. Edwards                                                            
 
Title: Chief Operating Officer                                                             
 

 
-3-

 
 

 
APPENDIX A
 
Payment Schedule
 
Arin Large Cap Theta Fund
 
The Advisor shall make a monthly payment to the Administrator based upon the daily average net assets of the Fund according to the following schedule:
 
Average Daily Net Assets
Annual Rate
Less than $15,000,000
0.400%
$15,000,000 but less than $16,000,000
0.364%
$16,000,000 but less than $17,000,000
0.333%
$17,000,000 but less than $18,000,000
0.305%
$18,000,000 but less than $19,000,000
0.280%
$19,000,000 but less than $20,000,000
0.257%
$20,000,000 but less than $21,000,000
0.237%
$21,000,000 but less than $22,000,000
0.218%
$22,000,000 but less than $23,000,000
0.201%
$23,000,000 but less than $24,000,000
0.186%
$24,000,000 but less than $25,000,000
0.171%
$25,000,000 but less than $26,000,000
0.158%
$26,000,000 but less than $27,000,000
0.146%
$27,000,000 but less than $28,000,000
0.135%
$28,000,000 but less than $29,000,000
0.124%
$29,000,000 but less than $30,000,000
0.114%
$30,000,000 but less than $31,000,000
0.105%
$31,000,000 but less than $32,000,000
0.096%
$32,000,000 but less than $33,000,000
0.088%
$33,000,000 but less than $34,000,000
0.081%
$34,000,000 but less than $35,000,000
0.073%
$35,000,000 but less than $36,000,000
0.067%
$36,000,000 but less than $37,000,000
0.060%
$37,000,000 but less than $38,000,000
0.054%
$38,000,000 but less than $39,000,000
0.048%
$39,000,000 but less than $40,000,000
0.043%
$40,000,000 but less than $41,000,000
0.038%
$41,000,000 but less than $42,000,000
0.033%
$42,000,000 but less than $43,000,000
0.028%
$43,000,000 but less than $44,000,000
0.023%
$44,000,000 but less than $45,000,000
0.019%
$45,000,000 but less than $46,000,000
0.015%
$46,000,000 but less than $47,000,000
0.011%
$47,000,000 but less than $48,000,000
0.007%
$48,000,000 but less than $49,000,000
0.003%
$49,000,000 or more
0.000%
 
 
-4-

 
APPENDIX B
 
Minimum Operating Cost
 
Pursuant to Section 2(g) of this Operating Plan, if the compensation received by Administrator under the Fund Administration Agreement is less than the amount set forth in the schedule below, then the Advisor must remit or cause to be remitted to Administrator an amount that is sufficient to reimburse Administrator for the difference.  Such amounts shall be calculated and paid on a monthly basis.  If this Operating Plan becomes effective subsequent to the first day of the month or terminates before the last day of the month, the minimum operating cost for that part of the month in which this Operating Plan is in effect will be prorated.
 
Year 1 and thereafter........................................................... $11,416.67 per month ($137,000 annually)
 

 
-5-

 
 
APPENDIX C
 
Professional Services
 
The Administrator shall pay the fees and expenses of the Fund incurred for ordinary professional services provided by legal and audit firms engaged by the Fund, but only up to the limits set forth below.  In the event that the fees and expenses for such services are greater than the limits set forth below, the Advisor shall pay the amounts above such limit unless the expense has been specifically assumed by the Fund per the instructions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.
 
1.
Independent public accountants:   $17,500 per Fund per year to audit the annual financial statements of the Fund, prepare the Fund’s federal, state and excise tax returns, and consults with the Fund on matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation.
 
2.
Independent legal counsel to the independent trustees: $3,000 per Fund per year to advise the independent trustees on board meeting issues and consult with the independent trustees in connection with other ordinary legal services.
 
3.
Fund counsel:   $12,000 per Fund per year for ordinary legal expenses, which generally include the following routine services provided by the Fund counsel:
 
 
a)
Review and preparation of materials for regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the board of trustees and the regularly scheduled meetings of the audit and other standing committees, including review of meeting agendas, resolutions, minutes, and reports from service providers to the Fund;
 
 
b)
Attending four meetings per year for the board of trustees and the regularly scheduled meetings of the audit and other standing committees;
 
 
c)
Preparing, or advising on the preparation of, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the annual amendments to the registration statement on Form N-1A, including the related 497 filing;
 
 
d)
Review of other routine filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including filings on Form NSAR, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form 24f-2, and Form N-PX, 40-17g filings, and amendments to such filings,
 
 
e)
Responding to audit letter requests from the Fund’s independent public accountants; and
 
 
f)
Consulting with, and responding to questions from the Fund’s board of trustees and service providers with respect to any of the foregoing.
 
Any audit, accounting, or legal services provided by legal and audit firms engaged by the Fund outside of those listed above shall be considered non-ordinary professional services and shall not be paid by the Administrator.  Non-ordinary legal services include, for example, services provided by legal firms engaged by the Fund in connection with special meetings of the Fund’s board of trustees, additions of new classes or series of shares, shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations, material changes to the Fund’s registration statement, examinations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and litigation
 
 
-6-

 
to which the Fund may be a party.  In the event that fees and expenses for non-ordinary professional services are incurred, the Advisor shall pay such fees and expenses unless the fees and expenses has been specifically assumed by the Fund per the instructions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.  Prior to the commencement of non-ordinary professional services, the Advisor shall receive notice regarding the need for such services and, upon request, an estimate of the fees and expenses that will be incurred.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-7-

 
FORM OF
 
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN
 
THE TRUST AND THE INVESTORS
 
ARIN LARGE CAP THETA FUND

A Series Of
 
Starboard Investment Trust
 
LETTER OF INVESTMENT INTENT
 
[DATE]
 
[___________] (the “Purchaser”) subscribes to purchase a beneficial interest (“Interest”) of the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund (“Fund”), a series of Starboard Investment Trust, in the amount of $________ for ____ shares at net asset value of $10.00 per share, in consideration for which the Purchaser agrees to transfer to you upon demand cash in the amount of $___________.
 
The Purchaser acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Fund’s prospectus and recognizes that the Fund will not be fully operational until it commences a public offering of its shares.  Accordingly, a number of features of the Fund described in the prospectus, including, without limitation, redemption of shares upon request of shareholders, will not be available until it is fully operational.
 
The Purchaser represents and warrants as follows:
 
(1)           Purchaser is aware that no federal or state agency has made any finding or determination as to the fairness for investment, nor any recommendation nor endorsement, of the Interest;
 
(2)           Purchaser has such knowledge and experience of financial and business matters as will enable it to utilize the information made available to it in connection with the offering of the Interest to evaluate the merits and risks of the prospective investment and to make an informed investment decision;
 
(3)           Purchaser recognizes that the Fund has no financial or operating history and, further, that investment in the Fund involves certain risks and that Purchaser understands the risks related to the purchase of the Interest and acknowledges that it can bear the economic risks of such an investment for an indefinite period of time and can suffer the complete loss thereof;
 
 
 

 
(4)           Purchaser is purchasing the Interest for its own account, for investment purposes only, and not with any present intention of redemption, distribution, or resale of the Interest, either in whole or in part;
 
(5)           Any resale of the Interest, or any part thereof, may be subject to restrictions under the federal securities laws and Purchaser will not sell the Interest purchased by it without registration of the Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 or exemption therefrom;
 
(6)           Purchaser has been furnished with and has read this agreement, the prospectus, and such other documents relating to the Fund as it has requested and as have been provided to it by the Fund; and
 
(7)           Purchaser also has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, officers of the Fund concerning the Fund and the terms of the offering.
 

 
By:                                                           
 
Name: ____________________________
 

 
ARIN LARGE CAP THETA FUND
 
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
 

 
WHEREAS, Starboard Investment Trust, a statutory trust organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware (the “Trust”), engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”);
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (the “Shares”), in separate series representing the interests in separate funds of securities and other assets;
 
WHEREAS, the Trust offers a series of such Shares representing interests in the Arin Large Cap Theta Fund (the “Fund”) of the Trust, which Shares are classified into Institutional Class Shares, Advisor Class Shares, and Wirehouse Class Shares;
 
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to adopt a Plan of Distribution (“Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to the Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund;
 
WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust as a whole, including the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating hereto (the “Non-Interested Trustees”), having determined, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under state law and under Section 36(a) and (b) of the 1940 Act, that there is a reasonable likelihood that this Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders, have approved this Plan by votes cast at a meeting held in person and called for the purpose of voting hereon and on any agreements related hereto;
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trust hereby adopts this Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, with respect to the Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund, on the following terms and conditions:
 
1.
Distribution and Servicing Activities.   Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, the Trust may, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund, which activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
 
(a)
payments to the Trust’s distributor (the “Distributor”) and to securities dealers and others in respect of the sale of Shares of the Fund;
 
 
(b)
payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of Shares of the Fund or who render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by the Trust's transfer agent, administrator, or custodian, including but not limited to, answering inquiries regarding the Trust, processing shareholder transactions, providing personal services and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, providing other shareholder liaison services, responding to shareholder inquiries, providing information on shareholder investments in the Shares of the Fund, and providing such other shareholder services as the Trust may reasonably request;
 
 
-1-

 
 
(c)
formulation and implementation of marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising;
 
 
(d)
preparation, printing, and distribution of sales literature;
 
 
(e)
preparation, printing, and distribution of prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Trust for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Trust;
 
 
(f)
holding seminars and sales meetings designed to promote the distribution of Shares;
 
 
(g)
obtaining information and providing explanations to wholesale and retail distributors of contracts regarding Fund investment objectives and policies and other information about the Fund, including the performance of the Fund;
 
 
(h)
training sales personnel regarding the Shares of the Fund; and
 
 
(i)
obtaining such information, analyses, and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, deem advisable.
 
The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above, and in any other activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Advisor Class Shares and Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund, either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.
 
2.
Maximum Expenditures.
 
 
(a)
The expenditures to be made by the Fund pursuant to this Plan and the basis upon which payment of such expenditures will be made shall be determined by the Trustees of the Trust, but in no event may such expenditures exceed the following:
 
 
(i)
Advisor Class Shares.   For the Advisor Class Shares of the Fund, the Fund may pay an amount calculated at the rate of 0.40% (0.25% for service fees and 0.15% for distribution fees) per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Advisor Class Shares of the Fund for each year or portion thereof included in the period for which the computation is being made, elapsed since the commencement of operations of the Advisor Class Shares to the date of such expenditures.
 
 
(ii)
Wirehouse Class Shares.   For the Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund, the Fund may pay an amount calculated at the rate of 1.00% (0.25% for service fees and 0.75% for distribution fees) per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Wirehouse Class Shares of the Fund for each year or portion thereof included in the period for which the computation is being made, elapsed since the commencement of operations of the Wirehouse Class Shares to the date of such expenditures.
 
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may such expenditures paid by the Fund as service fees with respect to any of the foregoing classes of Shares of the Fund (each a “Class” and collectively “Classes”) exceed an amount calculated at the rate of 0.25% of the average annual net assets of the Fund or a particular Class, nor may such expenditures paid as service fees to any person who sells the Shares of the Fund exceed an amount calculated at the rate of 0.25% of the average annual net asset value of such shares.  Payments for distribution and shareholder servicing activities may be made directly by the Trust or to other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan.
 
 
-2-

 
 
(b)
Only distribution expenditures properly attributable to the sale of a particular Class may be used to support the distribution fee charged to shareholders of such Class.  Distribution expenses attributable to the sale of more than one Class will be allocated at least annually to each Class based upon the ratio that the sales of Shares of each Class bears to the sales of Shares of all applicable Classes.
 
3.             Term and Termination.
 
 
(a)
This Plan shall be effective with respect to a Class on the date that the Class commences operations.
 
 
(b)
Unless terminated as herein provided, this Plan shall continue in effect for one year from the effective date of the Plan for the Fund with respect to its Advisor Class Shares and shall continue in effect for successive periods of one year thereafter, but only so long as each such continuance is specifically approved by votes of a majority of both (i) the Trustees of the Trust and (ii) the Non-Interested Trustees, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
 
 
(c)
This Plan may be terminated at any time with respect to a particular Class by a vote of a majority of the Non-Interested Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Class as defined in the 1940 Act.
 
4.
Amendments.   No material amendment to this Plan shall be made unless: (a) it is approved in the manner provided for annual renewal of this Plan in Section 3(b) hereof; and (b) if the proposed amendment will increase materially the maximum expenditures permitted by Section 2 hereof with respect to any Class, it is approved by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of such Class as defined in the 1940 Act.
 
5.
Selection and Nomination of Trustees.   While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of the Non-Interested Trustees of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such Non­-Interested Trustees.
 
6.
Quarterly Reports.   The Trust’s Distributor or an officer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees of the Trust and the Trustees shall review quarterly a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and any related agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
 
7.
Recordkeeping.   The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreement and all reports made pursuant to Section 6 hereof, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan.  Any such related agreement or such reports for the first two years will be maintained in an easily accessible place.
 
 
-3-

 
8.
Limitation of Liability.   Any obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust.  The term “Starboard Investment Trust” means and refers to the Trustees from time to time serving under the Trust’s Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The execution of this Plan has been authorized by the Trustees, acting as such and not individually, and such authorization by such Trustees shall not be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the assets and property of the Trust as provided in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.
 

 
This Plan is effective with respect to the Advisor Class Shares as of _______________; being the date the class commenced operations.
 
This Plan is effective with respect to the Wirehouse Class Shares as of _______________; being the date the class commenced operations.
 

 

 
-4-

 
 
ARIN LARGE CAP THETA FUND
RULE 18f-3 MULTI-CLASS PLAN
 
I.  Introduction.
 
Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), this Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan (“Plan”) sets forth the general characteristics of, and conditions under which the Starboard Investment Trust (“Trust”) may offer, multiple classes of shares (each a “Class of Shares” and collectively “Classes of Shares”) of the following series: Arin Large Cap Theta Fund (the “Fund”).  In addition, the Plan sets forth the shareholder servicing arrangements, distribution arrangements, conversion features, exchange privileges, and other shareholder services of each Class of Shares in each such Fund.  The Plan is intended to allow the Fund to offer multiple Classes of Shares to the fullest extent and manner permitted by Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, subject to the requirements and conditions imposed by the Rule.  This Plan may be revised or amended from time to time as provided below.
 
The Fund is authorized, as indicated below in the section “Class Arrangements,” to issue the following Classes of Shares representing interests in the Fund: Institutional Class Shares, Advisor Class Shares, and Wirehouse Class Shares.  Each Class of Shares will represent interests in the same portfolio of the Fund and, except as described herein, shall have the same rights and obligations as each other Class of Shares of the Fund.  Each Class of Shares shall be subject to such investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility as are set forth in the applicable Fund’s prospectus (“Prospectus”) or statement of additional information (“Statement of Additional Information”), as amended from time to time.
 
II.  Allocation of Expenses.
 
Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, the Trust shall allocate to each Class of Shares in the Fund (i) any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust in connection with the distribution of such Class of Shares under a distribution plan (and related agreements) adopted for such Class of Shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and (ii) any fees and expenses incurred by the Trust under a shareholder servicing plan (and related agreements) in connection with the provision of shareholder services to the holders of such Class of Shares.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 18f-3, the Trust may allocate the following fees and expenses to a particular Class of Shares in a single Fund:
 
(i)
Transfer agency fees identified by the transfer agent as being attributable to such Class of Shares;
 
(ii)
Printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, notices, prospectuses, reports, and proxies to current shareholders of such Class of Shares or to regulatory agencies with respect to such Class of Shares;
 
(iii)
Blue sky registration or qualification fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
 
(iv)
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees incurred by such Class of Shares;
 
(v)
The expense of administrative and personnel services (including, but not limited to, those of a portfolio accountant or dividend paying agent charged with calculating net asset values or determining or paying dividends) as required to support the shareholders of such Class of Shares;
 
(vi)
Litigation or other legal expenses relating solely to such Class of Shares;
 
 
 

 
(vii)
Fees of the Trustees of the Trust incurred as a result of issues particularly relating to such Class of Shares;
 
(viii)
Independent registered public accountants’ fees relating solely to such Class of Shares; and
 
(ix)
Any additional expenses, other than advisory or custodial fees or other expenses relating to the management of a Fund’s assets, if such expenses are actually incurred in a different amount with respect to a Class of Shares that are of a different kind or to a different degree than with respect to one or more other Classes of Shares.
 
The initial determination of the class specific expenses that will be allocated by the Trust to a particular Class of Shares and any subsequent changes thereto will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and approved by a vote of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.
 
Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and any expenses of a Fund not allocated to a particular Class of Shares of such Fund pursuant to this Plan shall be allocated to each Class of Shares of the Fund on the basis of the net asset value of that Class of Shares in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.
 
III.  Dividends.
 
Dividends paid by the Trust with respect to each Class of Shares of a Fund, to the extent any dividends are paid, will be calculated in the same manner, at the same time and will be in the same amount, except that any fees and expenses that are properly allocated to a particular Class of Shares of the Fund will be borne by that Class of Shares.
 
IV.  Voting Rights.
 
Each share (or fraction thereof) of a Fund entitles the shareholder of record to one vote (or fraction thereof).  Each Class of Shares of a Fund will vote separately as a Class of Shares with respect to:  (i) the adoption of, or material amendment to, any Rule 12b-1 distribution plan applicable to that Class of Shares, and (ii) any other matters for which voting on a Class of Shares by Class of Shares basis is required under applicable law or interpretative positions of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
V.  Class Arrangements.
 
The following summarizes the front-end sales charges, contingent deferred sales charges, Rule 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees, conversion features, exchange privileges, and other shareholder services applicable to each Class of Shares of the Fund.  Additional details regarding such fees and services are set forth in the applicable Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
 
(i)           Institutional Class Shares.
 
 
1.
Maximum Initial Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price):  None.
 
 
2.
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None.
 
 
3.
Rule 12b-1 Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees:  None.
 
 
4.
Conversion Features:  None.
 
 
2

 
 
5.
Redemption Fee: None.
 
 
6.
Exchange Privileges:  Shares of this Institutional Class Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for shares of Institutional Class Shares of any other series of the Trust advised by the same investment advisor at net asset value.
 
 
7.
Other Shareholder Services:  The Trust offers a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and Automatic Investment Plan to holders of Institutional Class Shares of a Fund.
 
(ii)           Advisor Class Shares.
 
 
1.
Maximum Initial Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price):  None.
 
 
2.
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None.
 
 
3.
Rule 12b-1 Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees:  Pursuant to a Distribution Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1, Advisor Class Shares of a Fund may pay distribution and shareholder servicing fees of up to 0.40% (0.25% for service fees and 0.15% for distribution fees) per annum of the average daily net assets of any such Fund attributable to such Advisor Class Shares.
 
 
4.
Conversion Features:  None.
 
 
5.
Redemption Fee:  None.
 
 
6.
Exchange Privileges:  Shares of Advisor Class Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Advisor Class Shares of any other series of the Trust advised by the same investment advisor at net asset value.
 
 
7.
Other Shareholder Services:  The Trust offers a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and Automatic Investment Plan to holders of Advisor Class Shares of a Fund.
 
(ii)           Wirehouse Class Shares.
 
 
1.
Maximum Initial Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price):  None.
 
 
2.
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge: None.
 
 
3.
Rule 12b-1 Distribution/Shareholder Servicing Fees:  Pursuant to a Distribution Plan adopted under Rule 12b-1, Wirehouse Class Shares of a Fund may pay distribution and shareholder servicing fees of up to 1.00% (0.25% for service fees and 0.75% for distribution fees) per annum of the average daily net assets of any such Fund attributable to such Wirehouse Class Shares.
 
 
4.
Conversion Features:  None.
 
 
5.
Redemption Fee:  None.
 
 
6.
Exchange Privileges:  Shares of Wirehouse Class Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Wirehouse Class Shares of any other series of the Trust advised by the same investment advisor at net asset value.
 
 
7.
Other Shareholder Services:  The Trust offers a Systematic Withdrawal Plan and Automatic Investment Plan to holders of Wirehouse Class Shares of a Fund.
 
 
3

 
VI.  Board Review.
 
The Board of Trustees of the Trust shall review this Plan as frequently as they deem necessary.  Prior to any material amendment(s) to this Plan, the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees that are not interested persons of the Trust, shall find that the Plan, as proposed to be amended (including any proposed amendments to the method of allocating Class and/or Fund expenses), is in the best interest of each Class of Shares individually and in the Fund as a whole.  In considering whether to approve any proposed amendment(s) to the Plan, the Trustees of the Trust shall request and evaluate such information as they consider reasonably necessary to evaluate the proposed amendment(s) to the Plan.
 

 
Adopted: March 8, 2012.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4

 
 

Code of Ethics

Adopted:  October 30, 2009

Amended:   August 30, 2011


Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
CONFIDENTIAL
 
 

 
Code of Ethics

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction

1.1 In General

1.1.1 Standards of Business Conduct; “Supervised Persons”

1.1.2 Compliance with Securities Laws is Mandatory

1.1.3 Ethics Requirements Under State Securities Laws

1.2 Reporting Personal Securities Transactions

1.2.1 Who is an Access Person

1.2.2 What are Reportable Securities

1.2.3 What is a Direct or Indirect Beneficial Interest

1.2.4 Holding reports

1.2.5 Transaction reports

1.2.6 Review of Reports

1.2.7 Pre Approvals

1.3 Unethical Trading Practices

1.3.1 Front running/Dumping

1.3.2 Improper Use of Information

1.3.3 Conditioning (Manipulating) the Market

1.3.4 Inducements

1.3.5 Short Term Trading and Market Timing

1.4 Misuse of Material Inside Information

1.5 Other Conduct

1.5.1 “Blackout Periods”

1.5.2 Pending Transactions/ Allocation of Investment Opportunities

1.5.3 Public Commentary

1.5.4 Gifts, Entertainment and Training Expenses

1.5.5 Service on Boards of Directors, etc.

1.6 Review and Further Actions

1.7 Books and Records

Appendices

Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
CONFIDENTIAL
 
 

 
Code of Ethics
Introduction

This Code of Ethics is adopted pursuant to Rule 204A-1 of the Investment Adviser Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) and is intended to be utilized by all Arin Risk Advisors, LLC personnel in the conduct of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC business.
 
This Code of Ethics is adopted to set forth standards of conduct, require compliance with securities laws and establish procedures reasonably designed to prevent “Access Persons” from engaging in the prohibited practices. The code is to be reviewed and approved at least annually and copies of each version are to be preserved for at least five years.
 
SEC Rule 204A-1 requires every investment adviser registered or required to be registered under section 203 of the Act to establish, maintain and enforce a written code of ethics that, at a minimum, includes:
 
1.  
A standard (or standards) of business conduct that the adviser requires of each supervised person, which standard must reflect the adviser’s fiduciary obligations and those of its supervised persons;
2.  
Provisions requiring the supervised persons to comply with applicable federal securities laws;
3.  
Provisions that require all “Access Persons” to report, and the firm to review, their personal securities transactions and holdings periodically as provided in the Rule;
4.  
Provisions requiring supervised persons to report any violations of the code of ethics promptly to the chief compliance officer or, provided the chief compliance officer also receives reports of all violations, to other persons designated in the code of ethics; and
5.  
Provisions requiring the firm to provide each supervised person with a copy of the code of ethics and any amendments, and requiring the supervised persons to provide the firm with a written acknowledgment of their receipt of the code and any amendments.

The Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for overseeing and enforcing the Code of Ethics.  This oversight shall at a minimum include the following on a regular basis:
 
§  
Reviewing Access Persons’ personal securities reports
§  
Assessing whether Access Persons are following required internal procedures
§  
Evaluating transactions to identify any prohibited practices
§  
Assessing relative performance of personal accounts vs. customer accounts.”
 
Each employee and associated person must date and sign the Acknowledgment on page eleven (11) of this Code of Ethics and return a copy of the signed Acknowledgment to the Chief Compliance Officer.
 
In addition, each employee or associated person must take personal responsibility to report promptly to the Chief Compliance Officer any suspected violations of this Code of Ethics where applicable.
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC is required to include in Form ADV Part 2Aa reference to this Code of Ethics and that a copy of the Code of Ethics will be delivered to the recipient of Form ADV Part 2A upon request addressed to the Chief Compliance Officer.
 

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Page 1 of 19

 
Code of Ethics
 
 
 
1.1 In General
 
1.1.1 Standards of Business Conduct
 
Federal and state securities laws and regulations make it clear that registered investment advisers and their employees, have a fiduciary duty to their clients with respect to the advice and management services provided. This is often expressed as the “prudent man rule.” A fiduciary is to approach his or her client’s affairs with the same prudence as would be used in the management of his or her own. Fiduciaries are expected to place the interests of the client before their own. Fiduciaries cannot withhold material information from a client that would affect the client’s investment decision.
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC acknowledges that, as a fiduciary, we have a fundamental obligation to act in the best interests of our clients and our clients a duty of undivided loyalty and utmost good faith.
 
1.1.2 Compliance with Securities Laws is Mandatory
 
Federal and state antifraud statutes set forth a number of basic principles which underpin the enforcement of ethical principles in adviser administration. Thus neither an adviser nor any employee may:

§  
Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a client;
§  
Make any untrue statement of material fact or material omission in communications to clients or the public; or
§  
Engage in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a client.

Non-compliance with the provisions of this Code of Ethics will not be tolerated.
 
1.1.3 Ethics Requirements under State Securities Laws
 
The legal regulatory structure does not require every adviser to be state registered.
However, state “anti-fraud” and ethics laws and regulations continue to apply to each adviser doing business in the state. Accordingly, attention needs to be paid to the ethics requirements of each state where Arin Risk Advisors, LLC is doing business.
 
State securities administrators have their own code of ethics. In April, 2004 the North American Security Administrators Association (NASAA) updated its Statement of Policy Concerning Unethical Business Practices of Investment Advisers (Statement).  The Statement is used by a number of state securities administrators in evaluating the ethics of regulated advisers. The Statement identifies a number of specific practices which the state administrators define as unethical:

§  
Recommending to a client to whom supervisory, management or consulting services are provided the purchase, sale or exchange of any security without reasonable grounds to believe that the recommendation is suitable for the client on the basis of information furnished by the client after reasonable inquiry concerning the client's investment objectives, financial situation and needs, and any other information known by the investment adviser.
§  
Exercising any discretionary power in placing an order for the purchase or sale of securities for a client without obtaining written discretionary authority from the client within ten (10) business days after the date of the first transaction placed pursuant to oral discretionary authority, unless the discretionary power relates solely to the price at which, or the time when, an order involving a definite amount of a specified security shall be executed, or both.
 
 
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Code of Ethics
 
 
§  
Inducing trading in a client's account that is excessive in size or frequency in view of the financial resources, investment objectives and character of the account in light of the fact that an adviser in such situations can directly benefit from the number of securities transactions effected in a client's account. The rule appropriately forbids an excessive number of transaction orders to be induced by an adviser for a "customer's account."
§  
Placing an order to purchase or sell a security for the account of a client without authority to do so.
§  
Placing an order to purchase or sell a security for the account of a client upon instruction of a third party without first having obtained a written third-party trading authorization from the client.
§  
Borrowing money or securities from a client unless the client is a broker-dealer, an affiliate of the investment adviser, or a financial institution engaged in the business of loaning funds.
§  
Loaning money to a client unless the investment adviser is a financial institution engaged in the business of loaning funds or the client is an affiliate of the investment adviser.
§  
To misrepresent to any advisory client, or prospective advisory client, the qualifications of the investment adviser or any employee of the investment adviser, or to misrepresent the nature of the advisory services being offered or fees to be charged for such service, or to omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made regarding qualifications, services or fees, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
§  
Providing a report or recommendation to any advisory client prepared by someone other than the adviser without disclosing that fact. (This prohibition does not apply to a situation where the adviser uses published research reports or statistical analyses to render advice or where an adviser orders such a report in the normal course of providing service.)
§  
Charging a client an unreasonable advisory fee.
§  
Failing to disclose to clients in writing before any advice is rendered any material conflict of interest relating to the adviser or any of its employees which could reasonably be expected to impair the rendering of unbiased and objective advice including:
a)  
Compensation arrangements connected with advisory services to clients which are in addition to compensation from such clients for such services; and
b)  
Charging a client an advisory fee for rendering advice when a commission for executing securities transactions pursuant to such advice will be received by the adviser or its employees.
§  
Guaranteeing to a client that a specific result will be achieved (gain or no loss) with advice, which will be rendered.
§  
Publishing, circulating or distributing any advertisement which does not comply with Rule 206 (4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
§  
Disclosing the identity, affairs, or investments of any client unless required by law to do so, or unless consented to by the client.
1.1.3 Political Contributions
 
The Company shall not accept an investor/client within two years after the Company or any Covered Associate make a contribution to an elected official of a government entity (incumbent, candidate or successful candidate) that is in a position, directly or indirectly, to influence the selection of the Company. (This prohibition shall not apply to contributions by a Covered Associate who is a natural person if and to: (1) Officials who the Covered Associate was entitled to vote at the time of the contribution and which in the aggregate do not exceed $350 to any one official, per election, or to officials for whom the Covered Associate was not entitled to vote at the time of the contribution and which in the aggregate do not exceed $150 to any one official, per election; (2) The contribution was made more than six months prior to becoming a Covered Associate of the Company unless such person, after
 
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CONFIDENTIAL
 
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Code of Ethics
becoming a Covered Associate, solicits clients on behalf of the Company; or (3) The Company returns any contribution (which cannot exceed $350) within four months of the date of the contribution and within 60 days of the date of discovery of the contribution. (Limited to one instance by the same Covered Associate, two instances for advisers with 50 or fewer employers or two instances for advisers with more than 50 employees))
 
The Company and its Covered Associates shall not coordinate or solicit any person to make any contributions to an elected official (incumbent, candidate or successful candidate) of a government entity who is an investor/client or who the Company is seeking to be an investor/client and shall not coordinate or solicit payment to political parties of a state or locality who is an investor/client or seeking a government entity to be an investor/client.
 
The Company shall not agree to pay or pay a third party, such as a solicitor or placement agent, to solicit government entity clients on behalf of the Company, unless that third party is an executive officer, general partner, managing member (or similar status) or employee of the Company, an SEC-registered investment adviser in compliance with Rule 206(4)-5 or broker-dealer subject to similar restrictions imposed by FINRA.
 
      “Covered Associate” shall mean: (i) Any general partner, managing member or executive officer, or other individual with a similar status or function; (ii) Any employee who solicits a government entity for the Company and any person who supervises, directly or indirectly, such employee; and (iii) Any political action committee controlled by the Company or by any of the aforementioned persons.

 
1.2 Reporting Personal Securities Transactions
 
The SEC Rules require reporting and monitoring of the investment activities of the firm’s employees. When investment advisory personnel invest for their own accounts, conflicts of interest may arise between the client’s and the employee's interests. The reporting regulations are designed to deter problem activity and to create a “level playing field.”
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC must maintain a record of all transactions in Reportable Securities in which an Access Person has a “direct or indirect beneficial interest.” (See Section 1.2.3)
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC undertakes to protect the privacy and security of the information provided by non-Access Persons’ as a consequence of their relationship with one or more of Arin Risk Advisor, LLC’s listed Access Persons. As such, the Chief Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring that such reports are only distributed to those individuals who have a compliance need to view and analyze them.
 
1.2.1 Who is an “Access Person”
 
An Access Person is any person supervised by Arin Risk Advisors, LLC who has access to nonpublic information regarding any client’s purchase or sale of securities, or information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund (see below); or   who is involved in making securities recommendations to clients, or who has access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.
 
 
As a matter of policy, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC designates ALL employees of the company as Access Persons’ with respect to its compliance with Rule 204A-1.

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Page 4 of 19

 
Code of Ethics
1.2.2
What are “Reportable Securities”
 
Reportable Securities are all securities as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Act, including listed and unlisted securities, private transactions (which include private placements, non-public stock or warrants), EXCEPT:
(a)  
direct obligations of the united States Government;
(b)  
bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short term debt instruments including repurchase agreements;
(c)  
shares issued by money market funds
(d)  
open end mutual funds and exchange traded funds (‘ETF’s”) other than “Advised Funds”  (i.e., registered funds for which ARA or any other related business entity acts as advisor or sub-advisor)
(e)  
Transactions in units of UIT’s that are invested solely in the shares of unaffiliated open end mutual funds (e.g., variable product sub-accounts)

Advised Funds include all funds for which Arin Risk Advisors, LLC serves as investment adviser and any fund whose investment adviser controls is controlled by or is under common control with, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC.
 
1.2.3
What is a “Direct or Indirect Beneficial Interest”
 
A Direct or Indirect Beneficial Interest includes any direct ownership or an indirect pecuniary interest through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including immediate family members (person who is supported directly or indirectly to a material extent by such person), partners in a partnership or beneficiaries of a trust. The term pecuniary interest means the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the Reportable Securities.
 
1.2.4
Holdings Reports
 
Each Access Person must submit to the Chief Compliance Officer a signed Holdings Report (See Appendix C), within ten (10) days of the date the person becomes an Access Person AND annually at least once in each subsequent 12 month period.
 
The Holding Report must be signed and personally delivered or mailed to the Chief Compliance Officer. All Holding Reports will be held in confidence by the Chief Compliance Officer in a secure location, subject to review requirements by authorized officers of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC.  Each Holding Report shall contain the following information, current within not more than 45 days of the date the person became an Access Person or the date of the Report as the case may be, for each Reportable Security in which the Access Person has a “direct or indirect beneficial interest”:
§  
title, exchange ticker or CUSIP number of the security involved;
§  
number of shares or principal amount and dollar value of purchase;
§  
date of acquisition;
§  
nature of the acquisition (purchase or other);
§  
nature of the interest ( direct or indirect and how held );
§  
price at which effected;
§  
name of each broker dealer or bank where the person maintains an account or where the securities are held;
§  
date of the report.

Arin Risk Advisors, LLC retains copies of each access person’s brokerage account statements to satisfy these requirements.
 
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Code of Ethics
1.2.5 Transaction Reports
 
Each Access Person must submit to the Chief Compliance Officer a signed Transaction Report, (see Appendix D) within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar quarter, containing the following information with respect to each transaction during the quarter involving a reportable security in which the Access Person has, or acquires, a “direct or indirect beneficial interest”:
§  
title, exchange ticker or CUSIP number of the security involved;
§  
number of shares or principal amount and dollar value of purchase;
§  
nature of transaction ( purchase, sale, other type of acquisition, etc );
§  
price of the security;
§  
name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected;
§  
nature of ownership ( direct or indirect and how held );
§  
date of the transaction;
§  
date of the report; and
§  
copies of all confirmations.

 
Copies of brokerage account statements containing the above data will satisfy these requirements.
 
Exceptions from Reporting Requirements
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC does not require reports with respect to the following:
 
a)  
Any reports for securities in accounts over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control;
b)  
Transaction reports for transactions pursuant to automatic investment plans;
c)  
Transaction reports which would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements already held in Arin Risk Advisors, LLC’s records as long as the confirmations or statements are received by Arin Risk Advisors, LLC no later than 30 days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter;

1.2.6                      Review of Reports
 
Upon receipt of each Holding Report or Transaction Report the Chief Compliance Officer will review it to determine whether or not there are any questions about the contents, including the security(ies) referenced, size, timing or other aspects of the holding or transaction that require further inquiry. Particular, access person reports will be reviewed for unauthorized trading relating (but not limited) to the following issues:
 
a)  
Securities currently on the firm’s Restricted list;
b)  
Securities currently on the firm’s Watch list;
c)  
Initial public offerings;
d)  
Private placements;
e)  
Any securities which may be potentially affected by inside information that the firm or access person may possess;
f)  
Market timing (if prohibited);
g)  
Front Running;
h)  
Participating in bunched trades to the disadvantage of clients;
i)  
Trading activity in contravention to advice given to clients.

Reports requiring no further inquiry are initialed and filed. Those requiring further inquiry will be the subject of “follow up” with the individual(s) involved and appropriate further action will be taken, if necessary, as described below.
 
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Personal Securities Holdings and Transaction Reports will be reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer within 15 days of collection. If a problem or concern is detected, the Chief Compliance Officer will immediately take appropriate action on any items that may conflict or potentially cause a conflict with the Code. Documentation of any actions taken, including any resolution or remediation will be created and maintained as required by the Rule under the direction of the Chief Compliance Officer. All reports will be initialed by the Chief Compliance Officer after their review is complete.
 
1.2.7 Pre Approvals
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC requires that each Access Person obtain pre-approval in writing from the Chief Compliance Officer before he or she acquires direct or indirect beneficial ownership of any security[in an initial public offering or in a limited offering] (See Appendix A).
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC also requires that each Access Person obtain pre-approval from the Chief Compliance Officer before opening any brokerage account. Arin Risk Advisors, LLC may restrict the number of accounts or the broker dealers with whom accounts may be opened (See Appendix D).
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC maintains a “restricted list” of securities in which Access Persons may not transact purchases or sales without pre-approval in writing from the Chief Compliance Officer. Each Access Person is responsible for checking the “restricted list” before engaging in any personal transaction.
 
1.3 Unethical Trading Practices
 
With respect to enforcing Arin Risk Advisor’s Code of Ethics, the firm will monitor the activities of its representatives and Access Persons to ensure compliance with provisions of the Code including the various securities and non-securities related components of the Code. Any perceived violations of the Code will be immediately investigated, resolved, and documented as appropriate to the situation.
 
The following practices are universally regarded as violations of SEC and/or state regulations and are subject to severe penalties if discovered:
 
1.3.1 Front running/Dumping
 
Purchasing or selling a security (including a mutual fund) in a personal account before purchasing or selling that security in a client account; OR purchasing or selling with advance knowledge of, and before, corresponding purchases or sales in portfolios of mutual funds owned by clients. In both cases, acting to obtain a more favorable price for a personal account than may be later available.
 
1.3.2 Improper Use of Information
 
Generally using economic, market or other investment information obtained by virtue of one’s position with the adviser to advance a personal interest. SEE ALSO BELOW: “Misuse of Material Inside Information”.
 
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1.3.3 Conditioning (Manipulating) the Market
 
Utilizing one’s position or influence with a fund or clients to induce purchases or sales by these persons or entities of thinly traded securities in anticipation of profit from timed personal sales or purchases of these same securities.
 
1.3.4 Inducements
 
The receipt of inducements or other benefits, including warrants or cash, from sponsors or others in return for selling or recommending certain mutual funds or other securities.
 
1.3.5 Short Term Trading and Market Timing
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC prohibits Short Term Trading and Market Timing by all employees and Associated Persons when in conflict with client account management. “Short Term Trading” is the practice of purchasing and selling the same security and/or the options or convertibles in a security within a short period of time. The length of the time period can vary from as short as a single trading day to a period of weeks, depending on the volatility of the security, use of margin, discount transaction costs or methods, etc.
 
 
“Market Timing” is the practice of placing purchase and sales orders in the same security or a related security in different markets in order to take advantage of price differentials. Transactions which have as their apparent purpose the obtaining of a short term trading and/or a market timing advantage at the expense of Arin Risk Advisor’s clients will be regarded as a violation of Arin Risk Advisor’s Code of Ethics where applicable and dealt with severely. Persons who have engaged in these transactions may be subject to the requirement that they give up any profits obtained or otherwise subjected to disciplinary action.
 
1.4 Misuse of Material Inside Information (also referred to as Material Non Public Information)
 
In situations where Arin Risk Advisors, LLC provides research services or securities analyses where it may come into contact with material inside information relating to a company, the firm will review (prior to assignment) the securities holdings and transaction activity of the access person to be assigned to conduct such research or analysis to ensure the access person:
a)  
Does not currently hold the security in any brokerage account where they have actual or beneficial ownership;
b)  
Does not have a prior trading history with respect to such security within the last 12 months;
c)  
Does not have any other discernible conflict of interest which may impair their objectivity with respect to the assignment.

Material Inside Information is information:
 
§  
Not generally available to the public,
§  
About which the public has not had a reasonable opportunity to make an investment decision,
§  
Communicated in breach of a fiduciary duty owed by employee or person under contract or professional relationship or misappropriated from such a person,
 
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Code of Ethics
 
§  
With “Substantial likelihood” that a reasonable investor would consider the information to be important in making investment decision (likely to have a substantial effect on the price of the company’s stock).

Examples of Material Inside Information
 
§  
Special briefing information provided to analysts and other securities professionals by company officials in the course of dealings with the investment community;
§  
Plan to change fund manager;
§  
Plan to purchase or sell specific securities by fund;
§  
Alteration in manager or fund philosophy or strategy;
§  
Merger, tender offer, joint venture or other acquisition or similar transaction ;
§  
Stock split or stock dividend or other change in dividend practice;
§  
Significant earnings change;
§  
Litigation;
§  
Default in a debt obligation or a missed or changed dividend;
§  
Sale or redemption of securities or change in ownership of a significant block of securities; or
§  
Change in major product, customer or supplier.

Penalties for Insider Trading
 
The legal consequences for trading on or communicating material, non-public information are severe, both for individuals involved in such unlawful conduct and their employers. A person can be subject to some or all of the penalties below even if he/she does not personally benefit from the violation. Penalties may include:
 
·  
civil injunctions
 
·  
jail sentences
 
·  
revocation of applicable securities-related registrations and licenses
 
·  
fines for the person who committed the violation of up to three times the profit gained or loss avoided, whether or not the person actually benefited; and
 
·  
fines for the Associated Person or other controlling person of up to the greater of $1,000,000 or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided.
 


Prohibited Activities
Associated Persons of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC are absolutely prohibited from involving themselves in any way in any securities transaction undertaken with knowledge of material nonpublic information. All Associated Persons are prohibited from such conduct including (a) trading or recommending trading in securities for any account (personal or client) while in possession of material, non-public information; or (b)communicating material, non-public information to any other person.
 
The law absolutely requires that an adviser and any Associated Person refrain from any “Personal Securities Transactions” until the material nonpublic information becomes public.
 
Rules and procedures for handling situations involving material nonpublic information are set forth in the Compliance and Procedures Manual. If in doubt, consult with the Chief Compliance Officer.
 
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Code of Ethics


Reporting of Material, Non-Public Information
Any Associated Person who possesses or believes that she/he may possess material, non-public information must report the matter immediately to the Chief Compliance Officer. The Chief Compliance Officer will review the matter and provide further instructions regarding appropriate handling of the information to the reporting individual.
 
1.5 Other Conduct
 
In addition to the “insider trading” rules and reporting personal securities transactions, Access Persons must observe specific substantive restrictions, as follows:
 
1.5.1 “Blackout Periods”
 
No purchasing of initial public offerings or any other designated security for personal, family or other beneficial accounts during any blackout period specified by Arin Risk Advisors, LLC or otherwise by regulation, without prior written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer. A blackout period may vary by the type of security or transaction being contemplated and will be specified by the Chief Compliance Officer when such information is distributed to Arin Risk Advisor’s Access Persons and/or employees.
 
1.5.2 Pending Transactions/Allocation of Investment Opportunities

No personal trades in a security during a pending Client buy/sell order in that security. Investment opportunities must first be offered to clients before the firm or any access person is permitted to participate in the purchase or sale of such security. Furthermore, all trade allocations must be equitably made to clients first (not Arin Risk Advisors, LLC or its Access Persons) and must not disadvantage the client to the benefit of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC or access person under any circumstances.
 
1.5.3 Public Commentary
 
Care should be taken in writing and publishing newsletters, analyses and other public commentary on markets, funds and other securities not to place the employee or the Company in a situation where a recommendation to buy or sell could be seen as conferring a personal benefit. If in any doubt, check with the Chief Compliance Officer.
 
           1.5.4 Gifts, Entertainment, and Training Expenses
 
Non-Cash Compensation, Defined: This term encompasses any form of compensation received by Arin Risk Advisors, LLC or any employee in connection with the sale and distribution of securities that is not cash compensation, including, but not limited to, merchandise, gifts and prizes, travel expenses, meals, lodging and securities.
 
The firm generally prohibits employees from accepting cash and non-cash compensation from vendors, sponsors, clients, or other business partners unless specifically approved by the Chief Compliance Officer. Cash, Gifts, trips, entertainment and any other perks or financial remuneration from clients or business partners (other than the occasional meal or memento) should typically be refused. The Chief Compliance Officer should be immediately informed when cash or non-cash compensation is offered or received.
 
Training and Education: Since various products and services are continuously offered, it is particularly important that employees receive educational opportunities whenever possible. Should employees of the firm attend training or education meetings held by a product sponsor or business partner, any related reimbursement or payment of expenses must be made to Arin Risk Advisors, LLC (not the employee individually, unless approved by the Chief Compliance Officer). Any such payment or reimbursement must not be conditioned by the offeror on the achievement of sales targets or other incentives, such as gathering a specific level of assets.
 
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1.5.5 Service on Boards of Directors, etc.
 
Service as a director or trustee of a public company or entity involved in the investment process should be avoided where “conflict of interest” issues might arise. Persons associated with Arin Risk Advisors, LLC are required to notify the Chief Compliance Officer in writing and receive written permission prior to becoming a member of any board or a trustee of any entity.
 
1.6 Review and Further Action
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC takes its responsibilities seriously to review employee activities to detect and deter conduct, which is, or could become, a violation of this Code of Ethics. All employees are required to report any suspected violations of this Code to the Chief Compliance Officer. Employees should know that they might be asked to explain, informally or otherwise, their conduct or documentation with which they are associated. If further investigation reveals a violation, Arin Risk Advisors, LLC may take further action, including placing the individual(s) involved under heightened supervision or restrictions, imposing internal penalties including canceling an improper employee securities trade disgorgement of ill-gotten profits or, in extreme cases, suspension or dismissal.
 
In certain cases the existence of violations may need to be disclosed to the SEC and/or state authorities with the consequent requirement that Form ADV be amended as well as the CRD/ IARD registrations on Form U-4 of the individuals involved. Corrective action may, in addition, involve unwinding improper client trades and other remedial action to make the client whole.
 
1.7 Books and Records
 
Arin Risk Advisors, LLC is required to maintain books and records related to the implementation of this Code of Ethics, in accordance with the provisions of SEC Rule 204-2. These include retention of the following in an easily accessible place for five years (and in the Arin Risk Advisors, LLC office for the first two of those years):
 
Documents                                  Person(s) Responsible
 
 
   Access Person listings  CCO
   Receipts and Acknowledgments of this Code of Ethics  CCO
   Holding Reports and actions taken  CCO
   Transaction Reports and actions taken  CCO
    Dated copies of this Code of Ethics and amendments  CCO
    Documentation of any investigations, violations and remedies  CCO
 
 
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
 
I have read the above Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics and agree to comply with the provisions contained therein.
 

ACCEPTED AND AGGREED TO:

Employee                                                                           Arin Risk Advisors, LLC


 
 By:  ___________________________  By: ___________________________    
       
 Name: ___________________________  Name: ___________________________    
       
 Title: ___________________________  Title:___________________________    
       
 Date: ___________________________  Date: ___________________________    
       
 
                                                                                                            


                                                                                    
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APPENDIX A

Personal Trading Pre-Approval Form

The purpose of this pre-clearance form is to document that the proposed transaction is in compliance with Section 1.2.7 “Pre Approvals” of the Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics.  Pre-approval must be granted prior to placing a trade and is valid for five (5) business days after approval.

1.  
Buy:    o Sell:   o Short: o
 
2.  
Security Name: ___________________________
 
3.  
Security Type:   Common Stock:  o  Option:   o Debt:  o   Other: o
 
4.  
Exchange Ticker or CUSIP: ___________________________
 
5.  
Number of Shares/Contracts/Principal: ___________________________
 
6.  
Brokerage Account Number: ___________________________
 
 
 
Custodian:  ___________________________
                              
 
I hereby represent that, to the best of my knowledge, neither I nor the registered account holder: (1) is in possession of any material inside information concerning the security to which this request relates; (2) is engaging in any manipulative or deceptive trading activity; and have no other knowledge pertaining to this proposed transaction that constitutes a violation of ARA policy or securities laws.

I acknowledge that the Compliance Officer in his or her sole discretion has the right not to approve the trade, and I undertake to abide by his or her decision.

Employee
 
 By:  ___________________________      
       
 Name: ___________________________      
       
 Title: ___________________________      
       
 Date: ___________________________      
       

Approval (to be completed by the CCO):                                                                                     Approved:   o                                       Disapproved: o

Arin Risk Advisors, LLC


 
 By:  ___________________________      
       
 Name: ___________________________      
       
 Title: ___________________________      
       
 Date: ___________________________      
       
 
                                                         
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Code of Ethics
APPENDIX B

Sample of Securities Account Statement Request Letter


<DATE>


<NAME OF CUSTODIAN>
<ADDRESS>
<CITY, STATE ZIP>

Re:           Account No.       ___________________________                         

Account Name    ___________________________                                                            


To Whom It May Concern:

As of <DATE>, please send monthly duplicate statements for the above listed accounts to:

Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
Attn: Chief Compliance Officer
300 Four Falls Corporate Center
Suite 200
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

This request is made pursuant to Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

<Name>


cc: <Name>

 
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Code of Ethics



APPENDIX C

ARIN RISK ADVISORS, LLC
ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT

For Securities Directly or Indirectly Beneficially Owned                                                                                                                       As of:         <Date>  

Name:    ___________________________                                                              Submission Date:  ___________________________

Please submit the following information below regarding securities in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial ownership interest:

§  
All holdings in Reportable Securities and Advised Funds as of no more than 45 days before this report is submitted.   (Please see the Code of Ethics for the definitions of Reportable Securities and Advised Funds).
§  
All securities accounts opened during the year.

This report must be returned within 30 days of the calendar year end.

HOLDINGS IN COVERED SECURITIES:
Name of
Issuer
Exchange Ticker
 or CUSIP Number
Number of
Shares/Contracts
/Principal
Nature of
Acquisition
(Purchase or
Other)
Nature of Interest
(Direct or Indirect)
Name of Broker,
Dealer or Bank
 Effecting
Transaction
           
           
           
           
           

  o   If you had no Covered Securities holdings to report this year, please check here.

SECURITIES ACCOUNTS OPENED DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR:
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank
Account Number
Names on Account
Date Account was Established
Type of Account
         
         
         

  o   If you did not establish a securities account during the year, please check here.

By signing this document, I represent and certify that:
§  
I certify that the above list is an accurate and complete listing of all securities in which I have a direct or indirect beneficial ownership interest;
§  
I have read and understood the most recent copy of Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics and agree to abide by its requirements.

ACCEPTED AND AGGREED TO:                                                                                  RECEIVED BY:
 
Employee                                                                                             Arin Risk Advisors, LLC

 
 By:  ___________________________  By: ___________________________    
       
 Name: ___________________________  Name: ___________________________    
       
 Title: ___________________________  Title:___________________________    
       
 Date: ___________________________  Date: ___________________________    
       
 
 
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Code of Ethics
APPENDIX D

ARIN RISK ADVISORS, LLC
QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT

For Securities Directly or Indirectly Beneficially Owned                                                                                                                       As of:     <Date>  

Name:    ___________________________                                                              Submission Date:  ___________________________

 
Please submit the following information below regarding securities in which you have a direct or indirect beneficial ownership interest:
 
§  
All transactions in Reportable Securities and Advised Funds (Please see the Code of Ethics for the definitions of Reportable Securities and Advised Funds).
§  
All securities accounts opened during the quarter.

 
The report must be returned within 30 days of the applicable calendar quarter end.
 

SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS:
Date of
Transaction
Name of Issuer
Exchange
Ticker or
CUSIP
Number
Number of
Shares/Contracts/
Principal
Transaction
Type
Price
Name of Broker,
Dealer or Bank
Effecting
Transaction
             
             
             
             
             

   o  If you had no reportable transactions during the quarter, please check here.

SECURITIES ACCOUNTS OPENED DURING THE QUARTER:
Name of Broker, Dealer or Bank
Account Number
Names on Account
Date Account was Established
Type of Account
         
         
         

o    If you did not establish a securities account during the year, please check here.

 
By signing this document, I represent and certify that:
§  
I certify that the all reported transactions were pre-approved by the Chief Compliance Officer in compliance with the Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics;
§  
I have I have included all new securities accounts as required by the Arin Risk Advisors, LLC Code of Ethics.

ACCEPTED AND AGGREED TO:                                                                                RECEIVED BY:
 
Employee                                                                                           Arin Risk Advisors, LLC
 
 By:  ___________________________  By: ___________________________    
       
 Name: ___________________________  Name: ___________________________    
       
 Title: ___________________________  Title:___________________________    
       
 Date: ___________________________  Date: ___________________________    
       
                                                                     
 
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Code of Ethics
APPENDIX E

Restricted Securities List – January 2010


The following securities are Restricted:
 

 
Name of Issuer
Exchange Ticker or CUSIP Number
H&R Block, Inc. Common Stock
HRB
   
   
   
   

 

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CONFIDENTIAL
 
Page 17 of 19

 
 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
    /s/ Jack E. Brinson    
   Jack E. Brinson, Trustee and Chairman    
       
 
/s/ Meade B. Bridgers
Witness
 
Print Name: Meade B. Bridgers
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 27th day of September, 2010.
 
 
    /s/ Theo H. Pitt, Jr.    
   Theo H. Pitt, Jr., Interested Trustee    
 
/s/ Deborah A. Mills
     
Witness:
 
Print Name: Deborah A. Mills
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 9th day of July, 2010.
 
 
   /s/ Michael G. Mosley    
   Michael G. Mosley, Trustee    
 
/s/Kacee Lamberth
     
Witness
 
Print Name: Kacee Lamberth
 
 


 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
  /s/ James H. Speed, Jr.    
  James H. Speed, Jr., Trustee    
 
/s/ Trina Thompson-Graves
     
Witness
 
Print Name: Trina Thompson-Graves
 
 




 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
    /s/ J. Buckley Strandberg    
   J. Buckley Strandberg, Trustee    
 
/s/ Kim Bletsas
     
Witness
 
Print Name: Kim Bletsas
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
/s/ Celia Murphey
Witness
/s/ D. J. Murphey
D. J. "Jerry" Murphey, President
 
FMX Funds
 
Print Name: Celia Murphey
 
 



 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
/s/ Aaron Rios
Witness
/s/ Julie M. Koethe
Julie M. Koethe, Treasurer
 
FMX Funds
 
Print Name: Aaron Rios



 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010.
 
 
/s/ John Cervantes
Witness
/s/ Robert G. Fontana
Robert G. Fontana, President and Treasurer
 
Caritas All-Cap Growth Fund
 
Print Name: John Cervantes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 22nd day of April, 2010 .
 
 
/s/ Robyn H. Lee
Witness
/s/ Matthew R. Lee
Matthew R. Lee, President
 
Presidio Multi-Strategy Fund
 
Print Name: Robyn H. Lee
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 16th day of September, 2010.
 
/s/ Craig L. Lukin
Witness:
Print Name: Craig L. Lukin
/s/ James C. Roumell
James C. Roumell, President
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
 



 
 

 

 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process. Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 16th day of September, 2010.
 
/s/ James C. Roumell
Witness:
Print Name: James C. Roumell
/s/ Craig L. Lukin
Craig L. Lukin, Treasurer
Roumell Opportunistic Value Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS  that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the   Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”),  a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes  all previous appointments and appoints A. Vason Hamrick and/or T. Lee Hale, Jr., with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interests of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process.  Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 16 day of June, 2011.
 
 
 
 
  /s/ Michelle Grimaldi /s/ Mark A. Grimaldi      
 Witness Mark A. Grimaldi    
 
President, Treasurer, Principal Executive Officer and
Principal Financial Officer
   
Print Name: Michelle Grimaldi 
The Sector Rotation Fund    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints T. Lee Hale, Jr. and/or A. Vason Hamrick, with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process.  Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 2nd  day of November, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Chelsea Miller      
Witness   /s/ Cort F. Meinelschmidt    
  Cort F. Meinelschmidt    
Chelsea Miller President and Treasurer,    
Print Name SCS Tactical Allocation Fund    
       
 
 
 
                                                                         
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints T. Lee Hale, Jr. and/or A. Vason Hamrick, with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process.  Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 9 day of November, 2011.
 
 
 
   
 
/s/ Valerie G. Lowery /s/ J. Philip Bell    
Witness      J. Philip Bell    
Print Name:  Valerie G. Lowery President, Crescent Funds    
 
                                                                      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
 
 
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints T. Lee Hale, Jr. and/or A. Vason Hamrick, with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process.  Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect to the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 9 day of November, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  /s/ Lara B. Hudson /s/  Michael W. Nix    
Witness  Michael W. Nix    
Print Name:  Lara B. Hudson Treasurer, Crescent Funds    
 
 
 
                                                                          
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY

 
 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints T. Lee Hale, Jr. and/or A. Vason Hamrick, with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process (“Compliance Acts”). Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect Compliance Acts for or on behalf of the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.  This power of attorney shall not expand authority beyond Compliance Acts with respect to the Trust.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 1st day of May, 2012.
 
 
/s/ Brenda Smith   /s/ Joseph J. DeSipio  
Witness    Joseph J. DeSipio  
Print Name:  Brenda Smith   President, Arin Funds  
 
 
 

 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned officer and/or trustee of the Starboard Investment Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby revokes all previous appointments and appoints T. Lee Hale, Jr. and/or A. Vason Hamrick, with full power of substitution, true and lawful attorney of the undersigned to execute in name, place and stead of the undersigned and on behalf of the undersigned any and all amendments to the Trust’s registration statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as well as any and all registration statements on Form N-14, and to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the offer and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (including, without limitation, regulatory authorities in any and all states in which shares of any series of the Trust are sold), any such amendment or registration statement and any and all supplements thereto or to any prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of the registration statement, as well as any and all exhibits and other documents necessary or desirable to the amendment or supplement process (“Compliance Acts”). Said attorneys, and each of them, shall have full power and authority, with full power of substitution, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned every act whatsoever requisite or desirable to be done in the premises in any and all capacities authorized by the Board of Trustees for such persons to provide or perform with respect Compliance Acts for or on behalf of the Trust, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving all such acts of such attorneys.  This power of attorney shall not expand authority beyond Compliance Acts with respect to the Trust.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument on this 1st day of May, 2012.
 
 
/s/ Brenda Smith   /s/ Lawrence H. Lempert  
Witness    Lawrence H. Lempert  
Print Name:  Brenda Smith    Treasurer, Arin Funds