As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 26, 2019
Securities Act Registration No. 333-174926
Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-22549
FORM N-1A
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
Pre-Effective Amendment No. □
Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 x
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
Amendment No. 442
(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Cincinnati, OH 45246
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(402) 895-1600
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
The Corporation Trust Company
Corporate Trust Center
251 Little Falls Drive
Wilmington, DE 19808
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With a copy to:
David J. Baum, Esq. Alston & Bird, LLP 950 F Street NW Washington, DC 20004 (202) 239-3346 |
Kevin Wolf Gemini Fund Services, LLC 80 Arkay Drive, Suite 110 Hauppauge, New York 11788 (631) 470-2635 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
( ) immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b).
(X) On October 1, 2019 pursuant to paragraph (b).
( ) 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).
( ) On ____________ (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
( ) 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2).
( ) on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
( ) this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Registrant hereby elects to register an indefinite number of shares of Registrant and any series thereof hereinafter created.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Registration Statement contains the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information describing the Essential 40 Stock Fund (the “Fund”), a series of the Registrant. This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement is organized as follows: (a) Prospectus relating to the Fund; (b) Statement of Additional Information relating to the Fund; and (c) Part C Information relating to all series of the Registrant. The Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for the other series of the Registrant are not affected hereby.
Essential 40 Stock Fund
Class I Shares (Symbol: ESSIX)
Prospectus
October 1, 2019
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the SEC, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website at www.kkmfinancial.com, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by following the instructions included with paper Fund documents that have been mailed to you. You may also elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge.
Essential 40 Stock Fund
a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II (the “Trust”)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary Section | 1 |
Investment Strategies, Related Risks and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings | 4 |
Investment Objective | 4 |
Principal Investment Strategies | 4 |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund | 5 |
Portfolio Holdings Information | 6 |
Management of the Fund | 6 |
The Adviser | 6 |
Portfolio Manager | 7 |
Shareholder Information | 7 |
Share Price | 7 |
Class I Shares | 8 |
How to Purchase Shares | 8 |
How to Redeem Shares | 9 |
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions | 11 |
Distribution of Fund Shares | 12 |
Distributions and Taxes | 12 |
Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions | 12 |
Financial Highlights | 13 |
Summary Section
Investment Objective. The investment objective of the Essential 40 Stock Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Essential 40 Stock Index.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund. This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) |
Class I | |
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
None | |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) | None | |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) |
||
Management Fees | 0.50% | |
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees | 0.00% | |
Other Expenses | 1.08% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.58% | |
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement | (0.88%) | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(1) | 0.70% |
(1) | Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between KKM Financial LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive its fees and/or absorb expenses of the Fund to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) for the Fund do not exceed 0.70% of the Fund’s average net assets for Class I shares through September 30, 2020. This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent of, the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement from the Fund for fees it waived and Fund expenses it paid, subject to the limitation that: (1) the reimbursement for fees and expenses will be made only if payable within three years from the date the fees and expenses were initially waived or reimbursed; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver or currently in effect, whichever is lower, to be exceeded. |
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. The fee waiver/expense reimbursement arrangement discussed in the table above is reflected only through September 30, 2020. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years | |
Class I | $72 | $412 | $777 | $1,804 |
Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of the portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies.
The Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in the common stocks of companies that comprise the Essential 40 Stock Index™ (the “Index”), which measures the investment return of the equity securities of forty blue-chip U.S companies. Generally, the Adviser anticipates that the Fund will hold all forty of the securities that comprise the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. Under certain circumstances, however, the Fund may purchase a sample of securities in the Index if it is not possible or practicable to replicate the Index. There also may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to underweight or overweight a security in the Index, purchase securities not in the Index that the Adviser believes are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in
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the Index, or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques. The circumstances that would cause the Adviser to hold a representative sampling of the Index include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances: the Fund may sell securities that are represented in the Index in anticipation of their removal from the Index; the Fund may purchase securities not represented in the Index in anticipation of their addition to the Index; or there may be corporate actions resulting in a cash take-over or bankruptcy which are examples of events that would cause the Adviser to sell a security. The Fund may also temporarily invest in securities not included in the Index that are expected to be correlated with the securities included in the Index. To manage risk, the Fund may also invest in S&P 500 futures and options when the Adviser determines that such investments would benefit the Fund. The Fund will normally limit its investment in S&P 500 futures and options to 5% or less of its net assets, although it can invest up to 20% of its net assets in such instruments.
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and market factors. The Adviser, however, reserves the ability to underweight or overweight stocks in the Index or to utilize S&P 500 futures or options to manage risk as it deems necessary.
The Index is an Index created by FSH Trading, LLC (“FSH”) and is calculated and distributed by Solactive AG. The Index is an index of companies providing goods and services that are, in the view of FSH, essential to the American economy and way of life. The Index has 40 components that are selected by a committee within FSH, using a qualitative approach to determine which companies, in the view of the committee, are irreplaceable and too essential to fail. At its inception on December 31, 2013, the Index was constructed as equally weighted, and the component weightings fluctuate going forward based on return performance alone. The Index, however, is rebalanced annually on the second calendar Monday of January. In the event that the NYSE, NASDAQ or AMEX are closed on that day, rebalancing occurs on the following business day. Each component of the Index is weighted equally at 2.5% when rebalanced but again may fluctuate as a result of individual stock performance until it is rebalanced again. The committee seeks to have the Index diversified across sectors and industries and seeks only to make changes to the Index components as the American economy evolves or market events and corporate actions necessitate.
Principal Risks. Remember that in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
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Performance. The bar chart and Average Annual Total Returns table gives some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the performance of Class I shares of the Fund for each full calendar year since the Fund’s inception. The Average Annual Total Returns table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Performance prior to December 4, 2017 reflects the performance of the Fund under its previous investment strategy. Remember, the Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information will be available at no cost by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-844-767-3863.
Class I Shares
Calendar Year Returns as of December 31
The calendar year-to-date return for the Fund’s Class I shares as of June 30, 2019 was 13.33%.
During the period shown in the bar chart, the best performance for a quarter was 7.30% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2017). The worst performance was -13.13% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2018).
Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2018
One Year | Life of Fund* | ||||||
Class I Shares | |||||||
Return Before Taxes | -5.90% | -0.10% | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions | -6.20% | -0.30% | |||||
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | -3.28% | -0.09% | |||||
S&P 500 Total Return Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
-4.38% | 7.94% | |||||
Essential 40 Stock Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
-5.19% | 12.46% | |||||
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* Class I shares of the Essential 40 Stock Fund commenced operations on June 11, 2014.
After-tax returns are based on the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes; actual after-tax returns depend on an individual investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. If you own shares of the Fund in a tax-deferred account, such as an individual retirement account or a 401(k) plan, this information is not applicable to your investment. A higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and translates into an assumed tax deduction that benefits the shareholder.
The S&P 500 Total Return Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of 500 of the largest capitalized U.S. domiciled companies. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends. Investors may not invest in the indexes directly; unlike the Fund’s returns, the indexes do not reflect any fees or expenses.
The Essential 40 Stock Index is an index created by FSH Trading, LLC (“FSH”) and is calculated and distributed by Solactive AG. The Index is an unmanaged index that consists of forty blue-chip U.S. stocks rebalanced annually by the Essential 40 Index methodology. Investors may not invest in the indexes directly; unlike the Fund’s returns, the indexes do not reflect any fees or expenses.
Investment Adviser. KKM Financial LLC serves as the Fund’s investment adviser.
Portfolio Managers. The following individuals serve as the Fund’s portfolio managers:
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Portfolio Manager | Primary Title | With the Fund since |
Jeff Kilburg | Founder and CEO of the Adviser since 2012 | June 2014 |
Dan Deming | Managing Director | December 2017 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. You may conduct transactions by mail (Essential 40 Stock Fund, c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17605 Wright Street, Suite 2, Omaha NE 68130), or by telephone at 312-448-7230. Investors who wish to purchase or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly. The minimum initial investment for Class I shares is $10,000. The minimum subsequent investment amount for Class I shares is $1,000. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
Tax Information. The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries. If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Investment Strategies, Related Risks and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Essential 40 Stock Index.
The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in the common stocks of companies that comprise the Essential 40 Stock Index™ (the “Index”), which measures the investment return of the equity securities of forty blue-chip U.S companies. Generally, the Adviser anticipates that the Fund will hold all forty of the securities that comprise the Index in proportion to their weightings in the Index. Under certain circumstances, however, the Fund may purchase a sample of securities in the Index if it is not possible or practicable to replicate the Index. There also may be instances in which the Adviser may choose to underweight or overweight a security in the Index, purchase securities not in the Index that the Adviser believes are appropriate to substitute for certain securities in the Index, or utilize various combinations of other available investment techniques. The circumstances that would cause the Adviser to hold a representative sampling of the Index include, but are not limited to, the following circumstances: the Fund may sell securities that are represented in the Index in anticipation of their removal from the Index; the Fund may purchase securities not represented in the Index in anticipation of their addition to the Index; or there may be corporate actions resulting in a cash take-over or bankruptcy which are examples of events that would cause the Adviser to sell a security. The Fund may also temporarily invest in securities not included in the Index that are expected to be correlated with the securities included in the Index. To manage risk, the Fund may also invest in S&P 500 futures and options when the Adviser determines that such investments would benefit the Fund. The Fund will normally limit its investment in S&P 500 futures and options to 5% or less of its net assets, although it can invest up to 20% of its net assets in such instruments.
Given the Fund’s investment objective of attempting to track the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and market factors. The Adviser, however, reserves the ability to underweight or overweight stocks in the Index or to utilize S&P 500 futures or options to manage risk as it deems necessary.
The Fund is classified as “ diversified” for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), which means that it is limited by the 1940 Act with regard to the portion of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer.
Temporary Defensive Positions
The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. The Adviser will determine when market conditions warrant temporary defensive measures. For example, during such periods, 100% of the
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Fund’s assets may be invested in short-term, high-quality fixed income investments, eligible U.S. dollar-denominated money market instruments, cash or cash equivalents. Temporary defensive positions may be initiated by the Adviser when market conditions make pursuing its investment strategy used for the Fund inconsistent with the best interests of the Fund. When the Fund takes temporary defensive positions, it may not achieve its investment objective.
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to leave your money invested and the amount of risk you are willing to take. Remember that in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The value of your investment in the Fund will go up and down with the prices of the securities in which the Fund invests. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:
General Risk. Domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events are among the factors affecting the securities markets of the Fund’s investments. There is risk that these and other factors may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. You should consider your own investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors and is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in the bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Large-Capitalization Securities Risk. While large cap companies may be less volatile than those of mid- and small-cap companies, they still involve risk. Large-capitalization companies usually cannot respond as quickly as smaller companies to competitive challenges, and their growth rates tend to lag the growth rates of well-managed smaller companies during strong economic periods. Further, the Fund may underperform funds that invest primarily in stocks of smaller capitalization companies during periods when the stocks of such companies are in favor.
Equity Securities Risk. The Fund invests in common stock, which subjects the Fund and its shareholders to the risks associated with common stock investing. These risks include the financial risk of selecting securities that do not perform as anticipated, the risk that the stock markets in which the Fund invests may experience periods of turbulence and instability, and the general risk that domestic and global economies may go through periods of decline and cyclical change. Many factors affect the performance of each company, including the strength of the company’s management or the demand for its product or services. You should be aware that the value of a company’s share price may decline as a result of poor decisions made by management or lower demand for the company’s products or services. In addition, a company’s share price may also decline if its earnings or revenues fall short of expectations. There are overall stock market risks that may also affect the value of the Fund. Over time, the stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when stock prices decline generally. The value of the Fund’s investments may increase or decrease more than the stock markets in general. Of course, the Fund is subject to these same risks to the extent that it invests directly in common stocks.
Management Risk. Management risk is the risk that the investment process used by the Fund’s portfolio manager could fail to achieve the Fund’s investment goal and cause an investment in the Fund to lose value. The Adviser’s reliance on its strategy and its judgments about the potential appreciation of a particular option or security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect. Given the Fund is going to attempt to tract the Index, the Fund does not follow traditional methods of active investment management, which may involve buying and selling securities based upon analysis of economic and market factors.
New Index Provider Risk. The index provider for the Index has a limited history of experience as an index provider or investment adviser for a registered fund, which may create additional risks for investing in the Fund. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve the Fund’s investment objective notwithstanding the performance of any or all of the foregoing or their respective affiliates or principals in other transactions including, without limitation, arrangements similar in nature to the Fund.
Futures Risk. The Fund’s use of futures contracts involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) leverage risk; (ii) correlation or tracking risk and (iii) liquidity risk. Because futures require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they involve a high degree of leverage. Accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of futures in relation to the underlying assets upon which they are based is magnified. Thus, the Fund may experience losses that exceed losses experienced by funds that do not use futures contracts. There may be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a futures contract and price movements of investments for which futures are used as a substitute, or which futures are intended to hedge. Lack of correlation (or tracking) may be due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. While futures contracts are generally liquid instruments, under certain market conditions they may become illiquid. Futures exchanges may impose daily or intra-day price change limits and/or limit the volume of trading. Additionally, government regulation may further reduce liquidity through similar trading restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to close out its futures contracts at a time which is advantageous. The successful use of futures depends upon a variety of factors, particularly
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the ability of the adviser to predict movements of the underlying securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular futures strategy adopted will succeed.
Options Risk. The Fund may invest in options. When the Fund purchases an option on a security or index it may lose the entire premium paid if the underlying security or index does not increase in value. The Fund is also exposed to default by the option writer who may be unwilling or unable to perform its contractual obligations to the Fund.
Cyber Security Risk. As the use of technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the Fund has become more susceptible to operational, financial and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. Cyber-attacks include, among other things, the attempted theft, loss, misuse, improper release, corruption or destruction of, or unauthorized access to, confidential or highly restricted data relating to the Fund and its shareholders; and
attempted compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of the Fund and its service providers. Cyber security breaches may result from unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) or from outside attacks, such as denial-of-service attacks on websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users).
Portfolio Holdings Information
A description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q. The annual and semi-annual reports for the Fund is available by contacting the Fund, c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC, 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130 or calling 1-844-767-3863.
Management of the Fund
The Adviser
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) with KKM Financial LLC, located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1711 Chicago, IL 60604, under which the Adviser manages the Fund’s investments subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser offers both high net worth individual and institutional clients portfolio management services in a variety of alternative investment offerings, and is a registered investment adviser. As of May 31, 2019, the Adviser has approximately $171 million in assets under management. Of the $171 million approximately $74 million are discretionary assets and $97 million are non-discretionary assets. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Fund compensates the Adviser for its investment advisory services at the annual rate of 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable on a monthly basis.
Subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund in accordance with its investment objective and policies using the approach discussed in the “Overview” section of this Prospectus. The Adviser also maintains related records for the Fund.
Fund Expenses. The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Adviser and the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to reduce its management fees and/or pay expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total amount of Fund operating expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation) do not exceed 0.70% of the Fund’s average net assets for Class I shares through September 30, 2020. This operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent of, the Board of Trustees. The Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement from the Fund for fees it waived and Fund expenses it paid, subject to the limitation that: (1) the reimbursement for fees and expenses will be made only if payable within three years from the date the fees and expenses were initially waived or reimbursed; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver or currently in effect, whichever is lower, to be exceeded.
For the most recent fiscal year ended May 31, 2019, the Adviser received an advisory fee net of fee waivers and expense reimbursements equal to 0.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ renewal of the Advisory Agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated May 31, 2019.
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Portfolio Managers
Jeff Kilburg. Mr. Kilburg is the CEO & Founder of KKM Financial, LLC (“KKM”) a boutique registered investment adviser based in Chicago, IL. Mr. Kilburg started his career at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) in Chicago. After learning equity options from Mercury Founders Jon and Pete Najarian at the CBOE, Mr. Kilburg was offered an opportunity in the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”) bond option pit. Subsequently, he joined a specialist group in the 30-year pit, JLS Group. In early 1999, he decided to launch a floor operation of his own at the CBOT. In 2012, he transitioned his floor operations into a SEC registered investment advisory firm.
Mr. Kilburg is a graduate of the Mendoza College of Business at The University of Notre Dame as he was a recipient of a four-year football scholarship under Lou Holtz.
Dan Deming. Mr. Deming serves as Managing Director at KKM Financial, LLC (“KKM”). Mr. Deming’s responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of the firm which include; developing and executing the firm’s business plan, strategic initiatives, advisory group oversight, technology, and compliance. Mr. Deming has over 30 years of market experience. Prior to KKM, Mr. Deming served as investment advisor representative for Equity Armor Investments, LLC. His responsibilities included overseeing client accounts, portfolio construction, and supporting the sub-advising team. Mr. Deming started his career at the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange) as a trader in the S&P 100 Index (OEX) pit in April of 1988. In 2008, Mr. Deming transitioned into the CBOE’s VIX Index option pit. During his time at the CBOE, Mr. Deming also served on the Arbitration Committee. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Deming has become one of the options industry’s more recognized faces in the media, making regular appearances on Bloomberg TV, TD Ameritrade Network, CNN, BNN Bloomberg, Sky News Business, Fox Business News, Business First AM, and CBOE TV. Several news outlets such as; CNBC, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, the AP and Dow Jones press, contact Mr. Deming on a regular basis to provide written and quoted market commentary. Working as a liaison with the CBOE, representing both the exchange and his firm, Mr. Deming has served as a guest panelist for several volatility based derivatives symposiums and international trading conferences. Mr. Deming is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds a Series 65 license.
Shareholder Information
Share Price
Shares of the Fund are sold at net asset value (“NAV”). The NAV of the Fund is determined at close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. NAV is computed by determining, on a per class basis, the aggregate market value of all assets of the Fund, less its liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding ((assets-liabilities)/number of shares = NAV). The NYSE is closed on 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. The NAV takes into account, on a per class basis, the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management, administration, and distribution fees, which are accrued daily. The determination of NAV for a share class for a particular day is applicable to all applications 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, the Fund’s securities 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 ask prices on such exchanges. 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. Securities that are not traded or dealt in any securities exchange 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. 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.
If market quotations are not readily available, securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different from 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. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one or more officers from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) Adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of
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a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
The Fund may use independent pricing services to assist in calculating the value of the Fund’s securities.
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.
Class I Shares
The Trust has adopted a multiple class plan that allows the Fund to offer one or more classes of shares. The Fund has registered two classes of shares—Class I shares and Class A shares. Currently, only Class I shares are being offered.
Class I shares may be purchased at NAV without the imposition of any sales charges. This means that 100% of your initial investment is placed into shares of the Fund. The Fund offers Class I shares primarily for direct investment by investors such as pension and profit-sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and high net worth individuals. Class I shares may also be offered through certain financial intermediaries (including broker-dealers) and their agents in fee based and other programs. In these programs financial intermediaries have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund that charge their customers transaction or other distribution or service fees with respect to their customers’ investments in the Fund. Class I shares are sold at NAV without an initial sales charge, and are not subject to 12b-1 distribution fees. The minimum initial investment for Class I shares is $10,000. The minimum subsequent investment amount for Class I shares of the Fund is $1,000. The Fund may waive or reduce its minimum investment amount from time to time in the sole discretion of the Adviser.
How to Purchase Shares
Purchase by Mail. To purchase the Fund’s shares by mail, simply complete and sign the Account Application and mail it, along with a check made payable to the “Essential 40 Stock Fund,” as applicable to:
via regular mail: | via overnight mail: | |
Essential 40 Stock Fund | Essential 40 Stock Fund | |
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC | c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC | |
P.O. Box 541150 | 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200 | |
Omaha, NE 68154 | Omaha, NE 68130 |
Purchase through Brokers. You may invest in the Fund through brokers or agents who have entered into selling agreements with the Fund’s distributor. The brokers and agents are authorized to receive purchase and redemption orders on behalf of the Fund. 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. You may be charged a fee if you use a broker or agent 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 servicing agent. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf.
Purchase by Wire. If you wish to wire money to make an investment in the Fund, please call the Fund at 1-844-767-3863 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.
Automatic Investment Plan. You may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money from your bank account and invests it in the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers or automatic bank drafts. You may elect to make subsequent investments by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established Fund account. Please contact the Fund at 1-844-767-3863 for more information about the
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Fund’s Automatic Investment Plan. Minimum initial investment requirements may be waived for Automatic Investment Plan investors, at the Fund’s discretion.
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 “Essential 40 Stock Fund”. The Fund will not accept payment in cashier’s checks or money orders. 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.
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.
Anti-Money Laundering Program. 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.
In order to ensure compliance with these laws, the Account Application asks for, among other things, the following information for all “customers” seeking to open an “account” (as those terms are defined in rules adopted pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act):
· | full name; |
· | date of birth (individuals only); |
· | Social Security or taxpayer identification number; and |
· | permanent street address (P.O. Box only is not acceptable). |
Accounts opened by entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or trusts, will require additional documentation.
Please note that if any information listed above is missing, your Account Application will be returned and your account will not be opened. In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act and other applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, the Transfer Agent will verify the information on your application as part of the Program. The Fund reserves the right to request additional clarifying information and may close your account if such clarifying information is not received by the Fund within a reasonable time of the request or if the Fund cannot form a reasonable belief as to the true identity of a customer. If you require additional assistance when completing your Account Application, please contact the Transfer Agent at 1-844-767-3863.
How to Redeem Shares
The Fund typically expects that it will take up to 7 days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any line of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market conditions.
You may redeem all or any portion of the shares credited to your account by submitting a written request for redemption to:
via regular mail: | via overnight mail: | |
Essential 40 Stock Fund | Essential 40 Stock Fund | |
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC | c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC | |
P.O. Box 541150 | 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200 | |
Omaha, NE 68154 | Omaha, NE 68130 |
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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 will be sent by mail to the address designated on your account or wired 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 1-844-767-3863. The redemption proceeds normally will be sent by mail or by wire 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.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If your individual accounts, IRA or other qualified plan account have a current account value of at least $10,000, you may participate in the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan, an investment plan that automatically moves money to your bank account from the Fund through the use of electronic funds transfers. You may elect to make subsequent withdrawals by transfers of a minimum of $100 on specified days of each month into your established bank account. Please contact the Fund at 1-844-767-3863 for more information about the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
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 a securities redeemed in-kind remain at the risk of the market until they are sold and the shareholder will bear market risk until the securities are converted to cash.
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. |
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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.
Low Balances: If at any time your account balance falls below $50,000 for Class I shares, the Fund may notify you that, unless the account is brought up to at least $50,000 for Class I shares within 60 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 required minimum due to a decline in NAV.
Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions
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:
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.
The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase or exchange 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 or exchange orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor’s financial adviser) 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, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial
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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.
Householding. To reduce expenses, the Fund mail 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 1-844-767-3863 on days the Fund are open for business or contact your financial institution. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) is located at 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130, and serves as distributor and principal underwriter to the Fund. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
The distributor, its affiliates and the Adviser, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Such payments and compensation are in addition to service fees paid by the Fund, if any. These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary. Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders. The Adviser may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the dollar amount of the shares sold.
Distributions and Taxes
Tax Status, Dividends and Distributions
Any sale or exchange of the Fund’s shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account). When you redeem your shares you may realize a taxable gain or loss. This 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 intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains annually. The 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. IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.
Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.
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
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should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund is required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.
This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. This summary is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. The tax considerations relevant to a specific shareholder depend upon its specific circumstances, and this summary does not attempt to discuss all potential tax considerations that could be relevant to a prospective shareholder with respect to the Fund or its investments. This general summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code, the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change (potentially on a retroactive basis). You should consult your own independent tax advisors to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund’s shares.
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on: (a) income and dividends paid by a Fund and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the gross proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2018. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it either enters into a valid agreement with the IRS or otherwise complies with the specific requirements and provisions of an applicable intergovernmental agreement, in each case to, among other requirements, to collect and report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been derived from the financial statements audited by RSM US LLP whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s May 31, 2019 annual report, which is available at no charge upon request. Financial performance prior to December 4, 2017 reflects the performance of the Fund under its previous investment objective and strategy.
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Per Share Data and Ratios for a Share of Beneficial Interest Outstanding Throughout Each Period Presented.
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year | Year | Year | Year | For the Period* | ||||||||||||||||
Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | ||||||||||||||||
May 31, 2019 | May 31, 2018 | May 31, 2017 | May 31, 2016 | May 31, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period | $ | 10.42 | $ | 9.42 | $ | 9.20 | $ | 9.64 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||
Activity From Investment Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (a) | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.07 | 0.13 | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments, options and futures contracts | (0.29 | ) | 0.87 | (j) | 0.26 | (0.51 | ) | (0.34 | ) | |||||||||||
Total from investment operations | (0.12 | ) | 1.03 | 0.33 | (0.38 | ) | (0.33 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distributions to shareholders from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.13 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.03 | ) | ||||||||||
Net return of capital | — | — | — | (0.02 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.13 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.03 | ) | ||||||||||
Paid in capital from redemption fees | 0.00 | (f) | 0.00 | (f) | — | 0.00 | (f) | 0.00 | (f) | |||||||||||
Net Asset Value, End of Period | $ | 10.17 | $ | 10.42 | $ | 9.42 | $ | 9.20 | $ | 9.64 | ||||||||||
Total Return (b) | (1.08 | )% | 10.89 | % | 3.57 | % | (3.99 | )% | (3.32 | )% (e) | ||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s) | $ | 28,341 | $ | 36,903 | $ | 2,338 | $ | 9,491 | $ | 20,252 | ||||||||||
Ratio of expenses to average net assets: (i) | ||||||||||||||||||||
before reimbursement (c)(g) | 1.58 | % | 3.24 | % | 4.56 | % | 2.52 | % | 1.77 | % (d) | ||||||||||
net of reimbursement (g) | 0.70 | % | 0.74 | % | 1.07 | % | 1.07 | % | 1.05 | % (d) | ||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (h) | 1.56 | % | 1.45 | % | 0.78 | % | 1.38 | % | 0.15 | % (d) | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 17 | % | 63 | % | 48 | % | 157 | % | 211 | % (e) |
* | Inception date of Class I shares is June 6, 2014. Start of performance is June 11, 2014. |
(a) | Per share amounts are calculated using the average shares method, which appropriately presents the per share data for the period. |
(b) | Total returns are historical in nature and assume changes in share price, reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, and excludes sales charges. Had the Adviser not waived a portion of the Fund’s expenses, total returns would have been lower. |
(c) | Represents the ratio of expenses to average net assets absent fee waivers by the Adviser. |
(d) | Annualized. |
(e) | Not annualized. |
(f) | Amount represents less than $0.005. |
(g) | Does not include the expenses of other investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(h) | Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(i) | Ratio of expenses to average net assets (excluding interest expense): |
before reimbursement (c)(g) | 1.58 | % | 3.21 | % | 4.54 | % | 2.50 | % | 1.77 | % (d) | ||||||||||
net of reimbursement (g) | 0.70 | % | 0.71 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.05 | % (d) |
(j) | The amount of net realized gain per share does not agree with the amount reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of shareholder transactions. |
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Revised May 2019
FACTS | WHAT DOES NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II (“NLFT II”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? | |||
Why? | Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do. | |||
What? | The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include: | |||
· Social Security number · Employment information · Account balances |
· Account transactions · Income · Investment experience |
|||
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 a customer’s personal information to run their everyday business - to process transactions, maintain customer accounts, and report to credit bureaus. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customer’s personal information; the reasons NLFT II chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing. | |||
Reasons we can share your personal information | Does NLFT II 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 |
Yes | No | ||
For joint marketing with other financial companies | Yes | No | ||
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes --
information about your transactions and experiences |
Yes | No | ||
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes --
information about your creditworthiness |
No | We don’t share | ||
For nonaffiliates to market to you | No | We don’t share | ||
Questions? | Call 1-402-493-4603 | |||
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Who we are |
||
Who is providing this notice? | Northern Lights Fund Trust II | |
What we do | ||
How does NLFT II 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. | |
How does NLFT II collect my personal information? | We collect your personal information, for example, when you | |
· open an account · give us your income information · provide employment information |
· provide account information · give us your contact information |
|
We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or 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. · NLFT II has no affiliates. |
|
Nonaffiliates |
Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. · NLFT II does not share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you. |
|
Joint marketing |
A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products and services to you. · Our joint marketing partners include other financial service companies. |
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Investment Adviser
KKM Financial LLC
141 W. Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60604
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
RSM US LLP
555 17th Street, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80202
Legal Counsel
Alston & Bird, LLP
950 F Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Custodian
MUFG Union Bank, National Association
400 California Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Fund Administrator
Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17645 Wright Street, Suite 200
Omaha, NE 68130
Distributor
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
17645 Wright Street, Suite 200
Omaha, NE 68130
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Essential 40 Stock Fund
a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II
FOR MORE INFORMATION |
You can find more information about the Fund in the following documents:
Statement of Additional Information
The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference. This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports provide the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings. The annual report contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that affected the Fund’s performance during the Fund’s last fiscal year.
You can obtain a free copy of these documents, request other information, or make general inquiries about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at 1-844-767-3863, on the Fund’s website, www.kkmfinancial.com, or by writing to:
Essential 40 Stock Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17645 Wright Street, Suite 200
Omaha, NE 68130
You can review and copy information, including the Fund’s financial reports and SAI, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (202) 551-8090. Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:
· | free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov; |
· | for a fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-1520; or |
· | for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov. |
(The Trust’s SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-22549)
Statement of Additional Information
Dated: October 1, 2019
Essential 40 Stock Fund
Class I Shares (Symbol: ESSIX)
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Essential 40 Stock Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II (the “Trust”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current prospectus for Class I shares dated October 1, 2019 (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference. To obtain a copy of the Prospectus, free of charge, please write or call the Fund at the address or telephone number below:
Essential 40 Stock Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17645 Wright Street, Suite 200
Omaha, NE 68130
1-844-767-3863
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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The Trust | 1 |
Investment Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks | 2 |
Fundamental Investment Limitations | 12 |
Management of the Fund | 13 |
Board of Trustees | 13 |
Board Leadership Structure | 14 |
Trustees and Officers | 15 |
Board Committees | 18 |
Other Committees of the Trust | 18 |
Trustee Compensation | 18 |
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders | 20 |
Investment Adviser | 20 |
Portfolio Managers | 22 |
Other Service Providers | 24 |
Distribution of Fund Shares | 26 |
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage Allocation | 27 |
Portfolio Turnover | 28 |
Code of Ethics | 29 |
Proxy Voting Procedures | 29 |
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program | 29 |
Portfolio Holdings Information | 29 |
Determination of Net Asset Value | 32 |
Financial Statements | 43 |
APPENDIX “A” Proxy Voting Policy | 44 |
The Trust
The Essential 40 Stock Fund (the “Fund”), is a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II, (the “Trust”) a Delaware statutory trust. The Trust was organized on August 26, 2010. The Fund commenced operations on June 6, 2014. Prior to December 4, 2017 the Fund was known as the KKM Enhanced U.S. Equity Fund.
The Trust is registered as an open-end management investment company. 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 Fund is a diversified series of the Trust. The Fund’s investment objectives, restrictions and policies are more fully described here and in the Prospectus. The Board may add classes to and reclassify the shares of the Fund, start other series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.
The Fund has registered two classes of shares: Class A and Class I shares. Each share class represents an interest in the same assets of the Fund, has the same rights and is identical in all material respects except that (i) each class of shares may be subject to different (or no) sales loads, (ii) each class of shares may bear different (or no) distribution fees; (iii) each class of shares may have different shareholder features, such as minimum investment amounts; (iv) certain other class-specific expenses will be borne solely by the class to which such expenses are attributable, including transfer agent fees attributable to a specific class of shares, printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials to current shareholders of a specific class, registration fees paid by a specific class of shares, the expenses of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class, litigation or other legal expenses relating to a class of shares, Trustees’ fees or expenses paid as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares and accounting fees and expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (v) each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to matters relating to its own distribution arrangements. 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 on a class-specific basis (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. Currently, only Class I shares are being offered.
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.
KKM Financial LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.
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Investment Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks
The investment objective of the Essential 40 Stock Fund is to seek to track, before fees and expenses, the performance of the Essential 40 Stock Index. The investment objective of the Fund and the descriptions of the Fund’s principal investment strategies are set forth under “Investment Strategies, Related Risks and Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings” in the Prospectus. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, although the Fund will provide shareholders with notice of any change to the Fund’s investment objectives at least 60 days prior to such change.
The following pages contain more detailed information about the types of instruments in which the Fund may invest, strategies the Adviser may employ in pursuit of the Fund’s investment objective and a summary of related risks.
Equity Securities. The Fund may invest in equity securities such as common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, rights and warrants. Common stocks, the most familiar type, represent an equity (ownership) interest in a corporation. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed by the issuer to its shareholders. Although equity securities have a history of long term growth in value, their prices fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.
Equity securities also include SPDRs (S&P Depositary Receipts, known as “Spiders”), DIAMONDS, QQQQs and a number of other exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). SPDRs represent ownership in the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of common stocks that closely tracks the price performance and dividend yield of the S&P 500 Composite Price Index. SPDRs trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol SPY. A MidCap SPDR is similar to a SPDR except that it tracks the performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and trades on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol MDY. DIAMONDS represent ownership in the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that serves as an index to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (the “Dow”) in that its holdings consists of the 30 component stocks of the Dow. DIAMONDS trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol DIA. QQQQs (NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock) represent ownership in the NASDAQ-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that attempts to closely track the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ 100 Index by holding shares of all the companies in the Index. QQQQs trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol QQQQ. The Fund may also invest in a variety of other exchange traded funds, including, but not limited to, iShares, HOLDRs, Fidelity Select Portfolios, Select Sector SPDRs, Fortune e-50, Fortune 500 and streetTRACKS. To the extent the Fund invests in a sector product, the Fund is subject to the risks associated with that sector. Additionally, the Fund may invest in new exchange traded shares as they become available.
Securities Lending. The Fund may make long and short term loans of its portfolio securities to parties such as broker-dealers, banks, or institutional investors. Securities lending allows the Fund to retain ownership of the securities loaned and, at the same time, to earn additional income. Since there may be delays in the recovery of loaned securities, or even a loss of rights in collateral supplied, should the borrower fail financially, loans will be made only to parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and deemed satisfactory by the Adviser. Furthermore, they will only be made if, in the judgment of the Adviser, the consideration to be earned from such loans would justify the risk.
The Adviser understands that it is the current view of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that the Fund may engage in loan transactions only under the following conditions: (1) the Fund must receive 100% collateral in the form of cash, cash equivalents (e.g., U.S. Treasury bills or notes) or other high grade liquid debt instruments from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase the collateral whenever the market value of the securities loaned (determined on a daily basis) rises above the value of the collateral; (3) after giving notice, the Fund must be able to terminate
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the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan or a flat fee from the borrower, as well as amounts equivalent to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the securities loaned and to any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection with the loan; and (6) the Board of Trustees must be able to vote proxies on the securities loaned, either by terminating the loan or by entering into an alternative arrangement with the borrower.
Cash received through loan transactions may be invested in any security in which the Fund is authorized to invest. Investing this cash subjects that investment, as well as the security loaned, to market forces (i.e., capital appreciation or depreciation).
Illiquid Securities. The portfolio of the Fund may contain illiquid securities. Illiquid securities generally include securities which cannot be disposed of promptly and in the ordinary course of business without taking a reduced price. Securities may be illiquid due to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or lack of a ready market. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
U.S. Government Securities. U.S. government securities are high-quality debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government. Not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of, or guaranteed by the United States Treasury. For example, securities issued by the Farm Credit Banks or by the Federal National Mortgage Association are supported by the instrumentality’s right to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances. Moreover, securities issued by other agencies or instrumentalities are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them.
Financial Services Industry Obligations. The Fund may invest in each of the following obligations of the financial services industry:
(1) Certificate of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank or a savings and loan association to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from fourteen days to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate.
(2) Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution or a savings and loan association for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate.
(3) Bankers’ Acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft which has been drawn on it by a customer, which instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements fully collateralized by obligations issued by the U.S. government or agencies of the U.S. government (“U.S. Government Obligations”). A repurchase agreement is a short term investment in which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires ownership of a U.S. Government Obligation (which may be of any maturity) and the seller agrees to repurchase the obligation at a future time at a set price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding period (usually not more than 7 days from the date of purchase). Any repurchase transaction in which the Fund engages will require full collateralization of the seller’s obligation during the entire term of the repurchase agreement. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of the seller, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying security and losses in value. However, the Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with the custodian, other banks with assets of $1 billion or more and registered securities dealers determined by the Adviser to be creditworthy. The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of the banks and securities dealers with which the Fund engages in repurchase transactions.
Borrowing. The Fund is permitted to borrow money up to one-third of the value of its total assets. Borrowing is a speculative technique that increases both investment opportunity and the Fund’s ability to achieve greater diversification. However, it also increases investment risk. Because the Fund’s
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investments will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowed funds may be fixed, during times of borrowing, the Fund’s net asset value may tend to increase more when its investments increase in value, and decrease more when its investments decrease in value. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market interest rates and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on the borrowed funds. Also, during times of borrowing under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.
Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including money market mutual funds, other mutual funds or Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”). The Fund’s investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses. The Fund limits its investments in securities issued by other investment companies in accordance with the 1940 Act or with certain terms and conditions of applicable exemptive orders issued by the SEC and approved by the Board of Trustees. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act precludes the Fund from acquiring (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund. However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not offered or sold, and is not proposing to offer or sell its shares through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price that includes a sales load of more than 1 1/2%. SEC Rule 12d1-3 provides, however, that the Fund may rely on the Section 12(d)(1)(F) exemption and charge a sales load in excess of 1 1/2% provided the sales load and any service fee charged does not exceed limits set forth in applicable Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) rules.
If the Fund invests in investment companies, including ETFs, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F), it must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security. In addition, an investment company purchased by the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days. In addition to the advisory and operational fees the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operation, the Fund also bears its pro rata portion of the advisory and operational expenses incurred indirectly through investments in other investment companies. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds: (1) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to their net asset value; (2) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. Additionally, ETFs have management fees, which increase their cost.
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETF”). An ETF generally is an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or a portfolio of securities deposited with a depository in exchange for depository receipts. The portfolios of ETFs generally consist of common stocks that closely track the performance and dividend yield of specific securities indices, either broad market, sector or international. ETFs provide investors the opportunity to buy or sell throughout the day an entire portfolio of stocks in a
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single security. Although index mutual funds are similar, they are generally sold and redeemed only once per day at market close. Broad securities market index ETFs include Standard & Poor’s Depository Receipts (“SPDRs”), which are interests in a unit investment trust representing an undivided interest in a portfolio of all of the common stocks of the S&P 500 Index. The ETFs invests are subject to liquidity risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the sale of the security at an advantageous time or price. To the extent that an ETFs in which the Fund invests hold securities of companies with smaller market capitalizations or securities with substantial market risk, they will have a greater exposure to liquidity risk.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies
General. Investments in futures contracts, put and call options, forward contracts, swaps and options on securities, futures, broadly-based stock indices and currencies (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying security, to attempt to hedge or limit the exposure of the Fund’s position, to create a synthetic money market position, for certain tax-related purposes and to effect closing transactions.
The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”). In addition, the Fund’s ability to use Financial Instruments will be limited by tax considerations. In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below and in the Prospectus, the Fund’s Adviser may discover additional opportunities in connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques. These new opportunities may become available as the Adviser develop new techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed. The Adviser may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities. The Prospectus or this SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described below or in the Prospectus.
Special Risks. The use of Financial Instruments involves special considerations and risks, certain of which are described below. Risks pertaining to particular Financial Instruments are described in the sections that follow.
(1) Successful use of most Financial Instruments depends upon the Adviser’s or investment model’s ability to predict movements of the overall securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion. Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of stock market trends by the Adviser may still not result in a successful transaction. The Adviser may be incorrect in their expectations as to the extent of market movements or the time span within which the movements take place, which, thus, may result in the strategy being unsuccessful.
(2) Options and futures prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect or no correlation also may result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded and from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts.
(3) As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving
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obligations to third parties (e.g., Financial Instruments other than purchased options). If the Fund were unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expired or matured. These requirements might impair the Fund’s ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment when it would otherwise be favorable to do so or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. The Fund’s ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counter-party”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position. Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.
(4) Losses may arise due to unanticipated market price movements, lack of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time or due to losses from premiums paid by the Fund on options transactions.
Cover. Transactions using Financial Instruments, other than purchased options, expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or futures contracts or (2) cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and will, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid assets in an account with its Custodian, or another approved custodian, in the prescribed amount as determined daily.
Assets used as cover or held in an account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding Financial Instrument is open, unless they are replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Options. The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying investment and general market conditions. Options that expire unexercised have no value. Options currently are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the NYSE Amex Options exchange and other exchanges, as well as the OTC markets.
By buying a call option on a security, the Fund has the right, in return for the premium paid, to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing (selling) a call option and receiving a premium, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to deliver securities underlying the option at the exercise price if the option is exercised. By buying a put option, the Fund has the right, in return for the premium, to sell the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing a put option, the Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to purchase the securities underlying the option at the exercise price.
Because options premiums paid or received by the Fund are small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options, buying and selling put and call options can be more speculative than investing directly in securities.
The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing transaction. For example, the Fund may terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written, by purchasing an identical call or put option. This is known as a closing purchase transaction. Conversely, the Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option. This is known as a closing sale transaction. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.
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Risks of Options on Securities. Exchange-traded options in the United States are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and its counter-party (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC option, it relies on the counter-party from whom it purchased the option to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon exercise of the option. Failure by the counter-party to do so would result in the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.
The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in exchange-traded options depends on the existence of a liquid market. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Closing transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counter-party or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists. There can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration. In the event of insolvency of the counter-party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position at any time prior to its expiration.
If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit. The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the option expires or is exercised.
Options on Indices. An index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the securities included in the index. Options on indices give the holder the right to receive an amount of cash upon exercise of the option. Receipt of this cash amount will depend upon the closing level of the index upon which the option is based being greater than (in the case of a call) or less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option. Some stock index options are based on a broad market index such as the S&P 500 Index, the NYSE Composite Index or the NYSE Arca Major Market Index or on a narrower index such as the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Over-the-Counter Index.
Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum number of call or put options on the same index that may be bought or written by a single investor, whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers). Under these limitations, option positions of all investment companies advised by the Adviser are combined for purposes of these limits. Pursuant to these limitations, an exchange may order the liquidation of positions and may impose other sanctions or restrictions. These positions limits may restrict the number of listed options that the Fund may buy or sell.
Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities or futures contracts. When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total value for each point of such difference. When the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When the Fund writes a put
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on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and the exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.
Risks of Options on Indices. If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security on the expiration date of the contract. An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.
When the Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If the Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position. If it writes a put, it assumes a long futures position. When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it acquires the right in return for the premium it pays to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).
Whether the Fund realizes a gain or loss from futures activities depends upon movements in the underlying security or index. The extent of the Fund’s loss from an unhedged short position in futures contracts or from writing unhedged call options on futures contracts is potentially unlimited. The Fund only purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value. Margin also must be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.” Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund’s obligations to or from a futures commission merchant. When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, the premium paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk. In contrast, when the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions in options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an
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instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures and options on futures contracts may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract or options position.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
Risks of Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets (including the options on futures markets), due to differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to the following factors, which may create distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationships between the cash and futures markets. Second, 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 distortion. 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 cause temporary price distortions.
Combined Positions. The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other. For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
Short-Term Fixed Income Securities and Cash Investments
The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:
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Money Market Mutual Funds. The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds in connection with its management of daily cash positions or as a temporary defensive measure. Generally, money market mutual funds seek to earn income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. They primarily invest in high quality money market obligations, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations and high-grade corporate instruments. These investments generally mature within 397 days from the date of purchase. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency. The Fund’s investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.
Your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher than the cost of investing directly in the underlying money market mutual fund shares. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying money market mutual funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. Furthermore, the use of this strategy could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances acquired by the Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. Government.
Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged. In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operations of the banking industry.
As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are, among other things, required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amount which they can loan to a single borrower and subject to other regulations designed to promote financial soundness. However, such laws and regulations do not necessarily apply to foreign bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, to the extent permitted under the investment objective and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, the Fund may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Savings Association Obligations. The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit (interest-bearing time deposits) issued by savings banks or savings and loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million, based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S. Government.
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Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations. The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper. While such obligations generally have maturities of ten years or more, the Fund may purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or less from the date of purchase and which are rated “A” or higher by S&P or “A” or higher by Moody’s.
U.S. Government Obligations
The Fund may invest in various types of U.S. Government obligations. U.S. Government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. U.S. Government obligations may include securities such as Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or “TIPS.” Payment of principal and interest on U.S. Government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so. See also “Mortgage-Backed Securities,” below.
When-Issued Securities
The Fund may from time to time purchase securities on a “when-issued” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the when-issued securities take place at a later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs within one month of the purchase. During the period between purchase and settlement, the Fund makes no payment to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. To the extent that assets of the Fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the Fund would earn no income. While when-issued securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund intends to purchase such securities with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the when-issued securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The Fund does not believe that its net asset value or income will be adversely affected by the purchase of securities on a when-issued basis. The Fund will segregate liquid assets equal in value to commitments for when-issued securities, which may reduce but does not eliminate leverage.
Additional Risks
Risk of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives
It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment goals. For
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example, some legislative and regulatory proposals, such as those in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) (which was passed into law in July 2010), would upon implementation impose limits on the maximum position that could be held by a single trader in certain contracts and would subject some derivatives transactions to new forms of regulation that could create barriers to some types of investment activity. Other provisions would require many swaps to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expand entity registration requirements, impose business conduct requirements on dealers that enter into swaps with a pension plan, endowment, retirement plan or government entity, and require banks to move some derivatives trading units to a non-guaranteed affiliate separate from the deposit-taking bank or divest them altogether. While many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act must be implemented through future rulemaking, and any regulatory or legislative activity may not necessarily have a direct, immediate effect upon the Fund, it is possible that, upon implementation of these measures or any future measures, they could potentially limit or completely restrict the ability of the Fund to use these instruments as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective.
Fundamental Investment Limitations
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable vote of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund,” as defined in the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
The Fund may not:
1. | 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 1940 Act, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff; |
2. | 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. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions; |
3. | Purchase securities on margin, participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any securities trading account, or underwrite securities. (Does not preclude the Fund from obtaining such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of its portfolio securities, and except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, by virtue of disposing of portfolio securities); |
4. | Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate; |
5. | Invest 25% or more of the market value of its assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. (Does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.); |
6. | Purchase or sell commodities (unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments) or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts and options to the full extent permitted under the 1940 Act, sell foreign currency contracts in accordance with any rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, invest in |
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securities or other instruments backed by commodities, and invest in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities;
7. | Make loans to others, except (a) through the purchase of debt securities in accordance with its investment objectives and policies, (b) to the extent the entry into a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan, and (c) by loaning portfolio securities; or |
8. | With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest 5% or more of its total assets in securities of a single issuer or hold more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer (does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or other investment companies). As a matter of operating policy, the Fund will not consider repurchase agreements to be subject to the above-stated 5% limitation if all of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreements are U.S. government securities and such repurchase agreements are fully collateralized. |
The following lists the non-fundamental investment restrictions applicable to the Fund. These restrictions can be changed by the Board of Trustees, but the change will only be effective after notice is given to shareholders of the Fund.
The Fund may:
1. | Invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or the rules thereunder or pursuant to exemptive relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). |
The Fund may not:
Except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.
Management of the Fund
Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Fund is supervised by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of five individuals, four (4) of whom are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust and the Adviser (“Independent Trustees”). The Trustees are fiduciaries for the Fund’s shareholders and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard. The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.
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Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is led by Mr. Brian Nielsen, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since 2011. Mr. Nielsen is an interested person by virtue of his prior affiliation with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor). The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Nielsen and four (4) Independent Trustees. Under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. 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, (c) setting the agendas for board meetings and (d) ensuring board members are provided necessary materials in advance of each board meeting. The Trust believes that (i) its Chairman, (ii) Keith Rhoades, the independent chair of the Audit Committee, and, (iii) as an entity, the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust, each of its funds and each shareholder. The Independent Trustees have selected Anthony Lewis as the Lead Independent Trustee.
In accordance with the fund governance standards prescribed by the SEC under the 1940 Act, the Independent Trustees on the Nominating Committee select and nominate all candidates for Independent Trustee positions. Each Trustee was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees because of his experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills. The Board of Trustees reviews its leadership structure regularly on at least an annual basis. The Board of Trustees believes that the structure described above facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the Trustees from the officers of the Trust, the advisers of the funds that comprise the Trust and other service providers, and facilitates the effective evaluation of the risks and other issues, including conflicts of interest, that may impact the Trust as a whole as well as the funds individually. The Board of Trustees believes that the orderly and efficient flow of information and the ability of the Board of Trustees to bring each Trustee’s experience and skills to bear in overseeing the Trust’s operations is important given the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including: the unaffiliated nature of each investment adviser and the fund(s) managed by such adviser; the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; the committee structure of the Trust; and the independent arrangements of each of the Trust’s series. For these reasons, the Board of Trustees believes that its leadership structure is appropriate.
Board Responsibilities.
The Board of Trustees’ role is one of oversight rather than day-to-day management of any of the Trust’s series. The Trust’s Audit Committee assists with this oversight function. The Board of Trustees’ oversight extends to the Trust’s risk management processes. Those processes are overseen by Trust officers, including the President, the Treasurer, the Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), who regularly report to the Board of Trustees on a variety of matters at Board meetings.
Board Risk Oversight.
The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Nielsen and four (4) Independent Trustees with a standing independent Audit Committee 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 CCO at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting 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 CCO is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information and oversees the Trust’s service providers’ adherence to the Trust’s policies and procedures.
Investment advisers managing the Trust’s series report to the Trust’s CCO and the Board of Trustees, on a regular and as-needed basis, on actual and possible risks affecting the Trust’s series. These investment advisers report to the CCO and the Board of Trustees on various elements of risk, including investment,
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credit, liquidity, valuation, operational and compliance risks, as well as any overall business risks that could impact the Trust’s series.
The Board of Trustees has appointed the CCO, who reports directly to the Board of Trustees and who participates in its regular meetings. In addition, the CCO conducts on-going and continuous compliance testing and presents an annual report to the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures. The CCO, together with the Trust’s President, Treasurer and Secretary, regularly discusses risk issues affecting the Trust and its series during Board of Trustee meetings. The CCO also provides updates to the Board of Trustees on the operation of the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures and on how these procedures are designed to mitigate risk. Finally, the CCO and/or other officers of the Trust report to the Board of Trustees in the event that any material risk issues arise in between Board meetings.
Trustee Qualifications.
Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes and (iv) skills. Mr. Nielsen has over eighteen years of experience in the investment management and brokerage business including a focus in compliance, legal and regulatory oversight and possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate. Since 2010, Thomas Sarkany has been the President of TTS Consultants, LLC, a financial services firm and from 1994 through 2010 held various roles at Value Line, Inc. (a publicly held company providing financial research, publications and money management services to retail and institutional investors), including Director of Marketing and Asset Management, Director of Index Licensing, and member of the Board of Directors. Anthony Lewis has been Chairman and CEO of The Lewis Group USA, an executive consulting firm, for the past ten years, and also serves as a Director, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, and a Member of the Audit Committee of Torotel Inc. Keith Rhoades held various accounting roles at Union Pacific Railroad, including Senior Director of General Ledger/Financial Research for Union Pacific Railroad. Randy Skalla has more than 20 years of investment management experience including serving as President of L5 Enterprises, Inc. since 2001 and from 2001 through 2017 was a member of the Orizon Investment Counsel Board. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes them each highly qualified.
The Board of Trustees has established three standing board committees – the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating Committee. All Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee. Inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of all three standing committees allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board of Trustees’ oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and the officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each Trustee and Officer is 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130.
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Independent Trustees
Name and Year of Birth | Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex*** Overseen by Trustee | Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
Thomas T. Sarkany 1946
|
Trustee since October 2011 | President, TTS Consultants, LLC (since 2010) (financial services). | 1 | Director, Aquila Distributors, Trustee, Arrow ETF Trust; Trustee, Arrow Investments Trust; Trustee, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV |
Anthony H. Lewis 1946
|
Trustee Since May 2011
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Chairman and CEO of The Lewis Group USA (since 2007) (executive consulting firm). | 1 | Director, Member of the Compensation Committee and Member of the Risk Committee of Torotel Inc. (Magnetics, Aerospace and Defense), Trustee, Chairman of the Fair Valuation Committee and Member of the Audit Committee of the Wildermuth Endowment Strategy Fund |
Keith Rhoades 1948 |
Trustee Since May 2011 | Retired since 2008. | 1 | NONE |
Randal D. Skalla 1962
|
Trustee since May 2011 |
President, L5 Enterprises, Inc. (since 2001) (financial services company).
|
1 | Board member, Orizon Investment Counsel (2001 to 2017) (financial services company) |
Interested Trustees and Officers
Name and Year of Birth | Position/Term of Office* |
Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex*** Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships held by Trustee During the Past Five Years |
Brian Nielsen** 1972
|
Trustee Since May 2011 |
Trustee (since 2011) of Northern Lights Fund Trust II; Special Projects Counsel of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC (from 2018 to 2019); General Counsel (from 2001 to 2014) and Secretary (from 2001 to 2018) of CLS Investments, LLC; | 1 | Manager of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (from 2005 to 2018); Manager of NorthStar Financial |
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General Counsel (from 2001 to 2014) and Secretary (from 2001 to 2018) of Orion Advisor Services, LLC; Manager (from 2012 to 2015), General Counsel and Secretary (from 2003 to 2018) of NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC; CEO (from 2012 to 2018), General Counsel (from 2003 to 2014), Secretary (from 2003 to 2018) and Manager (from 2005 to 2018) of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC; Director, Secretary and General Counsel (from 2004 to 2018) of Constellation Trust Company; CEO (from 2015 to 2018), Manager (from 2008 to 2015), General Counsel and Secretary (from 2011 to 2018) of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (from 2011 to 2018) of Blu Giant, LLC; General Counsel (from 2012 to 2014) and Secretary (from 2012 to 2018) of Gemini Fund Services, LLC; Manager (from 2012 to 2018) of Arbor Point Advisors, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (from 2013 to 2014) of Gemini Hedge Fund Services, LLC; General Counsel and Secretary (from 2013 to 2014) of Gemini Alternative Funds, LLC; Secretary and General Counsel of NorthStar Holdings, LLC (from 2013 to 2015); Director, Secretary and General Counsel of NorthStar CTC Holdings, Inc. (from 2015 to 2018) and Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (from 2003 to 2018) of AdvisorOne Funds. | Services Group, LLC (from 2012 to 2015); Manager of Arbor Point Advisors, LLC (from 2012 to 2018 ); Director of Constellation Trust Company | |
Kevin E. Wolf 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1969 |
President Since January 2013 |
Vice President of The Ultimus Group, LLC and Executive Vice President of Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2019), President, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (2012 - 2019). | N/A | N/A |
Erik Naviloff 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1968 |
Treasurer Since January 2013 |
Vice President of Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since 2012). | N/A | N/A |
Richard Malinowski 80 Arkay Drive. Hauppauge, NY 11788 1983
|
Secretary since January 2018 |
Senior Vice President Legal Administration, Gemini Fund Services, LLC (since April 2017); Vice President and Counsel (April 2016 to 2017) and AVP and Staff Attorney (September 2012 to March 2016). | N/A | N/A |
Emile R. |
Chief |
Senior Compliance Officer and CCO of | N/A | N/A |
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Molineaux 80 Arkay Drive Hauppauge, NY 11788 1962 |
Compliance Officer and Anti Money Laundering Officer Since May 2011 |
Various clients of Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, (since 2011). |
* The term of office for each Trustee and Officer listed above will continue indefinitely.
** Brian Nielsen is an “interested person” of the Trust as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, because of his prior affiliation with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor).
*** As of May 31, 2019 the Trust was comprised of 22 active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers. The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund and not any other series of the Trust. The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust for investment purposes, nor does it share the same investment adviser with any other series.
Board Committees
Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund. The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Fund’s independent auditor concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence and will meet at least four times annually. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019, the Audit Committee met ten times.
Nominating Committee. The Board has a Nominating Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary. The Nominating Committee generally will not consider shareholder nominees.
Compensation Committee. The Board has a Compensation Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The role of the Compensation Committee is to oversee the evaluation of, and review and approve compensation for, the independent members of the Board of Trustees. The Compensation Committee will generally meet annually.
Other Committees of the Trust
Valuation Committee. The Trust has a Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee is responsible for the following: (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, determining the fair value of illiquid securities and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board. The Valuation Committee shall, at all times, consist of no less than three members, including the Trust’s President and Treasurer, and may include such number of alternate members that are officers of the Trust’s Administrator or the investment adviser of a series of the Trust as the Board of Trustees or the members of the Valuation Committee may from time to time designate. The Valuation Committee meets as necessary when a price for a portfolio security is not readily available.
Trustee Compensation
Effective January 1, 2019, each Trustee will receive a quarterly fee of $21,250 (the “Trustee Fee”) to be paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter, allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust. Each Trustee will also receive reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the regular quarterly meetings of the Trust. In addition to the Trustee Fee, the Audit Committee Chairman will receive an additional quarterly fee of $4,000 and the Chairman of the Trust will receive an additional quarterly fee of $5,250. For special in-person meetings, each Trustee will receive a $2,500
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special in-person meeting fee, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the special in-person meeting, which fees will generally be paid by the Adviser requesting the special in-person meeting. None of the executive officers will receive compensation from the Trust.
Prior to January 1, 2019, each Trustee received a quarterly fee of $20,000 paid at the beginning of each calendar quarter, allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust. Each Trustee also received reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the regular quarterly meetings of the Trust. In addition to the Trustee Fee, the Audit Committee Chairman received an additional quarterly fee of $3,750 and the Chairman of the Trust received an additional quarterly fee of $5,000. For special in-person meetings, each Trustee received a $2,500 special in-person meeting fee, as well as reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred attending the special in-person meeting, which fees were generally be paid by the Adviser requesting the special in-person meeting. None of the executive officers received compensation from the Trust. The Trust does not have a bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, pension or retirement plan.
The table below details the amount of compensation the Trustees received from the Fund during the period ended May 31, 2019.
Name | The Fund | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Total Compensation From the Fund Complex*** Paid to Trustees |
Thomas T. Sarkany | $3,839 | None | None | $3,839 |
Anthony Lewis | $3,839 | None | None | $3,839 |
Keith Rhoades* | $4,561 | None | None | $4,561 |
Randy Skalla | $3,839 | None | None | $3,839 |
Brian Nielsen** | $4,793 | None | None | $4,793 |
*Mr. Rhoades also serves as chairman of the Audit Committee.
**Mr. Nielsen is deemed to be an ‘interested person’ as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his prior affiliation with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor). Mr. Nielsen also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
***There are currently multiple series comprising the Trust. Trustees’ fees will be allocated equally to each series in the Trust. The term “Fund Complex” refers only to the Fund and not to any other series of the Trust. For the fiscal period ended May 31, 2019, aggregate independent Trustees’ fees were $448,500.
Trustee Ownership
The following table indicates the dollar range of equity securities that each Trustee beneficially owned in the Fund and other series of the Trust as of December 31, 2018.
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 |
Thomas Sarkany | None | None |
Anthony Lewis | None | None |
Keith Rhoades | None | None |
Randal Skalla | None | None |
Brian Nielsen* | None | None |
*Brian Nielsen is deemed to be an ‘interested person’ as defined in the 1940 Act as a result of his prior affiliation with Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s Distributor).
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As of December 31, 2018, the Trustees and officers, as a group, owned less than 1.00% of the Fund’s outstanding shares and the Fund Complex’s outstanding shares.
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
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 the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund.
As of September 3, 2019, the following persons owned, beneficially or of record, 5% or more of a Class of shares of the Fund.
Name of Shareholder |
% Of Share Class Owned |
Class I Shares | |
LPL Financial ATTN Mutual Fund Operations P.O. Box 509046 San Diego, CA 92150-9046 |
42.44% |
TD Ameritrade Inc. for the For the Exclusive Benefit of our Clients PO Box 2226 Omaha, NE 68103-2226 |
25.09% |
National Financial Services LLC 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07310 |
7.65% |
Investment Adviser
As stated in the Prospectus, investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by KKM Financial LLC, located at 141 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1711 Chicago, IL 60604, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser is 99.5% owned by Killir Kapital Management, LLC along with a 0.5% ownership by Matt Franz. Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Adviser is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments.
After an initial period of two years, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by the Adviser upon 60 days’ prior written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser, under such agreement, shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or
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omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, under the supervision of the Board, agrees (directly or through a subadviser) to invest the assets of the Fund in accordance with applicable law and the investment objectives, 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 advisor to the Fund and, as such shall (directly or through a subadviser) (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 or retained by the Fund, and implement those decisions, including the selection of entities with or through which such purchases or sales are to be effected; provided, that the Adviser (directly or through a subadviser) 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. 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 Advisory Agreement was approved by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on April 24-25, 2014 and thereafter most recently renewed by the Board of the Trust, including by a majority of the Independent Trustees, at a meeting held on April 24-25, 2018.
In addition, the Adviser, directly subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provides the management services necessary for the operation of the Fund and such additional administrative services as reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. These services include providing such office space, office equipment and office facilities as are adequate to fulfill the Adviser’s obligations under the Advisory Agreement; assisting the Trust in supervising relations with custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters and other persons dealing with the Fund; assisting in preparing all general shareholder communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the Fund’s records and the registration of the Fund’s shares under federal securities laws and making necessary filings under state securities laws; developing management and shareholder services for the Fund; and furnishing reports, evaluations and analyses on a variety of subjects to the Trustees.
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a management fee at the annual rate of 0.50% of the Essential 40 Stock Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is computed daily and payable monthly. The Adviser has agreed contractually to waive its management fee and to reimburse operating expenses (excluding any front-end or contingent deferred loads, brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), taxes and extraordinary expenses such as litigation at least until September 30, 2020, such that net annual fund operating expenses of the Fund do not exceed the percentages in the table below. Adviser is permitted to receive reimbursement from the Fund for fees it waived and Fund expenses it paid, subject to the limitation that: (1) the reimbursement for fees and expenses will be made only if payable within three years from the date the fees and expenses were initially waived or reimbursed; and (2) the reimbursement may not be made if it would cause the expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver or currently in effect, whichever is lower, to be exceeded.
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Essential 40 Stock Fund | Expense Limitation |
Class I | 0.70% |
Expenses not expressly assumed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement are paid by the Fund. Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Fund is responsible for the payment of the following expenses among others: (a) the fees payable to the Adviser, (b) the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or Distributor (as defined under the section entitled (“The Distributor”) (c) the fees and certain expenses of the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) and Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent (as defined under the section entitled “Transfer Agent”), including the cost of maintaining certain required records of the Fund and of pricing the Fund’s shares, (d) the charges and expenses of legal counsel and independent accountants for the Fund, (e) brokerage commissions and any issue or transfer taxes chargeable to the Fund in connection with its securities transactions, (f) all taxes and corporate fees payable by the Fund to governmental agencies, (g) the fees of any trade association of which the Fund may be a member, (h) the cost of share certificates representing shares of the Fund, (i) the cost of fidelity and liability insurance, (j) the fees and expenses involved in registering and maintaining registration of the Fund and of their shares with the SEC, qualifying its shares under state securities laws, including the preparation and printing of the Fund’s registration statements and prospectuses for such purposes, (k) all expenses of shareholders and Trustees’ meetings (including travel expenses of trustees and officers of the Trust who are directors, officers or employees of the Adviser) and of preparing, printing and mailing reports, proxy statements and prospectuses to shareholders in the amount necessary for distribution to the shareholders, and (l) litigation and indemnification expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Trust’s business.
Prior to September 21, 2017, the Fund compensated the Adviser for its investment advisory services at the annual rate of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, payable on a monthly basis. For the fiscal years ended May 31, the Fund paid the following advisory fees to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, of which the Adviser waived or recouped the amount set forth in the table below.
Fiscal Year Ended | Advisory Fee | Recoupment (Waiver) |
Expense Reimbursement |
Advisory Fee after Waiver |
May 31, 2017 | $53,855 | ($53,855) | $165,723 | $0 |
May 31, 2018 | $67,943 | ($67,943) | $265,523 | $0 |
May 31, 2019 | $157,318 | ($157,318) | $117,930 | $0 |
Portfolio Managers
The following section provides information regarding the Portfolio Managers, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, compensation, material conflicts of interests, and any ownership of securities in the Fund.
Jeff Kilburg. Mr. Kilburg is the CEO & Founder of KKM Financial, LLC (“KKM”) a boutique registered investment adviser based in Chicago, IL. Mr. Kilburg started his career at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) in Chicago. After learning equity options from Mercury Founders Jon and Pete Najarian at the CBOE, Mr. Kilburg was offered an opportunity in the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”) bond option pit. Subsequently, he joined a specialist group in the 30-year pit, JLS Group. In 2012, he transitioned his floor operations into a SEC registered investment advisory firm. Mr. Kilburg is a graduate of the Mendoza College of Business at The University of Notre Dame as he was a recipient of a four-year football scholarship under Lou Holtz.
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Dan Deming. Mr. Deming serves as Managing Director at KKM Financial, LLC (“KKM”). Mr. Deming’s responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of the firm which include; developing and executing the firm’s business plan, strategic initiatives, advisory group oversight, technology, and compliance. Mr. Deming has over 30 years of market experience. Prior to KKM, Mr. Deming served as investment advisor representative for Equity Armor Investments, LLC. His responsibilities included overseeing client accounts, portfolio construction, and supporting the sub-advising team. Mr. Deming started his career at the CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange) as a trader in the S&P 100 Index (OEX) pit in April of 1988. In 2008, Mr. Deming transitioned into the CBOE’s VIX Index option pit. During his time at the CBOE, Mr. Deming also served on the Arbitration Committee. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Deming has become one of the options industry’s more recognized faces in the media, making regular appearances on Bloomberg TV, TD Ameritrade Network, CNN, BNN Bloomberg, Sky News Business, Fox Business News, Business First AM, and CBOE TV. Several news outlets such as; CNBC, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, the AP and Dow Jones press, contact Mr. Deming on a regular basis to provide written and quoted market commentary. Working as a liaison with the CBOE, representing both the exchange and his firm, Mr. Deming has served as a guest panelist for several volatility based derivatives symposiums and international trading conferences. Mr. Deming is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds a Series 65 license.
Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Manager
The table below identifies, for the Portfolio Manager of the Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. To the extent that the advisory fees for any of these accounts are based on account performance, this information is reflected in separate tables below. Asset amounts are approximate as of the date of this SAI, and have been rounded. The following table lists the number and types of accounts managed by the portfolio manager and assets under management in those accounts as of May 31, 2019.
Material Conflicts of Interest
Actual or apparent material conflicts of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one investment account or in other circumstances. Portfolio Managers who manage other investment accounts in addition to the Fund may be presented with the potential conflicts described below.
The Adviser is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The Adviser does not currently offer separately managed accounts or other investment fund products in addition to the Fund that would present material conflicts of interest, however, the Adviser may offer separately managed accounts in addition to the Fund in the future.
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Portfolio Manager’s Compensation
The Portfolio Managers’ compensation is a fixed salary that is set by reference to industry standards. Bonuses paid to the Portfolio Managers are based on the profitability of the Adviser.
Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of the Fund
The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio manager of the Fund as of May 31, 2019:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Managed Fund |
Jeff Kilburg | $500,001 to $1 million |
Dan Deming | $10,001 to $50,000 |
Other Service Providers
Administrator
Pursuant to the Fund Services Agreement (the “Administration Service Agreement”), Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), 80 Arkay Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788 (the “Administrator”), acts as administrator for the Fund, 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 provide persons to serve as officers of the Fund. Such officers may be directors, officers or employees of GFS or its affiliates.
On February 1, 2019, NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC, the parent company of GFS and its affiliated companies including Northern Lights Distributors, LLC and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (collectively, the “Gemini Companies”), sold its interest in the Gemini Companies to a third party private equity firm that contemporaneously acquired Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (an independent mutual fund administration firm) and its affiliates (collectively, the “Ultimus Companies”). As a result of these separate transactions, the Gemini Companies and the Ultimus Companies are now indirectly owned through a common parent entity, The Ultimus Group, LLC.
The Administration Service Agreement is terminable by the Board or GFS on 60 days’ prior written notice and may be assigned provided the non-assigning party provides prior written consent. This Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of GFS or reckless disregard of its obligations thereunder, GFS shall not be liable for any action or failure to act in accordance with its duties thereunder.
Under the Administration Service Agreement, GFS provides facilitating administrative services, including: (i) providing services of persons competent to perform such administrative and clerical functions as are necessary to provide effective administration of the Fund; (ii) facilitating the performance of administrative and professional services to the Fund by others, including the Fund’s Custodian; (iii) preparing, but not paying for, the periodic updating of the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information in conjunction with Fund counsel, including the printing of such documents for the purpose of filings with the SEC and state securities administrators, and preparing reports to the Fund’s shareholders and the SEC; (iv) preparing in conjunction with Fund counsel, but not paying for, all filings under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such states or countries as are designated by the Distributor, which may be required to register or qualify, or continue the registration or qualification, of the Fund and/or their shares under such laws; (v) preparing notices and agendas for meetings of the Board and minutes of such meetings in all matters required by the 1940 Act to be acted upon by the Board; and (vi) monitoring daily and periodic compliance with respect to all requirements and restrictions of the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Prospectus.
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For the services rendered to the Fund by the Administrator, the Fund pays the Administrator 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.
The table below shows the administrative service fees incurred by the Fund to the Administrator.
Fees incurred to the Administrator | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | $41,545 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | $41,588 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 | $20,311 |
Fund Accounting
GFS, pursuant to the Administration Service Agreement, 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 or Adviser; and (vii) monitoring and evaluating daily income and expense accruals, and sales and redemptions of shares of the Fund. The Fund also pays the Administrator for any out-of-pocket expenses.
The table below shows the fund accounting fees incurred by the Fund to the Administrator.
Fees incurred to the Administrator | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | $29,352 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | $33,361 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 | $30,355 |
Transfer Agent
GFS, 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130, acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to a written agreement with the Fund. 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.
The table below shows the transfer agent fees incurred by the Fund to the Administrator.
Fees incurred to the Administrator | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | $36,118 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | $65,466 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 | $16,857 |
Custodian
MUFG Union Bank, National Association 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.
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Compliance Services
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68130, 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. The Fund pays a compliance service fee to NLCS.
The following table shows the fees incurred by the Fund to NLCS for compliance services.
Fees incurred to NLCS | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | $25,486 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | $23,768 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 | $9,391 |
Legal Counsel
Alston & Bird, LLP, 950 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, serves as counsel to the Fund. Blank Rome LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
RSM US LLP, 555 17th Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80202 serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund.
Distribution of Fund Shares
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, located at 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130 (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter and national distributor for the shares of the Fund 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 has an initial term of two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Underwriting Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party. The Underwriting Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on 60 days’ notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities or by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days’ notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The following table sets forth the total compensation received by the Distributor from the Fund during the fiscal period ended May 31, 2019.
Fund | Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions | Compensation on Redemptions and Repurchases | Brokerage Commissions | Other Compensation |
Essential 40 Stock Fund Class I | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0* |
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Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage Allocation
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser determines which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions. Purchases and sales of securities in the OTC market will generally be executed directly with a “market-maker” unless, in the opinion of the Adviser, a better price and execution can otherwise be obtained by using a broker for the transaction.
Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund will be effected through broker-dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities that the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available elsewhere. Dealers usually act as principal for their own accounts. Purchases from dealers will include a spread between the bid and the asked price. If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer that has provided research or other services as discussed below.
In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser will use reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the firm involved, the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities and other factors. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers that furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Adviser that they may lawfully and appropriately use in their investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other brokerage services in addition to execution services. The Adviser considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement with the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value.
While it is the Fund’s general policy to first seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or to the Adviser, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Adviser in advising other clients. In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Adviser to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer. The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the Fund.
Investment decisions for the Fund may or may not be made independently from those of other client accounts of the Adviser. In certain instances, investment decisions will be made similar to other accounts managed. In the case where the Fund uses similar strategies, applicable procedures will be taken to ensure trading allocations will be handled fairly and abide by all appropriate rules and regulations. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts. In such event, the position of the Fund and such client account(s) in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time. If one or more of such client accounts simultaneously
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purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing or selling, each day’s transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Adviser, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount being purchased or sold. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned. In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund. Notwithstanding the above, the Adviser may execute buy and sell orders for accounts and take action in performance of their duties with respect to any of their accounts that may differ from actions taken with respect to another account, so long as the Adviser shall, to the extent practical, allocate investment opportunities to accounts, including the Fund, over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis and in accordance with applicable law.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” that the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year. The Fund is also required to identify any brokerage transactions during its most recent fiscal year that were directed to a broker because of research services provided, along with the amount of any such transactions and any related commissions paid by the Fund.
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 the Fund, while services received as the result of portfolio transactions effected on behalf of those other accounts may primarily benefit the Fund.
The following table shows the broker commissions paid by the Fund during the periods indicated.
Brokerage Commissions | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | $1,690 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | $5,023 |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 | $10,266 |
Portfolio Turnover
Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (i) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (ii) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs, could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates (currently as high as 37%) and could increase brokerage commission costs. To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher portfolio turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
The table below shows the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund during the periods indicated.
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Portfolio Turnover | |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2019 | 17% |
Fiscal year ended May 31, 2018 | 63% |
Code of Ethics
The Fund, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These Codes permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Adviser, and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
Proxy Voting Procedures
The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”) on behalf of the Trust, which delegate the responsibility for voting proxies of securities held by the Fund 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. Notwithstanding this delegation of responsibilities, however, the Fund retains the right to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities. A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is attached hereto as Appendix A.
More Information. The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, 1-800-SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance 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 CCO 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, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity and a providing 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.
Portfolio Holdings Information
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 Fund shareholders.
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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 in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities. The Fund discloses its portfolio holdings directly to shareholders by mailing said annual and semi-annual shareholder reports to shareholders approximately two months after the end of the fiscal year and semi-annual period. In addition, the Fund files its portfolio holdings in periodic reports with the SEC on Forms N-CSR, and N-Q on a sixty day lag and on Form N-CEN on a, 75 days lag, at, the end of the relevant quarter/semi-annual or annual period. These filings are available to the public on the SEC’s website at SEC.gov.
The Fund may choose to make portfolio holdings information 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 their 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 portfolio managers in the trading of such securities, Adviser personnel may also release and discuss certain portfolio holdings with various broker-dealers.
Gemini Fund Services, LLC. Gemini Fund Services, LLC is the transfer agent, fund accountant and 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.
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC. Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC provides a consulting services to the Fund as well as related compliance services; 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.
MUFG Union Bank, National Association. MUFG Union Bank, National Association 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. 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 financial statements and providing other audit, tax and related services for the Fund.
Alston & Bird, LLP. Alston & Bird, 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.
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Blank Rome LLP. Blank Rome LLP is counsel to the Independent Trustees.
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.
Compliance With Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Procedures
The Trust’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.
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Determination of Net Asset Value
As indicated in the Prospectus under the heading "Net Asset Value," the net asset value ("NAV") of the Fund's shares, by class, 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, by class.
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 approximated 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.
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
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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 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 use 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 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.
When market quotations are insufficient or not readily available, the Fund may value securities at fair value or estimate their value as determined in good faith by the Board or its 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 Fund may hold securities, such as private placements, interests in commodity pools, other non-traded securities or temporarily illiquid securities, for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined to be unreliable. These securities will be valued at their fair market value as determined using the “fair value” procedures approved by the Board. The Board has delegated execution of these procedures to a fair value team composed of one of more officers from each of the (i) Trust, (ii) administrator, and (iii) adviser and/or sub-adviser. The team may also enlist third party consultants such as an audit firm or financial officer of a security issuer on an as-needed basis to assist in determining a security-specific fair value. The Board reviews and ratifies the execution of this process and the resultant fair value prices at least quarterly to assure the process produces reliable results.
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) adviser and/or sub-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 or sub-adviser, the prices or values available do not represent the fair value of the instrument. Factors which may cause the adviser or sub-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
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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 or sub-adviser valuation 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 or sub-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 has adopted 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 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 each 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 a Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
The fair value team 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
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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.
Board of Trustees Determination. The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly to consider the valuations provided by the fair value committee and to ratify the valuations made for the applicable securities. The Board of Trustees considers the reports provided by the fair value committee, including follow up studies of subsequent market-provided prices when available, in reviewing and determining in good faith the fair value of the applicable portfolio securities.
The Trust expects that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) will be closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
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.
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 NAV 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 NAV or offering price per share.
Redemption of Shares
The Fund will redeem all or any portion of a shareholder’s shares in the Fund when requested in accordance with the procedures set forth in the “Redemptions” section of the Prospectus. Under the 1940 Act, a shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended at times:
(a) when the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings;
(b) when trading on that exchange is restricted for any reason;
(c) when 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) when 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 NAV next determined after the termination of the suspension.
The Fund may purchase shares of certain series which charge a redemption fee to shareholders (such as the Fund) that redeem shares of the underlying fund within a certain period of time (such as one year). The fee is payable to the underlying fund. Accordingly, if the Fund were to invest in an underlying fund and incur a redemption fee as a result of redeeming shares in such underlying fund, the Fund would bear such redemption fee. The Fund will not, however, invest in shares of an underlying fund that is sold with a contingent deferred sales load.
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Supporting documents in addition to those listed under “Redemptions” 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.
Under section 72.1021(a) of the Texas Property Code, initial investors in a 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:
Essential 40 Stock Fund
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
17645 Wright Street, Suite 200
Omaha, Nebraska 68130
Tax Status
The following discussion is general in nature and should not be regarded as an exhaustive presentation of all possible tax ramifications. The tax considerations relevant to a specific shareholder depend upon its specific circumstances, and the following general summary does not attempt to discuss all potential tax considerations that could be relevant to a prospective shareholder with respect to the Fund or its investments. This general summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Federal Income Tax Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change (potentially on a retroactive basis).
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 Code. All shareholders should consult a qualified tax advisor regarding their investment in the Fund.
The Fund has elected to qualify and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, for each taxable year by complying with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, the diversification of its assets, and the timing and amount of its distributions. The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes based on net income. However, the Board may elect to pay such excise taxes if it determines that payment is, under the circumstances, in the best interests of the Fund. If the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it may be taxed as a corporation.
In order to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of stock and securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currency gains related to investments in stock or securities, or other income (generally including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in stock, securities or currency, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. The Fund must also satisfy the following two asset diversification tests. At the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities being limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the market value of such Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than
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25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies), the securities of any two or more issuers (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) that such Fund controls (by owning 20% or more of their outstanding voting stock) and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. The Fund must also distribute each taxable year sufficient dividends to its shareholders to claim a dividends paid deduction equal to at least the sum of 90% of such Fund’s investment company taxable income (which generally includes dividends, interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of such Fund’s net tax-exempt interest, if any. Following the enactment of the Regulated Investment Company Act of 2010, if the Fund fails to satisfy these qualifying income and asset tests, and such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it may be permitted to “cure” such failures (and thereby not jeopardize its tax status as a regulated investment company) under certain circumstances.
If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M in any year (and such failure is not subject to cure as discussed above), it will be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Such that the Fund would be required to pay income taxes on its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, at the rates generally applicable to corporations. Shareholders of such Fund generally would not be liable for income tax on the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains in their individual capacities. Distributions to shareholders, whether from the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains, would be treated as taxable dividends to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits of such Fund.
In addition to the taxable year 90% distribution requirement described in the previous paragraph, and in order to avoid the imposition of a nondeductible 4% excise tax, the Fund must distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) at least 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period ending on October 31 during such year, and (iii) any amounts from prior years that were not distributed and on which no federal income tax was paid. The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends and other distributions, as stated in the Prospectus.
Net investment income generally consists of interest and dividend income, less expenses. Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.
Capital losses sustained and not used in a taxable year may be carried forward indefinitely to offset capital gains of the Fund in future years.
At May 31, 2019, the Fund had capital loss carry forwards for federal income tax purposes available to offset future capital gains, and utilized capital loss carry forwards as follows:
Non-Expiring | Non-Expiring | |||||||||||||
Short-Term | Long-Term | Total | CLCF Utilized | |||||||||||
$ | 114,690 | $ | 1,934,490 | $ | 2,049,180 | $ | 104,573 | |||||||
Distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains by the Fund will be taxable to shareholders whether made in cash or reinvested by the Fund in shares. Shareholders receiving a distribution from the Fund in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share of the Fund on the reinvestment date. Fund distributions also will be included in individual and corporate shareholders’ income on which the alternative minimum tax may be imposed.
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The Fund or the securities dealer effecting a redemption of the Fund’s shares by a shareholder will be required to file information reports with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to distributions and payments made to the shareholder. In addition, the Fund will be required to withhold federal income tax on taxable dividends, redemptions and other payments made to accounts of individual or other non–exempt shareholders who have not furnished their correct taxpayer identification numbers and certain required certifications on the New Account application or with respect to which the Fund or the securities dealer has been notified by the IRS that the number furnished is incorrect or that the account is otherwise subject to withholding.
The Fund may receive dividend distributions from U.S. corporations. To the extent that the Fund receives such dividends and distributes them to its shareholders, and meets certain other requirements of the Code, corporate shareholders of the Fund may be entitled to the “dividends received” deduction. Availability of the deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt–financing limitations.
Distributions of net investment income and net short-term capital gains are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Under current law, distributions of certain qualified dividend income paid out of the Fund’s investment company taxable income may be taxable to noncorporate shareholders at long-term capital gain rates, which are currently significantly lower than the highest rate that applies to ordinary income.
The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends and interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations.
The use of hedging strategies, such as entering into futures contracts and forward contracts and purchasing options, involves complex rules that will determine the character and timing of recognition of the income received in connection therewith by the Fund. Income from foreign currencies (except certain gains therefrom that may be excluded by future regulations) and income from transactions in options, futures contracts and forward contracts derived by the Fund with respect to its business of investing in securities or foreign currencies will qualify as permissible income under Subchapter M of the Code.
For accounting purposes, when the Fund purchases an option, the premium paid by the Fund is recorded as an asset and is subsequently adjusted to the current market value of the option. Any gain or loss realized by the Fund upon the expiration or sale of such options held by the Fund generally will be capital gain or loss.
Any security, option, or other position entered into or held by the Fund that substantially diminishes the Fund’s risk of loss from any other position held by the Fund may constitute a “straddle” for federal income tax purposes. In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the amount, character and timing of the Fund’s gains and losses with respect to straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that the loss realized on disposition of one position of a straddle be deferred until gain is realized on disposition of the offsetting position; that the Fund’s holding period in certain straddle positions not begin until the straddle is terminated (possibly resulting in the gain being treated as short–term capital gain rather than long–term capital gain); and that losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions, which would otherwise constitute short–term capital losses, be treated as long–term capital losses. Different elections are available to the Fund that may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules.
Certain options, futures contracts and forward contracts that are subject to Section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) and that are held by the Fund at the end of its taxable year generally will be required to be “marked to market” for federal income tax purposes, that is, deemed to have been sold at market value. Sixty percent of any net gain or loss recognized on these deemed sales and 60% of any net
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gain or loss realized from any actual sales of Section 1256 Contracts will be treated as long–term capital gain or loss, and the balance will be treated as short–term capital gain or loss.
Section 988 of the Code contains special tax rules applicable to certain foreign currency transactions that may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized by the Fund. Under these rules, foreign exchange gain or loss realized with respect to foreign currency–denominated debt instruments, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency denominated payables and receivables and foreign currency options and futures contracts (other than options and futures contracts that are governed by the mark–to–market and 60/40 rules of Section 1256 of the Code and for which no election is made) is treated as ordinary income or loss. Some part of the Fund’s gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of shares of a foreign corporation may, because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, be treated as ordinary income or loss under Section 988 of the Code rather than as capital gain or loss.
A shareholder who purchases shares of the Fund by tendering payment for the shares in the form of other securities may be required to recognize gain or loss for income tax purposes on the difference, if any, between the adjusted basis of the securities tendered to the fund and the purchase price of the Fund’s shares acquired by the shareholder.
Section 475 of the Code requires that a “dealer” in securities must generally “mark to market” at the end of its taxable year all securities which it owns. The resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary (and not capital) gain or loss, except to the extent allocable to periods during which the dealer held the security for investment. The “mark to market” rules do not apply, however, to a security held for investment which is clearly identified in the dealer’s records as being held for investment before the end of the day in which the security was acquired. The IRS has issued guidance under Section 475 that provides that, for example, a bank that regularly originates and sells loans is a dealer in securities, and subject to the “mark to market” rules. Shares of the Fund held by a dealer in securities will be subject to the “mark to market” rules unless they are held by the dealer for investment and the dealer property identifies the shares as held for investment.
Redemptions of shares of the Fund will result in gains or losses for tax purposes to the extent of the difference between the proceeds and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis for the shares. Any loss realized upon the redemption of shares within six months from their date of purchase will be treated as a long–term capital loss to the extent of distributions of long–term capital gain dividends during such six–month period. All or a portion of a 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.
Distributions and redemptions may be subject to state and local income taxes, and the treatment thereof may differ from the federal income tax treatment. Foreign taxes may apply to non–U.S. investors.
Nonresident aliens and foreign persons are subject to different tax rules, and may be subject to withholding of up to 30% on certain payments received from the Fund. Shareholders are advised to consult with their own tax advisers concerning the application of foreign, federal, state and local taxes to an investment in the Fund.
Under the 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 Code, distributions of taxable net investment 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 (currently at a rate of 24%) in the case of non-exempt
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shareholders who fail to furnish the investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law, or if the Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker that withholding is required due to an incorrect TIN 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 above discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus are not intended to be complete discussions of all applicable federal tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. Alston & Bird LLP has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.
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.
To the extent such investments are permissible, certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including its transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess book income will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
Investment by the Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company.
The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return.
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Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned.
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 its 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 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 the 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 debt 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 and Pay-In-Kind Securities
Current federal tax law requires the holder of a U.S. Treasury or other fixed income zero coupon security to accrue as income each year a portion of the discount at which the security was purchased, even though the holder receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. In addition, pay-in-kind securities will give rise to income, which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.
Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as debt securities that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. A portion of the OID includable in income with
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respect to certain high-yield corporate debt securities (including certain pay-in-kind securities) may be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Some of the debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
Some debt securities (with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance) that may be acquired by the Fund may be treated as having acquisition discount, or OID in the case of certain types of debt securities. Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount, or OID, in income over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt securities having acquisition discount, or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.
In addition, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act requires that taxpayers, such as the Fund, that use an accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes are generally required to include certain amounts in income no later than the time such amounts are reflected on such taxpayer’s applicable financial statements. Certain fees treated as OID may be included as income for financial statement purposes when received (as opposed to being accrued into income over the term of the debt instrument), which may thus require such amounts be treated as taxable income of the Fund upon their receipt.
If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of securities, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution, if any, than they would in the absence of such transactions.
Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund’s shares.
A brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution accompany each distribution. In January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about the application of federal, state and local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation.
Dividends and Distributions
The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities. This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be declared as dividends to the Fund’s shareholders.
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The amount of income dividend payments by the Fund is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board. The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.
The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain the Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held less than the period required for long–term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short–term capital gains and losses, although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of dividends giving rise to ordinary income. If during any year the Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held more than the period required for long–term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long–term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long–term capital gain. For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax advisor.
Any dividend or distribution paid by the Fund reduces the Fund’s NAV per share on the date paid by the amount of the dividend or distribution per share. Accordingly, a dividend or distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a partial return of capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it would be subject to income taxes.
Dividends and other distributions will be made in the form of additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated. Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing, but any such change will be effective only as to dividends and other distributions for which the record date is seven or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.
Financial Statements
The financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal period ended May 31, 2019 and the independent registered public accountant’s report dated July 30, 2019 are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s Annual Report. These financial statements include the portfolio of investments, statement of assets and liabilities, statement of operations, statements of changes in net assets, financial highlights and notes to the financial statements. The Fund will provide the Fund’s Annual Report without charge upon request in writing or by telephone.
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APPENDIX “A” Proxy Voting Policy
The Firm will not vote proxies on behalf of clients. Should it elect to vote proxies in the future for any reason, the Firm must establish a written voting policy, amend Part 2A of Form ADV to include a summary of the policy, and keep the records required under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 relating to proxy voting.
Policy
KKM Financial (“ADVISER”), as a matter of policy and as a fiduciary, has responsibility for voting proxies for portfolio securities consistent with the best economic interests of the Funds, Portfolios and clients. Our firm maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our firm’s proxy policies and practices. Our policy and practice includes the responsibility to monitor corporate actions, receive and vote client proxies and disclose any potential conflicts of interest as well as making information available to clients about the voting of proxies for their portfolio securities and maintaining relevant and required records.
Background
Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and reasonable care and diligence must be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised.
Investment advisers registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which must include how an adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between an adviser's interests and those of its Funds, Portfolios and clients; (b) to disclose to Funds, Portfolios and clients how they may obtain information from the adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) to describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the adviser's proxy voting activities when the adviser does have proxy voting authority.
Responsibility
KKM Financial has the responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of our proxy voting policy, practices, disclosures and record keeping, including outlining our voting guidelines in our procedures.
Procedure
ADVISER has adopted procedures to implement the firm’s policy and reviews to monitor and insure the firm’s policy is observed, implemented properly and amended or updated, as appropriate, which include the following:
Voting Procedures
I. INTRODUCTION
ADVISER has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures as required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. These policies and procedures are effective on March 17th, 2014.
II. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Non-Routine Proxy Proposals shall mean:
· | Proxy proposals that are to be considered on a case-by-case basis, |
· | Proxy proposals that Advisor generally abstains from voting on, and |
· | Proxy proposals that are not addressed by the Principles and Guidelines section of the Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures. |
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Proxy Manager shall be Jeff Kilburg, CEO & Founder.
Proxy Committee shall be comprised of the following person(s):
1) | Jeff Kilburg, CEO & Founder |
2) | Daniel Deming, Managing Director |
A quorum of the Proxy Committee shall be comprised of at least one member.
Routine Proxy Proposals shall mean proxy proposals that the Proxy Manager shall cast either yes or no votes in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines noted below.
III. PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINE
A. | Principles. ADVISER’s primary purpose and fiduciary responsibility is to maximize shareholder value, which is defined as share price and dividend appreciation. |
ADVISER will vote proxies in the best interests of our Funds, Portfolios and clients and will generally vote for, against, consider on a case-by-case basis, or abstain from voting as indicated below. Because of the extenuating circumstances associated with specific proxy issues, ADVISER’s votes may differ from time to time from the indications noted. In addition, the list may not include all proxies on which ADVISER votes. ADVISER will also act, in our best judgment, on behalf of our Funds, Portfolios and clients on certain corporate actions that impact shareholder value, such as tender offers and bankruptcy proceedings.
B. | Voting Guidelines |
1. | Routine Business Decisions and Director Related Proposals |
Advisor votes for:
a) | Name changes |
b) | Directors in uncontested elections |
c) | Elimination/limitation of directors’ liability |
d) | Indemnification of directors |
e) | Reincorporation that is not a takeover defense |
Advisor considers on a case-by-case basis:
f) | Directors in contested elections |
g) | Approval of auditors. |
2. | Corporate Governance |
Advisor votes for:
a) | Majority independent board |
b) | Audit, compensation & nominating committees that are comprised exclusively of independent directors Minimum director share ownership |
c) | Separate offices of chairperson and CEO |
d) | Limitation on number of other board seats |
e) | Confidential voting |
f) | Shareholders’ ability to remove directors Shareholder right to call special meetings |
Advisor votes against:
a) | Supermajority vote requirements |
b) | Limiting directors tenure |
c) | Restrictions on shareholders to act by written consent Advisor considers on a case-by-case |
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basis:
d) | Shareholder proposals |
e) | Dissident proxy battle |
3. | Director and Executive Compensation |
Advisor votes for:
a) | Disclosure of executive compensation Advisor votes against: |
b) | Golden and tin parachutes Advisor considers on a case-by-case basis: |
c) | Restricting executive compensation |
d) | Executive compensation plans |
e) | Establish/Increase share option plans for directors and executives |
4. | Take-Over Defense |
Advisor votes against:
a) | Reincorporation to prevent takeover |
b) | Issue new class of common stock with unequal voting rights |
c) | Adoption of fair price amendments |
d) | Establish a classified (or “staggered”) board of directors |
e) | Eliminating cumulative voting |
f) | Poison pills |
g) | Blank check preferred stock |
5. | Capital Structure |
Advisor votes for:
a) | Increase authorized common stock (unless additional stock is a takeover defense, i.e., poison pill). |
b) | Share repurchase programs (when all shareholders may participate on equal terms) |
Advisor votes against:
c) | Unequal voting rights, such as dual class of stock |
d) | Pre-emptive rights |
Advisor considers on a case-by-case basis:
e) | Increase preferred stock |
f) | Blank check preferred stock (not for takeover defense) |
g) | Restructuring plans |
6. | Other Shareholder Value Issues |
Advisor votes for:
a) Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
b) Employee stock purchase plans
c) 401(k) plans
Advisor votes against:
d) Greenmail
Advisor considers on a case-by-case basis:
e) Mergers and acquisitions
f) Spin-offs and asset sales
7. | Corporate, Social and Environmental Policy Proposals. As noted above, ADVISER’s fiduciary responsibility is the maintenance and growth of our clients’ assets. Accordingly, ADVISER |
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will typically vote in accordance with management’s recommendations or abstain from voting on proposals concerning corporate policy and social and environmental issues. When such proposals impact shareholder value, Advisor may vote on a case-by-case basis.
8. | Proposals Specific to Mutual Funds. ADVISER serves as investment adviser to certain investment companies under the Northern Lights Fund Trust. These funds invest in other investment companies that are not affiliated (“Underlying Funds”) and are required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) to handle proxies received from Underlying Funds in a certain manner. Notwithstanding the guidelines provided in these procedures, it is the policy of ADVISER to vote all proxies received from the Underlying Funds in the same proportion that all shares of the Underlying Funds are voted, or in accordance with instructions received from fund shareholders, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act. After properly voted, the proxy materials are placed in a file maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer for future reference. |
IV. Conflicts of Interest
On occasion, a conflict of interest may exist between ADVISER and Funds, Portfolios and clients regarding the outcome of certain proxy votes. In such cases, ADVISER is committed to resolving the conflict in the best interest of our Funds, Portfolios and clients before we vote the proxy in question.
If the proxy proposal is a Routine Proxy Proposal, ADVISER will typically adhere to the standard procedure of referring to the principles and guidelines described herein in deciding how to vote. Alternatively, ADVISER may disclose the conflict to our clients and obtain their consent before voting or seek the recommendation of an independent third party in deciding how to vote.
If the proxy proposal is a Non-Routine Proxy Proposal, ADVISER will take any of the following courses of action to resolve the conflict:
1) | Disclose the conflict to our Funds, Portfolios and clients and obtain consent before voting; |
2) | Suggest that our Funds, Portfolios and clients engage another party to determine how the proxy should be voted; or |
3) | Vote according to the recommendation of an independent third party, such as a: |
V. Obtaining More Information
Funds, Portfolios and clients may obtain a record of Advisor’s proxy voting, free of charge, by calling (312) 253-0425.
These policies and procedures may also be found in ADVISER’s Form ADV, Part II and supporting schedules.
VI. Procedures
When the mail arrives, the person responsible for separating the mail gives any proxy materials to the person who handles compliance issues. The proxy materials are then opened by the Compliance person. The ticker symbol for the security noted on the proxy is located. A Security Cross Reference report is run in Axys as of the record date, as stated on the proxy. This report tells how many shares were owned by Funds, Portfolios and clients as of the record date, and can be printed in detail so that the exact clients who held the security on the record date are listed. An email is sent to the Receptionist about the arrival of the proxy. In the email is listed the name of the security, ticker symbol, arrival date, custodian and number of shares.
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Once the Security Cross Reference report has been run, the number of shares on the report is compared to the number of shares to be voted on the proxy.
If the number of shares between the two reports matches, then the Security Cross Reference report is attached to the proxy materials and forwarded to the Portfolio Manager to be voted according to ADVISER’s proxy voting policies.
If the number of shares does not match, then reasonable efforts will be made to resolve the difference, such as:
· | Rerunning the Security Cross Reference report for other dates around the record date of the proxy to see if the security transferred into ADVISER after the record date, even though the client owned it as of the record date. |
· | Calling the custodian to confirm the clients per their records that are included in the proxy count, and then verifying that information to the Security Cross Reference report. There may be differences due to clients having made the decision to vote their proxies, in which case, the proxies would go directly to the clients. |
If the difference still cannot be resolved, the matter is reviewed with the Portfolio Manager as to the next action to be taken. If the difference is determined to be immaterial and is approved by the Portfolio Manager, then the proxy will stand as is.
Once the shares have been reconciled, then the proxy materials and the Security Cross Reference report are then given to the Portfolio Manager to vote.
The Portfolio Manager will generally vote the routine proxies in accordance with the principles and guidelines described in ADVISER’s Proxy Voting Policy and sign the proxy. For Non-Routine Proxy Proposals, the Portfolio Manager will vote them on a case-by-case basis. The vote and the rationale will be noted as documentation for the vote.
Once the Portfolio Manager has voted the proxies, they will be given to the Receptionist for processing. If the proxy is to be mailed, then a copy of the proxy is made, attached to the proxy materials that support the vote and Security Cross Reference report and filed in chronological order. This file is maintained by year.
If the proxy was voted electronically, the original proxy with the notes on it is as to how the proxy was voted, are maintained and attached to the proxy materials that support the vote and Security Cross Reference report, and filed in chronological order, just like proxies that are mailed.
The Receptionist then enters the necessary information in the Proxy Voting Database. The following information is entered:
Should ADVISER receive any requests from clients regarding proxy voting, the Receptionist will maintain a record of the requests from the specific clients, which will include:
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A copy of the information sent to the client will be retained in a chronological file, maintained by year.
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Northern Lights Fund Trust II
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 28.
EXHIBITS.
(a)(1) | Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 26, 2010.3 |
(a)(2) | Certificate of Trust as filed with the State of Delaware on August 26, 2010.3 |
(b) | By-Laws, effective as of August 26, 2010. 3 |
(c) | Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. See Article III, “Shares” and Article V “Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings” of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust. See also, Article II, “Meetings of Shareholders” of the Registrant’s By-Laws. |
(d)(1) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, with respect to Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 4 |
(d)(2) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Advisors Preferred, LLC, with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund. 6 |
(d)(3) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and North Star Investment Management Corp., with respect to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund. 85 |
(d)(4) | Amended Appendix A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and North Star Investment Management Corp., with respect to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund. 188 |
(d)(5) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Water Oak Advisors, LLC on behalf of WOA All Asset I and WOA US All Cap I. 152 |
(d)(6) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, on behalf of the Al Frank Fund.180 |
(d)(7) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Linde Hansen & Co., LLC on behalf of the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund. 22 |
(d)(8) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Longboard Asset Management, LP on behalf of the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Longboard Alternative Growth Fund.177 |
(d)(9) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and KKM Financial, LLC on behalf of the Essential 40 Stock Fund (formerly, KKM Enhanced U.S. Equity Fund). 160 |
(d)(10) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Price Asset Management, LLC, with respect to PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. 134 |
(d)(11) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC on behalf of the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund. 155 |
(d)(12) | Amended Appendix A to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC on behalf of the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund. 188 |
(d)(13) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Orchard Capital Management, LLC on behalf of the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund. 123 |
(d)(14) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and FormulaFolio Investments, LLC on behalf of the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio and the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 183 |
(d)(15) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Innealta Capital, LLC on behalf of the Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. 179 |
(d)(16) | Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Invenomic Capital Management, LP on behalf of the Invenomic Fund. 193 |
(d)(17) | Sub-advisory Agreement between Advisors Preferred, LLC and Hundredfold Advisors LLC with respect to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund.9 |
(d)(18) | Sub-advisory Agreement between Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC and S.W. Mitchell Capital, L.L.P. with respect to the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund. 147 |
(d)(19) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Advisors Series Trust, with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund, each a separate series of Advisors Series Trust, the Registrant, on behalf of the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund, each a separate series of the Registrant, and Al Frank Asset Management, Inc. dated January 18, 2013.2 |
(d)(20) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Professionally Managed Portfolios, with respect to the Balter Long/Short Equity Fund, a separate series of Professionally Managed Portfolios, the Registrant, on behalf of the Balter Long/Short Equity Fund, a separate series of the Registrant, and Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC dated June 24, 2015.108 |
(d)(21) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among S. W. Mitchell Small Cap European Fund L.P., Mitchell (general Partner II) Inc., Northern Lights Fund Trust II on behalf of its series the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund and Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC dated December 31, 2015. 2 |
(d)(22) | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated April 21, 2017 with respect to the reorganization of the Al Frank Dividend Value Fund into the Al Frank Fund. 154 |
(d)(23) | Master Securities Loan Agreement between AFAM Capital, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC and MS Securities Services, Inc.45 |
(e)(1) | Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors LLC.187 |
(e)(2) | Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Ceros Financial Services, Inc. on behalf of the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 10 |
(f) | Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts - Not Applicable |
(g)(1) | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Bank of New York Mellon. 4 |
(g)(2) | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund.5 |
(g)(3) | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. 15 |
(g)(4) | Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of the Al Frank Fund.46 |
(g)(5) | Addendum dated November 10, 2015 to the Custody Agreement dated May 26, 2015 between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., to add the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio and the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 118 |
(g)(6) | Fourth Amendment, effective June 1, 2017, to the Custody Agreement dated May 26, 2015 between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., on behalf of the Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund, Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund, and Balter Invenomic Fund. 155 |
(h)(1) | Master Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC dated May 17, 2011.137 |
(h)(2) | Amendment dated July 13, 2016 to the Master Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC dated May 17, 2011. 137 |
(h)(3) | Second Amendment dated June 1, 2018 to the Master Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC dated May 17, 2011.177 |
(h)(4) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.4 |
(h)(5) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 5 |
(h)(6) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund.85 |
(h)(7) |
Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of WOA All Asset I and WOA US All Cap Fund I. 157 |
(h)(8) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Al Frank Fund. 75 |
(h)(9) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.22 |
(h)(10) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund. 35 |
(h)(11) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Essential 40 Stock Fund (formerly, KKM Enhanced U.S. Equity Fund). 76 |
(h)(12) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. 85 |
(h)(13) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Longboard Alternative Growth Fund (formerly, Longboard Long/Short Fund). 94 |
(h)(14) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund, Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund and Balter Invenomic Fund. 156 |
(h)(15) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund. 123 |
(h)(16) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio and the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 118 |
(h)(17) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Epsilon Sector-Balanced Fund. 159 |
(h)(18) | Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Gemini Fund Services, LLC, on behalf of the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund, Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. 179 |
(h)(19) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 4 |
(h)(20) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund.85 |
(h)(21) | Amended Appendix A to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund. 188 |
(h)(22) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to WOA All Asset I. 16 |
(h)(23) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund and the Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. 179 |
(h)(24) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.38 |
(h)(25) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Al Frank Fund.181 |
(h)(26) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Essential 40 Stock Fund (formerly, KKM Enhanced U.S. Equity Fund). 160 |
(h)(27) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.134 |
(h)(28) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the, Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund.155 |
(h)(29) | Amended Appendix A to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund. 188 |
(h)(30) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund. 123 |
(h)(31) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio and the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 183 |
(h)(32) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to WOA US All Cap I. 152 |
(h)(33) | Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant, with respect to the Invenomic Fund.193 |
(h)(34) | Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC.152 |
(h)(35) | Shareholder Services Plan on behalf of the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Investor Class Shares.42 |
(h)(36) | Shareholder Services Plan on behalf of the Invenomic Fund. 193 |
(h)(37) | Shareholder Services Plan on behalf of the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund. 188 |
(i)(1) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund. 191 |
(i)(2) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund. 187 |
(i)(3) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund and the Dynamic International Opportunity Fund. 185 |
(i)(4) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.184 |
(i)(5) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the WOA All Asset I. 192 |
(i)(6) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Longboard Alternative Growth Fund. 2 |
(i)(7) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund. 193 |
(i)(8) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Al Frank Fund.190 |
(i)(9) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Essential 40 Stock Fund . 1 |
(i)(10) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.180 |
(i)(11) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the, Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund, Balter Invenomic Fund and the Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund. 182 |
(i)(12) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund. 186 |
(i)(13) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 183 |
(i)(14) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio. 189 |
(i)(15) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the WOA US All Cap. 146 |
(i)(16) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. 179 |
(i)(17) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Balter Invenomic Fund. 188 |
(i)(18) | Consent of Alston & Bird LLP.1 |
(j)(1) | Consent of Cohen & Company, Ltd. with respect to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.193 |
(j)(2) | Consent of Cohen & Company, Ltd with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund.191 |
(j)(3) | Consent of RSM US LLP with respect to North Star Bond Fund, North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Dividend Fund.183 |
(j)(4) | Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP with respect to WOA All Asset I.192 |
(j)(5) | Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund and the Dynamic International Opportunity Fund. 185 |
(j)(6) | Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.184 |
(j)(7) | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP with respect to Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund and Hundredfold Select Equity Fund. 28 |
(j)(8) | Consent of RSM US LLP with respect to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Longboard Alternative Growth Fund.2 |
(j)(9) | Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Al Frank Fund and Al Frank Dividend Value Fund.49 |
(j)(10) | Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Al Frank Fund.190 |
(j)(11) | Consent of RSM US LLP with respect to the Essential 40 Stock Fund . 1 |
(j)(12) | Consent of RSM US LLP with respect to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund. 180 |
(j)(13) | Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund, Balter Invenomic Fund and the Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund. 182 |
(j)(14) | Consent of BBD LLP with respect to the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund. 186 |
(j)(15) | Consent of Cohen & Company, Ltd. with respect to the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund. 183 |
(j)(16) | Consent of Cohen & Company, Ltd. with respect to the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio. 189 |
(j)(17) | Consent of Grant Thornton with respect to the schedule of investments for the S.W. Mitchell Small Cap European Fund L.P.119 |
(j)(18) | Consent of BDO with respect to the Tiburon Credit Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd for the period ended December 31, 2014. 120 |
(j)(19) | Consent of BDO with respect to the Tiburon Credit Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd for the period ended December 31, 2013. 120 |
(j)(20) | Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker, LLP with respect to WOA US All Cap. 146 |
(j)(21) | Consent of BBD, LLP with respect to the Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. 179 |
(j)(22) | Consent of Tait, Weller & Baker LLP with respect to the Balter Invenomic Fund. 188 |
(j)(23) | Power of Attorney. 155 |
(k) | Omitted Financial Statements - Not Applicable. |
(l) | Initial Capital Agreements - Not Applicable. |
(m)(1) | Class A Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 154 |
(m)(2) | Class C Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 154 |
(m)(3) | Class I Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 156 |
(m)(4) | Class N Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 179 |
(m)(5) | Class R Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 154 |
(m)(6) | Investor Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 156 |
(m)(7) | Service Class Master Distribution and Shareholder Services Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1. 46 |
(m)(8) | Shareholder Servicing Plan and Agreement on behalf of the Balter L/S Small Cap Equity Fund (formerly the Balter Long/Short Equity Fund), Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund and Balter Invenomic Fund.155 |
(n) | Rule 18f-3 Plan, as amended July 24, 2018.179 |
(p)(1) | Code of Ethics of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC.4 |
(p)(2) | Code of Ethics of Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC.4 |
(p)(3) | Code of Ethics of Advisors Preferred LLC.4 |
(p)(4) | Code of Ethics for Hundredfold Advisors, LLC. 5 |
(p)(5) | Code of Ethics for North Star Investment Management Corp.7 |
(p)(6) | Code of Ethics for Water Oak Advisors LLC. 9 |
(p)(7) | Code of Ethics for Linde Hansen & Co., LLC. 16 |
(p)(8) | Code of Ethics for Longboard Asset Management, LP. 115 |
(p)(9) | Code of Ethics for Ceros Financial Services, Inc.42 |
(p)(10) | Code of Ethics for KKM Financial, LLC. 74 |
(p)(11) | Code of Ethics for Price Asset Management, LLC 81 |
(p)(12) | Code of Ethics for Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC and Invenomic Capital Management, LP. 155 |
(p)(13) | Code of Ethics for Orchard Capital Management, LLC. 116 |
(p)(14) | Code of Ethics for FormulaFolio Investments, LLC. 116 |
(p)(15) | Code of Ethics for S.W. Mitchell Capital, L.L.P. 116 |
(p)(16) | Code of Ethics for Innealta Capital, LLC. 172 |
(p)(17) | Code of Ethics for Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC 180 |
[1] Is filed herewith.
2 To be filed by subsequent amendment.
3 Previously filed on June 16, 2011 in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A, and hereby incorporated by reference.
4 Previously filed on June 28, 2011 in the Registrant's Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2, and hereby incorporated by reference.
5 Previously filed on August 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Proxy/Registration Statement on Form N-14, and hereby incorporated by reference.
6 Previously filed on August 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 2, and hereby incorporated by reference.
7 Previously filed on August 19, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 3, and hereby incorporated by reference.
8 Previously filed on August 26, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 4, and hereby incorporated by reference.
9 Previously filed on September 20, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 5, and hereby incorporated by reference.
10 Previously filed on October 3, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 9, and hereby incorporated by reference.
11 Previously filed on October 27, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 12, and hereby incorporated by reference.
12 Previously filed on October 27, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 13, and hereby incorporated by reference.
13 Previously filed on November 2, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 14, and hereby incorporated by reference.
14Previously filed on November 17, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 and hereby incorporated by reference.
15Previously filed on November 22, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 and hereby incorporated by reference.
16Previously filed on December 14, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 and hereby incorporated by reference.
17 Previously filed on December 19, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 and hereby incorporated by reference.
18Previously filed on December 20, 2011 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 and hereby incorporated by reference.
19Previously filed on January 4, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 and hereby incorporated by reference.
20Previously filed on January 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 and hereby incorporated by reference.
21Previously filed on January 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 and hereby incorporated by reference.
22Previously filed on January 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 and hereby incorporated by reference.
23Previously filed on February 2, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 and hereby incorporated by reference.
24Previously filed on February 7, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 39 and hereby incorporated by reference.
25Previously filed on February 10, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 and hereby incorporated by reference.
26Previously filed on March 8, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 and hereby incorporated by reference.
27Previously filed on March 9, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 and hereby incorporated by reference.
28Previously filed on March 13, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 and hereby incorporated by reference.
29Previously filed on March 23, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 and hereby incorporated by reference.
30Previously filed on March 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 and hereby incorporated by reference.
31Previously filed on April 12, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 and hereby incorporated by reference.
32Previously filed on April 17, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 and hereby incorporated by reference.
33Previously filed on May 15, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 and hereby incorporated by reference.
34Previously filed on May 25, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 and hereby incorporated by reference.
35Previously filed on June 19, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 and hereby incorporated by reference.
36Previously filed on June 28, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 69 and hereby incorporated by reference.
37Previously filed on July 27, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 73 and hereby incorporated by reference.
38Previously filed on August 17, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 75 and hereby incorporated by reference.
39Previously filed on September 20, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 78 and hereby incorporated by reference.
40Previously filed on October 19, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 and hereby incorporated by reference.
41Previously filed on November 9, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 and hereby incorporated by reference.
42Previously filed on December 28, 2012 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 88 and hereby incorporated by reference.
43Previously filed on January 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 and hereby incorporated by reference.
44Previously filed on January 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 and hereby incorporated by reference.
45Previously filed on February 1, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 and hereby incorporated by reference.
46Previously filed on March 22, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 and hereby incorporated by reference.
47Previously filed on March 28, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 and hereby incorporated by reference.
48Previously filed on April 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 and hereby incorporated by reference.
49Previously filed on April 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 101 and hereby incorporated by reference.
50Previously filed on June 7, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 103 and hereby incorporated by reference.
51Previously filed on June 25, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 105 and hereby incorporated by reference.
52Previously filed on July 29, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 109 and hereby incorporated by reference.
53Previously filed on September 3, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 and hereby incorporated by reference.
54Previously filed on September 19, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 and hereby incorporated by reference.
55Previously filed on September 26, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 117 and hereby incorporated by reference.
56Previously filed on September 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 and hereby incorporated by reference.
57Previously filed on November 18, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 and hereby incorporated by reference.
58Previously filed on December 17, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 and hereby incorporated by reference.
59Previously filed on December 27, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 and hereby incorporated by reference.
60Previously filed on December 27, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 and hereby incorporated by reference.
61Previously filed on December 30, 2013 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 and hereby incorporated by reference.
62Previously filed on January 13, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 134 and hereby incorporated by reference.
63Previously filed on January 13, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 135 and hereby incorporated by reference.
64Previously filed on March 14, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 138 and hereby incorporated by reference
65Previously filed on March 26, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 141 and hereby incorporated by reference.
66Previously filed on March 26, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 142 and hereby incorporated by reference.
67Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 143 and hereby incorporated by reference
68Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 144 and hereby incorporated by reference
69Previously filed on March 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 145 and hereby incorporated by reference
70Previously filed on March 28, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 146 and hereby incorporated by reference.
71Previously filed on March 28, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 147 and hereby incorporated by reference.
72Previously filed on April 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 149 and hereby incorporated by reference.
73Previously filed on April 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 150 and hereby incorporated by reference.
74Previously filed on May 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 155 and hereby incorporated by reference.
75Previously filed on June 20, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 157 and hereby incorporated by reference.
76Previously filed on June 25, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 158 and hereby incorporated by reference.
77Previously filed on June 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 and hereby incorporated by reference.
78Previously filed on June 27, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 160 and hereby incorporated by reference.
79Previously filed on July 8, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 and hereby incorporated by reference.
80Previously filed on July 24, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 168 and hereby incorporated by reference.
81Previously filed on September 3, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 170 and hereby incorporated by reference.
82Previously filed on September 24, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 and hereby incorporated by reference.
83Previously filed on September 24, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 176 and hereby incorporated by reference.
84Previously filed on September 25, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 177 and hereby incorporated by reference.
85Previously filed on September 26, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 178 and hereby incorporated by reference.
86Previously filed on November 21, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 189 and hereby incorporated by reference.
87Previously filed on December 4, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 and hereby incorporated by reference.
88Previously filed on December 23, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 192 and hereby incorporated by reference.
89Previously filed on December 29, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 192 and hereby incorporated by reference.
90Previously filed on December 30, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 197 and hereby incorporated by reference.
91Previously filed on December 31, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 200 and hereby incorporated by reference.
92Previously filed on December 31, 2014 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 201 and hereby incorporated by reference.
93Previously filed on January 27, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 207 and hereby incorporated by reference.
94Previously filed on March 16, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 209 and hereby incorporated by reference.
95Previously filed on March 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 210 and hereby incorporated by reference.
96Previously filed on March 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 211 and hereby incorporated by reference.
97Previously filed on March 24, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 212 and hereby incorporated by reference.
98Previously filed on March 25, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 213 and hereby incorporated by reference.
99Previously filed on March 27, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 214 and hereby incorporated by reference.
100Previously filed on March 30, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 215 and hereby incorporated by reference.
101Previously filed on April 29, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 225 and hereby incorporated by reference.
102Previously filed on April 29, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 226 and hereby incorporated by reference.
103Previously filed on April 29, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 227 and hereby incorporated by reference.
104Previously filed on May 26, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 and hereby incorporated by reference.
105Previously filed on June 26, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 234 and hereby incorporated by reference.
106Previously filed on June 29, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 235 and hereby incorporated by reference.
107Previously filed on July 14, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 238 and hereby incorporated by reference.
108Previously filed on July 24, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 240 and hereby incorporated by reference.
109Previously filed on July 28, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 242 and hereby incorporated by reference.
110Previously filed on September 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 251 and hereby incorporated by reference.
111Previously filed on September 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 and hereby incorporated by reference.
112Previously filed on September 24, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 253 and hereby incorporated by reference.
113Previously filed on September 25, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 254 and hereby incorporated by reference.
114Previously filed on September 25, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 255 and hereby incorporated by reference.
115Previously filed on September 28, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 256 and hereby incorporated by reference.
116Previously filed on October 14, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 262 and hereby incorporated by reference.
117Previously filed on November 19, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 and hereby incorporated by reference.
118Previously filed on November 19, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 269 and hereby incorporated by reference.
119Previously filed on December 21, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 280 and hereby incorporated by reference.
120Previously filed on December 21, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 281 and hereby incorporated by reference.
121Previously filed on December 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 and hereby incorporated by reference.
122Previously filed on December 23, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 283 and hereby incorporated by reference.
123Previously filed on December 28, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 284 and hereby incorporated by reference.
124Previously filed on December 29, 2015 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 and hereby incorporated by reference.
125Previously filed on January 29, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 and hereby incorporated by reference.
126Previously filed on February 26, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 293 and hereby incorporated by reference.
127Previously filed on February 26, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 294 and hereby incorporated by reference.
128Previously filed on March 17, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 297 and hereby incorporated by reference.
129Previously filed on March 18, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 298 and hereby incorporated by reference.
130Previously filed on March 22, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 and hereby incorporated by reference.
131Previously filed on March 23, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 300 and hereby incorporated by reference.
132Previously filed on March 28, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 301 and hereby incorporated by reference.
133Previously filed on March 28, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 301 and hereby incorporated by reference.
134Previously filed on April 22, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 308 and hereby incorporated by reference.
135Previously filed on June 26, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 312 and hereby incorporated by reference.
136Previously filed on July 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 313 and hereby incorporated by reference.
137Previously filed on September 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 315 and hereby incorporated by reference.
138Previously filed on September 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 316 and hereby incorporated by reference.
139Previously filed on September 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 317 and hereby incorporated by reference.
140Previously filed on September 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 318 and hereby incorporated by reference.
141Previously filed on December 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 324 and hereby incorporated by reference.
142Previously filed on December 27, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 325 and hereby incorporated by reference.
143Previously filed on December 28, 2016 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 326 and hereby incorporated by reference.
144Previously filed on February 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 331 and hereby incorporated by reference.
145Previously filed on February 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 332 and hereby incorporated by reference.
146Previously filed on March 1, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 and hereby incorporated by reference.
147Previously filed on March 3, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 and hereby incorporated by reference.
148Previously filed on March 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 337 and hereby incorporated by reference.
149Previously filed on March 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 338 and hereby incorporated by reference.
150Previously filed on March 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 339 and hereby incorporated by reference.
151Previously filed on March 29, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 340 and hereby incorporated by reference.
152Previously filed on March 29, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 341 and hereby incorporated by reference.
153Previously filed on April 13, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 347 and hereby incorporated by reference.
154Previously filed on April 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 348 and hereby incorporated by reference.
155Previously filed on May 17, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 351 and hereby incorporated by reference.
156Previously filed on June 16, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 353 and hereby incorporated by reference.
157Previously filed on June 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 354 and hereby incorporated by reference.
158Previously filed on July 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 356 and hereby incorporated by reference.
159Previously filed on August 25, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 358 and hereby incorporated by reference.
1609Previously filed on September 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 361 and hereby incorporated by reference
161Previously filed on September 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 362 and hereby incorporated by reference.
162Previously filed on November 22, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 367 and hereby incorporated by reference.
163Previously filed on December 4, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 370 and hereby incorporated by reference.
164Previously filed on December 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 372 and hereby incorporated by reference.
165Previously filed on December 27, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 373 and hereby incorporated by reference.
166Previously filed on December 28, 2017 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 374 and hereby incorporated by reference.
167Previously filed on February 23, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 379 and hereby incorporated by reference.
168Previously filed on March 26, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 381 and hereby incorporated by reference.
169Previously filed on March 26, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 382 and hereby incorporated by reference.
170Previously filed on March 27, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 383 and hereby incorporated by reference.
171Previously filed on March 28, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 384 and hereby incorporated by reference.
172Previously filed on March 29, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 385 and hereby incorporated by reference.
173Previously filed on April 18, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 391 and hereby incorporated by reference.
174Previously filed on April 27, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 and hereby incorporated by reference.
175Previously filed on June 27, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 395 and hereby incorporated by reference.
176Previously filed on July 27, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 397 and hereby incorporated by reference.
177Previously filed on September 25, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 400 and hereby incorporated by reference.
178Previously filed on September 26, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 401 and hereby incorporated by reference.
179Previously filed on October 31, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 404 and hereby incorporated by reference.
180Previously filed on December 28, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 405 and hereby incorporated by reference.
181Previously filed on December 28, 2018 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 406 and hereby incorporated by reference.
182Previously filed on February 27, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 411 and hereby incorporated by reference.
183Previously filed on March 26, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 413 and hereby incorporated by reference.
184Previously filed on March 26, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 414 and hereby incorporated by reference.
185Previously filed on March 27, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 415 and hereby incorporated by reference.
186Previously filed on March 28, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 416 and hereby incorporated by reference.
187Previously filed on March 29, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 417 and hereby incorporated by reference.
188Previously filed on April 5, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 422 and hereby incorporated by reference.
189Previously filed on April 26, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 428 and hereby incorporated by reference.
190Previously filed on April 29, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 429 and hereby incorporated by reference.
191Previously filed on May 3, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 429 and hereby incorporated by reference.
192Previously filed on June 28, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 435 and hereby incorporated by reference.
193Previously filed on July 26, 2019 in the Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 437 and hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 29.
PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE REGISTRANT.
None.
ITEM 30.
INDEMNIFICATION.
Article VIII, Section 2(a) of the 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 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) 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 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Delaware law and the 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.
ITEM 31.
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER.
Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of each Advisor of each series of the Trust is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the section of the respective Prospectus captioned “Investment Advisor” 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 Advisor is incorporated by reference to the Advisor’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Each Advisor’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:
Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, adviser to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund -- File No. 801-72390.
Advisors Preferred, LLC, adviser to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund – File No. 801-72430.
North Star Investment Management Corp., adviser to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund – File No. 801-62013.
Water Oak Advisors, LLC, adviser to the WOA All Asset I and WOA US All Cap I – File No. 801-66872.
Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, adviser to the Al Frank Fund – File No. 801-107054.
Innealta Capital, LLC, adviser to the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund, Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund. – File No. 801-112421
Longboard Asset Management, LP, adviser to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy and Longboard Alternative Growth Fund – File No. 801-72623.
KKM Financial, LLC, adviser to the Essential 40 Stock Fund – File No. 801-77094.
Price Asset Management, LLC, adviser to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund – File No. 801-77076.
Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC, adviser to the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund – File No. 801-78740.
Orchard Capital Management, LLC, adviser to the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund – File No. 801-106488.
FormulaFolio Investments, LLC, adviser to the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund and the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio – File No. 801-72780.
Invenomic Capital Management, LP adviser to the Invenomic Fund – File No. 801-110459
ITEM 32.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER.
(a)
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (“NLD”), is the principal underwriter for all series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II except Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund. NLD also acts as principal underwriter for the following:
Advisor One Funds, Arrow DWA Tactical ETF, Arrow QVM Equity Factor ETF, Arrow Reserve Capital Management ETF, Arrow Dogs of the World ETF, Arrow DWA Country Rotation ETF, Arrow ETF Trust, Boyar Value Fund Inc., Centerstone Investors Trust, Copeland Trust, Equinox Funds Trust, Miller Investment Trust, Mutual Fund and Variable Insurance Trust, Mutual Fund Series 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, Princeton Private Investment Access Fund, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, Tributary Funds, Inc. and Two Roads Shared Trust.
(b)
NLD 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 NLD is 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130. NLD is an affiliate of Gemini Fund Services, LLC. To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the officers of NLD:
Name |
Positions and Offices with Underwriter |
Positions and Offices with the Fund |
William J. Strait | President and General Counsel | None |
Daniel Applegarth | Treasurer/FINOP | None |
Janelle Hardy | Vice President of Compliance | None |
Mike Nielsen | Chief Compliance Officer and AML Compliance Officer | None |
Kevin Wolf | Manager | President of Northern Lights Fund Trust II |
David Young | Manager | None |
Mike Wagner | Manager | 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 1940 Act 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.
Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”), One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286, provides custodian services to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between BNYM and the Trust.
U.S. Bank, National Association (“U.S. Bank”), 1555 North River Center Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212, provides custodian services to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund, Al Frank Fund, Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund, Invenomic Fund, FormulaFolios US Equity Fund, FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio, pursuant to a Custody Agreement between U.S. Bank and the Trust.
MUFG Union Bank, National Association (“Union Bank”), 400 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, provides custodian services to the North Star Opportunity Fund, WOA All Asset I, Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund, Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund, Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund, Longboard Alternative Growth Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund, North Star Bond Fund, PCS Commodity Strategy Fund, Orchard Small Cap Value Fund, Essential 40 Stock Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund pursuant to a Custody Agreement between Union Bank and the Trust.
Gemini Fund Services, LLC (“GFS”), located at 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130, provides transfer agent and dividend disbursing services pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreements between GFS and the Trust. In such capacities, GFS provides pricing for each Fund’s portfolio securities, keeps records regarding securities and other assets in custody and in transfer, bank statements, canceled checks, financial books and records, and keeps records of each shareholder’s account and all disbursement made to shareholders. GFS also maintains all records required pursuant to Administrative Service Agreements with the Trust.
NLD located at 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130, serves as principal underwriter for all series of Northern Lights Fund Trust II, except the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund. NLD maintains all records required to be maintained pursuant to each Fund’s Distribution Plan and Agreement adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”), located at 17645 Wright Street, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68130, provides CCO and compliance services to each Fund of the Trust.
Two Oaks Investment Management, LLC, located at 7110 North Fresno Street, Suite 450, Fresno CA, 93720 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Two Oaks Diversified Growth and Income Fund.
Advisors Preferred, LLC located at 1445 Research Blvd, Suite 530, Rockville, MD 20850 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Hundredfold Select Alternative Fund.
North Star Investment Management Corp. located at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1416, Chicago, IL 60606 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the North Star Opportunity Fund, North Star Dividend Fund, North Star Micro Cap Fund and North Star Bond Fund.
Water Oak Advisors LLC located at 145 Lincoln Avenue, Suite A, Winter Park, FL 32789 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the WOA All Asset I and WOA US All Cap I.
Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC located at 115 South LaSalle Street, 27th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Al Frank Fund.
Innealta Capital, LLC located at 13215 Bee Cave Parkway, Building A, Suite 240, Austin, TX 78738
pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Dynamic U.S. Opportunity Fund, Dynamic International Opportunity Fund, Acclivity Mid Cap Multi-Style Fund, Acclivity Small Cap Growth Fund and the Acclivity Small Cap Value Fund.
Linde Hansen & Co., LLC located at 25B Vreeland Road, Suite 102, Florham Park, NJ, 07932 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Linde Hansen Contrarian Value Fund.
Longboard Asset Management, LP located at 2355 E. Camelback Road, Suite 750, Phoenix, AZ 85016 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Longboard Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Longboard Alternative Growth Fund.
KKM Financial, LLC, located at 311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60606 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Essential 40 Stock Fund.
Price Asset Management, LLC, located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1320A, Chicago, IL 60604 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the PCS Commodity Strategy Fund.
Balter Liquid Alternatives, LLC, located at 125 High Street, Oliver Street Tower, Suite 802, Boston, MA 02110 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Balter European L/S Small Cap Fund.
Orchard Capital Management, LLC 400 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 560, Chicago, IL 60611 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Orchard Small Cap Value Fund.
FormulaFolio Investments, LLC located at 89 Ionia SW, Suite 600, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the FormulaFolios US Equity Fund and the FormulaFolios US Equity Portfolio.
Invenomic Capital Management, LP, located at 211 Congress Street, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02110 pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, maintains all records required pursuant to such agreement with respect to the Invenomic Fund
ITEM 34.
MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 35.
UNDERTAKINGS.
See Item 30 above, second paragraph.
One or more of the Registrant’s series may invest up to 25% of its respective total assets in a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”). Each Subsidiary will operate under the supervision of the Registrant. The Registrant hereby undertakes that the Subsidiaries will submit to inspection by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto authorized, in the City of Hauppauge, State of New York, on September 26, 2019.
NORTHERN LIGHTS FUND TRUST II
By: __________________________
Kevin Wolf*
President and Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date |
Brian Nielsen* |
_________________________ Trustee & Chairman |
September 26, 2019 |
Thomas Sarkany* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 26, 2019 |
Anthony Lewis* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 26, 2019 |
Keith Rhoades* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 26, 2019 |
Randy Skalla* |
_________________________ Trustee |
September 26, 2019 |
Kevin Wolf* |
_________________________ President and Principal Executive Officer |
September 26, 2019 |
Erik Naviloff* |
_________________________ Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
September 26, 2019 |
*By: /s/Allyson Stewart
Allyson Stewart
*Attorney-in-Fact – pursuant to powers of attorney incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 351 (filed on May 17, 2017) in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.28(i)(9) | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP regarding the Essential 40 Stock Fund |
99.28(i)(18) | Consent of Alston & Bird LLP |
99.28(j)(11) | Consent of RSM US LLP with respect to the Essential 40 Stock Fund |
‘
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement (No. 333-174926) on Form N-1A of Essential 40 Stock Fund, a series of the Northern Lights Fund Trust II, of our report dated July 30, 2019, relating to our audit of the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in the May 31, 2019 Annual Report to Shareholders which are also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
We also consent to the references to our Firm under the captions “Financial Highlights”, “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Portfolio Holdings Information” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ RSM US LLP
Denver, Colorado
September 26, 2019
Alston&Bird llp
The Atlantic Building
950 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1404
202-756-3300
Fax:202-756-3333
www.alston.com
David J. Baum Direct Dial: 202-239-3346 E-mail: david.baum@alston.com
September 26, 2019
Northern Lights Fund Trust II
17605 Wright Street
Omaha, NE 68130
Re: | Opinion of Counsel regarding Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to Northern Lights Fund Trust II’s Registration Statement Filed on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933 (File No. 333-174926) |
We have acted as counsel to Northern Lights Fund Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), in connection with the filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Trust’s Registration Statement (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 440”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), registering an indefinite number of units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of Class I shares of the Essential 40 Stock Fund, a series of the Trust (the “Fund”).
You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440. In connection with rendering that opinion, we have examined the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440, the Declaration of Trust and any amendments thereto, the Certificate of Trust of the Trust, the Trust’s Bylaws, the actions of the Trustees of the Trust that authorize the approval of the foregoing documents, securities matters and the issuance of the Shares, and such other documents as we, in our professional opinion, have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. In examining the documents referred to above, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of documents purporting to be originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied (without investigation or independent confirmation) upon the representations contained in the above-described documents.
Our opinion, as set forth herein, is based on the facts in existence and the laws in effect on the date hereof and is limited to the federal laws of the United States of America and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. We express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
Atlanta • Brussels • Charlotte • Dallas • Los Angeles • New York • Research Triangle • Silicon Valley • Ventura County • Washington, D.C.
Page 2
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The Shares of the Fund to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 have been duly authorized for issuance by the Trust. |
2. | When issued and paid for upon the terms provided in the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440, subject to compliance with the 1933 Act, the Investment |
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all other laws relating to the sale of securities, the Shares of the Fund to be issued pursuant to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
This opinion is rendered solely for your use in connection with the filing of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 440. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 440.
Sincerely,
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
By:_ /s/David J. Baum____
A Partner
CONSENT OF ALSTON & BIRD, LLP, COUNSEL FOR THE REGISTRANT
We hereby consent to the use of our name and the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Counsel” included in or made a part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 440 to the Registration Statement of Northern Lights Fund Trust II on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Alston & Bird LLP
By: /s/ David J. Baum
A Partner
Washington, DC
September 26, 2019