Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2018

1933 Act Registration File No. 333-182417

1940 Act File No. 811-22718

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  [ X ]

 

[ ] Pre-Effective Amendment No.                                    

[ X ] Post-Effective Amendment No. 151                                                                                                                  

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   [ X ]

 

[ X ] Amendment No. 154

                                                                                                                             

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE  68130

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:

402-895-1600

 

The Corporation Trust Company

1209 Orange Street

Wilmington, DE  19801

(Name and. Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

 

Joshua Deringer

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

 

Richard A. Malinowski

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110

Hauppauge, NY  11788

 

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

[   ]   immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

[X]   on January 15, 2018 pursuant to paragraph (b)

[   ]   60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(l)

[   ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(l)

[   ]   75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

[   ]   on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

[   ]   as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement

If appropriate, check the following box: [ ] this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund


(A Series of Two Roads Shared Trust)

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

January 15, 2018

 

Class W  WFRPX

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-877-910-4232

 

 

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 

These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) nor has the SEC or CFTC passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
FUND SUMMARY   1
Investment Objective   1
Fees and Expenses of the Fund   1
Expense Example   1
Portfolio Turnover   1
Principal Investment Strategies   1
Principal Investment Risks   3
Performance   5
Portfolio Management   6
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares   6
Tax Information   6
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries   6
Additional information about investment objective, principal investment strategies and related risks   6
Investment Objective   7
Principal Investment Strategies   7
Principal and Other Investment Risks   8
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure   12
MANAGEMENT   12
Investment Adviser   12
Portfolio Managers   12
SHARES ARE PRICED 13HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES   14
Eligible Investors   14
Wealthfront Advisory Clients   14
Direct Investors   14
Financial Intermediaries   14
Class W Shares   14
Purchasing Shares   14
When Order is Processed   15
Good Order   15
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES   15
Redeeming Shares   15
Good Order   16
When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees   16
Retirement Plans   16
Minimum Account Balances   16
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES   17
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS   17
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES   18
Distributor   18
Compensation to Financial Intermediaries   18
Householding   19
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   19
PRIVACY NOTICE   20
 
 

FUND SUMMARY

 

Investment Objective

 

The Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term total return, which consists of both capital appreciation and income.

 

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

 

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

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage

of the value of your investment)

 

Class W

Management Fees (1) 0.50%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees None
Other Expenses (2) 0.01%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (2) 0.00%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.51%
(1) T he Fund’s management fee is a “unitary” fee that includes all operating expenses payable by the Fund, except for the Fund’s pro rata portion of the fees and expenses associated with the Fund’s independent trustees (including independent trustees legal counsel fees), brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expenses on securities sold short and interest), fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation expenses.
(2) Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

 

Expense Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:

 

  1 year 3 years
Class W $52 $164

 

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 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

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets among a broad range of asset classes (including but not limited to global developed and emerging market equities, global developed and emerging markets fixed income, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and commodities). The Fund will generally have some level of investment in most of these asset classes but there is no stated limit on the percentage of assets the Fund will allocate to a particular asset class. The Fund’s exposure to these asset classes will be achieved principally through investments in derivative instruments such as total return swaps, as discussed further below. Because the Fund will gain exposure to global developed and emerging markets fixed income asset classes through total return swaps that reference relevant ETFs, the Fund’s investments in fixed income instruments may be of any duration, maturity and quality.

 

The Adviser will use proprietary portfolio construction methodologies to assemble a diversified portfolio that targets an annualized volatility for the Fund of 12%, but the Fund’s actual volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower than the target depending on market conditions. Volatility measures the range of returns of a security, fund or index, as indicated by the annualized standard deviation of its returns. Higher volatility generally indicates higher risk and is often reflected by frequent and sometimes significant movements up and down in value. A volatility target does not provide any assurance about the maximum loss for an investor in the Fund.

 

1  
 

In allocating assets among the different asset classes, the Adviser seeks to derive approximately equal risk exposures for the Fund from the underlying asset classes based on the Adviser’s assessment of the risk associated with each asset class. This means that lower risk asset classes (such as global fixed income) will generally have higher notional allocations than higher risk asset classes (such as global developed and emerging market equities). Based on the Adviser’s assessment of the Fund’s portfolio risk as well as the prevailing market conditions (such as market volatility), the Adviser will use leverage (through investments in derivative instruments such as total returns swaps) to adjust or to increase the Fund’s exposure to certain asset classes in order to seek higher returns than traditional portfolios at similar risk level, or lower risk at similar return levels. However, t here can be no assurance that employing such a strategy will achieve any particular level of return or will reduce volatility or potential loss for the Fund . The Adviser will periodically (at least monthly) reassess the risk of each asset class and their correlations and will rebalance the Fund’s existing asset allocations based on the Adviser’s assessment. It is expected that, on average, the Fund would have a net notional investment exposure of approximately 200% of the Fund’s net assets, although the amount of exposure may be significantly higher or lower at any given time. Through the use of derivatives that have the effect of leverage, the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund did not use derivatives or other instruments that have an economic leveraging effect. Economic leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly depending on the amount of leverage used, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund’s exposure to an asset class and may cause the Fund’s net asset value to be more volatile than a fund that does not use leverage. For example, if the Fund gains exposure to a specific asset class through an instrument that provides leveraged exposure to that asset class, and the leveraged instrument increases in value, the gain to the Fund will be magnified; however, if the leveraged instrument decreases in value, the loss to the Fund will also be magnified.

 

total return swap  is a contract in which a payer and receiver exchange the credit risk and market risk of an underlying asset for the payment of a fee. The payer owns the underlying asset, also called the reference asset, and agrees to pay the receiver the total return on the asset, including its market appreciation and coupons, while the receiver agrees to pay a set rate, which could be fixed or variable. If the reference asset depreciates, the receiver pays the depreciation to the payer because the payer has transferred default risk, credit deterioration risk and market risk to the receiver. The Fund’s exposure to the different asset classes will be achieved principally through investments in total return swaps, where the Fund will pay a counterparty a set fee in exchange for the total return of a reference asset, which will usually be exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are determined by the Adviser to be representative of a specific asset class. To a lesser extent, the Fund may also invest in other derivative instruments such as forward and futures contracts to also gain exposure to the various asset classes and employ leverage. The Adviser may choose not to invest in derivative instruments because of their cost, deteriorating financial condition of a counterparty, or in periods when leverage is not required to achieve the stated volatility target.  During such periods, the Fund may invest directly in ETFs to gain exposure to the relevant asset classes.  The inability of the Fund to invest  in derivative instruments may prevent it from achieving its investment objective(s).   

 

A significant portion of the assets of the Fund may be invested directly or indirectly in money market instruments, which may include, but are not be limited to, short-term U.S. Government securities, U.S. Treasury securities, money market mutual fund shares, and cash and cash equivalents. These cash or cash equivalent holdings serve as margin or collateral for the derivative positions the Fund takes and also earn income for the Fund. The larger the value of the Fund’s derivative positions, the more the Fund will be required to maintain cash and cash equivalents as margin or collateral for such derivatives.

 

While Federal law limits the Fund’s bank borrowings to one-third of the Fund’s assets (which includes the borrowed amount), the use of derivatives is not limited in the same manner. Federal law generally requires the Fund to segregate or “earmark” liquid assets or otherwise cover the marked-to-market exposure of its derivatives. These derivatives transactions could create aggregate exposure to investments for the Fund in excess of its net assets, thereby leveraging the Fund.

 

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than 100%).

 

2  
 

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program but rather one component of a diversified investment portfolio. Many factors affect the Fund’s net asset value and performance.

 

The Fund will experience positive or negative performance based on changes in the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

Commodities Risk. Exposure to commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The prices of energy, industrial metals, precious metals, agriculture and livestock sector commodities may fluctuate widely due to factors such as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies. The commodity-linked securities in which the Fund invests may be issued by companies in the financial services sector, including the banking, brokerage and insurance sectors. As a result, events affecting issuers in the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Correlation Risk. Because the Fund’s investment strategy seeks to balance risk across multiple asset classes, to the extent the asset classes become correlated in a way not anticipated by the Adviser, the Fund’s risk allocation process may result in magnified risks and loss instead of balancing (reducing) the risk of loss.
Counterparty Credit Risk. The Fund may enter into various types of derivative contracts. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. The Adviser considers factors such as counterparty credit ratings and financial statements among others when determining whether a counterparty is creditworthy. The Adviser regularly monitors the creditworthiness of each counterparty with which the Fund enters into a transaction. In addition, the Fund may enter into swap agreements that involve a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to counterparty risk.
Credit Risk. The risk that issuers or guarantors of a fixed income security cannot or will not make payments on the securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes, which may lower their value and may affect their liquidity.
Cybersecurity Risk . There is risk to the Fund of an unauthorized breach and access to fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, the Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor and other service providers and financial intermediaries to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders.
Derivatives Risk. In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of the underlying security or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative instrument. Adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset or index, which the Fund may not directly own, can result in a loss to the Fund substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. The use of derivative instruments also exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets. Additionally, to the extent the Fund is required to segregate or “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets or otherwise cover open positions with respect to certain derivative instruments, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio instruments to meet these asset segregation requirements. There is a possibility that segregation involving a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Emerging Market Risk . Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and share the risks of foreign developed markets but to a greater extent. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging financial markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
Fixed Income Securities Risk. Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk. In addition, current market conditions may pose heightened risks for fixed income securities.
3  
 

Future increases in interest rates could result in less liquidity and greater volatility of fixed income securities. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser. Moreover, new regulations applicable to and changing business practices of financial intermediaries that make markets in fixed income securities have resulted in less market making activity for certain fixed income securities, which has reduced the liquidity and may increase the volatility for such fixed income securities.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk . Foreign (non-U.S.) securities present greater investment risks than investing in the securities of U.S. issuers and may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than the securities of U.S. companies, due to less information about foreign (non-U.S.) companies in the form of reports and ratings than about U.S. issuers; different accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements; smaller markets; nationalization; expropriation or confiscatory taxation; currency blockage; or political changes or diplomatic developments. Foreign (non-U.S.) securities may also be less liquid and more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers.
Forward and Futures Contract Risk. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the broker.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The investment techniques and strategies utilized by the Fund, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover rates will cause the Fund to incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, which may reduce performance, and may cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund. The Adviser and its affiliates do not derive any benefits from such brokerage fees or commissions with respect to the Fund.
Interest Rate Risk . Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed-income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed-income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed-income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
Investment Companies and Exchange-Traded Funds Risk . When the Fund invests in other investment companies, including ETFs, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the other investment company’s or ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying investments the ETF holds.
o In addition to the risks associated with the underlying assets held by an ETF, investments in ETFs are subject to the following additional risks: (1) an ETF’s shares may trade above or below its net asset value; (2) an active trading market for the ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; (3) trading an ETF’s shares may be halted by the listing exchange; (4) a passively managed ETF may not track the performance of the reference asset; and (5) a passively managed ETF may hold troubled securities.
o The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Certain money market mutual funds are not required to preserve the value of the Fund’s investment at $1.00 per share.
Leverage Risk . As part of the Fund’s principal investment strategy, the Fund will make investments in derivatives instruments such as total return swaps, forward and futures contracts. These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the underlying instrument. Financial leverage will magnify, sometimes significantly, the Fund’s exposure to any increase or decrease in prices associated with a particular reference asset resulting in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. While such financial leverage has the potential to produce greater gains, it also may result in greater losses, which in some cases may cause the Fund to liquidate other portfolio investments at a loss to comply with limits on leverage and asset segregation requirements imposed by the 1940 Act or to meet redemption requests. If the Fund uses leverage through the purchase of derivative instruments, the Fund has the risk that losses may exceed the net assets of the Fund. The net asset value of the Fund while employing leverage will be more volatile and sensitive to market movements.
Management Risk . The net asset value of the Fund changes daily based on the performance of the securities and derivatives in which it invests. The Adviser’s assessment regarding the risk and correlation of the various asset classes and the Fund’s exposure to leverage through the use of derivatives may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results.
4  
 
Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. Markets also tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. If there is a general decline in the securities and other markets, your investment in the Fund may lose value, regardless of the individual results of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.
Market Events Risk. There have been occasions of increased volatility, decreased liquidity and heightened uncertainty in the financial markets during the past several years. These conditions may recur or worsen. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, have taken steps to support financial markets, including by keeping interest rates at historically low levels. This and other government intervention may not work as intended in the future, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results.
Model and Data Risk . Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on models, and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments and to provide risk management insights. The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete. Some of the models used by the Adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data. The Fund bears the risk that the models used by the Adviser will not be successful in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
New Fund Risk. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. In addition, the Adviser is newly established and has not previously managed a mutual fund.
Non-Diversification Risk . The Fund is non-diversified under the 1940 Act. As a result, it can invest a greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. The Fund may, therefore, be more susceptible than a diversified fund to being adversely affected by any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.
Swap Agreements Risk. Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom the Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund. Additionally, certain unexpected market events or significant adverse market movements could result in the Fund not holding enough assets to be able to meet its obligations under the agreement. Such occurrences may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to implement its principal investment strategies and could result in losses to the Fund.
Tax Risk . The Fund’s use of derivatives may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (which are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates for shareholders) than if the Fund had not used such instruments.
U.S. Government Securities Risk . Treasury obligations may differ in their interest rates, maturities, times of issuance and other characteristics. Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and authorities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies and authorities if it is not obligated by law to do so. In addition, the value of U.S. Government securities may be affected by changes in the credit rating of the U.S. Government.
Volatility Risk. The Fund’s derivative investments can be highly volatile and the Fund may experience large losses when buying, selling or holding such instruments. High volatility may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund should be utilized only by investors who (a) understand the risks associated with the use of derivatives, (b) are willing to assume a high degree of risk, and (c) intend to actively monitor and manage their investments in the Fund. Investors who do not meet these criteria should not buy shares of the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a complete investment program.

 

Performance

 

Because the Fund has less than a full calendar year of investment operations, no performance information is presented for the Fund at this time. In the future, performance information will be presented in this section of this Prospectus. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by visiting www.wealthfront.com/risk-parity-prospectus or by calling 1-877-910-4232.

 

5  
 

 

Portfolio Management

 

Investment Adviser

 

WFAS LLC (the “Adviser” or “WFAS”).

 

Portfolio Managers

Portfolio Managers Portfolio manager experience in this Fund Primary title with Investment Adviser
Jakub Jurek, Ph.D. Less than one year Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
Celine Sun, Ph.D., CFA Less than one year Director of Research

 

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

  Purchase Minimum
Eligible Investors Initial
Investments
Subsequent
Investments

    Direct Investors (both an individual investor or an institutional investor such as defined benefit plans, foundations, endowments and corporations investing on their own behalf)

    Investors who invest through authorized broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries that have entered into a distribution agreement, service agreement or other type of arrangement with WFAS or the Fund

$5 million* None
   Eligible advisory clients of Wealthfront Inc. None None

* The Adviser may waive or reduce the initial investment minimums at its sole discretion.

You may purchase and redeem all or part of your Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading through your broker, or the following options for direct purchasers:

 

Sending a written request by mail to:

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130; or

 

Calling us at 1-877-910-4232

 

Redemptions will be paid by automated clearing house funds (“ACH”), check or wire transfer.

 

Tax Information

 

Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are subject to federal income taxes and any also be subject to state and local taxes, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA account or a 401(k) plan , in which case you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from such tax-deferred arrangements.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and its related companies, including the Adviser, does not expect to make any payment to any broker-dealers or financial intermediaries for the sale of Fund shares and related services.

   

6  
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

The following provides additional information regarding the Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and related risks discussed in the Fund Summary, as well as information about additional investment strategies and techniques that the Fund may employ in pursuing its investment objective. The Fund may make other types of investments to the extent permitted by applicable law. Additional information about the Fund, its investment strategies and risks also can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

Investment Objective: The Fund seeks to provide investors with long-term total return, which consists of both capital appreciation and income. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon 60 days prior written notice to shareholders.

 

Principal Investment Strategies: Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets among a broad range of asset classes (including but not limited to global developed and emerging market equities, global developed and emerging markets fixed income, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and commodities). The Fund will generally have some level of investment in most of these asset classes but there is no stated limit on the percentage of assets the Fund will allocate to a particular asset class. The Fund’s exposure to these asset classes will be achieved principally through investments in derivative instruments such as total return swaps, as discussed further below. Because the Fund will gain exposure to global developed and emerging markets fixed income asset classes through total return swaps that reference relevant ETFs, the Fund’s investments in fixed income instruments may be of any duration, maturity and quality.

 

The Adviser will use proprietary portfolio construction methodologies to assemble a diversified portfolio that targets an annualized volatility for the Fund of 12%, but the Fund’s actual volatility level for longer or shorter periods may be materially higher or lower than the target depending on market conditions. Volatility measures the range of returns of a security, fund or index, as indicated by the annualized standard deviation of its returns. Higher volatility generally indicates higher risk and is often reflected by frequent and sometimes significant movements up and down in value. A volatility target does not provide any assurance about the maximum loss for an investor in the Fund.

 

In allocating assets among the different asset classes, the Adviser seeks to derive approximately equal risk exposures for the Fund from the underlying asset classes based on the Adviser’s assessment of the risk associated with each asset class. This means that lower risk asset classes (such as global fixed income) will generally have higher notional allocations than higher risk asset classes (such as global developed and emerging market equities). Based on the Adviser’s assessment of the Fund’s portfolio risk as well as the prevailing market conditions (such as market volatility), the Adviser will use leverage (through investments in derivative instruments such as total returns swaps) to adjust or to increase the Fund’s exposure to certain asset classes in order to seek higher returns than traditional portfolios at similar risk level, or lower risk at similar return levels. However, t here can be no assurance that employing such a strategy will achieve any particular level of return or will reduce volatility or potential loss for the Fund . The Adviser will periodically (at least monthly) reassess the risk of each asset class and their correlations and will rebalance the Fund’s existing asset allocations based on the Adviser’s assessment. It is expected that, on average, the Fund would have a net notional investment exposure of approximately 200% of the Fund’s net assets, although the amount of exposure may be significantly higher or lower at any given time. Through the use of derivatives that have the effect of leverage, the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund did not use derivatives or other instruments that have an economic leveraging effect. Economic leveraging tends to magnify, sometimes significantly depending on the amount of leverage used, the effect of any increase or decrease in the Fund’s exposure to an asset class and may cause the Fund’s net asset value to be more volatile than a fund that does not use leverage. For example, if the Fund gains exposure to a specific asset class through an instrument that provides leveraged exposure to that asset class, and the leveraged instrument increases in value, the gain to the Fund will be magnified; however, if the leveraged instrument decreases in value, the loss to the Fund will also be magnified.

 

total return swap  is a contract in which a payer and receiver exchange the credit risk and market risk of an underlying asset for the payment of a fee. The payer owns the underlying asset, also called the reference asset, and agrees to pay the receiver the total return on the asset, including its market appreciation and coupons, while the receiver agrees to pay a set rate, which could be fixed or variable. If the reference asset depreciates, the receiver pays the depreciation to the payer because the payer has transferred default risk, credit deterioration risk and market risk to the receiver. The Fund’s exposure to the different asset classes will be achieved principally through investments in total return swaps, where the Fund will pay a counterparty a set fee in exchange for the total return of a reference asset, which will usually be exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are determined by the Adviser to be representative of a specific asset class. To a lesser extent, the Fund may also invest in other derivative instruments such as forward and futures contracts to also gain exposure to the various asset classes and employ leverage. The Adviser may choose not to invest in derivative instruments because of their cost, deteriorating financial condition of a counterparty, or in periods when leverage is not required to achieve the stated volatility target.  During such periods, the Fund may invest directly in ETFs to gain exposure to the relevant asset classes.  The inability of the Fund to invest  in derivative instruments may prevent it from achieving its investment objective(s).   

 

A significant portion of the assets of the Fund may be invested directly or indirectly in money market instruments, which may include, but are not be limited to, short-term U.S. Government securities, U.S. Treasury securities, money market mutual fund shares, and cash and cash equivalents. These cash or cash equivalent holdings serve as margin or collateral for the derivative positions the Fund takes

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and also earn income for the Fund. The larger the value of the Fund’s derivative positions, the more the Fund will be required to maintain cash and cash equivalents as margin or collateral for such derivatives.

 

While Federal law limits the Fund’s bank borrowings to one-third of the Fund’s assets (which includes the borrowed amount), the use of derivatives is not limited in the same manner. Federal law generally requires the Fund to segregate or “earmark” liquid assets or otherwise cover the marked-to-market exposure of its derivatives. These derivatives transactions could create aggregate exposure to investments for the Fund in excess of its net assets, thereby leveraging the Fund.

 

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than 100%).

 

Principal and Other Investment Risks: The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Risk Factors” in the Fund’s summary along with additional risk information.

Commodities Risk. Exposure to commodities markets may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The prices of energy, industrial metals, precious metals, agriculture and livestock sector commodities may fluctuate widely due to factors such as changes in value, supply and demand and governmental regulatory policies. The energy sector can be significantly affected by changes in the prices and supplies of oil and other energy fuels, energy conservation, the success of exploration projects, and tax and other government regulations, policies of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and relationships among OPEC members and between OPEC and oil importing nations. The metals sector can be affected by sharp price volatility over short periods caused by global economic, financial and political factors, resource availability, government regulation, economic cycles, changes in inflation or expectations about inflation in various countries, interest rates, currency fluctuations, metal sales by governments, central banks or international agencies, investment speculation and fluctuations in industrial and commercial supply and demand. The commodity-linked securities in which the Fund invests may be issued by companies in the financial services sector, including the banking, brokerage and insurance sectors. As a result, events affecting issuers in the financial services sector may cause the Fund’s share value to fluctuate.
Correlation Risk. Because the Fund’s investment strategy seeks to balance risk across multiple asset classes, to the extent the asset classes become correlated in a way not anticipated by the Adviser, the Fund’s risk allocation process may result in magnified risks and loss instead of balancing (reducing) the risk of loss.
Counterparty Credit Risk. The Fund may enter into various types of derivative contracts. Many of these derivative contracts will be privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market. These contracts also involve exposure to credit risk, since contract performance depends in part on the financial condition of the counterparty. If a privately negotiated over-the-counter contract calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the Fund may not receive payments owed under the contract, or such payments may be delayed under such circumstances and the value of agreements with such counterparty can be expected to decline, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. If there is a default by the counterparty to such a transaction, the Fund will under most normal circumstances have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. However, exercising such contractual rights may involve delays or costs which could result in the value of the Fund being less than if the transaction had not been entered into. The Adviser considers factors such as counterparty credit ratings and financial statements among others when determining whether a counterparty is creditworthy. The Adviser regularly monitors the creditworthiness of each counterparty with which the Fund enters into a transaction. In addition, the Fund may enter into swap agreements that involve a limited number of counterparties, which may increase the Fund’s exposure to counterparty risk.
Credit Risk. The risk that issuers or guarantors of a fixed income security cannot or will not make payments on the securities and other investments held by the Fund, resulting in losses to the Fund. In addition, the credit quality of securities held by the Fund may be lowered if an issuer’s financial condition changes, which may lower their value and may affect their liquidity.
Cybersecurity Risk . There is risk to the Fund of an unauthorized breach and access to fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, the investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor and other service providers and financial intermediaries to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders.

Derivatives Risk. The Adviser may make use of futures, forwards, swaps and other forms of derivatives instruments. In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of the underlying security or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative instrument. Adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset or index, which the Fund may not directly own, can result in a loss to the Fund substantially greater
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than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. The use of derivative instruments also exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs. A risk of the Fund’s use of derivatives is that the fluctuations in their values may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets. Additionally, to the extent the Fund is required to segregate or “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets or otherwise cover open positions with respect to certain derivative instruments, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio instruments to meet these asset segregation requirements. There is a possibility that segregation involving a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

In December 2015, the SEC proposed a new rule that would change the regulation of the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, such as the Fund. If the proposed rule is adopted and goes into effect, it would require modifications to the Fund’s investment strategies and use of derivatives.

Emerging Market Risk . Emerging markets are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and share the risks of foreign developed markets but to a greater extent. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations, which adversely affect returns to U.S. investors. In addition, many emerging financial markets have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than developed markets.
Fixed Income Securities Risk. Fixed income securities held by the Fund are subject to interest rate risk, call risk, prepayment and extension risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk, which are more fully described below. In addition, current market conditions may pose heightened risks for fixed income securities. Current interest rates are at or near historic lows, and therefore, there is a risk that interest rates will rise. Future increases in interest rates could result in less liquidity and greater volatility of fixed income securities. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by the Adviser. Moreover, new regulations applicable to and changing business practices of financial intermediaries that make markets in fixed income securities have resulted in less market making activity for certain fixed income securities, which has reduced the liquidity and may increase the volatility for such fixed income securities.
o Call Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, a bond issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates, which would then require the investment of the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in income.
o Credit Risk . Fixed income securities are generally subject to the risk that the issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when they are due. There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the borrower to pay back debt. Lower rated fixed income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.
o Interest Rate Risk . Fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities could lose value because of interest rate changes. For example, bonds tend to decrease in value if interest rates rise. Fixed income securities with longer maturities sometimes offer higher yields, but are subject to greater price shifts as a result of interest rate changes than fixed income securities with shorter maturities. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed-income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed-income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.
o Liquidity Risk. Trading opportunities are more limited for fixed income securities that have not received any credit ratings, have received ratings below investment grade or are not widely held. These features make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. Consequently, certain fixed income securities that have lower liquidity may have to be sold at a lower price, or other securities would need to be sold to raise cash or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. Infrequent trading of securities may also lead to an increase in their price volatility. Liquidity risk also refers to the possibility that the Fund may not be able to sell a security or close out an investment contract when it wants to. If this happens, the Fund will be required to hold the security or keep the position open, and it could incur losses.
o Prepayment and Extension Risk. Many types of fixed income securities are subject to prepayment risk. Prepayment occurs when the issuer of a fixed income security can repay principal prior to the security’s maturity. Fixed income securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, the potential impact of prepayment features on the price of a fixed income security can be difficult to predict and result in greater volatility. On the other hand, rising interest rates could cause prepayments of the obligations to decrease, extending the life of mortgage- and asset-backed securities with lower payment rates. This is known as extension risk and may increase the Fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.
Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk . Foreign (non-U.S.) securities present greater investment risks than investing in the securities of U.S. issuers and may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than the securities of U.S. companies,
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due to less information about foreign (non-U.S.) companies in the form of reports and ratings than about U.S. issuers; different accounting, auditing and financial reporting requirements; smaller markets; nationalization; expropriation or confiscatory taxation; currency blockage; or political changes or diplomatic developments. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region, the Fund will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with foreign investments. Foreign (non-U.S.) securities may also be less liquid and more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers.

Forward and Futures Contract Risk. The successful use of forward and futures contracts is subject to special risk considerations. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are (a) the imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the instruments held by the Fund and the price of the forward or futures contract; (b) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a forward or futures contract and the resulting inability to close a forward or futures contract when desired; (c) losses caused by unanticipated market movements, which are potentially unlimited; (d) the Adviser’s inability to predict correctly the direction of securities prices, interest rates, currency exchange rates and other economic factors; (e) the possibility that the counterparty will default in the performance of its obligations; and (f) if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements, and the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund could be unable to recover assets held at the futures clearing broker, even assets directly traceable to the Fund from the futures clearing broker in the event of a bankruptcy of the broker. A futures clearing broker is required to segregate customer funds pursuant to the Commodities Exchange Act and the regulations of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). However, in the unlikely event of the broker’s bankruptcy, there is no equivalent of the Securities Investors Protection Corporation insurance as is applicable in the case of securities broker dealers’ bankruptcies.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The investment techniques and strategies utilized by the Fund, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, may result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover rates will cause the Fund to incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, which may reduce performance, and may cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund. The Adviser and its affiliates do not derive any benefits from such brokerage fees or commissions with respect to the Fund.
Investment Companies and Exchange-Traded Funds Risk . When the Fund invests in other investment companies, including ETFs, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the other investment company’s or ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying investments the ETF holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.
o Other ETF Risk. In addition to the risks associated with the underlying assets held by an ETF, investments in ETFs are subject to the following additional risks: (1) an ETF’s shares may trade above or below its net asset value; (2) an active trading market for the ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; (3) trading an ETF’s shares may be halted by the listing exchange; (4) a passively managed ETF may not track the performance of the reference asset; and (5) a passively managed ETF may hold troubled securities.
o Money Market Fund Risk. The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market mutual funds that invest in U.S. government securities seek to preserve the value of the Fund’s investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a stable NAV money market mutual fund. Moreover, recent SEC rule amendments require prime money market mutual funds to use floating NAVs that do not preserve the value of the Fund’s investment at $1.00 per share. These rule amendments may impact the Fund’s use of prime money market mutual funds for capital preservation purposes.
Leveraging Risk. Investments in derivative instruments, such as futures, options and swap agreements, have the economic effect of creating financial leverage in the Fund’s portfolio because such investments may give rise to losses that exceed the amount the Fund has invested in those instruments. Financial leverage will magnify, sometimes significantly, the Fund’s exposure to any increase or decrease in prices associated with a particular reference asset resulting in increased volatility in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. The value of the Fund’s portfolio is likely to experience greater volatility over short-term periods. While such financial leverage has the potential to produce greater gains, it also may result in greater losses, which in some cases may cause the Fund to liquidate other portfolio investments at a loss to comply with limits on leverage and asset segregation requirements imposed by the 1940 Act or to meet redemption requests.
Management Risk . The net asset value of the Fund changes daily based on the performance of the securities and derivatives in which it invests. The Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of particular securities and derivatives in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results.
Market Risk. Overall equity market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events
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affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund’s investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money.

Market Events Risk. There have been occasions of increased volatility, decreased liquidity and heightened uncertainty in the financial markets during the past several years. These conditions may recur or worsen. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, have taken steps to support financial markets, including by keeping interest rates at historically low levels. This and other government intervention may not work as intended in the future, particularly if the efforts are perceived by investors as being unlikely to achieve the desired results. The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have recently reduced market support activities. Further reduction, including interest rate increases, could negatively affect financial markets generally, increase market volatility and reduce the value and liquidity of securities in which the Fund invests. Policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries may also continue to contribute to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial markets. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time.
Model and Data Risk . Given the complexity of the investments and strategies of the Fund, the Adviser relies heavily on models, and information and data supplied by third parties (“Models and Data”). Models and Data are used to construct sets of transactions and investments and to provide risk management insights. The Fund may be exposed to additional risks when Models and Data prove to be incorrect or incomplete. Some of the models used by the Adviser for the Fund are predictive in nature. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because predictive models are usually constructed based on historical data supplied by third parties, the success of relying on such models may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied historical data. The Fund bears the risk that the models used by the Adviser will not be successful in determining the weighting of investment positions that will enable the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
New Fund Risk. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. In addition, the Adviser is newly established and has not previously managed a mutual fund.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Fund is non-diversified under the 1940 Act. As a result, it can invest a greater portion of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. The Fund may, therefore, be more susceptible than a diversified fund to being adversely affected by any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence.
Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund. For example, the CFTC or SEC may issue regulations that, upon effectiveness, subject activities of mutual funds trading certain derivative instruments to additional regulation, which could increase the operating expenses of the Fund and impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
Swap Agreements Risk. Swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom the Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund. Additionally, certain unexpected market events or significant adverse market movements could result in the Fund not holding enough assets to be able to meet its obligations under the agreement. Such occurrences may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to implement its principal investment strategies and could result in losses to the Fund.
Tax Risk . The federal income tax treatment of the complex securities in which the Fund may invest may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). It could be more difficult to comply with the tax requirements applicable to regulated investment companies if the tax characterization of investments or the tax treatment of the income from such investments were successfully challenged by the IRS. Any such failure to comply with the rules applicable to regulated investment companies could make it more difficult for the Fund itself to comply with such rules. Furthermore, the ability of the Fund to gain commodity exposure as contemplated may be adversely affected by future legislation, regulatory developments, interpretive guidance or other actions by the IRS or the Treasury Department. In addition, the Fund’s use of derivatives may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (which are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates for shareholders) than if the Fund had not used such instruments.

In 2016, the IRS declared that it would no longer rule on whether a commodities-linked structured note is a security under the 1940 Act in connection with the determination of its tax treatment and revoked all prior private letter rulings on this topic. Should the Internal Revenue Service issue further guidance, or Congress enact legislation, that adversely affects the tax treatment of the Fund’s use of commodity-linked notes (which guidance might be applied to the Fund retroactively), it could, among other consequences, limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategy.

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

 

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Volatility Risk. The Fund’s derivative investments can be highly volatile and the Fund may experience large losses when buying, selling or holding such instruments. High volatility may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund’s policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1-877-910-4232.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Investment Adviser

 

WFAS LLC (“WFAS” or the Adviser) provides the investment management program for the Fund subject to the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wealthfront Inc. (“Wealthfront”) and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser’s principal business address is 900 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063.

 

The Adviser has entered into an investment advisory agreement with the Fund. Under the agreement, the Adviser receives an annual management fee equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. T he Fund’s management fee is a “unitary” fee that includes all operating expenses payable by the Fund, except for the Fund’s pro rata portion of the fees and expenses associated with the Fund’s independent trustees (including independent trustees legal counsel fees), brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expenses on securities sold short and interest), fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation expenses.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s first semi-annual or annual shareholder report.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by Dr. Jakub Jurek and Dr. Celine Sun who are jointly and primarily responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as setting the Fund’s overall investment strategy. Information regarding each portfolio manager is set forth below. Further information regarding the portfolio managers, including compensation, other accounts managed, ownership of securities in the Fund is available in the Fund’s SAI.

 

Jakub Jurek, Ph.D. , is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser, and is the lead portfolio manager for the Fund. Dr. Jurek has been with the Adviser since its inception, and joined Wealthfront in 2016 as its Vice President of Research. Prior to joining Wealthfront, Dr. Jurek held academic appointments at the Bendheim Center of Finance at Princeton University, and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Jurek earned his A.B. in Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Business Economics both from Harvard University.

 

Celine Sun, Ph.D., CFA , is a portfolio manager for the Fund, and a Director of Research of the Adviser. Dr. Sun has been with the Adviser since its inception, and joined Wealthfront in 2013 as Director of Research. Dr. Sun earned her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Science and Technology of China and her PhD in Financial Economics from the University of Washington. She is a CFA charterholder and member of the CFA Society of San Francisco.

 

 

HOW SHARES ARE PRICED

 

The net asset value (NAV) of the Fund’s shares is determined at 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. NAV is computed by determining the aggregate market value of all assets of the Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets minus liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on weekends and 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. The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management and administration fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of the Fund’s NAV for a particular day is applicable for the purchase of shares, as well as all requests for the redemption of shares, received by the Fund (or an authorized broker or agent, or its authorized designee) before the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.

 

Generally, fixed income securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s) based on broker or

 

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dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. When prices are not available from such services or are deemed to be unreliable, such securities are valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. Securities traded or dealt in on one or more securities exchanges are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges (whether domestic or foreign) for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Adviser in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and evaluated by the Board as to the reliability of the fair value method used. In these cases, the Fund’s NAV will reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair value rather than their market price. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security. The fair value prices can differ from market prices when they become available or when a price becomes available. Futures contracts are valued at the settlement price determined by the applicable U.S. exchange on the date with respect to which the NAV is being determined, or if no settlement price is available, at the last sale price as of the close of business prior to the NAV determination on such day. Total return swaps on exchange-listed securities shall be valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices. Exchange listed swaps shall be valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices. Other swaps shall be valued either by a pricing agent covering the specific type of swap; or if no valuation is available from a pricing agent, at the price received from the broker-dealer/counterparty that issued the swap.

 

The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the fair market value of the Fund’s securities. In addition, market prices for foreign securities are not determined at the same time of day as the NAV for the Fund. Because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of some of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares. In computing the NAV, the Fund values foreign securities held by the Fund at the latest closing price on the exchange in which they are traded immediately prior to closing of the NYSE. Prices of foreign securities quoted in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at current rates. If events materially affecting the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio, particularly foreign securities, occur after the close of trading on a foreign market but before the Fund prices its shares, the security will be valued at fair value. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The determination of fair value involves subjective judgments. As a result, using fair value to price a security may result in a price materially different from the prices used by other mutual funds to determine net asset value, or from the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

 

With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund’s net asset value is calculated based upon the net asset values of those open-end management investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES

 

Eligible Investors

 

The Fund is primarily offered to advisory clients of Wealthfront who have a certain minimum account balance with Wealthfront, and certain individual and institutional investors that make a minimum initial investment of $5 million. The Adviser may waive or reduce the initial investment minimums at its sole discretion.

Wealthfront Advisory Clients:

Investors who are advisory clients of Wealthfront and who maintain a certain minimum account balance with Wealthfront are eligible to invest in the Fund. There is no minimum investment requirements for initial or subsequent purchases of shares of the Fund by an eligible Wealthfront advisory client.

Direct Investors:

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Individual and institutional investors, including defined benefit plans, endowments, foundations and corporations purchasing shares for their own accounts are eligible to invest in the Fund, subject to a minimum initial investment of $5 million in the Fund for each investor. There is no minimum investment requirement for subsequent purchases.

Financial Intermediaries:

Investors may also invest in the Fund through authorized broker-dealers, investment advisers, financial advisers, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies or other financial intermediaries (collectively, the “Financial Intermediaries”) that have entered into a distribution agreement, service agreement or other type of arrangement with the Adviser or the Fund, subject to a minimum initial investment of $5 million for each investor. There is no minimum investment requirement for subsequent purchases.

 

Class W Shares:

 

This Prospectus describes Class W shares, which is currently the only share class that is being offered by the Fund. Class W shares of the Fund are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. The Adviser may waive or reduce investment minimums at its sole discretion. The share class however may not be available for purchase in all states.

 

For accounts sold through financial intermediaries, it is the primary responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements such as investor type and investment minimums.

 

Purchasing Shares: You may purchase shares of the Fund by sending a completed application form (the “Application”) to the following address:

 

Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions, including the Fund, to adopt certain policies and programs to prevent money-laundering activities, including procedures to verify the identity of customers opening new accounts. As requested on the Application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing a P.O. Box will not be accepted. This information will assist the Fund in verifying your identity. Until such verification is made, the Fund may temporarily limit additional share purchases. In addition, the Fund may limit additional share purchases or close an account if it is unable to verify a shareholder’s identity. As required by law, the Fund may employ various procedures, such as comparing the information to fraud databases or requesting additional information or documentation from you, to ensure that the information supplied by you is correct.

 

Purchase through Brokers: You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements or omnibus account agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or its designee receives the order. The broker or agent may set their own initial and subsequent investment minimums. Your broker or agent may charge a fee to buy or redeem shares of the Fund. Finally, various servicing agents use procedures and impose restrictions that may be in addition to, or different from those applicable to investors purchasing shares directly from the Fund. You should carefully read the program materials provided to you by your broker or servicing agent.

 

Purchase by Wire: If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-877-910-4232 for wiring instructions and to notify the Fund that a wire transfer is coming. Any commercial bank can transfer same-day funds via wire. The Fund will normally accept wired funds for investment on the day received if they are received by the Fund’s designated bank before the close of regular trading on the NYSE. Your bank may charge you a fee for wiring same-day funds.

 

The Fund, however, reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any application to purchase shares. Applications will not be accepted unless they are accompanied by a check drawn on a U.S. bank, thrift institutions, or credit union in U.S. funds for the full amount of the shares to be purchased. After you open an account, you may purchase additional shares by sending a check together with written instructions stating the name(s) on the account and the account number, to the above address. Make all checks payable to the Fund. The Fund will not accept payment in cash, including cashier’s checks or money orders. Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.

 

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Note: Gemini Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent, will charge a $25 fee against a shareholder’s account, in addition to any loss sustained by the Fund, for any check returned to the transfer agent for insufficient funds.

 

When Order is Processed: All shares will be purchased at the NAV per share next determined after the Fund receives your application or request in good order. All requests received in good order by the Fund before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on that same day. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) will be processed on the next business day.

 

Good Order: When making a purchase request, make sure your request is in good order.

 

“Good order” means your purchase request includes:

the name of the Fund;
the dollar amount of shares to be purchased;
a completed purchase application or investment stub; and
check payable to the “Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund.”

 

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

Redeeming Shares: If you hold shares directly through an account with the Fund, you may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:

 

Regular/Express/Overnight Mail

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

Redemptions by Telephone: The telephone redemption privilege is automatically available to all new accounts except retirement accounts. If you do not want the telephone redemption privilege, you must indicate this in the appropriate area on your account application or you must write to the Fund and instruct it to remove this privilege from your account. The proceeds, which are equal to number of shares times NAV, will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or sent electronically, via ACH or wire, directly to your existing account in a bank or brokerage firm in the United States as designated on your application. To redeem by telephone, call 1-877-910-4232. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or electronically within three business days after receipt of your telephone instructions. IRA accounts are not redeemable by telephone.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend the telephone redemption privileges with respect to your account if the name(s) or the address on the account has been changed within the previous 30 days. Neither the Fund, the transfer agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions and you will be required to bear the risk of any such loss. The Fund or the transfer agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Fund and/or the transfer agent do not employ these procedures, they may be liable to you for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification prior to acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions and/or tape recording telephone instructions.

 

Redemptions through Broker: If shares of the Fund are held by a broker-dealer, financial institution or other servicing agent, you must contact that servicing agent to redeem shares of the Fund. The servicing agent may charge a fee for this service.

 

Redemptions by Wire: You may request that your redemption proceeds be wired directly to your bank account. The Fund’s transfer agent imposes a $15 fee for each wire redemption and deducts the fee directly from your account. Your bank may also impose a fee for the incoming wire.

 

Redemptions in Kind: The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90-day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities (“redemption in kind”) if the amount of such a request is large enough to affect operations (if the request is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period). The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund’s NAV. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.

 

15  
 

When Redemptions are Sent: Once the Fund receives your redemption request in “good order” as described below, it will issue a check based on the next determined NAV following your redemption request. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire within three business days after receipt of a request in “good order.” If you purchase shares using a check and soon after request a redemption, your redemption proceeds will not be sent until the check used for your purchase has cleared your bank.

 

Good Order: Your redemption request will be processed if it is in “good order.” To be in good order, the following conditions must be satisfied:

The request should be in writing, unless redeeming by telephone, indicating the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed;
The request must identify your account number;
The request should be signed by you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; and
If you request that the redemption proceeds be sent to a person, bank or an address other than that of record or paid to someone other than the record owner(s), or if the address was changed within the last 30 days, or if the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000, the signature(s) on the request must be medallion signature guaranteed by an eligible signature guarantor.

 

When You Need Medallion Signature Guarantees: If you wish to change the bank or brokerage account that you have designated on your account, you may do so at any time by writing to the Fund with your signature guaranteed. A medallion signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects you from unauthorized account transfers. You will need your signature guaranteed if:

you request a redemption to be made payable to a person not on record with the Fund;
you request that a redemption be mailed to an address other than that on record with the Fund;
the proceeds of a requested redemption exceed $50,000;
any redemption is transmitted by federal wire transfer to a bank other than the bank of record; or
your address was changed within 30 days of your redemption request.

 

Signatures may be guaranteed by any eligible guarantor institution (including banks, brokers and dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations). Further documentation will be required to change the designated account if shares are held by a corporation, fiduciary or other organization. A notary public cannot guarantee signatures.

 

Retirement Plans: If you own an IRA or other retirement plan, you must indicate on your redemption request whether the Fund should withhold federal income tax. Unless you elect in your redemption request that you do not want to have federal tax withheld, the redemption will be subject to withholding.

 

Minimum Account Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $5 million, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $5 million within 30 days of the notice, your account could be closed. After the notice period, the Fund may redeem all of your shares and close your account by sending you a check to the address of record. Your account will not be closed if the account balance drops below $5 million due to a decline in NAV.

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund’s investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund’s Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:

Committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund’s “Market Timing Trading Policy;”
Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests; and
Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors.

 

16  
 

Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the Adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund as described in the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy and elect to (i) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases into the Fund and/or (ii) reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future exchanges or redemptions out of the Fund.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder’s trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial advisor) from opening new accounts with the Fund.

 

Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund. While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund’s Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or its transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the Adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.

 

 

TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income as dividends once every quarter, and net capital gains once each year. Both types of distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash. Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash. Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions.

 

When you redeem, sell or exchange Fund shares, you will generally realize a taxable gain or loss (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account). This gain or loss is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund. The Fund (or its administrative agent) is required to report to the IRS and furnish to shareholders the cost basis information for sale transactions of shares.

 

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

 

On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS. If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number. If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund may be required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.

 

17  
 

The Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from certain qualifying sources of income in order to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. The IRS issued a revenue ruling in December 2005 which concluded that income and gains from certain commodity-linked derivatives is not qualifying income under Subchapter M of the Code. As a result, the Fund’s ability to invest directly in commodity-linked swaps as part of its investment strategy is limited by the requirement that it receive no more than ten percent (10%) of its gross income from such investments. However, in Revenue Ruling 2006-31, the IRS indicated that income from alternative investment instruments (such as certain structured notes) that create commodity exposure may be considered qualifying income under the Code. The IRS subsequently issued private letter rulings to other taxpayers in which the IRS specifically concluded that income from certain commodity index-linked notes is qualifying income and that income derived from a fund’s investment in a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) also will constitute qualifying income to the fund, even if the CFC itself owns commodity-linked swaps. The IRS has currently suspended the issuance of private letter rulings relating to the tax treatment of income and gains generated by investments in commodity index-linked notes and income generated by investments in a subsidiary. The Fund seeks to gain exposure to the commodity markets primarily through investments in commodity index-linked notes.

 

A private letter ruling cannot be used or cited as precedent and is binding on the IRS only for the taxpayer that receives it. The Fund has not obtained a ruling from the IRS with respect to its investments or its structure. Based on the analysis in private letter rulings previously issued to other taxpayers, the Fund intends to treat its income from commodity index-linked notes as qualifying income without any such ruling from the IRS. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not change its position with respect to some or all of these issues or if the IRS did so, that a court would not sustain the IRS’s position. Furthermore, the tax treatment of the Fund’s investments in commodity-linked notes may be adversely affected by future legislation or Treasury regulations.

 

If the IRS were to change its position or otherwise determine that income derived from certain commodity-linked notes does not constitute qualifying income and if such positions were upheld, or if future legislation or Treasury regulations were to adversely affect the tax treatment of such investments, the Fund might cease to qualify as a regulated investment company and would be required to reduce its exposure to such investments which might result in difficulty in implementing its investment strategy. If the Fund did not qualify as a regulated investment company for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income would be subject to tax at the Fund level at regular corporate tax rates (without reduction for distributions to shareholders) and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. In such an event, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a regulated investment company, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make certain distributions.

 

The foregoing is only a brief summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund’s shares.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

 

Distributor: Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). The Distributor is compensated by the Adviser for serving as the principal distributor for the Fund.

 

Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Adviser, the Fund and the Distributor do not make any payments to any broker-dealers or financial intermediaries for the sale of Fund shares and related services.

 

Householding: To reduce expenses, the Fund mails only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-877-910-4232 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations, no financial highlights are available for the Fund at this time. In the future, financial highlights will be presented in this section of the Prospectus.

 

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PRIVACY NOTICE

 

FACTS WHAT DOES TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Why?

Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.

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

What?

THE TYPES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND SHARE DEPENDS ON THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE WITH US. THIS INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE:

        Social Security number and income

        Account transactions and transaction history

        Investment experience and purchase history

 

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

How?

All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.


In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reason Two Roads Shared Trust chooses to share and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does Two Roads
Shared Trust share?
Can you limit
this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

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

YES NO

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

NO We do not share
For joint marketing with other financial companies NO We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

NO We do not share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

NO We do not share
For our affiliates to market to you NO We do not share
For nonaffiliates to market to you NO We do not share

 

Questions? Call 1-402-895-1600

 

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What we do

How does Two Roads Shared Trust protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law.

These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

 

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

How does Two Roads Shared Trust collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

        open an account or give us contact information

        provide account information or give us your income information

        make deposits or withdrawals from your account

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

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

        affiliates from using your information to market to you

        sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

 

Definitions

Affiliates

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

        Two Roads Shared Trust has no affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

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

        Two Roads Shared Trust does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

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

        Two Roads Shared Trust does not jointly market.

 

 

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Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

 

Adviser

WFAS LLC

900 Middlefield Road,

Redwood City, CA 94063

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

RSM US LLP

555 17th Street, Suite 1000

Denver, CO 80202

Custodian

U.S. Bank N.A.

425 Walnut Street

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Legal Counsel

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

Distributor

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC

17605 Wright Street

Omaha, NE 68130

Transfer Agent

Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

 

Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund’s SAI. The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund’s policies and management. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will also be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders (when available), or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-877-910-4232. The SAI, annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and other information relating to the Fund are available, free of charge, at www.wealthfront.com/risk-parity-prospectus . You may also write to:

 

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

You may review and obtain copies of the Fund’s information at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Please call 1-202-551-8090 for information relating to the operation of the Public Reference Room. Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

Investment Company Act File # 811-22718

 
 

 

 

 

 

WEALTHFRONT RISK PARITY FUND

 

 

A Series of Two Roads Shared Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fund Class W
Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund WFRPX

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Dated January 15, 2018

 

 

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund (the “Fund”) dated January 15, 2018 (the “Prospectus”), copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 or by calling 1-877-910-4232. You may also obtain the Prospectus by visiting the Fund’s website at www.wealthfront.com/risk-parity-prospectus .

 

 

   

 

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE FUND 1
TYPES OF INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS 1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS 11
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS 13
MANAGEMENT 14
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS 18
INVESTMENT ADVISER 19
THE DISTRIBUTOR 20
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS 21
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE 22
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER 23
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 23
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES 24
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM 24
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES 25
TAX STATUS 28
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 31
LEGAL COUNSEL 31
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31
APPENDIX A 32
APPENDIX B 37

 

 
 

THE FUND

 

The Fund is a series of Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust organized on June 8, 2012 (the “Trust”). The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company currently consisting of twenty-one separate portfolios. The Trust is governed by its Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”). The Fund may issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. All shares of the Fund have equal rights and privileges. Each share of the Fund is entitled to one vote on all matters as to which shares are entitled to vote. In addition, each share of the Fund is entitled to participate equally with other shares (i) in dividends and distributions declared by the Fund and (ii) on liquidation to its proportionate share of the assets remaining after satisfaction of outstanding liabilities. Shares of the Fund are fully paid, non-assessable and fully transferable when issued and have no pre-emptive, conversion or exchange rights. Fractional shares have proportionately the same rights, including voting rights, as are provided for a full share.  

 

The Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust, meaning the Fund is not subject to the diversification requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), which generally limit investments, as to 75% of a fund’s total assets, to no more than 5% in securities in a single issuer and 10% of an issuer’s voting securities.

 

The Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund consists of one share class, the Class W shares. The Fund’s investment objective, restrictions and policies are more fully described herein and in the Fund’s Prospectus. The Board may launch other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.  

 

Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, each Trustee will continue in office until the termination of the Trust or his/her earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Shareholders can remove a Trustee to the extent provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Vacancies may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees, except insofar as the 1940 Act may require the election by shareholders. As a result, normally no annual or regular meetings of shareholders will be held unless matters arise requiring a vote of shareholders under the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or the 1940 Act.

 

TYPES OF INVESTMENTS, STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

General

WFAS LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund, a non-diversified open-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies, as well as other important information, are described in the Prospectus for the Fund, which should be read together with this SAI. The investment objective of the Fund is non-fundamental and may be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

 

The discussion below supplements information contained in the Fund’s Prospectus pertaining to the investment policies of the Fund. Descriptions in this SAI of particular investment practices or techniques in which the Fund may engage are intended to describe the spectrum of investments that the Adviser in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing the Fund’s portfolio assets. The Adviser may in its discretion at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for the Fund. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Fund, but to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

The investment techniques and instruments described below and in the Fund’s Prospectus may, consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and investment policies, be used by the Fund if, in the opinion of the Adviser, such strategies will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund may not invest in all of the instruments and techniques described below. In addition, the Fund is free to reduce or eliminate its activity with respect to any of the investment techniques described below without changing the Fund’s fundamental investment policies, and the Fund will periodically change the composition of their portfolios to best meet its investment objective. For more information about the Fund’s principal strategies and risks, please see the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Borrowing

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, the Fund may borrow money for investment purposes. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate

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in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV per share of the Fund will increase more when the Fund’s portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund’s portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Fund may borrow to employ leverage during periods when the Adviser believes that the Fund’s investment objective would be furthered.

 

The Fund may also borrow money to facilitate management of the Fund’s portfolio by enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the Fund promptly. As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Fund’s assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the Fund’s borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage requirement. Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Fund is authorized to borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts not in excess of 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. Borrowings for extraordinary or emergency purposes are not subject to the foregoing 300% asset coverage requirement.

 

Commodity-Linked Securities

 

The Fund may seek to provide exposure to the investment returns of real assets that trade in the commodity markets through investments in commodity-linked derivative securities, such as structured notes, discussed below which are designed to provide this exposure without direct investment in physical commodities or commodities futures contracts. Real assets are assets such as oil, gas, industrial and precious metals, livestock, and agricultural or meat products, or other items that have tangible properties, as compared to stocks or bonds, which are financial instruments. In choosing investments, the Adviser seeks to provide exposure to various commodities and commodity sectors. The value of commodity-linked derivative securities held by the Fund may be affected by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of particular industries or commodities, such as weather, disease, embargoes, acts of war or terrorism, or political and regulatory developments.

 

The prices of commodity-linked derivative securities may move in different directions than investments in traditional equity and debt securities when the value of those traditional securities is declining due to adverse economic conditions. As an example, during periods of rising inflation, debt securities have historically tended to decline in value due to the general increase in prevailing interest rates. Conversely, during those same periods of rising inflation, the prices of certain commodities, such as oil and metals, have historically tended to increase. Of course, there cannot be any guarantee that these investments will perform in that manner in the future, and at certain times the price movements of commodity-linked instruments have been parallel to those of debt and equity securities. Commodities have historically tended to increase and decrease in value during different parts of the business cycle than financial assets. Nevertheless, at various times, commodities prices may move in tandem with the prices of financial assets and thus may not provide overall portfolio diversification benefits. Under favorable economic conditions, the Fund’s investments may be expected to underperform an investment in traditional securities. Over the long term, the returns on the Fund’s investments are expected to exhibit low or negative correlation with stocks and bonds.

 

Commodities Instruments

 

There are several additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts, swaps on commodity futures contracts, commodity forward contracts and other commodities instruments. In the commodity instruments markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling commodity instruments today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same commodity instrument, the commodity producer generally must sell the commodity instrument at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the commodity instruments market are purchasing commodity instruments to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the commodity instrument at a higher future price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in commodity instruments markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new commodity instrument, the Fund might reinvest at a higher or lower future price, or choose to pursue other investments. The

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commodities which underlie commodity instruments may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Also, unlike the financial instruments markets, in the commodity instruments markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity instruments contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in instruments on that commodity, the value of the commodity instrument may change proportionately.

 

CyberSecurity Risk

 

The Fund and its service provides may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. A breach in cybersecurity refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cybersecurity include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity breaches affecting the Fund or its Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instances, cybersecurity breaches may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cybersecurity risk management purposes. Similar types of cybersecurity risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the fund’s investment in such companies to lose value.

Debt Securities

 

A debt security is a security consisting of a certificate or other evidence of a debt (secured or unsecured) on which the issuing company or governmental body promises to pay the holder thereof a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest for a specified length of time, and to repay the debt on the specified maturity date. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not make regular interest payments but are issued at a discount to their principal or maturity value. Debt securities include a variety of fixed income obligations, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds, government securities, municipal securities, convertible securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Debt securities include investment-grade securities, non-investment-grade securities, and unrated securities. Debt securities are subject to a variety of risks, such as interest rate risk, income risk, call/prepayment risk, inflation risk, credit risk, and (in the case of foreign securities) country risk and currency risk.

 

Derivatives Instruments

 

Derivative instruments derive their value, at least in part, from the price of another security or asset, or the level of an index, such as the S&P 500® Index, or indices. Some forms of derivative instruments, such as exchange-traded futures and certain options, are traded on regulated exchanges. These types of derivative instruments are standardized contracts for which market quotations are published daily. Non-standardized derivative instruments, on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex, and may be harder to value. While derivative instruments may be useful for investment and hedging, they also carry additional risks. Some derivative instruments have the effect of leverage on the Fund, meaning that a small investment in derivative instruments could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s returns. The use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and/or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the underlying assets or references. The use of derivative instruments is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The Fund may choose not to invest in derivative instruments because of their cost, limited availability or any number of other reasons deemed relevant by the Adviser.

 

Futures Contracts

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. futures contracts that are traded on organized exchanges regulated by the CFTC. Transactions on such exchanges are cleared through a clearing corporation, which guarantees the performance of the parties to each contract.

 

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There are several risks in connection with the use of futures by the Fund. The Fund may use futures to gain exposure to a particular market, index, security, commodity or instrument or for speculative purposes to increase return. One or more markets, indices or instruments to which the Fund has exposure through futures may go down in value, possibly sharply and unpredictably. This means the Fund may lose money. The price of futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the cash market due to certain market distortions. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets. Second, with respect to financial futures contracts, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortions. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions.

 

Positions in futures may be closed out only on an exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures. Although the Fund intend to purchase or sell futures only on exchanges or boards of trade where there appear to be active secondary markets, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on any exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. When there is no liquid market, it may not be possible to close a futures investment position, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin (as described below). In such circumstances, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract. However, as described above, there is no guarantee that the price of the securities will in fact correlate with the price movements in the futures contract and thus provide an offset on a futures contract.

 

Further, it should be noted that the liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by commodities exchanges which limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in the contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, thus preventing the liquidation of open futures positions. The trading of futures contracts is also subject to the risk of trading halts, suspensions, exchange or clearing house equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other disruptions of normal activity, which could at times make it difficult or impossible to liquidate existing positions or to

recover equity.

 

Stock Index Futures

 

The Fund may invest in stock index futures. A stock index assigns relative values to the common stocks included in the index and fluctuates with the changes in the market value of those stocks.

 

Stock index futures are contracts based on the future value of the basket of securities that comprise the underlying stock index. The contracts obligate the seller to deliver and the purchaser to take cash to settle the futures transaction or to enter into an obligation contract. No physical delivery of the securities underlying the index is made on settling the futures obligation. No monetary amount is paid or received by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a stock index future. At any time prior to the expiration of the future, the Fund may elect to close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final determination of variation margin is made and additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund. Any gain or loss is then realized by the Fund on the future for tax purposes. Although stock index futures by their terms call for settlement by the delivery of cash, in most cases the settlement obligation is fulfilled without such delivery by entering into an offsetting transaction. All futures transactions are effected through a clearing house associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.

 

Swap Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into swap agreements with respect to securities, futures, currencies, indices, commodities and other instruments. Swap agreements can be individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, including securities, futures, currencies, indices, commodities and other instruments. Depending on their structure, swap agreements may increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to long- or short-term interest rates (in the United States or abroad), foreign currency values, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security or commodity prices or inflation rates. Swap agreements can take many different forms and are known by a variety of names. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate,

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in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. Some swap agreements entered into by the Fund would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net” basis. Consequently, the Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of liquid assets in accordance with SEC staff guidance.

 

Total Return Swaps.   The Fund may enter into total return swap contracts for investment purposes.  Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.

 

Regulatory Risks of Derivative Use

 

In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) adopted certain regulatory changes that will subject the advisers to certain registered investment companies to registration with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) if an investment company is unable to meet certain trading and marketing limitations. These rules became effective on January 1, 2013. In relation to these regulatory changes adopted by the CFTC, the Fund’s Adviser has registered as a CPO and intends to comply with any applicable reporting, disclosure or other regulatory requirements. Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.

 

It is also possible that additional government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to use certain instruments as a part of its investment strategy. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund may engage in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments.

 

There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategy. The futures, options and swaps markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading. The regulation of futures, options and swaps transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.

 

In 2010, the U.S. government enacted legislation that provides for new regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. The CFTC and certain futures exchanges have also established limits, referred to as “position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person may hold or control in particular options and futures contracts. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the applicable position limits have been exceeded. Thus, even if the Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients managed by the Adviser and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. The trading decisions of the Adviser may have to be modified and positions held by the Fund may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of the Fund.

 

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The SEC has in the past adopted interim rules requiring reporting of all short positions on securities above a certain de minimis threshold and is expected to adopt rules requiring monthly public disclosure in the future. In addition, other non-U.S. jurisdictions where the Fund may trade have adopted reporting requirements. If the Fund’s securities short positions or its strategy become generally known, it could have a significant effect on the Adviser’s ability to implement its investment strategy. In particular, it would make it more likely that other investors could cause a “short squeeze” in the securities held short by the Fund forcing the Fund to cover its positions at a loss. Such reporting requirements may also limit the Adviser’s ability to access management and other personnel at certain companies where the Adviser seeks to take a short position. In addition, if other investors engage in copycat behavior by taking positions in the same issuers as the Fund, the cost of borrowing securities to sell short could increase drastically and the availability of such securities to the Fund could decrease drastically. Such events could make the Fund unable to execute its investment strategy. In addition, the SEC recently proposed additional restrictions on short sales. If the SEC were to adopt additional restrictions regarding short sales, they could restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in short sales of securities in certain circumstances, and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.  

 

Exchange Traded Funds

 

ETFs are typically passively managed funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts (UITs) that have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value (NAV) is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.

 

Fixed Income Securities

 

Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in any Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity. All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.

 

There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the fixed income securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its fixed income securities may become impaired.

 

The corporate fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of

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fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.

 

Foreign Currency Transactions

 

The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions, including foreign currency forward contracts, options, swaps, and other strategic transactions in connection with investments in securities of non-U.S. companies. The Fund will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot ( i.e. , cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market or through forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.

 

The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (forward contracts) in order to protect against possible losses on foreign investments resulting from adverse changes in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, as well as to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. A forward contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency for an agreed price on a future date which is individually negotiated and privately traded by currency traders and their customers. Although foreign exchange dealers often do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies. However, forward contracts may limit the potential gains which could result from a positive change in such currency relationships. The Fund will segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by the Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, to cover the Fund’s obligations under forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into for non-hedging purposes.

 

The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of protecting against declines in the U.S. dollar value of foreign portfolio securities and against increases in the U.S. dollar cost of foreign securities to be acquired. As with other kinds of options, however, the writing of an option on foreign currency will constitute only a partial hedge, up to the amount of the premium received, and the Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on foreign currency may constitute an effective hedge against fluctuation in exchange rates although, in the event of rate movements adverse to the Fund’s position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs.

 

The Fund may enter into interest rate swaps on either an asset-based or liability-based basis, depending on whether it is hedging its assets or its liabilities, and will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis ( i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlement with respect to each interest rate swap will be calculated on a daily basis and an amount of cash or other liquid assets (marked to market daily) having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be segregated or “earmarked.” The Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of all counterparties on an ongoing basis. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. There is no limit on the amount of interest rate swap transactions that may be entered into by the Fund, subject to the segregation requirement described above. These transactions may in some instances involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets by the Fund or its counterparty to collateralize obligations under the swap. Under the documentation currently used in those markets, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of the payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap that is not collateralized defaults, the Fund would risk the loss of the net amount of the payments that it contractually is entitled to receive.

 

While the Adviser is authorized to hedge against currency risk, it is not required to do so. The Adviser may choose not to hedge currency exposure.

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Government Securities

 

The Fund may invest in foreign government securities, including securities issued by foreign governments, including political subdivisions, or their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or by supra-national agencies. Different kinds of foreign government securities have different types of government support. For example, some foreign government securities are supported by the full faith and credit of a foreign national government or a political subdivision and some are not. Foreign government securities of some countries may involve varying degrees of credit risk as a result of financial or political instability in those countries or the possible

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inability of the Fund to enforce its rights against a foreign government. As with issuers of other fixed income securities, sovereign issuers may be unable or unwilling to satisfy their obligations to pay principal or interest payments.

  

Supra-national agencies are agencies whose member nations make capital contributions to support the agencies’ activities. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

 

As with other fixed income securities, foreign government securities expose their holders to market risk because their values typically change as interest rates fluctuate. For example, the value of foreign government securities may fall during times of rising interest rates. Also, yields on foreign government securities tend to be lower than those of corporate securities of comparable maturities.

 

In addition to investing directly in foreign government securities, the Fund may purchase certificates of accrual or similar instruments evidencing undivided ownership interests in interest payments and/or principal payments of foreign government securities. Certificates of accrual and similar instruments may be more volatile than other foreign government securities.

 

Illiquid and Restricted Securities

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act, and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.  

 

Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.  

 

A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a "safe harbor" from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory, Inc.  

 

Under the current guidelines of the staff of the SEC, illiquid securities also are considered to include, among other securities, purchased OTC options, certain cover for OTC options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, and certain securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws.

 

Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Fund’s Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.   

 

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Rule 144A securities and Section 4(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.  

  

Margin Deposits and Cover Requirements

 

Margin Deposits for Futures Contracts

 

Unlike the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents, known as initial margin, based on the value of the contract. The nature of initial margin in futures transactions is different from that of margin in securities transactions in that futures contract margin does not involve the borrowing of funds by the customer to finance the transactions. Rather, the initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Subsequent payments, called variation margin, to and from the broker, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying instruments fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” For example, when the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the contract has risen in response to a rise in the price of the underlying instruments, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will be entitled to receive from the broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, where the Fund has purchased a futures contract and the price of the futures contract has declined in response to a decrease in the underlying instruments, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Adviser may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, subject to the availability of a secondary market, which will operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a loss or gain.

 

Cover Requirements for Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, Options, Futures and Options on Futures

 

The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of forwards, futures, swaps and options. These guidelines may, in certain instances, require segregation by the Fund of cash or liquid securities with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian to the extent the Fund’s obligations with respect to these strategies are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency or by other portfolio positions or by other means consistent with applicable regulatory policies. Segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

For example, when entering into a futures contract that will be cash settled, the Fund will cover (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the mark-to-market amount, if any, owed by the Fund on the futures contract. When entering into a futures contract that does not need to be settled in cash, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark to market on a daily basis) liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the full notional value of the contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by purchasing an option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund or by entering into an agreement that enables the Fund to settle such futures contracts in cash.

 

Non-Diversification

 

The Fund is classified as a non-diversified investment company under the 1940 Act. A “non-diversified” classification means that the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the percentage of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer, industry and/or asset class. This may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s performance or subject the Fund’s shares to greater price volatility than more diversified investment companies. The Fund may be more exposed to the risks associated with and developments affecting an individual issuer, industry and/or asset class than a fund that invests more widely.

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Over-the-Counter Instruments

 

The trading of over-the-counter instruments subjects the Fund to a variety of risks including: (1) counterparty risk; (2) basis risk; (3) interest rate risk; (4) settlement risk; (5) legal risk; and (6) operational risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the Fund’s counterparties might default on their obligation to pay or perform generally on their obligations. The over-the-counter markets and some foreign markets are "principals’ markets." That means that performance of the contract is the responsibility only of the individual firm or member on the other side of the trade and not any exchange or clearing corporation. Such "counterparty risk" is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Basis risk is the risk attributable to the movements in the spread between the derivative contract price and the future price of the underlying instrument. Interest rate risk is the general risk associated with movements in interest rates. Settlement risk is the risk that a settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected. Legal risk is the risk that a transaction proves unenforceable in law or because it has been inadequately documented. Operational risk is the risk of unexpected losses arising from deficiencies in a firm’s management information, support and control systems and procedures. Transactions in over-the-counter derivatives may involve other risks as well, as there is no exchange market on which to close out an open position. It may be impossible to liquidate an existing position, to assess the value of a position or to assess the exposure to risk.

 

The trading of over-the-counter instruments subjects the Fund to a variety of risks including: (1) counterparty risk; (2) basis risk; (3) interest rate risk; (4) settlement risk; (5) legal risk; and (6) operational risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the Fund’s counterparties might default on their obligation to pay or perform generally on their obligations. The over-the-counter markets and some foreign markets are "principals’ markets." That means that performance of the contract is the responsibility only of the individual firm or member on the other side of the trade and not any exchange or clearing corporation. Such "counterparty risk" is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Basis risk is the risk attributable to the movements in the spread between the derivative contract price and the future price of the underlying instrument. Interest rate risk is the general risk associated with movements in interest rates. Settlement risk is the risk that a settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected. Legal risk is the risk that a transaction proves unenforceable in law or because it has been inadequately documented. Operational risk is the risk of unexpected losses arising from deficiencies in a firm’s management information, support and control systems and procedures. Transactions in over-the-counter derivatives may involve other risks as well, as there is no exchange market on which to close out an open position. It may be impossible to liquidate an existing position, to assess the value of a position or to assess the exposure to risk.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies  

The Fund may invest in securities of other investment companies. The Fund’s investments in an underlying portfolio of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed-end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying funds.

 

United States Government Agency  

 

The Fund may invest in securities issued by United States Government Agencies. These consist of fixed income securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States Government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association).

 

Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by

10  
 

FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.  

 

FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PC’s”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.

 

United States Government Obligations

 

The Fund may invest in United States Government Obligations. These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis.  

 

Receipts

 

Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. Treasury Receipts (“TRs”) and Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities

 

STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations

 

U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as STRIPS and TRs.

 

 

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund has adopted the following investment restrictions that may not be changed without approval by a “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund which, as used in this SAI, means the vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

11  
 

 

1.       Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except: (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made.

2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

 

4. Concentration. The Fund will not concentrate its investments in a particular industry or group of industries, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, from time to time, provided that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this limitation will not apply to the Fund’s investments in: (i) securities of other investment companies; (ii) securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and/or interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; or (iii) repurchase agreements (collateralized by the instruments described in Clause (ii)).

 

5. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

 

6. Commodities. The Fund may invest in commodities only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund. This restriction shall not prohibit the Fund, subject to restrictions described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, from purchasing or selling securities or other instruments backed by commodities or purchasing, selling or entering into futures contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency options, hybrid instruments, or any interest rate or securities-related or foreign currency-related hedging instrument, including swap agreements and other derivative instruments, subject to compliance with applicable provisions of federal securities or commodities laws.

 

7. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except: (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing nonpublicly offered fixed income securities. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

 

THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS OF THE FUND. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS ARE DESIGNATED AS NON-FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TRUST WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.

 

1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.

 

2. Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than one third of its total assets are outstanding.

 

3. Margin Purchases. The Fund may not purchase securities on margin, except for use of short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, but it may make margin deposits in connection with covered transactions in options, futures, options on futures and short positions. For purposes of this restriction, the posting of margin deposits or other forms of collateral in connection with swap agreements is not considered purchasing securities on margin.

 

4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.

 

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If a restriction on the Fund’s investments is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a subsequent change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from changes in the value of the Fund’s total assets, will not be considered a violation of the restriction; provided, however, that the asset coverage requirement applicable to borrowings shall be maintained in the manner contemplated by applicable law.

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that govern the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that such disclosure is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.

 

It is the Trust’s policy to: (1) ensure that any disclosure of portfolio holdings information is in the best interest of Trust shareholders; (2) protect the confidentiality of portfolio holdings information; (3) have procedures in place to guard against personal trading based on the information; and (4) ensure that the disclosure of portfolio holdings information does not create conflicts between the interests of the Trust’s shareholders and those of the Trust’s affiliates.

 

The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings by mailing its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period. In addition, the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q two months after the end of each quarter/semi-annual period.

 

The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings available to rating agencies such as Lipper, Morningstar or Bloomberg earlier and more frequently on a confidential basis.

 

Under limited circumstances, as described below, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed to, or known by, certain third parties in advance of their filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR or Form N-Q. In each case, a determination has been made that such advance disclosure is supported by a legitimate business purpose and that the recipient is subject to a duty to keep the information confidential.

 

· The Adviser Personnel of the Adviser, including personnel responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio, may have full daily access to Fund portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for the Adviser to provide its management, administrative, and investment services to the Fund. As required for purposes of analyzing the impact of existing and future market changes on the prices, availability, demand and liquidity of such securities, as well as for the assistance of the portfolio manager in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.

 

· Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant, administrator and custody administrator for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

· U.S. Bank, N.A. is custodian for the Fund; therefore, its personnel have full daily access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings since that information is necessary in order for them to provide the agreed-upon services for the Trust.

 

· RSM US, LLP is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with auditing of the Fund’s annual consolidated financial statements and providing other audit, tax and related services for the Fund.   

 

· Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is counsel to the Fund; therefore, its personnel have access to the Fund’s portfolio holdings in connection with review of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and SEC filings.

 

Additions to List of Approved Recipients.  The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is the person responsible, and whose prior approval is required, for any disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities at any time or to any persons other than those described above. In such cases, the recipient must have a legitimate business need for the information and must be subject to a duty to keep the information confidential. There are no ongoing arrangements in place with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings. In no event shall the Fund, the Adviser or any other party receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

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Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures.  The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will report periodically to the Board with respect to compliance with the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure procedures, and from time to time will provide the Board any updates to the portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.

 

There is no assurance that the Trust’s policies on disclosure of portfolio holdings will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

 

MANAGEMENT

 

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and the Trust’s By-laws (collectively, the “Governing Documents”), which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request. The Board consists of four individuals, all of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). Pursuant to the Governing Documents of the Trust, the Trustees shall elect officers including, but not limited to, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chief Compliance Officer. The Board retains the power to conduct, operate and carry on the business of the Trust and has the power to incur and pay any expenses, which, in the opinion of the Board, are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the Trust’s purposes. The Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust, when acting in such capacities, shall not be subject to any personal liability except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.

 

Board Leadership Structure. The Board is led by Mark Gersten, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since the Trust was first registered with the SEC in 2012. Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at Board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and (c) execution and administration of Trust policies, including (i) setting the agendas for Board meetings and (ii) providing information to Board members in advance of each Board meeting and between Board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a non-executive Chairman of the Board, who together with the President (principal executive officer), are seen by our shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, the Fund and each shareholder.

 

Board Risk Oversight . The Board of Trustees is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees and has established an Audit Committee, Valuation Committee, and a Corporate Governance Committee (effective January 1, 2017), each with a separate chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting the risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.

 

Trustee Qualifications. Generally, the Fund believe that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mark Garbin has over 30 years of experience in corporate balance sheet and income statement risk management for large asset managers. Mr. Garbin has extensive derivatives experience and has provided consulting services to alternative asset managers. Mr. Garbin holds both a Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) and Professional Risk Manager (“PRM”) designation and has earned advanced degrees in international business, negotiation and derivatives. Mark Gersten has over 35 years of business experience in the investment management business with a focus on mutual funds and alternative funds. He serves as a member of other mutual fund boards outside of the Fund Complex and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on his service to this board and extensive experience administering mutual funds. Mr. Gersten is a certified public accountant and holds an MBA in accounting. Neil Kaufman has over 30 years of experience as a corporate and securities attorney and possesses a deep understanding of the securities industry in general and financial statements in particular. Mr. Kaufman has previously served as the Chairman of a NASDAQ-listed technology company and the Chairman of the Banking & Securities Law committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. Anita Krug has 9 years of experience as an attorney advising investment advisory firms, particularly those managing hedge funds. She also has extensive experience as a law professor whose scholarship focuses on investment advisers, hedge funds and mutual funds. The Fund does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them well qualified.

 

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Trustees and Officers.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, together with information as to their principal business occupations during the past five years and other information, are shown below.   Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska  68130.

 

Independent Trustees*

Name, Address,

Year of Birth

 

Position(s) Held with Registrant

 

Term and Length Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex**

 

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years

 

Mark Garbin

Year of Birth: 1951

 

Trustee, Valuation Committee Chairman

 

Indefinite, Since 2012

 

Managing Principal, Coherent Capital Management LLC (since 2008)

1

 

Forethought Variable Insurance Trust (since 2013); Northern Lights Fund Trust (since 2013); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013); Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014); and Oak Hill Advisors Mortgage Strategies Fund (offshore), Ltd. (since 2014)

Mark D. Gersten

Year of Birth: 1950

 

Chairman, Trustee

Indefinite, Since 2012

 

Independent Consultant (since 2012)

1

 

Schroder Global Series Trust (2012-2017); Northern Lights Fund Trust (since 2013); Northern Lights Variable Trust (since 2013); Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014); Ramius Archview Credit and Distressed Fund (2015-2017)

Neil M. Kaufman

Year of Birth: 1960

 

Trustee, Audit Committee Chairman

 

Indefinite, Since 2012

 

 

Managing Member, Kaufman & Associates, LLC (legal services)(Since 2016); Partner, Abrams Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP (legal services)(2010-2016)

1

 

Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014)

Anita K. Krug

Year of Birth: 1969

 

Trustee,

Corporate Governance Committee Chairman

 

Indefinite, Since 2012

 

Interim Dean (since 2017), Professor (since 2016), and Associate Professor (2014-2016), University of Washington School of Law; Assistant Professor (2010-2014), University of Washington School of Law

1

 

Altegris KKR Commitments Master Fund (since 2014); Centerstone Investors Trust (since 2016)

* Information is as of the date of this SAI.

** As of the date of this SAI, the Trust was comprised of 21 active portfolios managed by 11 unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to those funds that are: (i) advised by a common investment adviser or by an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the investment adviser of any of the other funds the Trust or (ii) hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. The Fund does not share the same investment adviser with any other series of the Trust or hold itself out as related to any other series of the Trust for investment purposes.

 

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Officers of the Trust*

Name, Address,

Year of Birth

 

Position(s) Held with Registrant

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

 

Number of Portfolios Overseen In The Fund Complex**

 

Other Directorships Held During Past 5 Years

 

James Colantino

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1969

 

President

(Since June 2017);

Treasurer

(2012 to 2017)

 

Senior Vice President (2012-present); Vice President (2004 to 2012); Gemini Fund Services, LLC

N/A

 

N/A

 

Laura Szalyga

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1978

 

Treasurer

(Since June 2017)

 

 

Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2015); Assistant Vice President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2011-2014)

N/A

 

N/A

 

Richard A. Malinowski

80 Arkay Drive

Hauppauge, NY  11788

Year of Birth: 1983

 

Secretary

(Since 2013)

 

Senior Vice President (since 2017), Vice President and Counsel (2015 - 2016) and Assistant Vice President (2012 – 2016), Gemini Fund Services, LLC

N/A

 

N/A

 

William B. Kimme

Year of Birth: 1962

 

Chief Compliance Officer

(Since Inception)

Senior Compliance Officer, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (September 2011 - present)

N/A

 

N/A

 

* Information is as of the date of this SAI.

** As of the date of this SAI, the Trust was comprised of 21 active portfolios managed by 11 unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to those funds that are: (i) advised by a common investment adviser or by an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the investment adviser of any of the other funds the Trust or (ii) hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. The Fund does not share the same investment adviser with any other series of the Trust or hold itself out as related to any other series of the Trust for investment purposes.

 

Audit Committee.  The Board has an Audit Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: (i) the selection, retention or termination of the Trust’s independent auditors and approval of audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors; (ii) reviewing with the independent auditors the scope, performance and anticipated cost of their audit; (iii) discussing with the independent auditors certain matters relating to the Trust’s financial statements, including any adjustment to such financial statements recommended by such independent auditors, or any other results of any audit; (iv) reviewing on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors with respect to their independence, discussing with the independent auditors any relationships or services disclosed in the statement that may impact the objectivity and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors and recommending that the Board take appropriate action in response thereto to satisfy itself of the auditor’s independence;

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and (v) considering the comments of the independent auditors and management’s responses thereto with respect to the quality and adequacy of the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 the Audit Committee held seven meetings.    

 

Valuation Committee. The Board has a Valuation Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The Valuation Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: (i) overseeing and monitoring implementation of the Trust’s Fund Securities Valuation Procedures by Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”) and the Trust’s Fair Value Committee; (ii) reviewing any fair valuation of the Fund’s securities by the Fair Value Committee (a “Fair Value Determination”); (iii) monitoring the Board’s fulfillment of its obligations with respect to the valuation of the Trust’s assets under the 1940 Act, including the rules adopted thereunder and applicable guidance with respect to investment company valuation matters by the SEC; (iv) overseeing the Fair Value Committee’s processes and procedures in making Fair Value Determinations and reporting, or causing to be reported, such Fair Value Determinations to the Board for its consideration periodically; (v) as appropriate, ratifying the Fair Value Committee’s policies and procedures in making and reporting Fair Value Determinations; (vi) reviewing the formulation of, or amendment to, valuation policies and fair value methodologies, including factors to be considered in Fair Value Determinations and how such factors are to be weighed, the valuation proposed by the Fair Value Committee, GFS and/or the Fund’s investment adviser and its assessment of the continued appropriateness of the valuation and fair value methodologies, and making recommendations with respect thereto for the consideration, and as appropriate, the adoption of such recommendations by the Board; (vii) periodically reviewing the role of the Fair Value Committee and making recommendations to the Board with respect to any changes or modifications; (viii) reviewing the reports required under the Trust’s Fund Securities Valuation Procedures; and (ix) considering any other matters requested by the Board. The Valuation Committee operates pursuant to a Valuation Committee Charter. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Valuation Committee met six times.   

 

Corporate Governance Committee. Effective January 1, 2017, the Board has a Corporate Governance Committee that consists solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The members of the Corporate Governance Committee are Mark Gersten, Mark Garbin, Anita Krug, and Neil Kaufman. Ms. Krug is the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include, among other things: (i) to identify and recommend individuals qualified to become Board members and members of Board committees, as well as evaluate trustee qualifications, selection criteria and Board size and composition; (2) to develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance guidelines and principles applicable to the Trust, and periodically review and make recommendations with respect to the corporate governance guidelines and code of ethics; (3) to monitor data submitted to the Board by individual trustees that may impact independence and make recommendations to the Board regarding action, if any, that may be required in view of such data; (4) to review and reassess annually the adequacy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter and recommend to the Board for approval any proposed changes to the Charter; (5) to conduct annually the 15(c) advisory contract renewal process; (6) to sponsor an annual self-assessment of the Board’s performance; and (7) to review and reassess annually trustee compensation and, if necessary, recommend changes in compensation to the Board. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Corporate Governance Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

 

Compensation of Directors. Effective January 1, 2018, the Trust pays each Independent Trustee a fee of $42,500 per annum, as well as reimbursements for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $12,500, the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual fee of $10,000, the Chairman of the Valuation Committee receives an additional annual fee of $5,000 and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee receives an additional annual fee of $5,000. The Trust also pays each Independent Trustee a fee of $1,000 for each Board meeting (and/or Committee meeting held in connection with such a Board meeting) other than a regularly scheduled meeting (a “Special Meeting”), except that the Audit Committee will permit up to four Special Meetings a year without any additional fees.

 

Effective January 1, 2017, the Trust paid each Independent Trustee a fee of $30,000 per annum, as well as reimbursements for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the meetings, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter. In addition, the Chairman of the Board received an additional annual fee of $10,000, the Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $5,000, the Chairman of the Valuation Committee received an additional annual fee of $5,000 and the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee received an additional annual fee of $5,000.

 

No “interested persons” who serves as a Trustee of the Trust will receive any compensation for their services as Trustee. None of the executive officers receive compensation from the Trust. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.

 

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The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Fund during the fiscal year ending October 31, 2017. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.

 

Name and Position

 

Aggregate Compensation From Fund*

 

Total Compensation From Fund Complex Paid to Trustees*

 

Mark Garbin

 

$0 $0

Mark Gersten

 

$0 $0

Neil Kaufman

 

$0 $0

Anita Krug

 

$0 $0

 

*There are currently 21 active series comprising the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” refers only to the Fund, and not to any other series of the Trust. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the aggregate Independent Trustees’ fees paid by the entire Trust were $145,000.

 

Trustees’ Ownership of Shares in the Fund . As of December 31, 2017, the Trustees beneficially owned the following amounts in the Fund and the Two Roads Shared Trust.

 

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

 

Mark Garbin

 

None

 

None

Mark Gersten

 

None

 

$50,001-$100,000

Neil Kaufman

 

None

 

None

Anita Krug

 

None

 

None

 

Management Ownership

 

Because there were no shares of the Fund outstanding as of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned 0% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than 1% of the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.

 

As of the date of this SAI, no shares of the Fund were outstanding.

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INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Investment Adviser and Investment Advisory Agreement

 

WFAS LLC (“Adviser”), located at 900 Middlefield Road, 2 nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the overall management of the Fund’s business affairs.

 

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and subject to such further limitations as the Trust may from time to time impose by written notice to the Adviser. The Adviser shall act as the investment adviser to the Fund and, as such shall (i) obtain and evaluate such information relating to the economy, industries, business, securities markets and securities as it may deem necessary or useful in discharging its responsibilities here under, (ii) formulate a continuing program for the investment of the assets of the Fund in a manner consistent with its investment objective, policies and restrictions, and (iii) determine from time to time securities to be purchased, sold, retained or lent by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases, sales or loans are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser will place orders pursuant to its investment determinations either directly with the issuer or with a broker or dealer, and if with a broker or dealer, (a) will attempt to obtain the best price and execution of its orders, and (b) may nevertheless in its discretion purchase and sell portfolio securities from and to brokers who provide the Adviser with research, analysis, advice and similar services and pay such brokers in return a higher commission or spread than may be charged by other brokers, subject to best execution. The Adviser also provides the Fund with all necessary office facilities and personnel for servicing the Fund’s investments, compensates all officers, Trustees and employees of the Trust who are officers, directors or employees of the Adviser, and all personnel of the Fund or the Adviser performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities. The Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Fund was approved by the Board of the Trust, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on December 20, 2017

 

The following table sets forth the annual management fee rate payable by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets:

 

 

FUND

 

 

ADVISORY FEE

 

 

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

 

 

0.50%

 

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual fee equal to the percentages of the Fund’s average daily net assets in the table above. T he Fund’s management fee is a “unitary” fee that includes all operating expenses payable by the Fund, except for the Fund’s pro rata portion of the fees and expenses associated with the Fund’s independent trustees (including independent trustees legal counsel fees), brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expenses on securities sold short and interest), fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation expenses . The fee is computed daily and payable monthly.

 

  The Investment Advisory Agreement continued in effect for two years initially and thereafter continues from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The Investment Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

Codes of Ethics

 

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that governs the personal securities transactions of their board members, officers and employees who may have access to current trading information of

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the Trust. Under the code of ethics adopted by the Trust (the “Code”), the Trustees are permitted to invest in securities that may also be purchased by the Fund.

 

In addition, the Trust has adopted a separate code of ethics that applies only to the Trust’s executive officers to ensure that these officers promote professional conduct in the practice of corporate governance and management. The purpose behind these guidelines is to promote i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other public communications made by the Fund; iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rule and regulations; iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and v) accountability for adherence to the Code.

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. The Policies require that the Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Policies also require the Adviser to present to the Board, at least annually, the Adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.

 

Where a proxy proposal raises a material conflict between the Adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests, the Adviser will resolve the conflict by voting in accordance with the policy guidelines or at the client’s directive using the recommendation of an independent third party. If the third party’s recommendations are not received in a timely fashion, the Adviser will abstain from voting the securities held by that client’s account. A copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies is attached hereto as Appendix A.

 

More information . Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-910-4232 and (2) on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Trust pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement with the Trust (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and each state’s securities laws and is a member of FINRA. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous. The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Distributor, as agent in connection with the distribution of Fund shares, will use reasonable efforts to facilitate the sale of the Fund’s shares.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated, it will continue in effect for two years initially and thereafter shall continue from year to year, subject to annual approval by (a) the Board or a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares, and (b) by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or of the Distributor by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. The Underwriting Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.

 

The Fund is newly organized and did not pay any compensation to the Distributor during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

 

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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

The tables below include details about the type, number, and assets under management for the various types of accounts, and total assets in the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the accounts. The information is as of the date of this SAI.

 

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

 

Jakob Jurek

 

Account Type

Investment Team

 

Number of Accounts by Account Type

 

Total Assets By Account Type

 

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

 

Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

 

 

Registered Investment Companies

0 $0 0 $0

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

0 $0 0 $0

Other Accounts

 

0 $0 0 $0

 

Celine Sun

 

Account Type

Investment Team

 

Number of Accounts by Account Type

 

Total Assets By Account Type

 

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

 

Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

 

 

Registered Investment Companies

0 $0 0 $0

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

0 $0 0 $0

Other Accounts

 

0 $0 0 $0

 

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

The Portfolio Managers do not manage any other accounts other than the Fund. As such the Adviser does not expect any potential conflicts of interest in connection with the management of the Fund’s investments.

 

Compensation

 

The portfolio managers are compensated by the Adviser and does not receive any compensation directly from the Fund. The portfolio managers receive a base salary and is eligible to earn discretionary non-cash bonuses in the form of stock options in the equity of Wealthfront Inc., the parent company of the Adviser. The portfolio managers will therefore have ownership interest in the firm and will participate in the success of the Fund and the Adviser.

 

 

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Ownership of Securities

 

As of the date of this SAI, no shares of the Fund were outstanding and its portfolio manager did not beneficially own any shares of the Fund.

 

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO BROKERAGE

 

Specific decisions to purchase or sell securities for the Fund are made by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Adviser is authorized by the Trustees to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of the Fund to brokers or dealers who may, but need not, provide research or statistical material or other services to the Fund or the Adviser for the Fund’s use. Such allocation is to be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser may determine.  

 

In selecting a broker or dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will take the following into consideration:

the best net price available;
the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker or dealer;  
the size of and difficulty in executing the order; and
the value of the expected contribution of the broker or dealer to the investment performance of the Fund on a continuing basis.

 

Brokers or dealers executing a portfolio transaction on behalf of the Fund may receive a commission in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for executing the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of brokerage, research and other services provided to the Fund. In allocating portfolio brokerage, the Adviser may select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage, research and other services to other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. Some of the services received as the result of Fund transactions may primarily benefit accounts other than those of the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.

 

Purchases and sales of securities on a securities exchange are effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Ordinarily commissions are not charged on over-the-counter orders (including, for example, debt securities and money market investments) because the Fund pays a spread which is included in the cost of the security, and is the difference between the dealer’s cost and the cost to the Fund. When the Fund executes an over-the-counter order with an electronic communications network, an alternative trading system or a non-market maker, a commission is charged because there is no spread on the trade.

The Fund’s investment advisory agreement authorizes the Adviser to place, in the name of the Fund, orders for the execution of the securities transactions in which the Fund is authorized to invest, provided the Adviser seeks the best overall terms for the transaction. In selecting brokers or dealers, the Adviser chooses the broker-dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution (the most favorable cost or net proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances). The full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, brokerage and research services, underwriting, and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending on the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker-dealers. The Adviser does not use any Fund’s assets for soft-dollar arrangements, nor does the Adviser participate in any soft dollar arrangements.

The Adviser assumes general supervision over placing orders on behalf of the Trust for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. Because t he Fund is newly organized, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

  

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. The calculation excludes from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by that Fund. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all of the Fund’s portfolio securities were replaced once within a one-year period.  

 

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Fund Administration, Fund Accounting and Transfer Agent Services

 

Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), which has its principal office at 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, serves as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent for the Fund pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Fund and subject to the supervision of the Board. GFS is primarily in the business of providing administrative, fund accounting and transfer agent services to retail and institutional mutual funds. GFS is an affiliate of the Distributor. GFS may also provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.

 

The Agreement is dated August 29, 2012. The Agreement will remain in effect for two years from the applicable effective date for the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund, and will continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board. The Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 90 days’ written notice and may be assigned by either party, provided that the Trust may not assign this agreement without the prior written consent of GFS. The Agreement provides that GFS shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to the Agreement.

 

Under the Agreement, GFS performs administrative services for the Fund, including: (1) monitor the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Trust by others service providers; (2) monitor Fund holdings and operations for post-trade compliance with the Fund’s registration statement and applicable laws and rules; (3) prepare and coordinate the printing of semi-annual and annual consolidated financial statements; (4) prepare selected management reports for performance and compliance analyses; (5) prepare and disseminate materials for and attend and participate in meetings of the Board; (6) determine income and capital gains available for distribution and calculate distributions required to meet regulatory, income, and excise tax requirements; (7) review the Trust’s federal, state, and local tax returns as prepared and signed by the Trust’s independent public accountants; (8) prepare and maintain the Trust’s operating expense budget to determine proper expense accruals to be charged to the Fund to calculate its daily net asset value; (9) assist in and monitor the preparation, filing, printing and where applicable, dissemination to shareholders of amendments to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, periodic reports to the Trustees, shareholders and the SEC, notices pursuant to Rule 24f-2, proxy materials and reports to the SEC on Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, N-Q and N-PX; (10) coordinate the Trust’s audits and examinations by assisting the Fund’s independent public accountants; (11) determine, in consultation with others, the jurisdictions in which shares of the Trust shall be registered or qualified for sale and facilitate such registration or qualification; (12) monitor sales of shares and ensure that the shares are properly and duly registered with the SEC; (13) monitor the calculation of performance data for the Fund; (14) prepare, or cause to be prepared, expense and financial reports; (15) prepare authorization for the payment of Trust expenses and pay, from Trust assets, all bills of the Trust; (16) provide information typically supplied in the investment company industry to companies that track or report price, performance or other information with respect to investment companies; (17) upon request, assist the Fund in the evaluation and selection of other service providers, such as independent public accountants, printers, EDGAR providers and proxy solicitors (such parties may be affiliates of GFS); (18) perform other services, recordkeeping and assistance relating to the affairs of the Trust as the Trust may, from time to time, reasonably request.

 

GFS also provides the Fund with accounting services, including: (i) daily computation of net asset value; (ii) maintenance of security ledgers and books and records as required by the 1940 Act; (iii) production of the Fund’s listing of portfolio securities and general ledger reports; (iv) reconciliation of accounting records; (v) calculation of yield and total return for the Fund; (vi) maintaining certain books and records described in Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, and reconciling account information and balances among the Fund’s custodian and Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund.

 

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GFS also acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to the Agreement. Under the agreement, GFS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

 

For the services rendered to the Fund by GFS under the Agreement, GFS is entitled to receive the greater of an annual minimum fee or an asset based fee, which scales downward based upon net assets for fund administration, fund accounting and transfer agency services. GFS is also entitled to reimbursement for any out of pocket expenses. Under the Fund’s unitary management fee, the Adviser pays for the operating expenses of the Fund.

 

Custodian

 

U.S. Bank, N.A. (the “Custodian”) serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a Custody Agreement by and between the Custodian and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Custodian’s responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund’s cash and securities, handling the receipt and delivery of securities, and collecting interest and dividends on the Fund’s investments. Pursuant to the Custody Agreement, the Custodian also maintains original entry documents and books of record and general ledgers; posts cash receipts and disbursements; and records purchases and sales based upon communications from the Adviser. The Fund may employ foreign sub-custodians that are approved by the Board to hold foreign assets. The Custodian’s principal place of business is 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

 

Chief Compliance Officer

 

Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), an affiliate of GFS and the Distributor, provides a Chief Compliance Officer to the Trust as well as related compliance services pursuant to a consulting agreement between NLCS and the Trust.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

Each share of beneficial interest of the Trust has one vote in the election of Trustees. Cumulative voting is not authorized for the Trust. This means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any Trustees.

 

Shareholders of the Trust and any other future series of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by series except as otherwise required by law or when the Board determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interest of the shareholders of a particular series or classes. Matters such as ratification of the independent public accountants and election of Trustees are not subject to separate voting requirements and may be acted upon by shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.  

 

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest. Each share has equal dividend, distribution and liquidation rights. There are no conversion or preemptive rights applicable to any shares of the Fund. All shares issued are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING PROGRAM

 

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. The Trust’s Secretary serves as its Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.

 

Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor, and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reported suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.  

 

As a result of the Program, the Trust may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Trust may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.   

 

24  
 

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

 

Calculation of Share Price

 

As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading “How Shares Are Priced,” the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund.

 

Generally, the Fund’s domestic securities (including underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges) are valued each day at the last quoted sales price on each security’s primary exchange. Securities traded or dealt in upon one or more securities exchanges for which market quotations are readily available and not subject to restrictions against resale shall be valued at the last quoted sales price on the primary exchange or, in the absence of a sale on the primary exchange, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on such exchange. Securities primarily traded in the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board and as further described below. Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities exchange (whether domestic or foreign) and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available generally shall be valued at the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask price on such over-the-counter market.

 

Certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, with reference to other securities or indices. Debt securities not traded on an exchange may be valued at prices supplied by a pricing agent(s) based on broker or dealer supplied valuations or matrix pricing, a method of valuing securities by reference to the value of other securities with similar characteristics, such as rating, interest rate and maturity. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less may be generally valued at amortized cost when it approximates fair value.

 

Exchange traded options are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale, at the mean between the current bid and ask prices on the exchange on which such options are traded. Futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the exchange. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction. Swap agreements and other derivatives are generally valued daily based upon quotations from market makers or by a pricing service in accordance with the valuation procedures approved by the Board. Other securities for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction.

 

Under certain circumstances, the Fund may use an independent pricing service to calculate the fair market value of foreign equity securities on a daily basis by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. The fair market values supplied by the independent pricing service will generally reflect market trading that occurs after the close of the applicable foreign markets of comparable securities or the value of other instruments that have a strong correlation to the fair-valued securities. The independent pricing service will also take into account the current relevant currency exchange rate. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. Because foreign securities may trade on days when Fund shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change on days when Fund shares cannot be redeemed or purchased. In the event that a foreign security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before the Fund’s calculation of NAV), the security will be valued at its fair market value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s fair value committee in accordance with procedures approved by the Board as discussed below. Without fair valuation, it is possible that short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that it will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short-term traders. In addition, because the Fund may invest in underlying ETFs which hold portfolio securities primarily listed on foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges, and these exchanges may trade on weekends or other days when the underlying ETFs do not price their shares, the value of these portfolio securities may change on days when you may not be able to buy or sell Fund shares.

 

Investments initially valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to U.S. dollars using exchange rates obtained from pricing services. As a result, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the

25  
 

U.S. dollar. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the New York Stock Exchange is closed and an investor is not able to purchase, redeem or exchange shares.

 

Fund shares are valued at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) (the “NYSE Close”) on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. For purposes of calculating the NAV, the Fund normally uses pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. Domestic fixed income and foreign (non-U.S.) securities are normally priced using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of the security or the NAV determined earlier that day.

 

In unusual circumstances, instead of valuing securities in the usual manner, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or their designees, pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. Fair valuation may also be used by the Board if extraordinary events occur after the close of the relevant market but prior to the NYSE Close.

 

The Trust expects that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) will be closed on the following days: weekends and New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

Fair Value Committee and Valuation Process. The Fair Value Committee is composed of one of more officers from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) the Adviser. The applicable investments are valued collectively via inputs from each of these groups. For example, fair value determinations are required for the following securities: (i) securities for which market quotations are insufficient or not readily available on a particular business day (including securities for which there is a short and temporary lapse in the provision of a price by the regular pricing source), (ii) securities for which, in the judgment of the Adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the Adviser to make such a judgment include, but are not limited to, the following: only a bid price or an asked price is available; the spread between bid and asked prices is substantial; the frequency of sales; the thinness of the market; the size of reported trades; and actions of the securities markets, such as the suspension or limitation of trading; (iii) securities determined to be illiquid; (iv) securities with respect to which an event that will affect the value thereof has occurred (a “significant event”) since the closing prices were established on the principal exchange on which they are traded, but prior to the Fund’s calculation of its net asset value. Specifically, interests in commodity pools or managed futures pools are valued on a daily basis by reference to the closing market prices of each futures contract or other asset held by a pool, as adjusted for pool expenses. Restricted or illiquid securities, such as private placements or non-traded securities, are valued via inputs from the Adviser based upon the current bid for the security from two or more independent dealers or other parties reasonably familiar with the facts and circumstances of the security (who should take into consideration all relevant factors as may be appropriate under the circumstances). If the Adviser is unable to obtain a current bid from such independent dealers or other independent parties, the fair value team shall determine the fair value of such security using the following factors: (i) the type of security; (ii) the cost at date of purchase; (iii) the size and nature of the Fund's holdings; (iv) the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase and subsequent thereto; (v) information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; (vi) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the security and the existence of any registration rights; (vii) how the yield of the security compares to similar securities of companies of similar or equal creditworthiness; (viii) the level of recent trades of similar or comparable securities; (ix) the liquidity characteristics of the security; (x) current market conditions; and (xi) the market value of any securities into which the security is convertible or exchangeable.

 

Standards For Fair Value Determinations. As a general principle, the fair value of a security is the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to realize upon its current sale. The Trust applies Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"). In accordance with ASC 820, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect

 

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the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available under the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments relating to ASC 820. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

 

The Fair Value Committee takes into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances, which may include: (i) the nature and pricing history (if any) of the security; (ii) whether any dealer quotations for the security are available; (iii) possible valuation methodologies that could be used to determine the fair value of the security; (iv) the recommendation of a portfolio manager of the Fund with respect to the valuation of the security; (v) whether the same or similar securities are held by other funds managed by the Adviser (or sub-adviser) or other funds and the method used to price the security in those funds; (vi) the extent to which the fair value to be determined for the security will result from the use of data or formulae produced by independent third parties and (vii) the liquidity or illiquidity of the market for the security.

 

Valuation Committee and Board of Trustees Determination. The Valuation Committee of the Board generally meets on a quarterly basis to consider the valuations provided by the Fair Value Committee and to ratify the valuations made for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees reviews and considers the determinations reached by the Fair Value Committee in ratifying the Fair Value Committee’s application of the fair valuation methodologies employed.

 

Purchase of Shares

 

Orders for shares received by the Fund in good order prior to the close of business on the NYSE on each day during such periods that the NYSE is open for trading are priced at net asset value per share computed as of the close of the regular session of trading on the NYSE. Orders received in good order after the close of the NYSE, or on a day it is not open for trading, are priced at the close of such NYSE on the next day on which it is open for trading at the next determined net asset value per share.  

 

NOTICE: Under Section 72.1021(a) of the Texas Property Code, initial investors in the Fund who are Texas residents may designate a representative to receive notices of abandoned property in connection with Fund shares. Texas shareholders who wish to appoint a representative should notify the Trust’s Transfer Agent by writing to the address below to obtain a form for providing written notice to the Trust:

 

Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, Nebraska 68130

 

Redemption of Shares

 

Shares of the Fund may be redeemed on any business day upon receipt of a request for redemption, in accordance with the procedures set forth the Prospectus. Redemptions are effected at the per share NAV, next determined after receipt of the redemption request. Redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid within seven days following receipt of instructions in proper form, or sooner, if required by law. The right of redemption may be suspended by the Trust or the payment date postponed beyond seven days when

 

(a) the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;

(b) trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;

(c) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to fairly determine the value of its net assets, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) will govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b) or (c) exist; or

(d) the SEC by order permits a suspension of the right to redemption or a postponement of the date of payment on redemption.

 

In case of suspension of the right of redemption, payment of a redemption request will be made based on the net asset value next determined after the termination of the suspension.

 

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Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “How to Redeem Shares” in the Prospectus will be required from executors, administrators, Trustees, or if redemption is requested by someone other than the shareholder of record. Such documents include, but are not restricted to, stock powers, Trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor, certificates of corporate authority and waiver of tax required in some states when settling estates.

 

TAX STATUS

 

The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their investment in the Fund.  

 

The Fund intends to qualify and has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and intends to continue to so qualify, which requires compliance with certain requirements concerning the sources of its income, diversification of its assets, and the amount and timing of its distributions to shareholders, as described more fully below. Such qualification does not involve supervision of management or investment practices or policies by any government agency or bureau. By so qualifying, the Fund should not be subject to federal income or excise tax on its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, which are distributed to shareholders in accordance with the applicable timing requirements. Investment company taxable income and net capital gain of the Fund will be computed in accordance with Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Investment company taxable income is made up of dividends and interest less expenses, plus any excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses. Net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net-short-term capital losses) for a fiscal year is computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of the Fund. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carry forwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carry forwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

To be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund must (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in such securities or currencies, and net income from “publicly traded partnerships” (as defined in Section 851(h) of the Internal Revenue Code), and (b) diversify its holding so that, at the end of each quarter, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities (for purposes of this calculation, generally limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer) and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, or two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or the securities of certain publicly traded partnerships.

 

If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes to its shareholders each taxable year an amount equal to or exceeding the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest, if any, over certain disallowed deductions, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any income of the Fund, including net capital gain distributed to shareholders. If, however, the Fund meets such distribution requirements, but chooses to retain a portion of its investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained.

 

The Fund intends to distribute all of its investment company taxable income and any net capital gains in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and therefore should not be required to pay any federal income or excise taxes. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain will be made after the end of each fiscal year ending October 31, and no later than December 31 of each year. Both types of distributions will be in shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash.  

 

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If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any fiscal year, it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. As such the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its investment company taxable income and net capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of the Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s investment company taxable income or net capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s investment company taxable income or netcapital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Fund.  

 

The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital gain under a prescribed formula contained in Section 4982 of the Internal Revenue Code. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98.2% of its capital gain net income (i.e., the excess of its capital gains over capital losses) realized during the one-year period ending October 31 during such year plus 100% of any income that was neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the preceding calendar year. Under ordinary circumstances, the Fund expects to time its distributions so as to avoid liability for this tax.  

 

Dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December as of a record date in such a month, if any, will be deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of the following year. Redemptions of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated as paid by the Fund (except for the purposes of the 4% excise tax) during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made.

 

The following discussion of tax consequences is for the general information of shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders that are IRAs or other qualified retirement plans are exempt from income taxation under the Internal Revenue Code.  

 

Distributions of investment company taxable income and are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Because the Fund’s income is derived primarily from sources that do not pay “qualified dividend income,” dividends from the Fund generally are not expected to qualify for taxation at the long-term capital gain rates available to individuals on qualified dividend income. Furthermore, dividends from the Fund generally are not expected to qualify for the dividends-received deduction for shareholders that are corporations. Distributions of net capital gain (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders.

 

Distributions by the Fund in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares and any such amount in excess of that basis will be treated as gain from the sale of shares, as discussed below. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above, whether received in additional cash or shares. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the amount of cash the shareholder could have received.  

 

A redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder will result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Fund shares. Such gain or loss is treated as a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as capital assets. However, any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as capital gain dividends during such six-month period. All or a portion of any loss realized upon the redemption of shares may be disallowed to the extent shares are purchased (including shares acquired by means of reinvested dividends) within 30 days before or after such redemption.   

 

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

 

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of the Internal Revenue Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the

 

29  
 

federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect social security number or taxpayer identification number or a previous failure to report taxable interest or dividends. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) is required to report to the IRS and furnish to shareholders the cost basis information for sale transactions of shares Shareholders may elect to have one of several cost basis methods applied to their account when calculating the cost basis of shares sold, including average cost, FIFO or some other specific identification method. Unless you instruct otherwise, the Fund will use average cost as its default cost basis method. If average cost is used for the first sale of shares covered by these new rules, the shareholder may only use an alternative cost basis method for shares purchased prospectively. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisors to determine the best cost basis method for their tax situation. Shareholders that hold their shares through a financial intermediary should contact such financial intermediary with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for their accounts.

 

Foreign Shareholders

 

The foregoing discussion relates only to U.S. federal income tax law as applicable to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens and residents and domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates). Shareholders who are not U.S. persons should consult their tax advisers regarding U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the likelihood that distributions to them would be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under a tax treaty) and the possibility they may be subject to U.S. estate tax. A portion of the Fund’s distributions received by a foreign shareholder may, however, be exempt from U.S. withholding tax to the extent properly reported by the Fund as attributable to U.S. source interest income and short-term capital gains.

 

Ordinary dividends, redemption payments and certain capital gain dividends to a foreign (non-U.S.) shareholder that fails to make certain required certifications, or that is a “foreign financial institution” as defined in Section 1471 of the Internal Revenue Code and that does not meet the requirements imposed on foreign financial institutions by Section 1471, are generally subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate. Withholding on redemption payments and certain capital gain dividends is currently scheduled to begin after December 31, 2018. The extent, if any, to which such withholding tax may be reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty is unclear. A foreign (non-U.S.) shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

 

Options, Futures, Forward Contracts and Swap Agreements

 

To the extent such investments are permissible for the Fund, the Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, straddles and foreign currencies will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.

 

Foreign Taxation

 

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties and conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may be able to elect to "pass through" to the Fund’s shareholders the amount of eligible foreign income and similar taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a shareholder generally subject to tax will be required to include in gross income (in addition to taxable dividends actually received) his or her pro rata share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund, and may be entitled either to deduct (as an itemized deduction) his or her pro rata share of foreign taxes in computing his or her taxable income or to use it as a foreign tax credit against his or her U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations. In particular, a shareholder must hold his or her shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 more days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a gain dividend. No deduction for foreign

 

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taxes may be claimed by a shareholder who does not itemize deductions. Each shareholder will be notified within 60 days after the close of the Fund’s taxable year whether the foreign taxes paid by that Fund will "pass through" for that year.  

 

Generally, a credit for foreign taxes is subject to the limitation that it may not exceed the shareholder’s U.S. tax attributable to his or her total foreign source taxable income. For this purpose, if the pass-through election is made, the source of the Fund’s income will flow through to shareholders of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, gains from the sale of securities will be treated as derived from U.S. sources and certain currency fluctuation gains, including fluctuation gains from foreign currency-denominated fixed income securities, receivables and payables will be treated as ordinary income derived from U.S. sources. The limitation on the foreign tax credit is applied separately to foreign source passive income, and to certain other types of income. A shareholder may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of his or her proportionate share of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund. The foreign tax credit can be used to offset only 90% of the revised alternative minimum tax imposed on corporations and individuals and foreign taxes generally are not deductible in computing alternative minimum taxable income.  

 

Original Issue Discount, Pay-In-Kind and Market Discount Securities  

 

Investments by the Fund in zero coupon securities, deferred interest securities, other securities with original issue discount (or with market discount if the Fund elects to include market discount in income currently) or pay-in-kind securities will require the Fund to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year, generally prior to the receipt of the corresponding cash payments. However, the Fund must distribute, at least annually, all or substantially all of its net income, including such accrued income, to shareholders to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code and avoid U.S. federal income and excise taxes. Therefore, the Fund may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances to generate cash to satisfy its distribution requirements.

  

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

RSM US, LLP, 555 17th Street, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80202, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year. The firm provides services including audit of annual consolidated financial statements, and other tax, audit and related services for the Fund.  

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996 serves as the Trust’s legal counsel.

 

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, has not produced financial statements. Once produced, you can obtain a copy of the financial statements contained in the Fund’s Annual or Semi-Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-877-910-4232 .

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APPENDIX A

 

WFAS LLC (the “Adviser”)

Proxy Voting Policy

 

These proxy voting policies and procedures (collectively this “Policy”) have been adopted by WFAS LLC (“WFAS” or the “Company”).

 

A.     Proxy Voting Rules. Rule 206(4)-6 (the “Proxy Rule”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), sets forth certain requirements for an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Advisers Act, including adopting and implementing written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes securities in the best interests of its clients and that address material conflicts between the adviser and its clients. Rule 30b1-4 (the “Company Proxy Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) requires that every investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act (each a “fund”) file an annual report on Form N-PX not later than August 31st of each year containing the fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve month period ended the preceding June 30.

 

B.     Investment and Proxy Voting Discretion. Pursuant to the investment advisory agreements between the Company and its clients, the Company has complete discretion regarding client investment portfolios and to vote proxies held in those portfolios.

 

II. Policies

 

A.     Voting Client Proxies. The Company shall vote all proxies on behalf of the Company’s clients in respect of the securities held by such clients in their portfolios managed by the Company. However, each Company client shall maintain exclusive responsibility for all legal proceedings or other events pertaining to the client’s assets managed by the Company, including, but not limited to, class action lawsuits.

 

B.     Proxy Voting Committee. The Proxy Voting Committee (the “PVC”), which is comprised of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President of Research (the “VP-Research”) and the Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), is responsible for overseeing the Company’s voting of proxies on behalf of the Company’s clients in respect of the securities held by Company clients in their portfolios managed by the Company. The PVC is responsible for:

1.                                       Reviewing and approving the Company’s proxy voting policies and procedures, and

 

2.                                       Providing an administrative framework to facilitate and monitor both the Company’s exercise of its fiduciary duties to vote client proxies and fulfill the obligations of reporting and recordkeeping under the federal securities laws.

 

C.     Proxy Voting Service. The PVC, after reviewing and concluding that such policies are reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients, has approved and adopted the proxy voting policies (the “GL Policies”) of Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“GL”), a provider of proxy voting administrative and research services. As a result, the GL Policies set forth the Company’ positions on recurring proxy issues and criteria for addressing non-recurring issues. The GL Policies are reviewed periodically by GL, and therefore are subject to change.

 

D. Voting Decisions.

 

1.                                       Even though it has the adopted GL Policies, the Company maintains its fiduciary responsibility for all proxy voting decisions and reserves the right to override the GL Policies if the Company deems it in the client’s best interests so to do.

 

2.                                       In considering what is in the best interests of its clients, the Company may alternatively decide that voting the clients’ proxies may not be in the best interests of certain clients on certain matters.

 

a.      The Company may not vote proxies associated with the securities of any issuer if as a result of voting, subsequent purchases or sales of such securities would be blocked. However, the Company may decide, on an individual security basis that it is in the best interests of its clients to vote the proxy

 

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associated with such a security, taking into account the loss of liquidity.

 

b.     In addition, the Company may not vote proxies where the voting would, in the Company’s judgment, result in some other financial, legal, regulatory disability or burden to the client (such as imputing control with respect to the issuer) or subject to resolution of any conflict of interest as provided herein, to the Company.

E.     Proxy Voting for ERISA Clients. If a proxy voting issue arises for a client subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), the Company is prohibited from voting shares with respect to any issue advanced by a “party in interest” of the ERISA client (as that term is defined in ERISA).

 

III. Procedures

 

A.     Supervision of Proxy Voting Service. The PVC shall supervise the relationship with the Company’ proxy voting service, GL. GL shall apprise the Company of shareholder meeting dates, provide research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations, and cast the actual proxy votes. GL also shall serve as the Company’s proxy voting record keeper and generate reports on how proxies were voted.

 

B.     Conflicts of Interest. As required by the Proxy Rule, the Company addresses material conflicts between the Company and its clients as set forth in this Section III.B. A conflict of interest shall not be considered material for the purposes of this Policy in respect of a specific vote or circumstance if the matter to be voted on relates to a restructuring of the terms of existing securities or the issuance of new securities or a similar matter arising out of the holding of securities, other than common equity, in the context of a bankruptcy or threatened bankruptcy of the issuer, even if a conflict described in Section III.B.1a.-d is present.

 

1.                                       The following relationships or circumstances may give rise to conflicts of interest:

 

a.      The issuer is an entity in which an executive officer of the Company or a spouse or domestic partner of any such executive officer is or was (within the past three years of the proxy vote) an executive officer or director.

 

b.     The issuer is a registered or unregistered fund for which the Company or other related the Company serves as investment the Company or sub-the Company.

 

c.      Any other circumstances that the the Company is aware of where its duty to serve their clients’ interests, typically referred to as its “duty of loyalty,” could be materially compromised.

2.                                       The Company will vote proxies in the best interest of their clients regardless of such real or perceived conflicts of interest. By adopting GL policies, the Company believes the risk related to conflicts will be minimized.

 

3.                                       To further minimize this risk, the PVC will review GL’s conflict avoidance policy at least annually to ensure that it adequately addresses both the actual and perceived conflicts of interest the proxy voting service may face.

 

4.                                       If GL faces a material conflict of interest with respect to a specific vote, the PVC shall direct GL on how to vote. The PVC shall receive voting direction from the VP-Research, who will seek voting direction from appropriate investment or research personnel. Before doing so, however, the PVC will conCompany that the Company faces no material conflicts of its own with respect to the specific proxy vote.

 

5.                                       If the PVC concludes that a material conflict does exist, it will implement a course of action designed to address the conflict. Such actions could include, but are not limited to:

 

a.      Obtaining instructions from the affected client(s) on how to vote the proxy;

 

b.     Disclosing the conflict to the affected client(s) and seeking their consent to permit the Company to vote the proxy;

 

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c. Voting in proportion to the other shareholders;

 

d.     Recusing a PVC member from all discussion or consideration of the matter, if the material conflict is due to such person’s actual or potential conflict of interest; or

 

e.      Following the recommendation of a different independent third party.

 

6.                                       In addition to all of the above-mentioned and other conflicts, members of the PVC must notify the CCO of any direct, indirect or perceived improper influence exerted by any employee, officer, member, manager or director with regard to how the Company should vote proxies. The CCO will investigate the allegations and will report the findings to the Company’ V.P. of Legal and General

Counsel (the “General Counsel”). If the General Counsel determines that improper influence was attempted, the General Counsel shall take appropriate action. Such appropriate action may include disciplinary action, notification to the CEO, reporting the matter to Wealthfront Board of Directors or notification to the appropriate regulatory authorities. In all cases, the PVC shall not consider any improper influence in determining how to vote proxies and shall cause the Company to vote in the best interests of clients.

 

C.     Proxy Vote Overrides. From time to time, Company investment personnel or others may initiate action to override the GL recommendation for a particular proxy vote. Any such suggested override shall be reviewed by the PVC and the General Counsel for material conflicts and consideration. If the General Counsel determines that a material conflict exists, the conflict and, ultimately, the override recommendation will be addressed pursuant to the procedures described above under “Conflicts of Interest.”

 

D.     Proxy Voting Records. As required by Rule 204-2(c)(2) under the Advisers Act, the Company shall make and retain five types of records relating to the Company’s proxy voting for its clients:

 

1.                                       Copies of all the Company’s proxy voting policies and procedures required by the Proxy Rule;

 

2.                                       A copy of each proxy statement received regarding client portfolio securities; provided, however, the Company may satisfy this requirement by relying on:

 

a.      A third party (e.g., GL) to make and retain, on the Company's behalf, a copy of a proxy statement if the Company has obtained an undertaking from the third party to provide a copy of the proxy statement promptly upon request; or

 

b.     Obtaining a copy of a proxy statement from the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system;

 

3.                                       Records of proxy votes cast on behalf of the Company’s clients; provided, however, the Company may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third party (e.g., GL) to make and retain, on the Company's behalf, a record of the vote cast if the Company has obtained an undertaking from the third party to provide a copy of the proxy statement promptly upon request;

 

4.                                       Any documents prepared by either the Company that were material to making a proxy voting decision or that memorialized the basis for the decision; and

 

5.                                       A copy of each written client request for proxy voting information on how the Company voted proxies on behalf of the client and a copy of any written responses from the Company to either a written or oral client request for information on how the Company voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

 

E.     Legacy Securities. If the Company receives proxies for securities that are transferred into a client’s portfolio that were not recommended or selected by the Company and are sold or expected to be sold promptly in an orderly manner (“legacy

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securities”), the Company generally shall instruct GL to refrain from voting such proxies because voting proxies on such securities would not further the Company’s interest in maximizing the value of client investments.

 

F. Review and Reports.

 

1.                                       The Company’s Operations Group shall maintain a review schedule. The schedule shall include reviews for the proxy voting policy, the proxy voting record, account maintenance, and other reviews as deemed appropriate by the PVC. The Company’s Operations Group also shall periodically review corporate action records to determine whether any proxy votes were cast on behalf of the Company for which reports were not filed. If the Operations Group discovers an unreported vote, the Operations Group shall contact GL for an explanation and documentation. The PVC shall review the Operations Group’s review process and schedule at least annually.

 

2.                                       The PVC shall review all identified conflicts and how they were addressed. These reports will include all client accounts The PVC also will review votes that WFAS cast on behalf of investments by the funds it advises, and will the Company provide the funds that it advises with information necessary for preparing Form N-PX, as explained in more detail below in Section I

 

G.     Disclosure to Clients Generally. The Company shall describe this Policy to the Company’s clients, including in the Company’s Form ADV, Part 2A, and shall disclose to its clients and prospective clients how they can contact the Company to obtain a copy of this Policy and for clients, the proxy voting record for their account. The information available includes name of issuer, ticker/CUSIP, shareholder meeting date, description of item and the Company’s vote.

 

H.     Form N-PX Information. In addition to its obligations pursuant to Section III.G above, the Company shall collect, maintain and provide information with respect to the proxy votes for each fund that the Company advises to enable each fund to comply with the Company Proxy Rule and complete and timely file the fund’s Form N-PX:

 

1.                                       The Company shall provide each fund with the following information with the proxies voted by the Company for such fund during the 12-month period ended June 30 of each year:

 

a.      The name of the issuer of the portfolio security to which the proxy vote relates;

b. The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security;

c.      The CUSIP number (may be omitted if not available through reasonably practicable means);

d. The shareholder meeting date;
e. A brief description of the matter voted on;

f.      Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or the security holder;

g. Whether the fund cast its vote on the matter;

h.     How the fund cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and

i. Whether the fund cast its vote for or against management.

 

2.                                       By not later than July 15 of each year, Operations shall review the the Company’s corporate action records to determine whether any proxy votes were cast on behalf of the fund for which reports were not filed. If Operations discovers an unreported vote, Operations shall report the same to the PVC and the CCO, shall contact GL for an explanation and documentation and shall report GL’s response to the PVC and the CCO. The PVC shall be responsible for determining what appropriate action, if any, the Company shall take with respect to the unreported vote.

 

3.                                       By not later than August 1 of each year or such earlier date that a fund shall reasonably request, Operations shall compile and transmit to each fund advised by the Company the information that the fund and its administrator need to complete and timely file with the SEC the fund’s Form N-PX by August 31 of that year.

 

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IV. Policy Owner

 

PVC

 

V. Responsible Parties

 

PVC CCO

General Counsel Operations

 

Last Amended: July 19, 2017

 

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APPENDIX B

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

An S & P Global Ratings short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating categories used by S & P Global Ratings for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” – A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

 

“A-2” – A short-term obligation rated “A-2” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

 

“A-3” – A short-term obligation rated “A-3” 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.

 

“B” – A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

“C” – A short-term obligation rated “C” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” – A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S & P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks – S & P Global Ratings issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

 

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 obligations.

 

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

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” – Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” – Securities possess good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” – Securities possess fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” – Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” – Securities possess high short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” – Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” – Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“R-1 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

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“R-3” – Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” – Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” – Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” – Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by S & P Global Ratings for long-term issues:

 

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

 

“AA” – An obligation rated “AA” differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

“A” – An obligation rated “A” is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

 

“BBB” – An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” – Obligations rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC,” “CC” and “C” are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. “BB” indicates the least degree of speculation and “C” the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

 

“BB” – An obligation rated “BB” is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“B” – An obligation rated “B” is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated “BB”, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CCC” – An obligation rated “CCC” is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” – An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S & P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

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“C” – An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” – An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S & P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

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

 

“NR” – This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S & P Global Ratings does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - S & P Global Ratings issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” – Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

“Aa” – Obligations rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

“A” – Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

“Baa” – Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” – Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

“B” – Obligations rated “B” are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

“Caa” – Obligations rated “Caa” are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

“Ca” – Obligations rated “Ca” are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

“C” – Obligations rated “C” are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from “Aa” through “Caa.” The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch :

 

“AAA” – Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

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“AA” – Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” – Securities considered to be of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” – Securities considered to be of good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” – Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” – Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” – A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” – A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” – A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” - Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” – Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” – Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.” May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” – Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” – Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

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“CCC”, “CC” and “C” – Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. I n danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

An S & P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S & P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S & P Global Ratings analysis will review the following considerations:

 

h Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

h Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” – A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” – A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” – A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levels – “MIG-1” through “MIG-3” while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated “SG”. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“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.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal

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and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG rating scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” scale/ the rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support generally will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

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.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

An S & P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S & P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

Credit ratings provided by DBRS are forward-looking opinions about credit risk which reflect the creditworthiness of an issuer, rated entity, and/or security. Credit ratings are not statements of fact. While historical statistics and performance can be important considerations, credit ratings are not based solely on such; they include subjective considerations and involve expectations for future performance that cannot be guaranteed. To the extent that future events and economic conditions do not match expectations, credit ratings assigned to issuers and/or securities can change. Credit ratings are also based on approved and applicable methodologies, models and criteria (“Methodologies”), which are periodically updated and when material changes are deemed necessary for a wide variety of potential reasons, this may also lead to rating changes.

 

Credit ratings typically provide an opinion on the risk that investors may not be repaid in accordance with the terms under which the obligation was issued. In some cases, credit ratings may also include consideration for the relative ranking of claims and recovery, should default occur. Credit ratings are meant to provide opinions on relative measures of risk and are not based on expectations of any specific default probability, nor are they meant to predict such.

 

 

43  
 

The data and information on which DBRS bases its opinions is not audited or verified by DBRS, although DBRS conducts a reasonableness review of information received and relied upon in accordance with its Methodologies and policies.

 

DBRS uses rating symbols as a concise method of expressing its opinion to the market but there are a limited number of rating categories for the possible slight risk differentials that will exist across the rating spectrum and DBRS does not assert that credit ratings in the same category are of “exactly” the same quality.

 

 
 

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST

 

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28.   Financial Statements and Exhibits
     
(a) (1) Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 15, 2012 3
  (2) Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on June 8, 2012 1
     
(b)   Registrant’s By–Laws 1
     
(c)   Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – see relevant portions of Certificate of Trust and By-Laws
     
(d) (1) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd. 17
  (2) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Superfund Advisors, Inc. with respect to the Superfund Managed Futures Strategy Fund 17
  (3) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Satuit Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Satuit West Shore Real Return Fund (formerly called the West Shore Real Return Fund) 24
  (4) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Fund 6
  (5) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and IronHorse Capital, LLC with respect to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund (formerly called the Conductor Global Fund) 16
  (6) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund 9
  (7) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio 10
  (8) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Affinity Small Cap Fund 14
  (9) Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, Anfield Capital Management, LLC and Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC with respect to the Affinity Small Cap Fund 14
  (10) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Hanlon Investment Management, Inc., with respect to the Hanlon Managed Income Fund and Hanlon Tactical Dividend and Momentum Fund 15
  (11) Amended Exhibit A to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Fund 14
  (12) Amended Exhibit A to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio 14
  (13) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Holbrook Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Holbrook Income Fund 22
  (14) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and RVX Asset Management, LLC with respect to the RVX Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund 25
  (15) Amended Exhibit A to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and IronHorse Capital, LLC with respect to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund (formerly called the Conductor Global Fund) 24
  (16) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC dated February 21, 2017 27
  (17) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Recurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with respect to the Recurrent Natural Resources Fund and the Recurrent MLP & Infrastructure Fund 33 .
  (18) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Regents Park Funds, LLC with respect to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF and Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF 36
 
 

 

  (19) Investment Sub-advisory Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF 36
  (20) Amended Appendix A to the Investment Advisory Agreement dated February 21, 2017 between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC 34 .
  (21) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Affinity Investment Advisors LLC with respect to the Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF 36
  (22) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and WFAS, LLC with respect to the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund is filed herewith.
  (23) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Symmetry Partners, LLC with respect to the Symmetry Panoramic US Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic International Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Global Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Tax-Managed Global Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic US Fixed Income Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Municipal Fixed Income Fund, Symmetry Panoramic Global Fixed Income Fund, and Symmetry Panoramic Alternatives Fund (together, the “Symmetry Funds”) to be filed by amendment
  (24) Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, Symmetry Partners, LLC and AQR Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Symmetry Panoramic US Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic International Equity Fund, and Symmetry Panoramic Global Equity Fund to be filed by amendment.
  (25) Novation of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant, Anfield Capital Management, LLC and Regents Park Funds, LLC with respect to the Affinity Small Cap Fund. 35
  (26) Novation of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, Anfield Capital Management, LLC and Regents Park Funds, LLC with respect to the Affinity Small Cap Fund. 35
  (27) Amended Exhibit A to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., on behalf of the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Equity Alternative Fund to be filed by amendment.
     
(e) (1) Underwriting Agreement between Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC 15
  (2) ETF Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC 31
     
(f)   Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – None
     
(g) (1) Custodial Agreement between the Registrant and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (formerly Union Bank, N.A.) 2
  (2) Custodial Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington Bank, N.A. 13
  (3) Custodial Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon 15
  (4) Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. 31
  (5) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A. is filed herewith.
     
(h) (1) Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC 2
  (2) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., with respect to the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Equity Alternative Fund to be filed by amendment.
  (3) Amended Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC 26
  (4) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Satuit Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Satuit West Shore Real Return Fund (formerly called the West Shore Real Return Fund) 24
  (5) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Fund 6
  (6) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and IronHorse Capital, LLC with respect to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund (formerly called the Conductor Global Fund) 7
  (7) Fee Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund 8
  (8) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC, with respect to the Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund 9
 
 

 

  (9) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio 10
  (10) Participation Agreement between Registrant, with respect to the Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio and Jefferson National Life Insurance Company 11
  (11) Amended Appendix A to Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd., with respect to the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund 13
  (12) Amended Appendix A to Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Ironhorse Capital LLC, with respect to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund (formerly called the Conductor Global Fund) 19
  (13) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Affinity Small Cap Fund 14
  (14) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Hanlon Investment Management, Inc., with respect to the Hanlon Managed Income Fund and Hanlon Tactical Dividend and Momentum Fund 15
  (15) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Holbrook Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Holbrook Income Fund 22
  (16) Amended Appendix A to Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Hanlon Investment Management, Inc., with respect to the Hanlon Managed Income Fund and Hanlon Tactical Dividend and Momentum Fund 21
  (17) Interim Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Satuit Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Satuit West Shore Real Return Fund (formerly called the West Shore Real Return Fund) 24
  (18) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and RVX Asset Management, LLC with respect to the RVX Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund 25
  (19) Amended Appendix A to Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and IronHorse Capital, LLC with respect to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund (formerly called the Conductor Global Fund) 24
  (20) Expense Limitation Agreement dated February 21, 2017 between the Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC 27
  (21) Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and Recurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with respect to the Recurrent Natural Resources Fund and the Recurrent MLP & Infrastructure Fund 33 .
  (22) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Regents Park Funds, LLC with respect to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF 31
  (23) Amended Appendix A to Expense Limitation Agreement dated February 21, 2017 between the Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC 34 .
  (24)

ETF Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC 31

 

 

(25)

 

Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Regents Park Funds, LLC with respect to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF and Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF 36
  (26) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Symmetry Partners, LLC with respect to the Symmetry Funds to be filed by amendment.
  (27) Fee Waiver Agreement between Registrant and Symmetry Partners, LLC with respect to the Symmetry Funds to be filed by amendment.
  (28) Novation of Operating Expenses Limitation and Security Agreement between Registrant, Anfield Capital Management, LLC and Regents Park Funds, LLC. 35
     
(i)   Legal Opinion and Consent is filed herewith.
     
(j) (1) Consent of Independent Public Accounting Firm - None.
  (2) Powers of Attorney 28
  (3) Resolution of the Board Authorizing Use of Powers of Attorney 23
     
(k)   Omitted Financial Statements – None
     
 
 

 

(l) (1) Subscription Agreement 2
  (2) Form of Authorized Participation Agreement 31
     
(m) (1) Class A Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 6
  (2) Class C Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 6
  (3) Class R Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 6
  (4) Class N Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 6
  (5) Amended Exhibit A to Class A Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to be filed by amendment.
  (6) Amended Exhibit A to Class C Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to be filed by amendment.
  (7) Amended Exhibit A to Class R Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 26
  (8) Amended Exhibit A to Class N Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 34
  (9) Investor Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 21
  (10) Amended Exhibit A to Investor Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 25
  (11) ETF 12b-1 Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 36
     
(n) (1) Amended Rule 18f-3 Plan 6
  (2) Amended Appendix A to Rule 18f-3 Plan is filed herewith.
     
(o)   Reserved
     
(p) (1) Code of Ethics for the Trust 2
  (2) Code of Ethics for LJM Funds Management, Ltd 4
  (3) Code of Ethics for Northern Lights Distributors, LLC 36
  (4) Code of Ethics for Anfield Capital Management, LLC 3
  (5) Code of Ethics for Superfund Advisors, Inc. 5
  (6) Code of Ethics for Satuit Capital Management 24
  (7) Code of Ethics for Redwood Investment Management, LLC 36
  (8) Code of Ethics for IronHorse Capital, LLC 7
  (9) Code of Ethics for Affinity Investment Advisors 14
  (10) Code of Ethics for Hanlon Investment Management, Inc. 15
  (11) Code of Ethics for Holbrook Holdings, Inc. 22
  (12) Code of Ethics for RVX Asset Management LLC 25
  (13) Code of Ethics for Recurrent Investment Advisors, LLC 33
  (14) Code of Ethics for Regents Park Funds, LLC 31
  (15) Code of Ethics for WFAS, LLC is filed herewith.
  (16) Code of Ethics for Symmetry Partners, LLC to be filed by amendment.
  (17) Code of Ethics for AQR Capital Management, LLC to be filed by amendment.
     

 

1 Previously filed on June 28, 2012 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

2 Previously filed on October 26, 2012 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

3 Previously filed on March 14, 2013 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

4 Previously filed on May 9, 2013 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

5 Previously filed on June 5, 2013 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

6 Previously filed on October 22, 2013 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

 
 

7 Previously filed on December 20, 2013 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

8 Previously filed on February 28, 2014 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

9 Previously filed on August 11, 2014 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

10 Previously filed on August 22, 2014 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

11 Previously filed on November 21, 2014 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

12 Previously filed on November 21, 2014 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

13 Previously filed on February 27, 2015 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

14 Previously filed on July 24, 2015 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

15 Previously filed on August 12, 2015 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

16 Previously filed on October 22, 2015 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

17 Previously filed on December 23, 2015 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

18 Previously filed on February 26, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

19 Previously filed on February 29, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

20 Previously filed on April 15, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

21 Previously filed on May 31, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

22 Previously filed on June 13, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

23 Previously filed on September 16, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

24 Previously filed on October 4, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

25 Previously filed on December 2, 2016 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

26 Previously filed on February 28, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

27 Previously filed on March 8, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

28 Previously filed on August 10, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

29 Previously filed on August 17, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

30 Previously filed on August 18, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

31 Previously filed on September 26, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

32 Previously filed on October 10, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

33 Previously filed on October 24, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

34 Previously filed on November 1, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

 
 

35 Previously filed on November 29, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

36 Previously filed on December 27, 2017 in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A and hereby incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

Item 29. Control Persons.

 

None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification.

 

Article VIII, Section 2(a) of the Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Trustees and officers are permitted by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act of 2002, the officers and Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of: any agent or employee of the Trust; any investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust; or with respect to each Trustee and officer, the act or omission of any other Trustee or officer, respectively. The Trust, out of the Trust Property, is required to indemnify and hold harmless each and every officer and Trustee from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever arising out of or related to such officer’s or Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as an officer or Trustee of the Trust. This limitation on liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves as a Trustee or officer of the Trust whether or not such person is a Trustee or officer at the time of any proceeding in which liability is asserted. Nothing contained in the Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust indemnifies, holds harmless or protects any officer or Trustee from or against any liability to the Trust or any shareholder to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

 

Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or document whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust, the officers 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 such Person’s capacity as Trustee and/or as officer, and such Trustee or officer, as applicable, shall not be personally liable therefore, except as described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 2 of Article VIII.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Delaware law and the Amended Agreement and Declaration of the Registrant or the By-Laws of the Registrant, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Trust in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and LJM Funds Management, Ltd. (“LJM”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1), provides for the indemnification of LJM against certain losses.

 

Section 11 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Superfund Advisors, Inc. (“Superfund”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2), provides for the indemnification of Superfund against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Investment Advisory Agreements between Registrant and Redwood Investment Management, LLC (“Redwood”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibits (d)(4), (d)(7), and (d)(16) provides for the indemnification of Redwood against certain losses.

 

 
 

Section 5 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and IronHorse Capital, LLC (“IronHorse”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(5), provides for the indemnification of IronHorse against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Investment Advisory Agreements between Registrant and Anfield Capital Management, LLC (“Anfield”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(6) and (d)(8), provide for the indemnification of Anfield against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, Anfield and Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC (“Affinity”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(9), provides for the indemnification of Affinity against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Hanlon Investment Management, Inc. (“Hanlon”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(10), provides for the indemnification of Hanlon against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Holbrook Holdings, Inc., incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(13), provides for the indemnification of Holbrook against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Satuit Capital Management (“Satuit”), incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3), provides for the indemnification of Satuit against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and RVX Asset Management, LLC (“RVX”) incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(14), provides for the indemnification of RVX against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Form of Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Regents Park Funds, LLC (“Regents Park”) incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(18) provides for the indemnification of Regents Park against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Recurrent Investment Advisors, LLC (“Recurrent”) incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(17) provides for the indemnification of Recurrent against certain losses.

 

Section 5 of the Advisory Agreement between Registrant and WFAS, LLC (“WFAS”) incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(22) provides for the indemnification of WFAS against certain losses.

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (NLD), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) which NLD, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus, (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in any of them not misleading, (iii) the Registrant’s  failure to maintain an effective Registration statement and Prospectus with respect to Shares of the Funds that are the subject of the claim or demand, or (iv)  the Registrant’s failure to provide NLD with advertising or sales materials to be filed with the FINRA on a timely basis.

 

The Fund Services Agreement with Gemini Fund Services, LLC (GFS) provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold GFS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Registrant’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Registrant’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Registrant’s performance under or in connection with this Agreement.

 

The Consulting Agreement with Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (NLCS) provides that the Registrant agree to indemnify and hold NLCS harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, reasonable counsel fees, payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to the Trust’s refusal or failure to comply

 
 

with the terms of the Agreement, or which arise out of the Trust’s lack of good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Trust’s performance under or in connection with the Agreement.  NLCS shall not be liable for, and shall be entitled to rely upon, and may act upon information, records and reports generated by the Trust, advice of the Trust, or of counsel for the Trust and upon statements of the Trust’s independent accountants, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such records and reports.

 

The ETF Distribution Agreement with NLD provides that the Registrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of NLD, its managers and officers and each person, if any, who controls NLD within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages, or expense and reasonable counsel fees and disbursements incurred in connection therewith), arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares or Creation Units, based upon (i) the ground that the registration statement, prospectus, shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Registrant (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements made not misleading, (ii) the Registrant’s failure to maintain an effective registration statement and prospectus with respect to Shares of the Fund that are the subject of the claim or demand, (iii) the Registrant’s failure to properly register Fund Shares under applicable state laws, (iv) instructions given by the Registrant, the Registrant’s failure to perform its duties hereunder or any inaccuracy of its representations, (v) any claim brought under Section 11 of the Securities Act, or (vi) all actions taken by NLD hereunder resulting from NLD’s reliance on instructions received from an officer, agent or approved service provider of the Registrant.

 

Item 31. Activities of Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser.

 

Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of each Adviser of each series of the Trust is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the section of the respective Prospectus captioned “Investment Adviser” and to the section of the respective Statement of Additional Information captioned “Investment Advisory and Other Services.” The information required by this Item 31 with respect to each director, officer or partner of each Adviser is incorporated by reference to the Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Each Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, and may be requested by File No. as follows:

 

LJM Funds Management, Ltd., the Adviser to the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund and LJM Equity Alternative Fund – File No. 801-76983

 

Anfield Capital Management, LLC, the Adviser to the Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund and Sub-Adviser to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF– File No. 801-77714

 

Superfund Advisors, Inc., the Adviser to the Superfund Managed Futures Strategy Fund – File No. 801-77984

 

Redwood Investment Management, LLC, the Adviser to the Redwood Managed Volatility Fund, Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio, Redwood AlphaFactor Core Equity Fund, Redwood AlphaFactor Tactical Core Fund, Redwood Managed Municipal Income Fund, Redwood Activist Leaders Fund, Redwood AlphaFactor Tactical International Fund and Redwood Systematic Macro Trend (“SMarT”) Fund – File No. 801-78563

 

IronHorse Capital, LLC, the Adviser to the Conductor Global Equity Value Fund – File No. 801-78730

 

Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC, the Sub-Adviser to the Affinity Small Cap Fund and Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF – File No. 801-42015

 

Hanlon Investment Management, Inc., the Adviser to the Hanlon Managed Income Fund and Hanlon Tactical Dividend and Momentum Fund – File No. 801-60889

 

Holbrook Holdings, Inc., the Adviser to the Holbrook Income Fund – File No. 801-107682

 

Satuit Capital Management, LLC, the Adviser to the Satuit West Shore Real Return Fund – File No. 801-57862

 

 
 

RVX Asset Management, LLC, the Adviser to the RVX Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund– File No. 801-107281

 

Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC, the Adviser to the Recurrent Natural Resources Fund and the Recurrent MLP & Infrastructure Fund –File No. 801-110728

 

Regents Park Funds, LLC, the Adviser to the Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF and Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF– File No. 801-108885

 

WFAS, LLC, the Adviser to the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund – File No. 801-111023

 

Symmetry Partners, LLC, the Adviser to the Symmetry Funds – File No. 801-61342

 

AQR Capital Management, LLC, the Sub-Adviser to the Symmetry Panoramic US Equity Fund, Symmetry Panoramic International Equity Fund, and Symmetry Panoramic Global Equity Fund – File No. 801-55543

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

(a) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (“NLD”), the principal underwriter of the Registrant, also acts as principal underwriter for the following: AdvisorOne Funds, Arrow ETF Trust, Arrow DWA Tactical ETF, Arrow QVM Equity Factor ETF, and Arrow Reserve Capital Management ETF, each a series of Arrow Investments Trust, Centerstone Investors Trust, Copeland Trust, Equinox Funds Trust, Forethought Variable Insurance Trust, Miller Investment Trust, Multi-Strategy Growth & Income Fund, Mutual Fund Series Trust, Mutual Fund and Variable Insurance Trust, Neiman Funds, Nile Capital Investment Trust, North Country Funds, Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, Northern Lights Variable Trust, OCM Mutual Fund, PREDEX, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, Total Income+ Real Estate Fund, Tributary Funds, Inc., and Vertical Capital Income Fund.

 

(b) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is registered with Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. The principal business address of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the members and officers of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC:

 

 

Name

Positions and Offices

with Underwriter

Positions and Offices

with the Trust

Brian Nielsen Manager, CEO, Secretary None
Bill Wostoupal President None
Daniel Applegarth Treasurer/FINOP None
Mike Nielsen Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer None
Bill Strait General Counsel None

 

(c) Not Applicable.

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

 

The following entities prepare, maintain and preserve the records required by Section 31 (a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for the Registrant.  These services are provided to the Registrant for such periods prescribed by the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1940 Act and such records are the property of the entity required to maintain and preserve such records and will be surrendered promptly on request.

 

1. MUFG Union Bank, National Association, 350 California Street 6 th  Floor, San Francisco, California 94104 (records relating to its function as custodian)
 
 
2. Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (records relating to its functions as administration, accounting and transfer agent and Registrant’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws and Minutes)
3. Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130 (records relating to its function as principal underwriter)
4. LJM Funds Management, Ltd., One Financial Place, 440 S. La Salle Street, Suite 2301, Chicago, IL 60605 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
5. Superfund Advisors, Inc., Superfund Office Building, Grand Anse P.O. Box 1803 St. Georges, Grenada W.I (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
6. Redwood Investment Management, LLC, 1117 S. Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
7. IronHorse Capital LLC, 3102 West End Avenue, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37203 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
8. Anfield Capital Management, LLC, 4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 430, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
9. Huntington Bank, N.A., 7 Easton Oval, Columbus, OH 43219 (records relating to its function as custodian)
10. Affinity Investment Advisors, LLC, 4041 Macarthur Boulevard, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (records relating to its function as sub-adviser)
11. Hanlon Investment Management, Inc., 3393 Bargaintown Road, Egg Harbor Twp., NJ 08234 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)
12. The Bank of New York Mellon, 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10286 (records relating to its function as custodian)

 

13. Holbrook Holdings, Inc., 2670 NW Lovejoy Street, Portland, OR 97210 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

14. Satuit Capital Management, LLC, 1001 Westhaven Boulevard, Suite 125-B, Franklin, TN 37064 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

15. RVX Asset Management, LLC, 20900 NE 30th Street, Suite 401, Aventura, Florida 33180 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

16. Recurrent Investment Advisors LLC, 3801 Kirby Dr., Suite 654, Houston, TX 77908 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

17. Regents Park Funds, LLC, 4041 Macarthur Boulevard, Suite 155, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

18. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 50 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02110 (records relating to its function as custodian and transfer agent)

 

19. WFAS, LLC, 900 Middlefield Road, 2 nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

 

 
 
20. Symmetry Partners, LLC, 151 National Drive, Glastonbury, CT 06033 (records relating to its function as investment adviser)

  

21. AQR Capital Management, LLC, 2 Greenwich Plaza, 3 rd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830 (records relating to its function as sub-adviser)

 

22. U.S. Bank, N.A, 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (records relating to its function as custodian)

 

 

Item 34. Management Services. Not Applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings. Not Applicable.

 
 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York, on the 12 th day of January, 2018.

 

Two Roads Shared Trust

 

By:

James Colantino*

President and Principal Executive Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Signature Title Date
     
Mark D. Gersten*

_________________________

Trustee & Chairman

January 12, 2018
Mark Garbin*

_________________________

Trustee

January 12, 2018
Neil M. Kaufman*

_________________________

Trustee

January 12, 2018
Anita K. Krug*

_________________________

Trustee

January 12, 2018
James Colantino*

_________________________

President and Principal Executive Officer

January 12, 2018
Laura Szalyga*

_________________________

Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

January 12, 2018

 

*By: /s/ Richard A. Malinowski

Richard A. Malinowski

Attorney in fact

 

 

 

 
 

Exhibit Index

 

 

  (d)(22) Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and WFAS, LLC with respect to the Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund
  (g)(5) Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A.
  (i) Legal Opinion and Consent
  (n)(2) Amended Appendix A to Rule 18f-3 Plan
  (p)(15) Code of Ethics for WFAS, LLC

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

This INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated January 2, 2018, is made by and between Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”) on behalf of each series listed on Exhibit A, as it may be amended from time to time by the parties (each, a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), and WFAS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”). This Agreement will confirm the agreement between the Trust and Adviser as follows:

 

1.     The Trust is an open-end investment company which has separate investment portfolios. This Agreement shall pertain to the Funds. The Trust engages in the business of investing and reinvesting the assets of each Fund in the manner and in accordance with the investment objective and restrictions applicable to the Fund as specified in the Trust’s registration statement, as amended from time to time (the “Registration Statement”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”). Copies of the Registration Statement have been furnished to the Adviser. Any amendments to those documents shall be furnished to the Adviser promptly. Pursuant to a Distribution Contract (the “Distribution Contract”), between the Trust and the Trust’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”), the Trust has employed the Distributor to serve as principal underwriter for the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust.

 

2.     The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to provide the investment advisory services specified in this Agreement and the Adviser hereby accepts such appointment.

 

3.     (a) The Adviser shall pay all operating expenses of each Fund except as excluded by paragraph (b) hereunder, including the compensation and expenses of any employees of the Fund and any other persons rendering services to the Fund; clerical and shareholder service staff salaries; office space and other office expenses; fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with membership in investment company organizations; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; expenses of registering shares under federal and state securities laws, including expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the organization and initial registration of shares of the Fund; insurance expenses; fees and expenses of the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, administrator, accounting and pricing services agent and underwriter of the Fund; the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders, the cost of printing or preparing prospectuses and statements of additional information for delivery to the Fund’s current and prospective shareholders; the cost of printing or preparing stock certificates or other documents, statements or reports to shareholders; expenses of shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations; advertising, promotion and other expenses incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the sale or distribution of the Fund’s shares; and all other operating expenses not specifically assumed by the Fund.

 

(b) The Fund shall pay all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as dividend expense on securities sold short and interest), fees and expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund may invest, and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Trustees and officers with respect thereto. The Fund shall pay for its allocated pro-rata portion of the fees and expenses of those trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”) , as such term is defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, and costs and fees of the legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.

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4.     (a) Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser will: (i) provide a program of continuous investment management for each Fund with regard to the Fund’s investment of its assets (the “Portfolio”) in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations as stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and statement of additional information included as part of the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as they may be amended from time to time, copies of which shall be provided to the Adviser by the Trust; (ii) make investment decisions for each Fund, including, but not limited to, the selection and management of investment sub-advisers for the Fund, in which case any of the duties of the Adviser set forth herein may be delegated to such investment sub- advisers subject to approval by the Trust’s board of trustees (“Board of Trustees”); (iii) if one or more investment sub-advisers are appointed with respect to a Fund, monitor and evaluate the performance of such investment sub-advisers under their respective sub-advisory agreements in light of the investment objectives and policies of the Fund, and render to the Trustees such periodic and special reports related to such performance monitoring as the Trustees may reasonably request, and analyze and recommend changes in investment sub-advisers as the Adviser may deem appropriate; (iv) place orders to purchase and sell investments for each Fund including, but not limited to, the purchase or sale of securities, swaps, financial futures contracts and options thereon, currency transactions, and other derivatives and investment instruments and techniques as may be permitted for use by the Fund and consistent with the Registration Statement; and (v) provide office space, secretarial and clerical services and wire and telephone services necessary to provide the investment advisory duties set forth in this Section 4.

 

(b)                 In performing its investment management services to the Funds under the terms of this Agreement, the Adviser will provide the Funds with ongoing investment guidance and policy direction.

 

(c)                 The Adviser further agrees that, in performing its duties for each Fund hereunder, it will:

 

(i) comply with all applicable and relevant 1940 Act and Advisers Act, as amended, and all applicable and relevant rules and regulations thereunder, and all other applicable and relevant federal and state laws and regulations, and with any applicable procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees;

 

(ii) use reasonable efforts to manage the Portfolio so that the Fund will qualify, and continue to qualify, as regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and regulations issued thereunder;

 

(iii) place orders pursuant to its investment determinations for the Fund in accordance with applicable policies expressed in the Fund’s Registration Statement, established through written guidelines determined by the Trust and provided to the Adviser, and in accordance with applicable legal requirements;
2  
 

 

(iv) furnish to the Trust whatever statistical information the Trust may reasonably request with respect to the Fund. In addition, the Adviser will keep the Trust and the Trustees informed of developments materially affecting the Fund and shall, on the Adviser’s own initiative, furnish to the Trust from time to time whatever information the Adviser believes appropriate for this purpose;

 

(v) make available to the Trust, promptly upon its request, such copies of its investment records and ledgers with respect to the Fund as may be required to assist the Trust in its compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Adviser will furnish the Trustees with such periodic and special reports regarding the Fund as they may reasonably request;

 

(vi) meet quarterly with the Trust’s Board of Trustees or as otherwise requested by the Board, to explain its investment management activities, and provide any reports related to the Fund as may reasonably be requested by the Trust;

 

(vii) immediately notify the Trust in the event that the Adviser:

(1) becomes aware that it is subject to a statutory disqualification that prevents the Adviser from serving as investment adviser pursuant to this Agreement; or (2) becomes aware that it is the subject of an administrative proceeding or enforcement action by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The Adviser further agrees to notify the Trust immediately of any material fact known to the Adviser respecting or relating to the Adviser that is not contained in the Registration Statement regarding the Fund, or any amendment or supplement thereto, but that is required to be disclosed therein, and of any statement contained therein that becomes untrue in any material respect;

 

(viii) in making investment decisions for the Fund, use no material non-public information that may be in its possession or in the possession of any of its affiliates, nor will the Adviser seek to obtain any such information;

 

(ix) use its best efforts to seek best execution for the Fund’s portfolio transactions; and

 

(x) the Adviser shall vote all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities invested in by the Fund, subject to such policies and procedures as the Board of Trustees may adopt from time to time. The Adviser shall maintain a record of how the Adviser voted and such record shall be available to the Trust upon its request. The Adviser shall use its best good faith judgment to vote such proxies in a manner which best serves the interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Adviser may delegate proxy voting to a third-party company provided, however, that the Adviser remains liable for the proxy voting.

 

3  
 

5.     (a) The Adviser will exercise its best judgment in rendering the services described in this Agreement, except that the Adviser, its members, officers, directors and employees will not be liable for any act or omission, error of judgement or mistake of law that results in any damages or expenses, or any losses suffered by any Fund or the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, other than such damages, expenses or losses resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of the Adviser’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

(b)     The terms “Two Roads Shared Trust” and “trustees” refer, respectively, to the trust created and the Trust’s trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to time under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust to which reference is hereby made, such reference being inclusive of any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The obligations of “Two Roads Shared Trust” entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the Trust’s trustees, representatives or agents are made not individually, but in such capacities and are not binding upon any of the trustees, shareholders or representatives of the Trust personally, but bind only the assets of the Fund or Trust, and all persons dealing with the Trust or a Fund must look solely to the assets of the Trust or Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust or Fund.

 

6.     In consideration of the services to be rendered by the Adviser under this Agreement, each Fund shall pay the Adviser a monthly fee on the first business day of each month, based upon the average daily value (as determined on each business day at the time set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus for determining net asset value per share) of the net assets of the Fund, during the preceding month, at the annual rates provided for in Exhibit A, as such Exhibit A may be amended from time to time.

 

If the fees payable to the Adviser pursuant to this Section 6 begin to accrue before the end of any month or if this Agreement terminates before the end of any month, the fees for the period from that date to the end of that month or from the beginning of that month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion which the period bears to the full month in which the effectiveness or termination occurs. For purposes of calculating the monthly fees, the value of the net assets of a Fund shall be computed in the manner specified in the Fund’s Prospectus for the computation of net asset value. For purposes of this Agreement, a “business day” is any day a Fund is open for business or as otherwise provided in the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

7.     (a) This Agreement shall become effective as of the date written above, and shall become effective with respect to each Fund as of the effective date set forth in Exhibit A for that Fund, if approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund. The Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to each Fund for a period of two years and shall continue thereafter only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and (ii) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose, of a majority of the Trust’s trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party.

 

(b)                This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the Trust’s entire Board of Trustees on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser or by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. This

4  
 

Agreement (or any supplement hereto) shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

(c)                 The modification of any of the non-material terms of this Agreement may be approved by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose, of a majority of the Trust’s trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party

 

8.     Except to the extent necessary to perform the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict the right of the Adviser, or any affiliate of the Adviser, or any employee of the Adviser, to engage in any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, firm, individual or association.

 

9.     The investment management services of the Adviser to the Fund under this Agreement are not to be deemed exclusive as to the Adviser and the Adviser will be free to render similar services to others.

 

10.     It is understood that the names “Wealthfront Inc.” or “Wealthfront” or any derivative thereof or logo associated with those names and other servicemarks and trademarks owned by the Adviser or its affiliates are the valuable property of the Adviser and its affiliates, and that the Trust and/or the Funds may use such names (or derivatives or logos) only as permitted by the Adviser.

 

11.    Notices of any kind to be given to the Adviser by the Trust shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to the Adviser at 900 Middlefield Road, Second Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 or to such other address or to such individual as shall be specified by the Adviser. Notices of any kind to be given to the Fund or to the Trust by the Adviser shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha, Nebraska 68130, or to such other address or to such individual as shall be specified by the Trust.

 

12.     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original.

 

13.     (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, provided that nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act.

 

(b)                 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise with regard to any party hereunder, such provisions with respect to other parties hereto shall not be affected thereby.

 

(c)                 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

 

5  
 

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.]

6  
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the 2 nd day of January, 2018.

 

 

TWO ROADS SHARED TRUST,

On behalf of each of its series

 

By: /s/ James Colantino

Name: James Colantino

Title: President

 

 

WFAS, LLC

 

 

By: /s/ Roy Adams

Name: Roy Adams

Title: VP and General Counsel

7  
 

Investment Advisory Agreement EXHIBIT A

Two Roads Shared Trust WFAS, LLC

 

 

 

Fund Investment Advisory Fee Effective Date
Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund 0.50% January 2, 2018

 

CUSTODY AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 2 nd day of January, 2018, by and between TWO-ROADS SHARED TRUST , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (the “Custodian”).

WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;

WHEREAS, the Custodian is a bank having the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of the cash and securities of each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit B hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated to the Custodian the responsibilities set forth in Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act and the Custodian is willing to undertake the responsibilities and serve as the foreign custody manager for the Trust.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

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

1.01                       “Authorized Person” means any Officer or person who has been designated as such by written notice and named in Exhibit A and delivered to the Custodian by the Trust, or if the Trust has notified the Custodian in writing that it has an authorized investment manager or other agent, delivered to the Custodian by the Trust’s investment advisor or other agent. Such Officer or person shall continue to be an Authorized Person until such time as the Custodian receives Written Instructions from the Trust or the Trust’s investment advisor or other agent that any such person is no longer an Authorized Person.

1.02                       “Board of Trustees” shall mean the trustees from time to time serving under the Trust’s declaration of trust, as amended from time to time.

1.03                       “Book-Entry System” shall mean a federal book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, in Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or in

1  
 

such book-entry regulations of federal agencies as are substantially in the form of such Subpart O.

1.04                       “Business Day” shall mean any day recognized as a settlement day by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and any other day for which the Trust computes the net asset value of Shares of the Fund.

1.05                       “Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(1) under the 1940 Act, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

1.06                       “Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-7(b)(1) under the 1940 Act.

1.07                       “Foreign Securities” means any investments of a Fund (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect such Fund’s transactions in such investments.

1.08                       “Fund Custody Account” shall mean any of the accounts in the name of the Trust, which is provided for in Section 3.2 below.

1.09                       “IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.

1.10                       “FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

1.11                       “Officer” shall mean the Chairman, President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust.

1.12                       “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

1.14                       “Securities Depository” shall mean The Depository Trust Company and any other clearing agency registered with the SEC under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), which acts as a system for the central handling of Securities where all Securities of any particular class or series of an issuer deposited within

2  
 

the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of the Securities.

1.15                       “Shares” shall mean, with respect to a Fund, the units of beneficial interest issued by the Trust on account of the Fund.

1.16                       “Sub-Custodian” shall mean and include (i) any branch of a “U.S. bank,” as that term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act, and (ii) any “Eligible Foreign Custodian” having a contract with the Custodian which the Custodian has determined will provide reasonable care of assets of the Fund based on the standards specified in Section 3.3 below. Such contract shall be in writing and shall include provisions that provide: (i) for indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract; (ii) that the Foreign Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Sub-Custodian or its creditors except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of the Sub-Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws; (iii) that beneficial ownership for the Foreign Securities 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 the assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund; (v) that the Fund’s independent public accountants will be given access to those records or confirmation of the contents of those records; and (vi) that the Fund will receive periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of the Fund’s assets, including, but not limited to, notification of any transfer to or from a Fund's account or a third party account containing assets held for the benefit of the Fund. Such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in (i)-(vi) above, such other provisions that the Custodian determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for Fund assets as the specified provisions.

1.17                       “Written Instructions” shall mean (i) written communications received by the Custodian and signed by an Authorized Person, (ii) communications by facsimile or Internet electronic e-mail or any other such system from one or more persons reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized Person.

ARTICLE II.    

APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN

2.01                       Appointment . The Trust hereby appoints the Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash owned by or in the possession of the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement. The Trust hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Rule 17f-5(b) under the 1940 Act, the responsibilities with respect to the Fund’s Foreign Securities, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as foreign custody manager with respect to the Fund. The services and duties of the Custodian shall be confined to those matters expressly

3  
 

set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Custodian hereunder.

2.02                       Documents to be Furnished . The following documents, including any amendments thereto, will be provided contemporaneously with the execution of the Agreement to the Custodian by the Trust:

(a) A copy of the Trust’s declaration of trust, certified by the Secretary;
(b) A copy of the Trust’s bylaws, certified by the Secretary;
(c) A copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust appointing the Custodian, certified by the Secretary;
(d) A copy of the current prospectus of the Fund (the “Prospectus”);
(e) A certification of the Chairman or the President and the Secretary of the Trust setting forth the names and signatures of the current Officers of the Trust and other Authorized Persons; and
(f) An executed authorization required by the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985, attached hereto as Exhibit D .

 

2.03                       Notice of Appointment of Transfer Agent . The Trust agrees to notify the Custodian in writing of the appointment, termination or change in appointment of any transfer agent of the Fund.

ARTICLE III.                         

CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES

3.01                       Segregation . All Securities and non-cash property held by the Custodian for the account of the Fund (other than Securities maintained in a Securities Depository, Eligible Securities Depository or Book-Entry System) shall be physically segregated from other Securities and non-cash property in the possession of the Custodian (including the Securities and non-cash property of the other series of the Trust, if applicable) and shall be identified as subject to this Agreement.

3.02                       Fund Custody Accounts . As to each Fund, the Custodian shall open and maintain in its trust department a custody account in the name of the Trust coupled with the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry all Securities, cash and other assets of such Fund which are delivered to it.

3.03                       Appointment of Agents.

(a) In its discretion, the Custodian may appoint one or more Sub-Custodians to establish and maintain arrangements with (i) Eligible Securities Depositories or (ii) Eligible Foreign
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Custodians who are members of the Sub-Custodian’s network to hold Securities and cash of the Fund and to carry out such other provisions of this Agreement as it may determine; provided, however, that the appointment of any such agents and maintenance of any Securities and cash of the Fund shall be at the Custodian's expense and shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement. The Custodian shall be liable for the actions of any Sub-Custodians (regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Sub-Custodian, a member of its network or an Eligible Securities Depository) appointed by it as if such actions had been done by the Custodian.

(b) If, after the initial appointment of Sub-Custodians by the Board of Trustees in connection with this Agreement, the Custodian wishes to appoint other Sub-Custodians to hold property of the Fund, it will so notify the Trust and make the necessary determinations as to any such new Sub-Custodian's eligibility under Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.
(c) In performing its delegated responsibilities as foreign custody manager to place or maintain the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian will determine that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Fund’s assets will be held by that Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
(d) The agreement between the Custodian and each Sub-Custodian acting hereunder shall contain the required provisions set forth in Rule 17f-5(c)(2) under the 1940 Act.
(e) At the end of each calendar quarter, the Custodian shall provide written reports notifying the Board of Trustees of the withdrawal or placement of the Securities and cash of the Fund with a Sub-Custodian and of any material changes in the Fund’s arrangements. Such reports shall include an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with any Eligible Securities Depositories. The Custodian shall promptly take such steps as may be required to withdraw assets of the Fund from any Sub-Custodian arrangement that has ceased to meet the requirements of Rule 17f-5 or Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act, as applicable.
(f) With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.3, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of property of the Fund. The Custodian further warrants that the Fund's assets will be subject to reasonable care if maintained with a Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation: (i) the Sub-Custodian's practices, procedures, and internal controls for certificated securities (if applicable), its method of keeping custodial records, and its security and data protection practices; (ii) whether the Sub-Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for Fund assets; (iii) the Sub-Custodian's general reputation and standing and, in the case of a Securities Depository, the Securities Depository's operating history and number of participants; and (iv) whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Sub-Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of the Sub-Custodian in the United States or the Sub-Custodian's consent to service of process in the United States.
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(g) The Custodian shall establish a system or ensure that its Sub-Custodian has established a system to monitor on a continuing basis (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodians who are members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; (ii) the performance of the contract governing the Fund’s arrangements with such Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodian’s members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; and (iii) the custody risks of maintaining assets with an Eligible Securities Depository. The Custodian must promptly notify the Fund or its investment adviser of any material change in these risks.
(h) The Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to Foreign Securities to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Trust. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Trust and Custodian shall consult as to the measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

3.04                       Delivery of Assets to Custodian . The Trust shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian all of the Fund's Securities, cash and other investment assets, including (i) all payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions received by the Fund with respect to such Securities, cash or other assets owned by the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, and (ii) all cash received by the Fund for the issuance of Shares. The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually received by it.

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

(a) The Custodian, on an on-going basis, shall deposit in a Securities Depository or Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and shall make use of such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System to the extent possible and practical in connection with its performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of collateral consisting of Securities.
(b) Securities of the Fund kept in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall be kept in an account (“Depository Account”) of the Custodian in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository which includes only assets held by the Custodian as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers.
(c) The records of the Custodian with respect to Securities of the Fund maintained in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall, by book-entry, identify such Securities as belonging to the Fund.
(d) If Securities purchased by the Fund are to be held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall pay for such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that such Securities have been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
6  
 

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

(e) The Custodian shall provide the Trust with copies of any report (obtained by the Custodian from a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository in which Securities of the Fund are kept) on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from (i) the use of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository by reason of any negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or (ii) failure of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. At its election, the Trust shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository or any other person from any loss or damage to the Fund arising from the use of such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage.
(g) With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.05 and pursuant to Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to (i) exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain such assets, (ii) provide, promptly upon request by the Trust, such reports as are available concerning the Custodian’s internal accounting controls and financial strength, and (iii) require any Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain assets corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders.

3.06                       Disbursement of Moneys from Fund Custody Account . Upon receipt of Written Instructions, the Custodian shall disburse moneys from the Fund Custody Account but only in the following cases:

(a) For the purchase of Securities for the Fund but only in accordance with Section 4.01 of this Agreement and only (i) in the case of Securities (other than options on Securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts), against the delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such Securities registered as provided in Section 3.09 below or in proper form for transfer, or if the purchase of such Securities is effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.05 above; (ii) in the case of options on Securities, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such receipts as are required by the customs prevailing among dealers in such options; (iii) in the case of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of evidence
7  
 

of title thereto in favor of the Fund or any nominee referred to in Section 3.09 below; and (iv) in the case of repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust and a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or between the Trust and a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities, against delivery of the purchased Securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian's account at a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository with such Securities;

(b) In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender, as set forth in Section 3.07(f) below, of Securities owned by the Fund;
(c) For the payment of any dividends or capital gain distributions declared by the Fund;
(d) In payment of the redemption price of Shares as provided in Section 5.01 below;
(e) For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including, but not limited to, the following payments for the account of the Fund: interest; taxes; administration, investment advisory, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, custodian, trustee and legal fees; and other operating expenses of the Fund; in all cases, whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or in part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
(f) For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
(g) For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;
(h) For the funding of any uncertificated time deposit or other interest-bearing account with any banking institution (including the Custodian), which deposit or account has a term of one year or less; and
(i) For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of Written Instructions, specifying the amount and purpose of such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

3.07                       Delivery of Securities from Fund Custody Account . Upon receipt of Written Instructions, the Custodian shall release and deliver, or cause the Sub-Custodian to release and deliver, Securities from the Fund Custody Account but only in the following cases:

(a) Upon the sale of Securities for the account of the Fund but only against receipt of payment therefor in cash, by certified or cashiers check or bank credit;
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(b) In the case of a sale effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.05 above;
(c) To an offeror’s depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for Securities of the Fund; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
(d) To the issuer thereof or its agent (i) for transfer into the name of the Fund, the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee or nominees of any of the foregoing, or (ii) for exchange for a different number of certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
(e) To the broker selling the Securities, for examination in accordance with the “street delivery” custom;
(f) For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the issuer of such Securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such Securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement, including surrender or receipt of underlying Securities in connection with the issuance or cancellation of depository receipts; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
(g) Upon receipt of payment therefor pursuant to any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement entered into by the Fund;
(h) In the case of warrants, rights or similar Securities, upon the exercise thereof, provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
(i) For delivery in connection with any loans of Securities of the Fund, but only against receipt of such collateral as the Trust shall have specified to the Custodian in Written Instructions;
(j) For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Trust, but only against receipt by the Custodian of the amounts borrowed;
(k) Pursuant to any authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Trust;
(l) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
(m) For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange
9  
 

Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;

(n) For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of Written Instructions, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made; or
(o) To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct.

3.08                       Actions Not Requiring Written Instructions . Unless otherwise instructed by the Trust, the Custodian shall with respect to all Securities held for the Fund:

(a) Subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which the Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business;
(b) Present for payment and, subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable;
(c) Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;
(d) Surrender interim receipts or Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form;
(e) Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the IRS and the Trust at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;
(f) Hold for the Fund, either directly or, with respect to Securities held therein, through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to Securities of the Fund; and
(g) In general, and except as otherwise directed in Written Instructions, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with Securities and other assets of the Fund.

3.09                       Registration and Transfer of Securities . All Securities held for the Fund that are issued or issuable only in bearer form shall be held by the Custodian in that form, provided that any such Securities shall be held in a Book-Entry System if eligible therefor. All other Securities held for the Fund may be registered in the name of the Fund, the Custodian, a Sub-

10  
 

Custodian or any nominee thereof, or in the name of a Book-Entry System, Securities Depository or any nominee of either thereof. The records of the Custodian with respect to Foreign Securities of the Fund that are maintained with a Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund. The Trust shall furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of any of the nominees referred to above or in the name of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, any Securities registered in the name of the Fund.

3.10                       Records .

(a) The Custodian shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Fund, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefor and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest receivable; (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto; and (iv) all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement. The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Fund as the Trust shall reasonably request, or as may be required by the 1940 Act, including, but not limited to, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and Rule 31a-2 promulgated thereunder.
(b) All such books and records maintained by the Custodian shall (i) be maintained in a form acceptable to the Trust and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, (ii) be the property of the Trust and at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be made available upon request for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust and employees or agents of the SEC, and (iii) if required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, be preserved for the periods prescribed in Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.

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

3.12                       Other Reports by Custodian . As the Trust may reasonably request from time to time, the Custodian shall provide the Trust with reports on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities which are employed by the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian.

3.13                       Proxies and Other Materials . The Custodian shall cause all proxies relating to Securities which are not registered in the name of the Fund to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such Securities, without indication of the manner in which such proxies

11  
 

are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Trust such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such Securities. With respect to the foreign Securities, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Trust acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Trust to exercise shareholder rights.

3.14                       Information on Corporate Actions . The Custodian shall promptly deliver to the Trust all information received by the Custodian and pertaining to Securities being held by the Fund with respect to optional tender or exchange offers, calls for redemption or purchase, or expiration of rights. If the Trust desires to take action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction, the Trust shall notify the Custodian at least three Business Days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action. The Trust will provide or cause to be provided to the Custodian all relevant information for any Security which has unique put/option provisions at least three Business Days prior to the beginning date of the tender period.

ARTICLE IV.                         

PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND

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

4.02                       Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased . In any and every case where payment for the purchase of Securities for the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the Securities purchased and in the absence of specified Written Instructions to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for such payment.

4.03                       Sale of Securities . Promptly upon each sale of Securities by the Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (i) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (ii) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any), or other units sold, (iii) the date of sale and settlement, (iv) the sale price per unit, (v) the total amount payable upon such sale, and (vi) the person to whom such Securities are to be delivered. Upon receipt of the total amount

12  
 

payable to the Fund as specified in such Written Instructions, the Custodian shall deliver such Securities to the person specified in such Written Instructions. Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it, and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.

4.04                       Delivery of Securities Sold . Notwithstanding Section 4.03 above or any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian, when instructed to deliver Securities against payment, shall be entitled, if in accordance with generally accepted market practice, to deliver such Securities prior to actual receipt of final payment therefor. In any such case, the Fund shall bear the risk that final payment for such Securities may not be made or that such Securities may be returned or otherwise held or disposed of by or through the person to whom they were delivered, and the Custodian shall have no liability for any for the foregoing.

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

4.06                       Advances by Custodian for Settlement . The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, advance funds to the Trust to facilitate the settlement of a Fund's transactions in the Fund Custody Account. Any such advance shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by Custodian.

ARTICLE V.    

REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

5.01                       Transfer of Funds . From such funds as may be available for the purpose in the relevant Fund Custody Account, and upon receipt of Written Instructions specifying that the funds are required to redeem Shares of the Fund, the Custodian shall wire each amount specified in such Written Instructions to or through such bank or broker-dealer as the Trust may designate.

5.02                       No Duty Regarding Paying Banks . Once the Custodian has wired amounts to a bank or broker-dealer pursuant to Section 5.01 above, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to effect any further payment or distribution by such bank or broker-dealer.

ARTICLE VI.                       

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SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS

Upon receipt of Written Instructions, the Custodian shall establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or Securities, including Securities maintained in a Depository Account:

(a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
(b) for purposes of segregating cash or Securities in connection with securities options purchased or written by the Fund or in connection with financial futures contracts (or options thereon) purchased or sold by the Fund;
(c) which constitute collateral for loans of Securities made by the Fund;
(d) for purposes of compliance by the Fund with requirements under the 1940 Act for the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies in connection with reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed delivery and firm commitment transactions; and
(e) for other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt of Written Instructions, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes.

Each segregated account established under this Article VI shall be established and maintained for the Fund only. All Written Instructions relating to a segregated account shall specify the Fund.

ARTICLE VII.                      

COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN

7.01                       Compensation . The Custodian shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time). The Custodian shall also be reimbursed for such miscellaneous expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by the Custodian in performing its duties hereunder. The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute. The Trust shall notify the Custodian in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith. The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the

14  
 

parties agree to the amount to be paid. With the exception of any fee or expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to the Custodian shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.

7.02                       Overdrafts . The Trust is responsible for maintaining an appropriate level of short term cash investments to accommodate cash outflows. The Trust may obtain a formal line of credit for potential overdrafts of its custody account. In the event of an overdraft or in the event the line of credit is insufficient to cover an overdraft, the overdraft amount or the overdraft amount that exceeds the line of credit will be charged in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time)

ARTICLE VIII.                   

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

8.01                       Representations and Warranties of the Trust . The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Custodian, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

(a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
(c) It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.

8.02                       Representations and Warranties of the Custodian . The Custodian hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

(a) It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) It is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.
15  
 
(c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Custodian in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Custodian, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
(d) It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IX.                         

CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN

9.01                       Standard of Care . The Custodian shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, except a loss arising out of or relating to the Custodian’s (or a Sub-Custodian’s) refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement) or from its (or a Sub-Custodian’s) bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement). The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice. The Custodian shall promptly notify the Trust of any action taken or omitted by the Custodian pursuant to advice of counsel.

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

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

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

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

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

ARTICLE X.    

INDEMNIFICATION

10.01                   Indemnification by Trust . The Trust shall indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian, any Sub-Custodian and any nominee thereof (each, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that an Indemnified Party may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against an Indemnified Party by any person arising directly or indirectly (i) from the fact that Securities are registered in the name of any such nominee, (ii) from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian (a) at the request or direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Trust, or (b) upon Written Instructions, or (iii) from the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any sub-custody agreement, provided that neither the Custodian nor any such Sub-Custodian shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against any such claim, demand, loss, expense or liability arising out of or relating to its refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement), or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement). This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Trust, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the terms “Custodian” and “Sub-Custodian” shall include their respective directors, officers and employees.

10.02                   Indemnification by Custodian . The Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Trust may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising directly or indirectly out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Indemnified Party’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement), or from its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement). This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Custodian, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Trust” shall include the Trust’s trustees, officers and employees.

10.03                   Security . If the Custodian advances cash or Securities to the Fund for any purpose, either at the Trust's request or as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee incurs, in connection with its performance under

17  
 

this Agreement, any claim, demand, loss, expense or liability (including reasonable attorneys' fees) (except such as may arise from its or its nominee's bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct), then, in any such event, any property at any time held for the account of the Fund shall be security therefor, and should the Fund fail promptly to repay or indemnify the Custodian, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash of such Fund and to dispose of other assets of such Fund to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement or indemnification.

10.04                   Miscellaneous.

(a) Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
(b) The Trust is a series Trust, and each Fund is a separate and distinct series of the Trust. As such, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing as a result of this Agreement with respect to the Trust shall be enforceable against the assets of each Fund separately, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or the assets of any other Fund or portfolio or series of the Trust.
(c) The indemnity provisions of this Article shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
(d) In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article X 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 that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee 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 Article X. 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.

ARTICLE XI.                         

FORCE MAJEURE

Neither the Custodian nor the Trust shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; acts of terrorism; sabotage; strikes; epidemics; riots; power failures; computer failure and any such circumstances beyond its reasonable control as may cause interruption, loss or malfunction of utility, transportation, computer (hardware or software) or telephone communication service; accidents; labor disputes;

18  
 

acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation; provided, however, that in the event of a failure or delay, the Custodian (i) shall not discriminate against the Fund in favor of any other customer of the Custodian in making computer time and personnel available to input or process the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) shall use its best efforts to ameliorate the effects of any such failure or delay.

ARTICLE XII.                      

PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

12.01                   The Custodian agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities although the Custodian will promptly report such disclosure to the Trust if disclosure is permitted by applicable law and regulation, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust. Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of the Custodian or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of the Custodian prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.

12.02                   Further, the Custodian will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time. In this regard, the Custodian shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Trust and its shareholders.

ARTICLE XIII.                   

EFFECTIVE PERIOD; TERMINATION

13.01                   Effective Period . This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of three (3) years.

13.02                   Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 90 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter notice period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. Subsequent to the end of the three (3) year period, this Agreement continues until one party gives 90 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter notice period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party. In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this

19  
 

Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by regulatory authorities or upon the happening of a like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.

13.03                   Early Termination . In the absence of (i) any material breach of this Agreement by the Custodian, (ii) the liquidation or dissolution of the Fund, or (iii) the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian or its affiliates by regulatory authorities or upon the happening of any like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction, should the Fund elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the three (3) year term, the Fund agrees to pay the following fees:

All monthly fees through the life of the Agreement, including the

repayment of any negotiated discounts;

b) All fees associated with converting services to a successor service provider;

c) All fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting

obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a

successor service provider;

d) All miscellaneous costs associated with a) through c) above

13.04                   Appointment of Successor Custodian . If a successor custodian shall have been appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian, on such specified date of termination (i) deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities (other than Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository) and cash then owned by the Fund and held by the Custodian as custodian, and (ii) transfer any Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository to an account of or for the benefit of the Fund at the successor custodian, provided that the Trust shall have paid to the Custodian all fees, reasonable expenses and other amounts to the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled. In addition, the Custodian shall, at the reasonable expense of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by the Custodian under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which the Custodian has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any reasonable expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from the Custodian’s personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor. Upon such delivery and transfer, the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement.

13.05                   Failure to Appoint Successor Custodian . If a successor custodian is not designated by the Trust on or before the date of termination of this Agreement, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company of its own selection, which bank or trust company (i) is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, and (ii) has aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits as shown on its most recent published report of not less than $25 million, all Securities, cash and other property held by Custodian under this Agreement and to transfer to an account of or for the Fund at such bank or trust company all Securities of the Fund held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository. Upon such

20  
 

delivery and transfer, such bank or trust company shall be the successor custodian under this Agreement and the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement. In addition, under these circumstances, all books, records and other data of the Trust shall be returned to the Trust.

ARTICLE XIV.

 

CLASS ACTIONS

 

The Custodian shall use its best efforts to identify and file claims for the Fund(s) involving any class action litigation that impacts any security the Fund(s) may have held during the class period. The Trust agrees that the Custodian may file such claims on its behalf and understands that it may be waiving and/or releasing certain rights to make claims or otherwise pursue class action defendants who settle their claims. Further, the Trust acknowledges that there is no guarantee these claims will result in any payment or partial payment of potential class action proceeds and that the timing of such payment, if any, is uncertain.

 

However, the Trust may instruct the Custodian to distribute class action notices and other relevant documentation to the Fund(s) or its designee and, if it so elects, will relieve the Custodian from any and all liability and responsibility for filing class action claims on behalf of the Fund(s).

 

ARTICLE XV.

MISCELLANEOUS

15.01         Compliance with Laws . The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information. The Custodian’s services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Trustee’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto. The provisions in this section shall not have any affect upon the services the Custodian is required to provide or the standard of care and liability the Custodian has set forth in Section 9.01 of this Agreement.

15.02 Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by the Custodian and the Trust, and authorized or approved by the Board of Trustees.

15.03        Assignment . This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Board of Trustees.

21  
 

15.04 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.

15.05 No Agency Relationship . Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.

15.06 Services Not Exclusive . Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Custodian from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.

15.07        Invalidity. Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.

15.08 Notices . Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:

Notice to the Custodian shall be sent to:

U.S Bank, N.A.

1555 N. Rivercenter Dr., MK-WI-S302

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

Attn: Tom Fuller

Phone: 414-905-6118

Fax: 866-350-5066

 

and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:

 

Two Roads Shared Trust

c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC

80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110

Hauppauge, NY 11788

Attn: Richard Malinowski (Richard.malinowski@thegeminicompanies.com)

Phone: 631-470-2600

 

22  
 

15.09 Multiple Originals . This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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

15.11 Rights and Obligations of Each Fund. No Fund shall receive any rights or have any liabilities arising from any action or inaction of any other Fund of the Trust under this Agreement.

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

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.

TWO-ROADS SHARED TRUST U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

By: /s/ Jim Colantino _________________ By: /s/ Anita Zagrodnik ___________

Name: Jim Colantino _________________ Name: Anita Zagrodnik _________

Title:_ President ______________________ Title: Vice President ____________

 

 

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square

Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 988-2700 (Phone)

(215) 988-2757 (Facsimile)

www.drinkerbiddle.com

January 12, 2018

 

Two Roads Shared Trust

17605 Wright Street, Suite 2

Omaha, NE 68130

 

 

Re:        Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Two Roads Shared Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with the filing on the date of this opinion of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement (“Registration Statement”) of the Trust to register under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of beneficial interest representing interests in the following new series, or fund, of the Trust: Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund offers one class of shares: Class W Shares (the “Shares”). The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of the Fund.

 

We have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Trust’s Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust, its By-Laws, and certain resolutions adopted by its Board of Trustees, and have considered such other legal and factual matters as we have considered appropriate.

 

This opinion is based exclusively on the laws of the State of Delaware and the federal law of the United States of America.

 

We have assumed the following for this opinion:

 

1.       The Shares will be issued in accordance with the Trust’s Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust, its By-Laws and resolutions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees relating to the creation, authorization and issuance of the Shares.

 

2.       The Shares will be issued against consideration therefor as described in the Trust’s prospectus relating thereto, and that such consideration will have been at least equal to the applicable net asset value.

 

Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

 

1.       The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly authorized for issuance by the Trust.

 

2.       When issued and paid for on the terms provided in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Trust’s Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws, the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust; and the holders of the Shares will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware (except that we express no opinion as to such holders who are also Trustees of the Trust).

 

With respect to the opinion expressed in paragraph 2 above, we note that, pursuant to Section 6 of Article IV of the Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to cause any shareholder of the Trust, or any shareholder of any particular series, to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to time by the trustees, by setting off such charges due from such shareholder from declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such shareholder and/or by reducing the number of shares in the account of such shareholder by that number of full and/or fractional shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges due from such shareholder.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 151 to the Registration Statement. Except as provided in this paragraph, the opinion set forth above is expressed solely for the benefit of the addressee hereof in connection with the matters contemplated hereby and may not be relied upon by, or filed with, any other person or entity or for any other purpose without our prior written consent.

 

We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the references to our Firm under the caption “Legal Counsel” in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 151 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), of Two Roads Shared Trust (File Nos. 333-182417 and 811-22718). This consent does not constitute a consent under Section 7 of the 1933 Act, and in consenting to the use of our name and the references to our Firm under such caption we have not certified any part of the Registration Statement and do not otherwise come within the categories of persons whose consent is required under said Section 7 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

 

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP

 

APPENDIX A

 

Funds and Classes as of: November 30, 2017

 

Fund Classes

 

Affinity Small Cap Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

 

Anfield Universal Fixed Income Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

 

Anfield Capital Diversified Alternatives ETF

 

[no class designation]
Conductor Global Equity Value Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class Y

 

Hanlon Managed Income Fund

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class R

Investor Class

 

Hanlon Tactical Dividend Momentum Fund

 

Class A

Class C

Class I

Class R

Investor Class

 

Holbrook Income Fund

Class I

Investor Class

 

LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

 

Recurrent Natural Resources Fund Class I
Recurrent MLP & Infrastructure Fund Class I
Redwood Managed Volatility Fund

Class I

Class N

Class Y

 

 

Redwood Managed Volatility Portfolio

 

Class I

Class N

 

 
 

 

Redwood AlphaFactor Core Equity Fund

Class I

Class N

 

Redwood AlphaFactor Tactical Core Fund

Class I

Class N

 

Redwood Managed Municipal Income Fund

Class I

Class N

 

 Redwood Activist Leaders Fund

Class I

Class N

Redwood AlphaFactor Tactical International Fund

Class I

Class N

Redwood Systematic Macro Trend Fund

Class I

Class N

RVX Emerging Markets Equity Opportunity Fund

Class A

Class I

Investor Class

 

Superfund Managed Futures Strategy Fund

Class A

Class C

Class I

 

Satuit West Shore Real Return Fund

 

Class A

Class I

Class N

Class R

 

Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF [no class designation]
Wealthfront Risk Parity Fund Class W

Symmetry Panoramic US Equity Fund

Symmetry Panoramic International Equity Fund

Symmetry Panoramic Global Equity Fund

Symmetry Panoramic Tax-Managed Global Equity Fund

Symmetry Panoramic US Fixed Income Fund

Symmetry Panoramic Municipal Fixed Income Fund

Symmetry Panoramic Global Fixed Income Fund

Symmetry Panoramic Alternatives Fund

Class I

 

 

 

 

 

Wealthfront Inc.

WFAS LLC

Code of Ethics

October 24, 2017

 

 

I.     INTRODUCTION

The Code of Ethics applies to each Employee of Wealthfront and WFAS. Promptly upon being hired and within 30 days after the end of the year, each Employee must certify that they have received, understood and complied with the Code. Each Employee must promptly acknowledge that they have received the Code each time it has been amended.

 

You may be subject to additional or specific provisions of FINRA or MSMRB rules if you are registered with FINRA because of your work with Wealthfront Brokerage Corporation (“WBC”) in addition to being an Employee of Wealthfront. Those FINRA or MSRB provisions are not requirements if you are not registered with FINRA or the MSRB.

 

See Section IX for definitions of capitalized terms. Please consult the Company’s CCO or the Company’s General Counsel if you have any questions.

 

II. STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

Fiduciary Duty and General Standards of Business Conduct

The Company owes to its clients a fiduciary duty, which includes both a duty of care and a duty of loyalty. Collectively these duties require the Company to act in the best interest of its clients, and to provide full and fair disclosure of material facts and conflicts of interest. Similarly, Employees must always place the interests of Wealthfront clients first. Therefore, the following general standards of conduct apply to all Employees but are not the exclusive or exhaustive statement of standards of conduct with which all such Employees must comply and Employees must:

1  
 

 

 

 

· Comply with all applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws;

 

· Avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any situation that has the appearance of a conflict of interest or impropriety;

 

· Avoid any abuse of a position of trust and responsibility;

 

· Keep information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of the Company’s clients confidential;

 

· Conduct personal securities transactions in a manner consistent with the Code and consistent with client interests;

 

· Never engage in any act, transaction, practice, or course of business which would operate as a fraud or deceit;

 

· Behave and act in a way that protects the Company’s reputation; and

 

· Report any violations of the Code or applicable laws by the Company or any Employee in respect of the Company’s business to the Company’s CCO (see Section VIII below).

 

Also, if you are registered with FINRA, you must abide by FINRA and MSRB rules.

 

Certain Prohibited Actions in Relation to a Fund

The Company may serve as investment adviser to an investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act or for which a Company affiliate serves as principal underwriter (each such registered investment company, a “Fund”). If so, certain additional conduct standards apply. Under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, the Company and any affiliated person of Company (including any Employee), in connection with the purchase or sale, directly or indirectly, of a “Security Held or to be Acquired by a Fund” 1 by the Company or the affiliated person of the Company, are prohibited from:

 

· Employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Fund;

 

· Making any untrue statement of a material fact to the Fund or omitting to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to the Fund, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

 

· Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the Fund; or

 

 

 

1   Essentially, a security that the Fund held or either the Fund or the Company purchased or sold or considered or either purchase or sale in the period 15 days before and after the Company’s or your personal security transaction in that security. See the exact definition in Section IX.

2  
 

 

 

 

· Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.

 

Advisory Agreements

The Company may enter into only the standard Company-approved investment advisory agreements. Contact both the Company’s CCO and General Counsel for guidance, if you are considering a non-standard account for which the standard Company-approved agreement does not meet the needs of the account.

 

Misrepresentations

The Company prohibits Employees from making any misrepresentation relating to the Company’s business or operations, including the qualifications of the Company, its representatives or employees, the nature of the advisory services being offered, the fees charged for such services, and any other misrepresentation by what is said or omitted to a client or prospective client.

 

No Guarantees to Clients

The Company prohibits Employees from making any guarantee to any client that specific performance will be achieved because of the advice rendered by the Company.

 

Front-Running

Front-running involves your intentional placement of your personal security order “in front” of clients’ orders to buy or sell the same security to get a better price than the client or to avoid a loss. The Company prohibits you from front-running.

 

Trading Errors

If you become aware that a trade has been mistakenly executed or not executed for any client or group of clients you must promptly notify compliance@wealthfront.com with a general description of what you understand happened.

 

Falsification of Records

You may not ever falsify any information on Wealthfront’s records, any information pertaining to a client’s account, or regarding a trading error.

 

Advertisements

If you are involved in developing copy for Company advertising, you are required to submit all advertisements for review by the Company’s CCO or designee before publishing, circulating, or

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distributing in accordance with the Company’s Advertising and Marketing Compliance Policies and Procedures. “Advertising” includes any materials circulated to more than one person.

 

Changes in Personal or Disciplinary Information

You must immediately notify the Company’s CCO and / or General Counsel, or their designees, upon notice of any legal or disciplinary action of any type, including any civil or criminal proceeding or any administrative proceeding before the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), FINRA, or any other regulatory agency.

 

There are many stages of notification prior to bringing any action against you by a governmental or regulatory agency. You should consult with the Company’s CCO, the General Counsel, or their designees immediately if you are uncertain as to whether something is required to be disclosed.

 

Registered Person Requirement:

 

If you are a “registered person” of WBC, i.e., an Employee of WBC who is registered with FINRA and whose license is carried by FINRA, or an investment adviser representative of the Company, it is your obligation to ensure that all information on your Form U4 is at all times current and accurate. You have 30 calendar days to amend your Form U4 if there is a change in information such as your address, recognized designation, or outside business activity.

 

There are certain disclosures that you are required to make and keep updated under strict time requirements. Examples of those disclosures are financial liens and judgments, bankruptcies, certain criminal charges, and regulatory actions. The late disclosure fee is very expensive. It is

$100 for the first day a form filing is late and $25 for each subsequent day, up to a maximum of

$1,575. There are some disclosures that require updating upon first notice, change of status, and final disposition. Please contact compliance@wealthfront.com if an event happens that may require disclosure so you can be advised on what, if anything, needs to be disclosed and when.

 

Outside Activities

An “Outside Activity” is any business or personal activity or affiliation, whether compensated or not, that is outside the scope of your employment with the Company, e.g., for another entity.

Certain Outside Activities may interfere with the performance of your duties to the Company, its clients, and may cause actual or perceived conflicts. You are required to submit a completed Outside Activities preclearance request prior to engaging in any Outside Activities.

 

You may not be allowed to engage in Outside Activities that relate to Wealthfront’s advisory business or the securities industry, generally. Examples of outside activities that might require preclearance would be serving on a board, volunteer political fund raising activities, or being part of an investment club.

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Please consult with the Company’s CCO or the CCO’s designee if you have any questions or concerns about an Outside Activities.

 

Registered Person Requirement:

 

If you are a registered person of WBC, you may not be an employee, independent contractor, sole proprietor, officer, director or partner of another person, or be compensated, or have the reasonable expectation of compensation, from any other person as a result of any business activity outside the scope of the relationship with WBC, unless you have provided prior written notice to WBC’s CCO. The Outside Activities pre-clearance request meets this requirement.

Passive investments and certain other activities are exempted from this requirement, but may have other implications that you should discuss with the Company’s CCO or the CCO’s designee.

 

Please contact the Company’s CCO if you have any questions about an investment or activity to get clarification.

 

Borrowing from / Lending to Clients Money or Securities

You are prohibited from borrowing from or lending money or securities to a Company client, other than a client to whom you are related, have a close personal relationship with, or a Company client who is a fellow employee of the Company because of the appearance of or actual conflict of interest. You should consult with the Company’s CCO or designee, if you are contemplating borrowing from or lending money to someone who is also a Company client.

 

Registered Person Requirement:

 

If you are a registered person of WBC, you may only borrow money from or lend money to a Company client when the borrowing or lending arrangement meets one of the following conditions and you give prior written notice to the WBC CCO and get such CCO’s written approval:

 

1. The client is a member of your Immediate Family;

 

2. The client (i) is a financial institution regularly engaged in the business of providing credit, financing, or loans, or other entity or person that regularly arranges or extends credit in the ordinary course of business and (ii) is acting in the course of such business;

 

3. The client and you are both registered persons of WBC;

 

4. The lending arrangement is based on a personal relationship with the Company client, such that the loan would not have been solicited, offered, or given had the Company client and you not maintained a relationship outside of the broker-client relationship; or

 

5. The lending arrangement is based on a business relationship outside of the broker-client relationship.
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Condition 1 does not require notification or approval of the Company’s or WBC CCO.

 

Condition 2 does not require notification or approval of the Company’s or WBC CCO if the loan was made on commercial terms that the client generally makes available to members of the general public similarly situated as to need, purpose and creditworthiness.

 

The notification and approval requirements applicable to conditions 3, 4, and 5 can be met by sending an email to compliance@wealthfront.com describing the loan arrangement and parties involved. The loan arrangement will be reasonably promptly approved or denied with an email response.

 

Gifts and Entertainment

You are prohibited from giving, soliciting or obtaining gifts that are more than de minimis value from a Company client or business contact because of the appearance of, or actual conflict of interest. De minimis value in this context is generally defined as a $100 or less. A business contact includes any person, entity, or vendor who the Company does business with or is seeking to do business with. The Code does not include Company clients and business contacts to whom you are related or have a close relationship.

 

Gifts given or received are required to be appropriate, i.e., not in the form of cash or cash equivalents and not in the form of a discount or rebate on goods that are not generally available to the public. Gifts given must be of a type that could properly be classified as a business expense.

 

Gifts are distinguishable from business entertainment. You may participate in an entertainment event if it is reasonable and appropriate. Examples of this would include when the individual who invited you hosts you or if the entertainment has a legitimate business purpose, such as entertainment connected with a business seminar or training, or complimentary entertainment at a reasonable venue with the giver hosting. Examples of what does not constitute appropriate business entertainment include extravagant entertainment venues, paid trips with no connection to seminars or training, and entertainment at an inappropriate venue. Note that it would be considered a gift if you give or receive tickets to an entertainment event without a host.

 

You are prohibited from offering gifts or business entertainment to any government officials or their immediate family members. You should consult with the Company’s CCO, General Counsel, or their respective designee, if you are contemplating giving or accepting gifts that might create or appear to create a conflict or have any questions concerning the Code. The CCO, in his or her discretion, also has the authority to require that inappropriate gifts be returned to the provider or that an inappropriate entertainment expense be repaid by the Employee. See also the text under the heading “Political Activities and Contributions” below and Exhibit A hereto, the Company’s Political Activities and Contributions Policy (the Political Contributions Policy”) , or which also can be found here .

 

Registered Person Requirement:

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If you are a registered person of WBC, you cannot, directly or indirectly, give or permit to be given anything of value, including gratuities, in excess of $100 per individual per year to any person where such payment or gratuity is in relation to the business of the employer of the recipient of the payment or gratuity. A gift of any kind is considered a gratuity.

 

Any gifts of any size of the type described in the above paragraph must be reported to compliance@wealthfront.com .

 

Political Activities and Contributions

Because you work for the Company, you are subject to the Company’s Political Contributions Policy, which is attached to the Code as Exhibit A or can be found here . Under the Political Contributions Policy, if you are a so-called “Covered Associate,” 2 there are some serious and

significant limitations on your ability and the ability of your spouse and dependent children to make political contributions to certain government officials or to political action committees (“PACs”) supporting their campaigns, or to engage in activities in support of certain candidates for office on Company time or using Company resources.

 

With certain limited exceptions, if you are a Covered Associate, you, your spouse and your dependent children must get pre-approval from the Company’s CCO before making any political contributions (including cash and in-kind contributions), or before engaging in activities on behalf of certain candidates for office, or PACs supporting their campaigns. Y ou can apply for pre-approval by either submitting a pre-clearance request on the Company’s electronic compliance system (the “Compliance System”) or, if the Compliance System is not available, by submitting to the CCO or his designee a written pre-approval request in the form attached to the Political Contributions Policy as Exhibit A . Your spouse and dependent children can apply for pre-approval from the CCO by submitting to the CCO or his designee a pre-clearance request using the same form.

 

Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption

The Company is subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), all other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, and the USA PATRIOT Act. The FCPA makes it illegal for U.S. citizens and the Company, its officers, directors, employees and agents, and any stockholders acting on its behalf, to bribe foreign officials.

 

Company personnel are required to conduct business legally and ethically in foreign jurisdictions. Improper gifts, payments or offerings of anything of value to foreign officials could jeopardize Wealthfront’s growth and reputation. The use of Company funds or assets for any such unlawful, improper or unethical purpose is strictly prohibited. Specifically, you are prohibited from gift giving and business entertainment for any foreign company, official, or person without prior written approval from the Company’s CCO or General Counsel. Any

 

 

 

2   A Covered Associate essentially is an executive officer of, or someone who solicits state governmental entities for, the Company. See Section IX for the exact definition.

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questions regarding the Code should be directed to the Company’s CCO or the General Counsel or their respective designees.

 

III. PERSONAL SECURITIES TRADING

This Section III applies to all “Access Persons” of the Company or of a Fund, 3 including Wealthfront’s Chief Investment Officer.

 

Access Persons

 

In general, Access Persons are Employees who have access to nonpublic information regarding the Company’s clients' purchases or sales of securities (or non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of Funds), are involved in making securities recommendations to clients or who have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic. Because most Employees may have electronic access to Company or Fund account trades and holdings, the Company currently has presumed that all Employees are Access Persons of the Company and of each Fund.

 

Reportable Securities

 

If you are an Access Person of the Company or of a Fund, both you and the Company have a fiduciary obligation to make certain that your personal securities trading in “Reportable Securities” 4 does not conflict with the interests of the Company’s clients or violate other rules and regulations.

 

If you are a registered person of WBC, there are additional requirements and / or restrictions that are incorporated as applicable in each section below.

 

Personal Trading Accounts

For all reporting requirements that follow, each Access Person is responsible for reporting on behalf all Immediate Family members.

 

If you are an Access Person of the Company or of a Fund, a “Personal Trading Account” under the Code means any brokerage, advisory or other financial firm securities-related account in which you have “beneficial ownership” 5 of securities other than:

 

· An account over which you have no direct or indirect influence or control (e.g., an account managed by an investment advisory having full investment discretion such as a WBC brokerage account managed by Wealthfront), or

 

 

 

 

3   See definitions in Section IX. 4 See definitions in Section IX. 5 See definitions in Section IX.

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· An “automatic investment plan,” which is a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation, including a dividend reinvestment plan.

 

IMPORTANT: Applicable law defines “beneficial ownership” very broadly, and the term includes direct or indirect ownership of securities by an Access Person and the Access Person’s Immediate Family, 6 i.e., basically anyone family member living in an Access Person’s household. So, Personal Trading Accounts include any brokerage, advisory or other financial firm securities-related accounts of any Immediate Family.

 

Personal Securities Holdings and Transactions Reporting

Access Person Initial, New, and Revised Account Holdings Reporting

 

If you are an Access Person of the Company or of a Fund, you must report in the Compliance System:

 

· Within 10 calendar days of becoming such an Access Person:

 

o Each of your Personal Trading Accounts (which include the Personal Trading Accounts of Immediate Family members), and

 

o Your and your Immediate Family member’s holdings of Reportable Securities as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the date that you became an Access Person (“Initial Holdings Report”).

 

· If you or an Immediate Family member open a new Personal Trading Account, within 10 calendar days of your or their opening such new Account, the Account, the date you or they opened the Account and an Initial Holdings Report for such new Account.

 

· Promptly any updated and corrected information if the information regarding your or their Personal Trading Account, Initial Holdings Report or other holdings report that you previously submitted pursuant to this Section III becomes inaccurate or incomplete.

 

Each such holdings report must contain the information set forth in Exhibit B with respect to each Reportable Security, and the Compliance System will ask you to either confirm or fill in such information.

 

Duplicate Confirmations and Statements

 

If you are an Access Person of the Company or a Fund, you must either:

 

 

 

 

 

6 See definitions in Section IX.
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· Contact (and your Immediate Family member must contact) each brokerage or other financial firm at which you hold, or your Immediate Family member holds, a Personal Trading Account and authorize that firm to send duplicate confirmations and quarterly statements directly to Wealthfront care of the Wealthfront CCO (this will greatly reduce the amount of manual data entry required for you to comply with this Section III); or

 

· Manually enter into the Compliance System the foregoing reports and information as well as the reports and information required as described below under the headings “Quarterly Transactions Reports and Certifications” and “Annual Securities Holdings Reports and Certifications.”

 

If you and your Immediate Family member choose to arrange for duplicate confirmations and quarterly statements, please contact compliance@wealthfront.com for a form letter you or your Immediate Family member can use for this purpose. Your and your Immediate Family member’s brokerage firm will then send paper confirmations and statements to Wealthfront or if the brokerage firm offers this service, the brokerage firm will send an electronic feed to the Compliance System. You and your Immediate Family member are strongly encouraged to use firms with an electronic feed because it will significantly reduce the number and frequency of your required compliance steps.

 

Quarterly Transactions Reports and Certifications

 

Shortly after the end of each calendar quarter, you will receive from the Compliance System your and your Immediate Family member’s quarterly personal securities transaction report reflecting your and their personal securities transactions in Reportable Securities for the quarter just ended (“Quarterly Transactions Report”), together with certification request.

 

If your Quarterly Transactions Report is accurate and complete, you must make in the Compliance System the confirmations and certifications specified in Exhibit B . However, if any portion of your Quarterly Transaction Report is not accurate or complete, you must correct any inaccurate information and add any missing information and then make in the Compliance System the confirmations and certifications specified in Exhibit B .

 

For your personal securities transactions in your Personal Trading Accounts that (i) are not a custodial account at a bank, broker-dealer, or transfer agent, or (ii) do not have an electronic feed to the Compliance System, you must in the Compliance System add any missing Personal Trading Accounts, any missing personal securities transactions and make the confirmations and certifications specified in Exhibit B .

 

Annual Holdings Reports and Certifications

 

Within 30 days after the end of each calendar year, you will receive from the Compliance System you’re your Immediate Family member’s annual personal holdings report reflecting your and each of your Immediate Family member’s holdings of Reportable Securities (“Annual Holdings Report”), together with a certification request. If your Annual Holdings Report is accurate and complete, you must make in the Compliance System the confirmations and certifications specified

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in Exhibit B . However, if any portion of your Annual Holdings Report is not accurate or complete, you must correct any inaccurate information and add any missing information and then make in the Compliance System the confirmations and certifications specified in Exhibit B .

 

For your holdings of Reportable Securities in Personal Trading Accounts that are not a custodial account at a bank, broker-dealer, or transfer agent, or do not have an electronic feed to the compliance system, you must add any missing Personal Trading Accounts and any missing personal holdings of Reportable Securities in the Compliance System and make the confirmations and certifications specified in Exhibit B .

 

Pre-Clearance of Access Person Personal Securities Transactions

 

Preclearance Required for All Personal Securities Transactions:

 

If you are an Access Person of the Company or of a Fund, you generally are permitted to invest in any publicly available investment and most Limited Offerings. 7 However, Access Persons must submit all of their and their Immediate Family members’ proposed securities transactions in Reportable Securities for recording and pre-clearance in the Compliance System.

 

As described below, the Compliance System provides automated, rules-based review and approval of pre-clearance requests of Reportable Securities transactions in Personal Trading Accounts, except for transactions meeting the criteria below, which will be escalated for Compliance review:

 

· BUY and SELL transactions in securities of issuers (“Selling Plan Securities”) covered by Wealthfront’s Selling Plan (“Selling Plan”).

 

· BUY and SELL transactions in Limited Offerings, including private equity securities and private investment funds.

 

· BUY and SELL transactions in Funds.

 

· BUY and SELL transactions securities for more than 25,000 shares in small cap issuers, i.e., issuers whose market capitalization (i.e., securities price multiplied by the number of outstanding shares of the security) is less than $5 billion dollars; or

 

· BUY transactions in IPOs. 8 Note: that under FINRA rules, registered persons of WBC are prohibited from purchasing securities in IPOs, and the Compliance System automatically will reject requests for purchases of IPO securities by registered persons and their Immediate Family members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 See definitions in Section IX.
8 See definitions in Section IX.
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In addition, if you are a registered person of WBC, you are subject to very strict rules covering Limited Offerings. If you have any questions about whether an account or investment is in the scope of the Code, contact the Company’s CCO or the Company CCO’s designee.

 

IPOs and Limited Offerings:

 

The Company’s CCO, or the Company’s CCO’s designee, will review and consider approving, if appropriate, your pre-clearance request for the purchase or sale of IPOs, Limited Offerings or Selling Plan Securities if it appears upon reasonable inquiry and investigation such investment presents no reasonable likelihood of conflict or harm to any Company client. All pre-cleared trades must be executed by the end of the trading day when approval is given. If your trade is not executed by the end of the day, you must submit another Pre-Clearance Request.

 

Selling Plan Securities :

 

You are required to participate in Wealthfront’s Selling Plan if you or any of your Immediate Family members wish to sell Selling Plan Securities in lot sizes that exceed 1,000 shares or

$10,000 in value. If must participate in Selling Plan, you or your Immediate Family member must transfer your or their Selling Plan Securities to a WBC account managed by Wealthfront.

 

If you or your Immediate Family member are not participating or required to participate in the Selling Plan, you may trade in Selling Plan Securities, including any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for any Selling Plan Securities , if the trade is cleared by Compliance after submission for pre-clearance to the Compliance System.

However, if a member of your Immediate Family or other account owner with a beneficial interest in your account is employed by a Selling Plan Security issuer, you will not be granted permission to trade Selling Plan Securities in your account during a Selling Plan Security issuer’s blackout periods.

 

· If your Selling Plan Security trade is for $25,000 or less and the market capitalization of the Selling Plan Security issuer is over $5 billion, you must still submit your trade for

pre-clearance, but it will likely be approved because companies of that size typically have sufficient daily trading volume so that your trade will not affect the price of the Selling Plan Security.

 

· If your Selling Plan Security trade is for $25,000 or less and the market capitalization of the Selling Plan Security issuer is below $5 billion, and your trade must be placed after 12:30 PM ET, you must still submit your trade for pre-clearance, but it will likely be approved because all Selling Plan client transaction will have been completed by 12:30 PM ET.

 

A Selling Plan Security issuer may impose a non-standard trading blackout window for its employees from time to time due to developments that may be material and nonpublic. If you become aware of a Selling Plan issuer’s non-standard trading blackout window, you are prohibited from trading in that Selling Plan issuer’s securities during the non-standard blackout window, and you must promptly report the non-standard blackout window to the Company’s

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CCO or designee. If Wealthfront knows about a Selling Plan issuer’s non-standard trading blackout window, the Compliance System and the CCO will not approve any pre-clearance requests, and you are prohibited from trading that Selling Plan issuer’s securities during the ban. Wealthfront deems the existence and duration of a Selling Plan issuer’s non-standard blackout window to be material non-public information for purposes of Wealthfront’s insider trading policies and procedures set forth in the Code. You must keep all information about a Selling Plan issuer’s non-standard blackout window strictly confidential. You must not use any such information for any purpose other than for conducting Wealthfront’s business, including not using such information for any personal gain, including personal securities trading.

 

Current Selling Plan Security issuers are listed at this link.

 

General Prohibition on Trading While in Possession of Material Nonpublic Information:

 

Finally, you even if a trade is not restricted by any other trading limitations, you may not trade in any securities if you are aware of material nonpublic information about that issuer. See Section

IV.   “Insider Trading Policy” below and the Company’s Insider Trading Policy attached as Exhibit C .

 

Compliance Review of Personal Securities Reports and Certifications

The Wealthfront Compliance Management system automatically monitors Personal Trading Accounts for transactions in Reportable Securities. Transactions for which there is not also a corresponding pre-clearance request and approval will create an exception report and be escalated to Compliance for review. The Company reminds Access Persons of their responsibility to seek pre-clearance for all Reportable Securities transactions in Personal Trading Accounts as part of the Code. You may be required to provide an explanation and/or correct your report and certification if the CCO determines that there are any discrepancies.

 

IV. INSIDER TRADING POLICY

The Company has adopted its Insider Trading Policy, which is set forth as Exhibit C hereto and which establishes and enforces written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information, more commonly called “inside information,” by any person associated with the Company. The Insider Trading Policy includes education and training on the regulations and restrictions. Although the laws regarding insider trading are complex, in general, once a person obtains material, nonpublic information, he or she may not:

 

· Trade on material, nonpublic information;

 

· Communicate to another person (aka “tip”) material, nonpublic information;

 

· Recommend the purchase or sale of a security on the basis of such information; or
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· Assist someone who is engaged in the activities listed above.

 

V. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

You and the Company have a fiduciary obligation to the Company’s clients to protect the confidentiality of all proprietary, sensitive, or confidential information provided to or shared with the Company.

 

Disclosure of Client Information

The Company is a fiduciary for its clients. Because of this relationship, you will regularly obtain access to confidential client information, including the identity of the client. You are prohibited from disclosing any client information to any person, except (i) upon and in accordance with the prior express written consent or instruction of the client, (ii) if the information is required to be disclosed pursuant to any law or any lawful judicial or governmental request, requirement, regulation or order or by the rules of any stock exchange, or (iii) in accordance with SEC Regulation S-P, in each case with the express prior written approval from the CCO, the Chief Security Officer or the General Counsel. This prohibition governs all disclosures, including disclosures made pursuant to the Company’s “advertisements.” Also, Wealthfront’s Proprietary Data and Privacy Policy addresses the confidentiality of client information.

 

Confidential Information Defined

Confidential or sensitive information includes, among other things:

 

1. The name of the client. Except for appropriate business purposes, the Company will not divulge or use its clients’ names without their consent;
2. Any personally identifying information, such as account numbers, tax identification numbers, and dates of birth;
3. Financial or other information about the client, such as the client’s financial condition or the specific securities held in a client’s portfolio;
4. Any information privately given to an Employee that, if publicly known, would be likely to (i) affect the price of any security in the portfolio of any client of the Company or (ii) embarrass or harm the client or the Company.

 

Given the breadth of the above, all information that you obtain through the Company should be considered confidential unless that information is specifically available to the public.

 

Use and Treatment of Confidential Information

Confidential information from any source may only be used in the context of the Employee’s duties with the Company. Confidential information may not be used for any personal purpose, including the purchase or sale of securities for a Personal Trading Account, including shares of

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Selling Plan Securities. The Company encourages you to be aware of and sensitive to your treatment of confidential information.

 

The Company prohibits you from discussing such information unless necessary as part of your duties and responsibilities to the Company. Furthermore, the Company requires that you take precautions to avoid storing confidential information in plain view in public areas of the Company’s facilities, and requires that you remove confidential information from conference rooms, reception areas, and other areas where it may be seen by third parties. Particular care should be exercised when confidential information must be discussed in public places, such as restaurants, elevators, taxicabs, trains, or airplanes, where such information may be overheard.

 

Under no circumstances may confidential information be shared with any person, including any spouse or other family member, who is not an employee of the Company.

 

VI. RECORDKEEPING

 

The Company must, at its principal place of business, maintain records in respect of the Code in the manner and to the extent set out in Exhibit D, and must make these records available to the SEC or any representative of the SEC at any time and from time to time for reasonable periodic, special or other examination.

.

VII. VIOLATIONS REPORTING POLICY

While the Wealthfront Board Directors (the “Board”) and the Company’s executive officers (the “Officers”) ultimately have supervisory responsibility and authority over the Company’s business, they realistically cannot stop or remedy misconduct unless they know about it.

Accordingly, all Employees are not only expected to, but are required to report their concerns about potential or actual violations of applicable laws, rules and regulations (“Applicable Law”) or the Company’s policies and procedures, including of the Code or of Company accounting or audit matter policies and procedures, by the Company or any Employee (each a “Violation”) to the Company’s CCO and General Counsel without fear of retaliation.

 

Violations Report

 

Any Employee may report a Violation (each a “Violation Reporter”) by submitting a violation report form in the form of Exhibit E hereto (a “Violation Report”). By default, the Violation Reporter shall be deemed to have submitted a Violation Report anonymously unless the Violation Reporter affirmatively checks the box on the Violation Report that indicates the Violations Reporter does not wish to remain anonymous. The Violation Reporter shall submit all Violation Reports to the Company’s CCO and to the Company’s General Counsel. However, if the Violations described in the Violation Report pertain to the Company’s CCO or to the Company’s General Counsel, the Violation Reporter shall submit the Violation Report to the non-violating Company CCO or Company General Counsel, as the case may be, and also to an Officer other than the Company’s General Counsel.

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Responsibility of the Violation Reporter

 

To submit a Violation Report pursuant to this Section VII, a Violation Reporter must be acting in good faith and must have a reasonable belief that a Violation has occurred or is likely to have occurred.

 

Handling of Reported Violation

 

The Company CCO and Company General Counsel, or such combination of Company CCO, Company General Counsel or other Officer as the case may be (collectively, the “Investigators”), together with such other Employees, professionals (including attorneys and accountants), service providers, and experts as the Investigators determine as reasonably necessary or appropriate to assist the Investigators (who together with the Investigators constitute the ”Investigation Team”), shall commence and diligently pursue a reasonable investigation within a reasonable time after receiving the Violation Report with the goals of (i) reasonably determining the validity of the allegations of Violations described in the Violations Report and (ii) taking or causing Wealthfront to take reasonable steps to appropriately remediate the effects of any Violations, all within a reasonable length of time (the “Investigation”).

 

The Company and each of the Investigators and each member of the Investigation Team shall maintain the identity of the Violations Reporter strictly confidential, shall not disclose the identity of the Violation Reporter without the express prior consent of the Violation Reporter except as reasonably necessary to conduct the Investigation or to comply with a reasonable disclosure request of a court, governmental authority or agency (including the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) or self-regulatory organization (including FINRA and National Futures Association (the “NFA”) having of competent jurisdiction (each an “Authorized Entity”). The Investigators shall reasonably attempt to communicate this Violations Reporting Policy to actual and potential Violations Reporters.

 

No Retaliation Policy

 

It is the Company’s policy that neither the Company nor any of its Employees may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, directly or indirectly, or in any other manner discriminate against a Violation Reporter in the terms and conditions of employment by the Company (each of the foregoing, “Retaliation”) because of any of the following lawful act done by the Violation Reporter (each a “Lawful Act”):

 

·       Submitting a Violation Report pursuant to this Section VII;

 

· In providing information to an Authorized Entity in accordance with Applicable Law;

 

·       In initiating, testifying in, or assisting in any investigation or judicial or administrative action of an Authorized Entity based upon or related to such information; or

 

·       In making disclosures that are required or protected under Applicable Law.

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An Employee who engages in Retaliation against a Violation Reporter will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment. A Company supervised person who believes s/he has been subject to Retaliation as a result of reporting a concern or making a complaint is to report such action to the Company’s CCO and to the Company’s General Counsel. However, if the Retaliation pertains to the Company’s CCO or to the Company’s General Counsel, the Violation Reporter shall report the Retaliation to the non- violating Company CCO or Company General Counsel, as the case may be, and also to an Officer other than the Company’s General Counsel.

 

If the Investigators jointly and reasonably determine as a result of the Investigation that the Report Violator did not act in good faith with a reasonable belief that a Violation has occurred or is likely to have occurred in submitting the Violation Report pursuant to this Section VII, including acting in bad faith or with malicious intent, the Company may subject the Violation Reporter to disciplinary action up to termination of the Submitter’s employment. Such disciplinary action shall not constitute Retaliation for Lawful Acts.

.

VIII. CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

The Company’s CCO is responsible for administering the Code and has the further responsibility to:

 

· Review personal trading disclosures, reports and certifications required under the Code;

 

· Identify any deficiencies or violations of the Code implicated by the materials reviewed; and

 

· maintain the books and records required by the Advisers Act.

 

The Company’s CCO has the authority to exempt specific Employees or a group of Employees from any of the Company’s compliance policies or procedures set forth in the Code. The Company’s CCO will review written requests for exceptions and may grant them on a case-by- case basis if, in his or her judgment and discretion, the requested action will present minimal opportunity for abuse or harm to the Company’s clients.

 

IX. DEFINITIONS

“1940 Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

“Access Person” of the Company or of a Fund means, respectively, each Employee who (i) is an “access person” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act or

(ii)   is an “access person’ of the Fund within the meaning of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, each with certain exceptions discussed in the next sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of the Wealthfront CCO and the WFAS CCO has determined that non-employee members of Wealthfront’s Advisory Board and non-employee members of Wealthfront’s Board of Directors,

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who do not suggest specific investment choices or have access to any proposed trades by Wealthfront or WFAS or other confidential Wealthfront or WFAS client holding information, are deemed not be Access Persons of Wealthfront, WFAS or a Fund.

 

“Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as amended.

 

“CCO” means Chief Compliance Officer.

 

“Code” means this Code of Ethics that Wealthfront Inc. (“Wealthfront”) and WFAS LLC (“WFAS”) have each adopted pursuant Rule 204A-1 (“Rule 204A-1”) under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.

 

“Company” means either Wealthfront Inc. (“Wealthfront”) or its wholly-owned subsidiary, WFAS LLC (“WFAS”) or both as the context requires.

 

“Compliance System” means for reporting regarding the third quarter of 2017 and prior, Compliance Sci’s Personal Trading Control System or “PTCC,” and thereafter the Company’s BasisCode Compliance suite of compliance software.

 

“Covered Associate” of the Company means:

 

(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;

 

(iii)             Any political action committee controlled by the Company or by any person described in the immediately preceding paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this definition; and

 

(iv) Any Covered Consultant.

 

“Covered Consultant” means, with respect to the Company and any of its registered investment advisory subsidiaries, a consultant who either (i) serves in a policy making function, (ii) is an independent contractor whose activities are controlled by the Company, and who Solicits a Government Entity for the Company, or supervises, directly or indirectly, another Covered Associate, or (iii) is a former executive officer of the Company or any of its investment advisory subsidiaries. Covered Consultants are generally those persons who are not employees but are contracted by the Company to conduct advisory activities. The CCO will notify each Covered Consultant of his or her status as such.

 

“Covered Security” for purposes of the Code means a “security” as defined in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act – which is virtually any kind of security - other than:

 

· Direct obligations of the United States Government;
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· Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and
· Shares issued by open-end registered investment companies (i.e., mutual funds) other than Funds.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Employee” means herein with respect to Wealthfront and WFAS, respectively, a supervised person of Wealthfront or WFAS, respectively, and with respect to Wealthfront Brokerage Corporation (“WBC”), a wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Wealthfront that is registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Authority (“FINRA”), a person associated with WBC.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

“Fund” means an investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act for which the Company serves as investment adviser or for which a Company affiliate serves as principal underwriter.

 

“Government Entity” means any State or political subdivision of a State, including:

 

(i)                  Any agency, authority, or instrumentality of the State or political subdivision;

 

(ii)                A pool of assets sponsored or established by the State or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to a “defined benefit plan” as defined in section 414(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a State general fund;

 

(iii) A Plan or Program of a Government Entity; and

 

(iv)              Officers, agents, or employees of the State or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, acting in their official capacity.

 

“Immediate Family” of an Access Person means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in- law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships, of an Access Person who is living in the Access Person’s household.

 

Initial public offering ” or “ IPO ” means an offering of securities registered under

the Securities Act , the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act .

 

“Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) or Section 4(a)(5) thereof or pursuant to SEC Rules 504 or 506 of Regulations D.

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“MSRB” means the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

 

“Person associated with WBC” or an “associated person with WBC” means any partner, officer, director, or branch manager of WBC (or any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such broker or dealer, or any employee of such broker or dealer.

 

“Plan or Program of a Government Entity” means any participant-directed investment program or plan sponsored or established by a State or political subdivision or any agency, authority or instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to, a “qualified tuition plan” authorized by section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, a retirement plan authorized by section 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any similar program or plan.

 

“Reportable Security” means:

 

· If neither Wealthfront nor WFAS advises a Fund, a security as defined in Section 202(a)(18) of the Advisers Act, except that it does not include:

 

o Direct obligations of the Government of the United States;

 

o Bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements;

 

o Shares issued by money market funds;

 

o Shares issued by open-end funds other than Funds; and

 

o Shares issued by unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are Funds.

 

· If either Wealthfront or WFAS advises a Fund, a Covered Security.

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Security Held or to be Acquired by a Fund” for purposes of the Code means:

 

· Any Covered Security that, within the most recent 15 days:

 

· Is or has been held by the Fund; or

 

· Is being or has been considered by the Fund or the Company for purchase by the Fund; and
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· Any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Covered Security described in the immediately preceding bulleted paragraph.

 

“Solicit” means:

 

(i)      With respect to investment advisory services, to communicate, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a client for, or referring a client to, an investment adviser; and

 

(ii)    With respect to a contribution or payment, to communicate, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining or arranging a contribution or payment.

 

“Supervised person” of Wealthfront or WFAS means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions) or employee of Wealthfront or of WFAS, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of Wealthfront or WFAS and is subject to the supervision and control of Wealthfront or WFAS, or any person who has an employment, lengthy consulting or similar relationship with Wealthfront WFAS or who the CCO of Wealthfront or of WFAS, respectively, advises in writing is a Supervised Person.

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Exhibits

A Political Activities and Contributions Policy B Access Person Reporting Requirements

C Insider Trading Policy D Recordkeeping

E Violation Report Form

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EXHIBIT B

 

WEALTHFRONT, INC. WFAS LLC

 

CODE OF ETHICS – ACCESS PERSON REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

October 24, 2017

 

Access Person Initial, New, and Revised Account Holdings Reporting

 

Each initial, new and revised holdings report must contain with respect to each Reportable Security:

 

· Its title and type,

 

· Its exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number (as applicable),

 

· The number of shares thereof, and

 

· The principal amount thereof;

 

and also must contain the name of the broker, dealer or bank with which you or they maintain your or their Personal Trading Account; and the date on which you submitted the holdings report.

 

Quarterly Transactions Reports and Certifications

 

If your Quarterly Transactions Report is accurate and complete, you must confirm and certify in the Compliance System that:

 

· The pre-populated transactions reflected in your certified Quarterly Transactions Report represent all of your personal securities transactions in Reportable Securities from the prior quarter, and

 

· Your list of Personal Trading Accounts reflected in your certified Quarterly Transactions Report is accurate.

 

However, if any portion of your Quarterly Transaction Report is not accurate or complete, you must in the Compliance System:

 

· Correct the inaccurate information, address any missing or incomplete information, and then:

 

· Confirm and certify that:
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o Your personal securities transactions as set forth in your revised certified Quarterly Transaction Report represent all of your personal securities transactions in Reportable Securities from the prior quarter, and

 

o Your list of Personal Trading Accounts in your revised certified Quarterly Transactions Report is accurate.

 

For your personal securities transactions in your Personal Trading Accounts that (i) are not a custodial account at a bank, broker-dealer, or transfer agent, or (ii) do not have an electronic feed to the Compliance System, you must in the Compliance System:

 

· Manually add any missing Personal Trading Accounts and any missing personal security transactions during the preceding calendar quarter to your Quarterly Personal Trading Report, and then you must:

 

· Confirm and certify that:

 

o Your manually entered personal securities transactions as set forth in your revised certified Quarterly Transaction Report represent all of your personal securities transactions in Reportable Securities from the prior quarter, and

 

o Your list of Personal Trading Accounts in your revised certified Quarterly Transactions Report is accurate.

 

Annual Holdings Reports and Certifications

 

If your Annual Holdings Report is accurate and complete, you must confirm and certify in the Compliance System that:

 

· The pre-populated personal holdings of Reportable Securities reflected in your Annual Holdings Report represent all of your holdings of Reportable Securities as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you submit your certified Annual Holdings Report, and

 

· The list of your Personal Trading Accounts in your certified Annual Holdings Report is accurate.

 

However, if any portion of your Annual Holdings Report is not accurate or complete, you must in the Compliance System:

 

· Correct the inaccurate information, address any missing or incomplete information, and then

 

· Confirm and certify that:
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o Your personal holdings of Reportable Securities reflected in your revised certified Annual Holdings Report represent all of your holdings of Reportable Securities as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you submit your revised certified Annual Holdings Report, and

 

o Your list of Personal Trading Accounts in your certified revised Annual Holdings Report is accurate.

 

For your holdings of Reportable Securities in Personal Trading Accounts that are not a custodial account at a bank, broker-dealer, or transfer agent, or do not have an electronic feed to the compliance system, you must in the Compliance System:

 

· Manually add any missing Personal Trading Accounts or any missing personal holdings of Reportable Securities on your Annual Holdings Report, and then you must:

 

· Confirm and certify that:

 

o Your manually entered personal holdings of Reportable Securities as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you submit your revised certified Annual Holdings Report, and

 

o Your manually entered list of Personal Trading Accounts in your revised certified Annual Holdings Report is accurate.
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EXHIBIT C

 

WEALTHFRONT, INC. WFAS LLC

 

CODE OF ETHICS - INSIDER TRADING POLICY

October 24, 2017

 

 

 

Why we have an insider trading policy Key Terms and Concepts

Penalties for Insider Trading

Procedures to Implement the Firm’s Policies against Insider Trading Identify Material, Nonpublic Information

Avoid Using or Disclosing Material, Nonpublic Information

Employee or Family Member Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant Preventing Insider Trading

Detecting Insider Trading

Inside Information Regarding Publicly-Traded Funds

 

 

Why we have an insider trading policy

 

The Company must establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent the misuse of material, nonpublic information (inside information) by Wealthfront or any person associated with the Company. This includes trading on the information or tipping others as to the information. It is the Company’s policy to conduct its business in full compliance with the law, and to ensure that its Employees do so.

 

The general antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, among other things, prohibit insider trading, which has been given high priority in SEC enforcement efforts. State laws generally correspond to the federal laws and impose additional obligations and liabilities.

 

The Company intends that its website information and analysis help investors to make informed investment decisions. It is illegal, however, to trade or recommend trades in a security while using or even, in some cases, merely possessing, material, nonpublic information about such a security or its issuer. It is the Company’s policy to conduct its business in full compliance with the law, and to ensure that its Employees do so. Each Employee should review this Insider Trading Policy carefully. Any questions should be directed to the Company’s CCO or the Company’s General Counsel.

 

Although the law concerning insider trading is evolving, it generally prohibits:

 

Trading in securities by an insider while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the securities or the issuer of the securities;
Trading in securities by a non-insider while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the securities or the issuer of the securities, where the information either was disclosed to the non-insider in violation of an insider’s duty to keep it confidential, or was misappropriated; or
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Communicating material, nonpublic information to others, or recommending a securities transaction to others while in possession of material, nonpublic information about the security or the company in question (commonly called “tipping”).

 

The Company forbids any of its Employees from trading on material, nonpublic information either personally or by placing a trade in a Client Account, communicating material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law, or knowingly assisting someone engaged in these activities.

 

All information relating to the Company’s activities, including trades for Client Accounts, is proprietary and must be kept confidential, except as necessary for an Employee to perform his or her duties for the Company. Such information should be treated as material, nonpublic information; that is, Employees must not trade on it in their Personal Trading Accounts.

 

Key Terms and Concepts

 

Insiders ” of a company are generally its officers, directors, employees and controlling shareholders. In addition, persons outside a company who gain inside information in the course of dealings with such company may be considered “ temporary insiders ” of such company and thus be bound by the same legal restrictions as traditional insiders. For example, outside financial advisors, investment bankers, lawyers or accountants retained to represent or assist a company on an ongoing basis or in major corporate transactions are such company’s insiders for purposes of insider trading laws. Employees who receive material, nonpublic information regarding a company that comes directly or indirectly from any insider (temporary or traditional) should not trade in such company’s securities in Personal Trading Accounts or Client Accounts and should not discuss the information with any other person without first consulting the Company’s CCO.

 

Tipping ” is disclosing material, nonpublic information about a company or its securities to a third party, when such disclosure is not made strictly for corporate purposes. The disclosure may be by an insider of the company, by one who has misappropriated the information from the company in question or from another person or company, or by anyone who received information traceable to an insider or one who has misappropriated the information. Those who disclose the information are called “ tippers ”; those who receive the information are called “ tippees .” If you trade on the basis of tipped information, you may incur criminal and civil liability, even if you receive the information second-hand, third-hand, or more remotely, if the other requirements for finding liability are present. The same legal standards apply to remote tippees. In addition, if you tip information to others, you may be liable for any profits gained or losses avoided by a tippee, even if you did not trade. If someone tips information to you, do not disclose the information to anyone except as required by this Statement. You and Wealthfront may be liable if anyone trades on material, nonpublic information received from or through you.

 

Trading while in possession of certain nonpublic information is illegal if the information is “ material .” Material information is information about a company or its securities of such importance that it has substantial likelihood of altering the “ total mix of information ” regarding the company. It is information that, if generally known, would affect the market price of the security. Material information can relate to current events or possible future events. When information relates to a possible future event, materiality is determined by balancing the probability that the event will occur and the anticipated magnitude of the event in light of the totality of the company’s activities. The more likely it is that an event will occur, the less significant the event needs to be for the information to be deemed material; the more significant the event, the less likely the probability of its occurrence needs to be for the information to be deemed material. Whether a particular item of information is material may depend on how specific it is, the extent to which it differs from public information, and its reliability in light of its source, its nature, and the circumstances under which it was received.

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If a transaction in which you are involved becomes the subject of scrutiny by the SEC, the materiality of any inside information will be evaluated with 20/20 hindsight, and the mere fact that someone traded while in possession of the information will contribute to the conclusion that it was material. When in doubt, assume information is material.

 

Information that you should consider material includes, among other things, information about earnings estimates; changes in previously released earnings estimates; manufacturing problems; changes in control or management; mergers; acquisitions; tender offers; joint ventures; changes in assets; major litigation; liquidity problems; significant new products, discoveries, services or contracts; the cancellation or loss of significant orders, products, services or contracts; change in auditors or auditor notification that the issuer may no longer rely on an auditor’s audit report; events regarding the issuer’s securities; defaults on senior securities; calls of securities for redemption; repurchase plans; stock splits or changes in dividends; changes to rights of security holders; public or private sales of additional securities; and bankruptcies or receiverships.

 

Material information also can relate to events or circumstances affecting the market for a company’s securities. For example, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal was criminally liable for disclosing to others the dates that articles about various companies would be published in The Wall Street Journal and whether those reports would be favorable or not. The information that Client Accounts are or will be purchasing a certain security should be considered material and not disclosed. You should refer any questions about whether certain information is material to the Company’s CCO or Designee.

 

Nonpublic ” information is information that has not been disseminated in a manner that makes it available to public investors generally. If information is being disseminated to traders, generally by brokers and institutional analysts, such information would be considered public unless there is reason to believe that such information is confidential and came from an insider. Information that has been selectively disclosed to a few analysts or investors is not public. Public information is information that has been disclosed in a manner sufficient to ensure that it is available to the investing public, such as by disclosure in a report filed with the SEC or publication in wire services, newspapers of general circulation, or, if the subject company’s operations or stockholders are geographically localized, in local news media, or the electronic media. When information becomes public, persons who were aware of the information when it was nonpublic must wait to trade until the market absorbs the information. Employees should refer any questions about whether certain information has become public to the Company’s CCO.

 

“Misappropriation” is a basis for insider trading liability that is established when trading occurs based on material, nonpublic information that was misappropriated from another person. This theory can and has been used to reach a variety of individuals who are not traditional or temporary insiders. The Wall Street Journal reporter mentioned above was found by the U.S. Supreme Court to have defrauded the Wall Street Journal when he misappropriated information about upcoming articles from the Wall Street Journal and used the information for trading in securities. Similarly, a partner in a law firm was held to use a “ deceptive device ” in violation of Exchange Act section 10(b) by misappropriating information from his law firm and the law firm’s client, in breach of his fiduciary duty to this law firm and the client, by trading in securities of a company regarding which the client was preparing a tender offer.

 

Penalties for Insider Trading

 

Penalties for trading on or tipping of material, nonpublic information are severe and may include:

 

civil injunction
disgorgement of the profit gained or the loss avoided
civil penalty of up to three times the profit gained or the loss avoided
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criminal fine of up to $5 million for an individual or $25 million for an entity (in addition to civil penalties based on the profit gained or the loss avoided); or
jail time of up to 20 years per violation

 

 

A company or any manager or supervisor who fails to take adequate steps to prevent illegal trading on, or tipping of, material, nonpublic information is subject to similar penalties. Persons guilty of insider trading violations, whether through actual trading, tipping, or failing to supervise, are also open to private suits for damages by contemporaneous traders in the market.

 

Any SEC investigation, even one that does not result in criminal or civil prosecution, can irreparably damage a firm’s reputation and an individual’s reputation and career. It is essential to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

 

Procedures to Implement the Company’s Policies against Insider Trading

The Company has established procedures to help Employees avoid insider trading, and to help the Company to prevent, detect and impose sanctions against insider trading. Every Employee must follow these procedures.

Employees with any questions about the procedures should consult the Company’s CCO.

 

Identify Material, Nonpublic Information

 

You should carefully consider the following questions before trading for yourself or others in the securities of a company about which you may have received potential inside information:

 

Is the information material? Is this information that an investor would consider important in making his or her investment decisions? Would this information affect the market price of the securities if it were generally known? Could this information cause investors to change their trading?
Is the information nonpublic? To whom has it been provided? Has it been filed with the SEC? Has it been effectively communicated to the marketplace by being published in general circulation or appearing on the wire services or electronic media?

 

Avoid Using or Disclosing Material, Nonpublic Information

 

If you believe that you may possess material, nonpublic information, or believe the Company’s activities may have created material, nonpublic information, you should take the following steps:

 

Immediately cease all trading in securities of the company that is the subject of the material, nonpublic information, including trading on behalf of Personal Trading Accounts, Client Accounts, or accounts of other relatives, business associates, or friends.

 

Immediately cease recommending any transaction in any of the securities of the company in question to anyone, including Immediate Family members and other relatives, business associates and friends. Do not

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make any comment about the company that could in any way be interpreted as a recommendation. Do not solicit anyone to buy or sell the securities of the company in question.

 

Do not discuss the material, nonpublic information with anyone except as required by this Policy. Do not refer to the information in hallways, elevators, stairways, restaurants, taxis or any other place where the information may be overheard.

 

Employee or Immediate Family Member Serving as Director, Officer or Consultant

From time to time, an Employee or an Immediate Family member of an Employee may serve as a director, officer or consultant for a company the securities of which may be traded in a Client Account, or otherwise be subject to blackout periods or other restrictions on trading in the securities of such a company. In that case, the Employee must disclose the name of such company to the Company and take additional precautions to prevent inadvertent violations of this Statement and to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

 

Preventing Insider Trading

 

To prevent insider trading, the Company takes steps, such as adopting and implementing this Policy, to familiarize Employees with the nature of insider trading and with the Company’s policies and procedures relating to insider trading. The Company also reviews this Policy on a regular basis and update it as necessary. The Company has designated the Company’s CCO as the person responsible for answering questions about material, nonpublic information and insider trading and tipping. The Company will help Employees to determine whether information is material and nonpublic.

 

Detecting Insider Trading

 

To detect insider trading, the Company has adopted the policies and procedures relating to personal securities transactions by Employees and Immediate Family members set forth above in the Code. You should direct any questions about this Policy or how it applies in particular situations to the the Company’s CCO or designee.

 

Inside Information Regarding Publicly-Traded Funds

 

Insider trading laws also apply to publicly traded funds like ETFs or Funds. Thus, Employees who become aware of material, nonpublic information regarding publicly traded funds are subject to insider trading procedures, as contained in this Statement. This situation is most likely to come about in connection with the ETFs that are managed by Wealthfront.

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EXHIBIT D

 

WEALTHFRONT, INC. WFAS LLC

 

CODE OF ETHICS – RECORDKEEPING

October 24, 2017

 

 

The Company must, at its principal place of business, maintain records in respect of the Code in the manner and to the extent set out in this Exhibit D, and must make these records available to the SEC or any representative of the SEC at any time and from time to time for reasonable periodic, special or other examination:

 

·       A copy of each version of the Code that is in effect, or at any time within the past five years was in effect, must be maintained in an easily accessible place;

 

· A record of any violation of the Code, and of any action taken as a result of the violation, must be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;

 

· A copy of each report made by an Access Person as required by S ection III above , including any information provided in lieu of the holdings and transactions reports under Section II I, must be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, the first two years in an easily accessible place;

 

· A record of all Access Persons of the Company or of a Fund, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to make holdings or transaction reports pursuant to S ection III , or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, maintained in an easily accessible place; and

 

· A copy of report of the Company to a Fund board of directors required by Rule 17j- 1(c)(2)(ii) must be maintained for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place.

 

The Company also must maintain a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by an Access Person of the Company or of a Fund of shares offered in an IPO or Limited Offering, for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.

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EXHIBIT E

 

WEALTHFRONT, INC. WFAS LLC

 

CODE OF ETHICS – VIOLATION REPORT FORM

October 24, 2017

 

 

Company ” means either Wealthfront Inc. (“Wealthfront”) or its wholly-owned subsidiary, WFAS LLC (“WFAS”) or both as the context requires.

 

Submitted To: The Company’s 9 General Council and Chief Compliance Officer

 

OR If violations pertain to the Company’s CCO or General Counsel:

 

Submitted To:

Company CCO OR Company General Counsel

 

AND Company Executive Officer ____________________________

 

Violation regarding:

 

Laws, Rules and/or Regulations Company Policies and Procedures

Code of Ethics Accounting or Audit Policies and Procedures

 

Please provide a description of the violation or anticipated violation:

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I am submitting this report in good faith and have a reasonable belief that a Violation has occurred or is likely to occur.

 

I would not like to remain anonymous 1 (optional)

1 The Company will maintain anonymity except as reasonably necessary to conduct an investigation or to comply with a reasonable disclosure request of a court, governmental authority or agency

 

 

 

Date: __________________ , 20

Signature

 

 

Name ________________________________