As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2015

1933 Act File No. 333-200168
1940 Act File No. 811-23011

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[
X
]
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
3
 
[
X
]
Post-Effective Amendment No.
 
 
[
 
]
 
and/or
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[
X
]
Amendment No.
3
 
[
X
]
 


PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:  (215) 302-1500
 
Richard A. Hocker
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With copies to:

Lisa L.B. Matson, Esq.
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112

Michael P. O’Hare, Esq.
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
2005 Market Street, Suite 2600
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
 
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file an amendment which specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 
 

 

[insert logo]
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
 
Prospectus
 
November 18, 2015
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PSMPX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PSMQX)
 
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PSCNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PSCQX)
 
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PHYNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PHYVX)
 
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PFRNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PFRVX)
 
LIKE ALL MUTUAL FUNDS, THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 

 
 

 

Table of Contents
 
SUMMARY SECTIONS
1
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
1
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
6
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
11
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
17
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
22
PRINCIPAL RISKS
26
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
32
CLASSES OF SHARES
35
HOW TO BUY, SELL, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER SHARES.
37
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
44
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
46
HISTORICAL INVESTMENT ADVISOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
49
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
54
FOR MORE INFORMATION
55





 
-i-

 

SUMMARY SECTIONS
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund shares.
 
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional Class
 
Investor Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
None
 
None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the original purchase price)
None
 
None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
None
 
None
Redemption Fee Paid to the Fund (as a percentage of amount redeemed in 90 days or less from date of purchase)
2.00%
 
2.00%
       
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
     
Management Fees
0.90%
 
0.90%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
 
0.25%
Other Expenses (1)
2.20%
 
2.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
3.10%
 
3.35%
Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
-2.04%
 
-2.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement) (2)
1.06%
 
1.31%
 
__________________
(1)
“Other Expenses” are based on the estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” which are estimated to be less than 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund.
(2)
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Advisor”), have entered into an expense limitation agreement under which the Advisor has agreed to waive management fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) through the period ending November 30, 2016, do not exceed 1.06% for Institutional Class shares and 1.31% for Investor Class shares. Under the agreement, the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by the Fund for any fees it waived and expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid.  The expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) at any time and also will terminate automatically upon the expiration or termination of the Fund’s advisory contract with the Advisor.
 
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and that the expense limitation applies only for the first year. Your actual costs may be higher or lower:
 
   
1 Year
 
3 Years
Institutional Class
 
$108
 
$765
Investor Class
 
$133
 
$840

 
1

 

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of small and mid-capitalization companies. Small and mid-capitalization companies are defined for this purpose as companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase between $250 million and the greater of (a) $10 billion or (b) the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2500 Index.  As of September 30, 2015, the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2500 Index was approximately $13 billion.  The Fund is not required to sell equity securities whose market values appreciate or depreciate outside this market capitalization range.
 
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stock; preferred stock; convertible securities; other investment companies, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”); American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”); and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  ADRs are equity securities traded on U.S. securities exchanges, which are generally issued by banks or trust companies to evidence ownership of foreign equity securities. The Fund generally invests in the securities of leveraged companies ( i.e. , companies that issue debt and other companies with leveraged capital structures).  The Fund also may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities.
 
The Fund generally intends to invest in 50 to 80 securities identified by the Advisor’s fundamental, bottom-up value driven research. The portfolio construction process involves both quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis.  Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s financial metrics relative to its peer group.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund.  An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  The following principal risks could affect the value of your investment and the Fund’s performance:
 
·
ADR Risk .  ADRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees.  Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders.  Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through.
 
·
Convertible Securities Risk.   The value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, because of the conversion feature, tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities.  Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the conversion feature) and fixed income securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the
 

 
2

 

conversion feature is less valuable). A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible fixed income security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.
 
·
ETF Risk.   ETFs may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities and although expense ratios for ETFs are generally low, frequent trading of ETFs by the Fund can generate brokerage expenses. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the ETFs in which the Fund invests.
 
·
Foreign Securities Risk.   Investing in foreign securities (including ADRs) typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations.
 
·
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests and these fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. In addition, shareholders will be indirectly subject to the investment risks of the other investment companies.
 
·
Leveraged Companies Risk.   Securities of leveraged companies tend to be more sensitive to issuer, political, market and economic developments than the market as a whole and the securities of other types of companies. A decrease in the credit quality of a leveraged company can lead to a significant decrease in the value of the company’s securities. In the event of liquidation or bankruptcy, a company’s creditors take precedence over the company’s stockholders. Leveraged companies can have limited access to additional capital.
 
·
Liquidity Risk.   Certain securities may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Advisor would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price. Liquid portfolio investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund due to low trading volume, adverse investor perceptions and/or other market developments. Liquidity risk includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss. Liquidity risk can be more pronounced in periods of market turmoil.
 
·
Management Risk.   The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Advisor’s success or failure to implement the Fund’s investment strategies.
 
·
Market Risk.   The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may decline, at times sharply and unpredictably, as a result of unfavorable market-induced changes affecting particular industries, sectors, or issuers. The Fund is subject to risks affecting issuers, such as management performance, financial leverage, industry problems, and reduced demand for goods or services.
 
·
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Advisor’s tactical investment process is expected to result in a high portfolio turnover rate. Frequent trading increases a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and may increase transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and taxes.  Increased transaction costs could detract from the Fund’s performance.
 
·
Preferred Stock Risk.   Preferred stocks are subject to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as additional risks, such as potentially greater volatility and risks related to deferral, non-cumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights, and special redemption rights.
 
·
Private Placement Risk.   The Fund may invest in privately issued securities, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Privately issued
 

 
3

 

securities are restricted securities that are not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary.  Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.  Privately issued securities that the Advisor determines to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 
·
REIT Risk. A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties it owns and how well those properties are managed. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole.
 
·
Small and Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk.   Small and mid-capitalization companies may not have the size, resources and other assets of large capitalization companies.  As a result, the securities of small and mid-capitalization companies may be subject to greater market risks and fluctuations in value than large capitalization companies or may not correspond to changes in the stock market in general.
 
Performance Information
No performance information is available since  the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Management
Investment Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. is the Fund’s investment advisor (the “Advisor”).
 
Portfolio Managers:
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.

 
Eric J. Green, CFA, Senior Managing Partner and Director of Research of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
 
Joseph C. Maguire, CFA, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1 million.  The minimum initial investment for Investor Class shares is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA accounts and accounts in connection with the Automatic Investment Plan).
 
The minimum subsequent purchase amount for Institutional Class and Investor Class is $100.
 
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, subject to certain restrictions.  Purchases and redemptions may be made by mailing an application or redemption request to PENN Capital Funds Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, by wire, or by calling 844-302-PENN (7366). You also may visit  the Fund’s website at www.penncapitalfunds.com to access to your mutual fund account information and request transactions including subsequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges.  Investors who wish to purchase or redeem shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary should contact the intermediary regarding the hours during which orders to purchase or redeem shares may be placed.
 
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
 

 
4

 

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 or fund supermarket), the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and/or related services.  These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 

 
5

 


PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund shares.
 
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional Class
 
Investor Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
None
 
None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the original purchase price)
None
 
None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
None
 
None
Redemption Fee Paid to the Fund (as a percentage of amount redeemed in 90 days or less from date of purchase)
2.00%
 
2.00%
       
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
     
Management Fees
0.95%
 
0.95%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
 
0.25%
Other Expenses (1)
2.20%
 
2.20%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
3.15%
 
3.40%
Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
-2.06%
 
-2.06%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement) (2)
1.09%
 
1.34%
 
__________________
(1)
“Other Expenses” are based on the estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” which are estimated to be less than 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund.
(2)
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Advisor”), have entered into an expense limitation agreement under which the Advisor has agreed to waive management fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) through the period ending November 30, 2016, do not exceed 1.09% for Institutional Class shares and 1.34% for Investor Class shares. Under the agreement, the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by the Fund for any fees it waived and expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid.  The expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) at any time and also will terminate automatically upon the expiration or termination of the Fund’s advisory contract with the Advisor.
 
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and that the expense limitation applies only for the first year. Your actual costs may be higher or lower:
 
   
1 Year
 
3 Years
Institutional Class
 
$111
 
$778
Investor Class
 
$136
 
$853


 
6

 

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in the equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization companies are defined for this purpose as companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase between $100 million and the greater of (a) $4 billion or (b) the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Index.  As of September 30, 2015, the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Index was approximately $5 billion.  The Fund is not required to sell equity securities whose market values appreciate or depreciate outside this market capitalization range.
 
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stock; preferred stock; convertible securities; other investment companies, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”); American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”); and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  ADRs are equity securities traded on U.S. securities exchanges, which are generally issued by banks or trust companies to evidence ownership of foreign equity securities. The Fund generally invests in the securities of leveraged companies ( i.e. , companies that issue debt and other companies with leveraged capital structures). The Fund also may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities.
 
The Fund generally intends to invest in 40 to 80 securities identified by the Advisor’s fundamental, bottom-up value driven research. The portfolio construction process involves both quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis.  Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s financial metrics relative to its peer group.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund.  An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  The following principal risks could affect the value of your investment and the Fund’s performance:
 
·
ADR Risk .  ADRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees.  Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders.  Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through.
 
·
Convertible Securities Risk.   The value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, because of the conversion feature, tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities.  Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the conversion feature) and fixed income securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the conversion feature is less valuable). A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar
 

 
7

 

non-convertible fixed income security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.
 
·
ETF Risk.   ETFs may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities and although expense ratios for ETFs are generally low, frequent trading of ETFs by the Fund can generate brokerage expenses. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the ETFs in which the Fund invests.
 
·
Foreign Securities Risk.   Investing in foreign securities (including ADRs) typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations.
 
·
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests and these fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. In addition, shareholders will be indirectly subject to the investment risks of the other investment companies.
 
·
Leveraged Companies Risk.   Securities of leveraged companies tend to be more sensitive to issuer, political, market and economic developments than the market as a whole and the securities of other types of companies. A decrease in the credit quality of a leveraged company can lead to a significant decrease in the value of the company’s securities. In the event of liquidation or bankruptcy, a company’s creditors take precedence over the company’s stockholders. Leveraged companies can have limited access to additional capital.
 
·
Liquidity Risk.   Certain securities may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Advisor would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price. Liquid portfolio investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund due to low trading volume, adverse investor perceptions and/or other market developments. Liquidity risk includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss. Liquidity risk can be more pronounced in periods of market turmoil.
 
·
Management Risk.   The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Advisor’s success or failure to implement the Fund’s investment strategies.
 
·
Market Risk.   The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may decline, at times sharply and unpredictably, as a result of unfavorable market-induced changes affecting particular industries, sectors, or issuers. The Fund is subject to risks affecting issuers, such as management performance, financial leverage, industry problems, and reduced demand for goods or services.
 
·
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Advisor’s tactical investment process is expected to result in a high portfolio turnover rate. Frequent trading increases a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and may increase transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and taxes.  Increased transaction costs could detract from the Fund’s performance.
 
·
Preferred Stock Risk.   Preferred stocks are subject to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as additional risks, such as potentially greater volatility and risks related to deferral, non-cumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights, and special redemption rights.
 
·
Private Placement Risk.   The Fund may invest in privately issued securities, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
 

 
8

 

(“SEC”).  Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary.  Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.  Privately issued securities that the Advisor determines to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 
·
REIT Risk. A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties it owns and how well those properties are managed. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole.
 
·
Small-Capitalization Companies Risk.   Small-capitalization companies may not have the size, resources and other assets of large capitalization companies.  As a result, the securities of small-capitalization companies may be subject to greater market risks and fluctuations in value than large capitalization companies or may not correspond to changes in the stock market in general.
 
Performance Information
No performance information is available since  the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Management
Investment Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. is the Fund’s investment advisor (the “Advisor”).
 
Portfolio Managers:
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.

Eric J. Green, CFA, Senior Managing Partner and Director of Research of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1 million.  The minimum initial investment for Investor Class shares is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA accounts and accounts in connection with the Automatic Investment Plan).
 
The minimum subsequent purchase amount for Institutional Class and Investor Class is $100.
 
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, subject to certain restrictions.  Purchases and redemptions may be made by mailing an application or redemption request to PENN Capital Funds Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, by wire, or by calling 844-302-PENN (7366). You also may visit  the Fund’s website at www.penncapitalfunds.com to access to your mutual fund account information and request transactions including subsequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges.  Investors who wish to purchase or redeem shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary should contact the intermediary regarding the hours during which orders to purchase or redeem shares may be placed.
 
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred 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 or fund supermarket), the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and/or
 

 
9

 

related services.  These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 

 
10

 

PENN Capital High Yield Fund
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide total return through interest income and capital appreciation.
 
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund shares.
 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional Class
 
Investor Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
None
 
None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the original purchase price)
None
 
None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
None
 
None
Redemption Fee Paid to the Fund (as a percentage of amount redeemed in 90 days or less from date of purchase)
2.00%
 
2.00%
       
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
     
Management Fees
0.69%
 
0.69%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
 
0.25%
Other Expenses (1)
2.35%
 
2.35%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
3.04%
 
3.29%
Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
-2.32%
 
-2.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement) (2)
0.72%
 
0.97%
 
__________________
(1)
“Other Expenses” are based on the estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” which are estimated to be less than 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund.
(2)
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Advisor”), have entered into an expense limitation agreement under which the Advisor has agreed to waive management fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) through the period ending November 30, 2016, do not exceed 0.72% for Institutional Class shares and 0.97% for Investor Class shares. Under the agreement, the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by the Fund for any fees it waived and expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid. The expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) at any time and also will terminate automatically upon the expiration or termination of the Fund’s advisory contract with the Advisor.
 
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and that the expense limitation applies only for the first year. Your actual costs may be higher or lower:
 

 
11

 


 

   
1 Year
 
3 Years
Institutional Class
 
$74
 
$720
Investor Class
 
$99
 
$795

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments.  High yield debt instruments include high yield securities and bank loans. High yield securities (commonly called “junk” bonds) and bank loans  are those securities and bank loans that generally are rated below investment grade (that is, rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)), or, if unrated, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.  High yield securities include bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stock, payment-in-kind bonds, debt obligations issued by real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), and convertible securities. The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  The Fund may also invest in common stock received through restructuring of a defaulted bond or from the conversion of a convertible security, and investment grade debt instruments.  The Fund may invest in instruments of any maturity.  The Fund’s investments may include the securities of companies that are experiencing financial distress, are on the brink of a restructuring or liquidation, or are currently undergoing a restructuring or liquidation under or outside of Federal Bankruptcy Code proceedings, if the Advisor believes that such securities are undervalued and have potential for capital appreciation.

The Fund also may invest in other investment companies, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.  The Fund intends to invest primarily in debt securities that are U.S. dollar denominated, although the Fund may invest in debt securities denominated in foreign currencies.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in debt of foreign companies.

The Fund’s investments in bank loans will be through syndicated loans.  Syndicated loans are an extension of credit provided by a group of lenders and are structured, arranged, syndicated and administered by one or more banks.  A syndicated bank loan is purchased either via “assignment” or “participation”.  When a loan is purchased via assignment, the buyer is approved by the borrower and becomes the legal lender of record.  When a loan is purchased via participation, the buyer receives the right to repayment but is not the legal lender of record.  Most loans acquired by the Fund will be via assignment.

The Fund seeks to maintain a well-diversified portfolio of credit instruments with dual objectives of interest income and total return opportunities. The Advisor considers both quantitative and qualitative factors in its evaluation and selection of investments for the Fund. Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s projected future financial position.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.

The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.

Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund.  An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  The following principal risks could affect the value of your investment and the Fund’s performance:
 

 
12

 

·
Agent Insolvency Risk.   In a syndicated loan, the agent bank is the bank in the syndicate that undertakes the bulk of the administrative duties involved in the day-to-day administration of the loan. In the event of the insolvency of an agent bank, a loan could be subject to settlement risk as well as the risk of interruptions in the administrative duties performed in the day to day administration of the loan.
 
·
Bank Loan Risk. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk.  Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments.  Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund.  As a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations.
 
Bank loans in which the Fund may invest have similar risks to below investment grade fixed income securities. Changes in the financial condition of the borrower or economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the borrower to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Senior secured bank loans are supported by collateral; however, the value of the collateral may be insufficient to cover the amount owed to the Fund. If the Fund relies on a third party to administer a loan, the Fund is subject to the risk that the third party will fail to perform its obligations. In addition, if the Fund holds only a participation interest in a loan made by a third party, the Fund’s receipt of payments on the loan will be dependent on the third party’s willingness and ability to make those payments to the Fund.
 
Loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  The liquidity of loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, varies significantly over time and among individual loans.  For example, if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that loan can also decline for a period of time.  During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a loan can be more difficult and buying and selling a loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.  Difficulty in selling a loan can result in a loss.  Due to their subordination in the borrower’s capital structure, subordinated loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower.
 
·
Convertible Securities Risk.   The value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates rise and, because of the conversion feature, tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities.  Convertible securities are subject to the risks of stocks when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price (because more of the security’s value resides in the conversion feature) and fixed income securities when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price (because the conversion feature is less valuable). A convertible security is not as sensitive to interest rate changes as a similar non-convertible fixed income security, and generally has less potential for gain or loss than the underlying stock.
 
·
Credit Risk. The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations.
 
·
Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk.   The values of fixed income securities typically will decline during periods of rising interest rates, and can also decline in response to changes in the financial condition of the issuer, borrower, counterparty, or underlying collateral assets, or changes in market, economic, industry, political, and regulatory conditions affecting a particular type of security or issuer or fixed income securities generally. Fixed income securities are generally subject to interest rate risk, prepayment/extension risk, and credit risk.
 
·
ETF Risk.   ETFs may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities and although expense ratios for ETFs are generally low, frequent trading of ETFs by the Fund can generate brokerage expenses. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the ETFs in which the Fund invests.
 

 
13

 

·
Foreign Securities Risk.   Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations.
 
·
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality, commonly known as “junk” bonds, have speculative characteristics and involve greater volatility of price and yield, greater risk of loss of principal and interest, a greater level of liquidity risk, and generally reflect a greater possibility of an adverse change in financial condition that could affect an issuer’s ability to honor its obligations.
 
·
Interest Rate Risk.   An increase in interest rates may cause a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest.  The risks associated with rising interest rates may be more pronounced in the near future due to the current period of historically low rates.
 
·
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests and these fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. In addition, shareholders will be indirectly subject to the investment risks of the other investment companies.
 
·
Liquidity Risk.   Certain securities may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Advisor would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price. Liquid portfolio investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund due to low trading volume, adverse investor perceptions and/or other market developments. Liquidity risk includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss. Liquidity risk can be more pronounced in periods of market turmoil.
 
·
Management Risk.   The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Advisor’s success or failure to implement the Fund’s investment strategies.
 
·
Market Risk.   The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may decline, at times sharply and unpredictably, as a result of unfavorable market-induced changes affecting particular industries, sectors, or issuers. The Fund is subject to risks affecting issuers, such as management performance, financial leverage, industry problems, and reduced demand for goods or services.
 
·
Maturity Risk.   Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield.  Conversely, a bond with a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a lower yield.
 
·
Payment-In-Kind Securities Risk. The value, interest rates, and liquidity of non-cash paying instruments, such as payment-in-kind securities, are subject to greater fluctuation than other types of securities. The higher yields and interest rates on payment-in-kind securities reflect the payment deferral and increased credit risk associated with such instruments and that such investments may represent a higher credit risk than coupon loans. Payment-in-kind securities may have a potential variability in valuations because their continuing accruals require continuing judgments about the collectability of the deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral.
 
·
Portfolio Turnover Risk.   The Advisor’s tactical investment process is expected to result in a high portfolio turnover rate. Frequent trading increases a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and may increase transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and taxes.  Increased transaction costs could detract from the Fund’s performance.
 

 
14

 

·
Preferred Stock Risk.   Preferred stocks are subject to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as additional risks, such as potentially greater volatility and risks related to deferral, non-cumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights, and special redemption rights.
 
·
Prepayment Risk.   Prepayment risk occurs when a debt security can be repaid in whole or in part prior to the security’s maturity and the Fund must reinvest the proceeds it receives, during periods of declining interest rates, in securities that pay a lower rate of interest.
 
·
Private Placement Risk.   The Fund may invest in privately issued securities, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary.  Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.  Privately issued securities that the Advisor determines to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 
·
Rating Agencies Risk.   The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines.  Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained.  There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant.  A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests.  The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.
 
·
REIT Risk.   Debt securities issued by REITs are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.  A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties it owns and how well those properties are managed. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole.
 
Performance Information
No performance information is available since the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Management
Investment Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. is the investment advisor to the Fund (the “Advisor”).
 
Portfolio Managers:
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.

Martin A. Smith, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
David H. Jackson, Portfolio Manager.  He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1 million.  The minimum initial investment for Investor Class shares is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA accounts and accounts in connection with the Automatic Investment Plan).
 

 
15

 

The minimum subsequent purchase amount for Institutional Class and Investor Class is $100.
 
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, subject to certain restrictions.  Purchases and redemptions may be made by mailing an application or redemption request to PENN Capital Funds Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, by wire, or by calling 844-302-PENN (7366). You also may visit  the Fund’s website at www.penncapitalfunds.com to access to your mutual fund account information and request transactions including subsequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges.  Investors who wish to purchase or redeem shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary should contact the intermediary regarding the hours during which orders to purchase or redeem shares may be placed.
 
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred 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 or fund supermarket), the Fund and/or its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and/or related services.  These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 

 
16

 


PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide current income.
 
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Fund shares.
 
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional Class
 
Investor Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
None
 
None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the original purchase price)
None
 
None
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
None
 
None
Redemption Fee Paid to the Fund (as a percentage of amount redeemed in 90 days or less from date of purchase)
2.00%
 
2.00%
       
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
     
Management Fees
0.69%
 
0.69%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
0.00%
 
0.25%
Other Expenses (1)
2.75%
 
2.75%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
3.44%
 
3.69%
Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement (2)
-2.70%
 
-2.70%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement) (2)
0.74%
 
0.99%
 
__________________
(1)
“Other Expenses” are based on the estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses,” which are estimated to be less than 0.01% of the average net assets of the Fund.
(2)
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Advisor”), have entered into an expense limitation agreement under which the Advisor has agreed to waive management fees and/or pay Fund expenses to the extent necessary so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) through the period ending November 30, 2016, do not exceed 0.74% for Institutional Class shares and 0.99% for Investor Class shares. Under the agreement, the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by the Fund for any fees it waived and expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid. The expense limitation agreement may be terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) at any time and also will terminate automatically upon the expiration or termination of the Fund’s advisory contract with the Advisor.
 
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same, and that the expense limitation applies only for the first year. Your actual costs may be higher or lower:
 
   
1 Year
 
3 Years
Institutional Class
 
$76
 
$804
Investor Class
 
$101
 
$879


 
17

 

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  No portfolio turnover rate is provided because the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in floating rate senior secured loans, floating rate senior corporate debt and other floating rate senior instruments.  The loans and instruments in which the Fund may invest include bank loans, bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by various domestic and foreign entities.  The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  The Fund intends to invest in instruments that are U.S. dollar denominated.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign instruments.  The Fund intends to invest primarily in below-investment grade loans and instruments, including debt obligations issued by real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), bonds, notes and debentures, but may also invest in investment grade loans and instruments.  Below-investment grade debt instruments (commonly called “high yield” or “junk” bonds) are those instruments rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if unrated, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.  The Fund may invest in instruments of any maturity.  The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in subordinated loans. The Fund also may invest in other investment companies, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.
 
The Fund’s investments in loans will be through syndicated loans.  Syndicated loans are an extension of credit provided by a group of lenders and are structured, arranged, syndicated and administered by one or more banks.  A syndicated bank loan is purchased either via “assignment” or “participation”.  When a loan is purchased via assignment, the buyer is approved by the borrower and becomes the legal lender of record.  When a loan is purchased via participation, the buyer receives the right to repayment but is not the legal lender of record.  Most loans acquired by the Fund will be via assignment.
 
Loan coupons are typically “floating” rate.  Floating rate securities generally pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter).  Floating rate coupons are typically set using the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus the spread ( i.e. , the rate for such coupons will typically be a spread or margin over LIBOR).  The coupon determines the periodic interest payment that the loan holder will receive.  Some loans contain a “LIBOR Floor,” which sets a minimum level on which to base the calculation of the coupon.  Other loans do not contain a LIBOR Floor, and those coupons typically will be the sum of the 3-month market rate of LIBOR plus the spread.  Coupons usually reset quarterly based upon the prevailing LIBOR rate.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund.  An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  The following principal risks could affect the value of your investment and the Fund’s performance:
 
·
Agent Insolvency Risk.   In a syndicated loan, the agent bank is the bank in the syndicate that undertakes the bulk of the administrative duties involved in the day-to-day administration of the loan. In the event of the insolvency of an agent bank, a loan could be subject to settlement risk as well as the risk of interruptions in the administrative duties performed in the day to day administration of the loan.
 
·
Bank Loan Risk. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk.  Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on
 

 
18

 

resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments.  Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund.  As a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations.
 
Bank loans in which the Fund may invest have similar risks to below investment grade fixed income securities. Changes in the financial condition of the borrower or economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the borrower to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Secured bank loans are supported by collateral; however the value of the collateral may be insufficient to cover the amount owed to the Fund. If the Fund relies on a third party to administer a loan, the Fund is subject to the risk that the third party will fail to perform its obligations. In addition, if the Fund holds only a participation interest in a loan made by a third party, the Fund’s receipt of payments on the loan will be dependent on the third party’s willingness and ability to make those payments to the Fund.
 
Loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  The liquidity of loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, varies significantly over time and among individual loans.  For example, if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that loan can also decline for a period of time.  During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a loan can be more difficult and buying and selling a loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.  Difficulty in selling a loan can result in a loss.  Due to their subordination in the borrower’s capital structure, subordinated loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower.
 
·
Credit Risk.   The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations.
 
·
Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk.   The values of fixed income securities typically will decline during periods of rising interest rates, and can also decline in response to changes in the financial condition of the issuer, borrower, counterparty, or underlying collateral assets, or changes in market, economic, industry, political, and regulatory conditions affecting a particular type of security or issuer or fixed income securities generally. Fixed income securities are generally subject to interest rate risk, prepayment/extension risk, and credit risk.
 
·
ETF Risk.   ETFs may trade at a discount to the aggregate value of the underlying securities and although expense ratios for ETFs are generally low, frequent trading of ETFs by the Fund can generate brokerage expenses. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the ETFs in which the Fund invests.
 
·
Foreign Securities Risk.   Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, including risks related to currency exchange rates and policies, country or government specific issues, less favorable trading practices or regulation and greater price volatility. Certain of these risks also may apply to securities of U.S. companies with significant foreign operations.
 
·
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality, commonly known as “junk” bonds, have speculative characteristics and involve greater volatility of price and yield, greater risk of loss of principal and interest, a greater level of liquidity risk, and generally reflect a greater possibility of an adverse change in financial condition that could affect an issuer’s ability to honor its obligations.  There is also the risk that a court will subordinate high yield senior debt to other debt of the issuer or take other actions detrimental to holders of the senior debt.
 
·
Interest Rate Risk.   An increase in interest rates may cause a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest.  The risks associated with rising interest rates may be more pronounced in the near future due to the current period of historically low rates.
 

 
19

 

·
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests and these fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. In addition, shareholders will be indirectly subject to the investment risks of the other investment companies.
 
·
Liquidity Risk.   Certain securities may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Advisor would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price. Liquid portfolio investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund due to low trading volume, adverse investor perceptions and/or other market developments. Liquidity risk includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss. Liquidity risk can be more pronounced in periods of market turmoil.
 
·
Management Risk.   The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Advisor’s success or failure to implement the Fund’s investment strategies.
 
·
Market Risk. The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may decline, at times sharply and unpredictably, as a result of unfavorable market-induced changes affecting particular industries, sectors, or issuers. The Fund is subject to risks affecting issuers, such as management performance, financial leverage, industry problems, and reduced demand for goods or services.
 
·
Maturity Risk.   Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield.  Conversely, a bond with a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a lower yield.
 
·
Portfolio Turnover Risk.   The Advisor’s tactical investment process is expected to result in a high portfolio turnover rate. Frequent trading increases a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate and may increase transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, dealer mark-ups and taxes.  Increased transaction costs could detract from the Fund’s performance.
 
·
Prepayment Risk.   Prepayment risk occurs when a debt security can be repaid in whole or in part prior to the security’s maturity and the Fund must reinvest the proceeds it receives, during periods of declining interest rates, in securities that pay a lower rate of interest.
 
·
Private Placement Risk.   The Fund may invest in privately issued securities, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary.  Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.  Privately issued securities that the Advisor determines to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 
·
Rating Agencies Risk.   The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained.  There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant.  A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests.  The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.
 

 
20

 

·
REIT Risk.   Debt securities issued by REITs are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.  A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties it owns and how well those properties are managed. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole.
 
Performance Information
No performance information is available since the Fund had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
Management
Investment Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. is the investment advisor to the Fund (the “Advisor”).
 
Portfolio Managers:
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.

Kevin C. Roche, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1 million.  The minimum initial investment for Investor Class shares is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA accounts and accounts in connection with the Automatic Investment Plan).
 
The minimum subsequent purchase amount for Institutional Class and Investor Class is $100.
 
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading, subject to certain restrictions.  Purchases and redemptions may be made by mailing an application or redemption request to PENN Capital Funds Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, by wire, or by calling 844-302-PENN (7366). You also may visit  the Fund’s website at www.penncapitalfunds.com to access to your mutual fund account information and request transactions including subsequent purchases, redemptions and exchanges.  Investors who wish to purchase or redeem shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary should contact the intermediary regarding the hours during which orders to purchase or redeem shares may be placed.
 
Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions generally will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.
 
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or fund supermarket), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services.  These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 

 
21

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
 
PENN CAPITAL SMALL/MID CAP EQUITY FUND
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund seeks to provide capital appreciation. This objective and the Fund’s investment strategies are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of small and mid-capitalization companies. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days advance notice of any change to the 80% investment policy.  Small and mid-capitalization companies are defined for this purpose as companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase between $250 million and the greater of (a) $10 billion or (b) the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2500 Index.  As of September 30, 2015, the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2500 Index was approximately $13 billion.  The Fund is not required to sell equity securities whose market values appreciate or depreciate outside this market capitalization range.
 
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stock; preferred stock; preferred stock; equity-equivalent securities such as convertible securities; other investment companies, including ETFs; ADRs; and REITs. The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  The Fund generally invests in the securities of leveraged companies ( i.e. , companies that issue debt and other companies with leveraged capital structures). The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.  Investment companies that have a policy of investing at least 80% of their assets in equity securities of small and mid-capitalization companies or investments that provide exposure to small and mid-capitalization companies may be used to satisfy the Fund’s 80% investment policy.  ADRs are equity securities traded on U.S. securities exchanges, which are generally issued by banks or trust companies to evidence ownership of foreign equity securities.  ADRs may be sponsored or unsponsored.  REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities.
 
The Fund generally intends to invest in 50 to 80 securities identified by the Advisor’s fundamental, bottom-up value driven research. The portfolio construction process involves both quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis.  Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s financial metrics relative to its peer group.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
PENN CAPITAL SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund seeks to provide capital appreciation. This objective and the Fund’s investment strategies are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of small-capitalization companies. Shareholders will be given at least 60 days advance notice of any change to the 80% investment policy.  Small-capitalization companies are defined for this purpose as companies with market capitalizations at the time of purchase between $100 million and the greater of (a) $4 billion or (b) the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Index.  As of September 30,
 

 
22

 

2015, the market capitalization of the largest company included in the Russell 2000 Index was approximately $5 billion.  The Fund is not required to sell equity securities whose market values appreciate or depreciate outside this market capitalization range.
 
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stock; preferred stock; equity-equivalent securities such as convertible securities; other investment companies, including ETFs; ADRs; and REITs. The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  The Fund generally invests in the securities of leveraged companies ( i.e. , companies that issue debt and other companies with leveraged capital structures). The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.  Investment companies that have a policy of investing at least 80% of their assets in equity securities of small-capitalization companies or investments that provide exposure to small-capitalization companies may be used to satisfy the Fund’s 80% investment policy.  ADRs are equity securities traded on U.S. securities exchanges, which are generally issued by banks or trust companies to evidence ownership of foreign equity securities.  ADRs may be sponsored or unsponsored.  REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities.
 
The Fund generally intends to invest in 40 to 80 securities identified by the Advisor’s fundamental, bottom-up value driven research. The portfolio construction process involves both quantitative and qualitative fundamental analysis.  Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s financial metrics relative to its peer group.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
PENN CAPITAL HIGH YIELD FUND
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital High Yield Fund seeks to provide total return through interest income and capital appreciation.  This objective and the Fund’s investment strategies are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in high yield debt instruments.  Shareholders will be given at least 60 days advance notice of any change to the 80% investment policy.  High yield debt instruments include high yield securities and bank loans. High yield securities (commonly called “junk” bonds) and bank loans are those securities and bank loans that generally are rated below investment grade (that is, rated BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”), or Ba or lower by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)), or, if unrated, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.  High yield securities include bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stock, payment-in-kind bonds, debt obligations issued by REITs, and convertible securities.  The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities.  REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests.  Convertible bond issues, unlike conventional high yield bonds, give the bondholder the right to convert the bond within a specified period of time and at a pre-stated price or formula into common stock or provide an opportunity for equity participation of the same or a different issuer.  Such bonds will generally be more volatile because their market value is influenced by the price action of the underlying stock, and the conversion feature provides the possibility of capital appreciation beyond par value.  The Fund may also invest in common stock received through restructuring of a defaulted bond or from the conversion of a convertible security, and investment grade debt instruments.  The Fund may invest in instruments of any maturity.  The Fund’s investments may include the securities of companies that are experiencing financial distress, are on the brink of a restructuring or liquidation, or are currently undergoing a restructuring or liquidation under or outside of Federal Bankruptcy Code proceedings, if the Advisor believes that such securities are undervalued and have potential for capital appreciation.

 
23

 

The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.  Investment companies that have a policy of investing at least 80% of their assets in high yield debt instruments or investments that provide exposure to high yield debt instruments may be used to satisfy the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund intends to invest primarily in debt securities that are U.S. dollar denominated, although the Fund may invest in debt securities denominated in foreign currencies.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in debt of foreign companies.

The Fund’s investments in bank loans will be through syndicated loans.  Syndicated loans are an extension of credit provided by a group of lenders and are structured, arranged, syndicated and administered by one or more banks.  A syndicated bank loan is purchased either via “assignment” or “participation”.  When a loan is purchased via assignment, the buyer is approved by the borrower and becomes the legal lender of record.  When a loan is purchased via participation, the buyer receives the right to repayment but is not the legal lender of record.  Most loans acquired by the Fund will be via assignment.

The Fund seeks to maintain a well-diversified portfolio of credit instruments with dual objectives of interest income and total return opportunities. The Advisor considers both quantitative and qualitative factors in its evaluation and selection of investments for the Fund. Quantitative measures include the review of company financial statements and analysis of the company’s projected future financial position.  Qualitative measures include evaluation of management, identification of market leaders within industries, and due-diligence research regarding customers, competitors and suppliers.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
PENN CAPITAL SENIOR FLOATING RATE INCOME FUND
Investment Objective and Principal Investment Strategies
 
Investment Objective
The PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund seeks to provide interest income. This objective and the Fund’s investment strategies are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.
 
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets in floating rate senior secured loans, floating rate senior corporate debt and other floating rate senior instruments.  Shareholders will be given at least 60 days advance notice of any change to the 80% investment policy.  The loans and instruments in which the Fund may invest include bank loans, bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by various domestic and foreign entities.  The Advisor may invest in private placements in these types of securities. The Fund intends to invest in instruments that are U.S. dollar denominated.  The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign instruments.  The Fund intends to invest primarily in below-investment grade loans and instruments, including debt obligations issued by REITs, bonds, notes and debentures, but may also invest in investment grade loans and instruments.  Below-investment grade debt instruments (commonly called “high yield” or “junk” bonds) are those instruments rated BB or lower by S&P or Fitch, or Ba or lower by Moody’s, or, if unrated, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.  REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests.  The Fund may invest in instruments of any maturity.  The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in subordinated loans.  Subordinated loans generally have the same characteristics as senior loans except that such loans are subordinated in payment and/or lower in lien priority to first lien holders or may be unsecured. The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, that have investment objectives similar to the Fund’s or that otherwise are permitted investments with the Fund’s investment policies described herein.  Investment companies that have a policy of investing at least 80% of their assets in senior floating rate instruments or investments that provide exposure to senior floating rate instruments may be used to satisfy the Fund’s 80% investment policy.
 
The Fund’s investments in loans will be through syndicated loans.  Syndicated loans are an extension of credit provided by a group of lenders and are structured, arranged, syndicated and administered by one or more banks.  A syndicated bank loan is purchased either via “assignment” or “participation”.  When a loan is purchased via assignment, the buyer is approved by the borrower and becomes the legal lender of record.  When a loan is
 

 
24

 

purchased via participation, the buyer receives the right to repayment but is not the legal lender of record.  Most loans acquired by the Fund will be via assignment.
 
Loan coupons are typically “floating” rate.  Floating rate securities generally pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter).  Floating rate coupons are typically set using LIBOR plus the spread ( i.e. , the rate for such coupons will typically be a spread or margin over LIBOR).  The coupon determines the periodic interest payment that the loan holder will receive.  Some loans contain a “LIBOR Floor,” which sets a minimum level on which to base the calculation of the coupon.  Other loans do not contain a LIBOR Floor, and those coupons typically will be the sum of the 3-month market rate of LIBOR plus the spread.  Coupons usually reset quarterly based upon the prevailing LIBOR rate.
 
The Fund seeks to preserve capital by attempting to limit downside risk through the detection of significant negative changes in future operating cash flow levels of issuers before such risk is fully reflected in the price of the securities, pursuant to a due diligence process which includes discussions with management, competitors, suppliers and industry experts.  The Advisor will review loan and bond covenants, the underlying collateral, the sources of a company’s liquidity including cash, available bank lines and ability to refinance to determine the likelihood of maturity.
 
The Fund anticipates a higher than average portfolio turnover rate.
 
TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS (All Funds)
 
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, each Fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its investment objective and principal investment strategies and may invest, without limitation, in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments. Temporary defensive investments generally may include short-term U.S. government securities, high-grade commercial paper, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, money market fund shares and other money market instruments. The Advisor also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity.  A defensive position, taken at the wrong time, may have an adverse impact on a Fund’s performance. A Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective during the employment of a temporary defensive measure.
 

 
25

 


PRINCIPAL RISKS
 
An investment in a Fund is subject to one or more of the principal risks identified in the following table.  The identified principal risks are discussed in more detail in the disclosure that immediately follows the table.
 
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN
Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
ADR Risk
X
X
   
Agent Insolvency Risk
   
X
X
Bank Loan Risk
   
X
X
Convertible Securities Risk
X
X
X
 
Credit Risk
   
X
X
Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk
   
X
X
ETF Risk
X
X
X
X
Foreign Securities Risk
X
X
X
X
High Yield Securities Risk
   
X
X
Interest Rate Risk
   
X
X
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk
X
X
X
X
Leveraged Companies Risk
X
X
   
Liquidity Risk
X
X
X
X
Management Risk
X
X
X
X
Market Risk
X
X
X
X
Maturity Risk
   
X
X
Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk
X
     
Payment-In-Kind Securities Risk
   
X
 
Portfolio Turnover Risk
X
X
X
X
Preferred Stock Risk
X
X
X
 
Prepayment Risk
   
X
X
Private Placement Risk
X
X
X
X
Rating Agencies Risk
   
X
X
Redemption Risk
X
X
X
X
REIT Risk
X
X
   
Small-Capitalization Companies Risk
X
X
   

As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in a Fund.  An investment in a Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective, and an investment in a Fund is not by itself a complete or balanced investment program.  The following provides additional information regarding the principal risks that could affect the value of your investment:
 
ADR Risk. ADRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees.  Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders.  Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through.
 
Agent Insolvency Risk. In a syndicated loan, the agent bank is the bank in the syndicate that undertakes the bulk of the administrative duties involved in the day-to-day administration of the loan. In the event of the insolvency of an
 

 
26

 

agent bank, a loan could be subject to settlement risk as well as the risk of interruptions in the administrative duties performed in the day to day administration of the loan.
 
Bank Loan Risk. There are a number of risks associated with an investment in bank loans, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and prepayment risk.  Lack of an active trading market, restrictions on resale, irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods may impair the Fund’s ability to sell bank loans within its desired time frame or at an acceptable price and its ability to accurately value existing and prospective investments.  Extended trade settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund.  As a result of such illiquidity, the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions to raise cash to meet its obligations.
 
Bank loans in which a Fund may invest have similar risks to below investment grade fixed income securities. Changes in the financial condition of the borrower or economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the borrower to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Secured bank loans are supported by collateral; however the value of the collateral may be insufficient to cover the amount owed to the Fund. If the Fund relies on a third party to administer a loan, the Fund is subject to the risk that the third party will fail to perform its obligations. In addition, if the Fund holds only a participation interest in a loan made by a third party, the Fund’s receipt of payments on the loan will be dependent on the third party’s willingness and ability to make those payments to the Fund.
 
Loans generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  The liquidity of loans, including the volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans, varies significantly over time and among individual loans.  For example, if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that loan can also decline for a period of time.  During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a loan can be more difficult and buying and selling a loan at an acceptable price can be more difficult and delayed.  Difficulty in selling a loan can result in a loss.
 
Subordinated loans generally are subject to similar risks as those associated with investments in senior loans, except that such loans are subordinated in payment and/or lower in lien priority to first lien holders or may be unsecured. In the event of default on a subordinated loan, the first priority lien holder has first claim to the underlying collateral of the loan. These loans are subject to the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior unsecured or senior secured obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for subordinated unsecured loans or debt that is not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral. Subordinated loans generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may be less liquid.
 
Convertible Securities Risk. A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock, right, warrant or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other security of the same or a different issuer or cash within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.  A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt securities or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.  Before conversion, convertible securities generally have characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities.  Convertible securities ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stock of the same or similar issuers.  Convertible securities generally rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible proportionate securities.
 
Convertible securities generally do not participate directly in any dividend increases or decreases of the underlying securities although the market prices of convertible securities may be affected by any dividend changes or other changes in the underlying securities.  A Fund’s investments in convertible securities may subject the Fund to the risks that prevailing interest rates, issuer credit quality and any call provisions may affect the value of the Fund’s convertible securities.  Rights and warrants entitle the holder to buy equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time.  Rights typically have a substantially shorter term than do warrants.  Rights and warrants may be considered more speculative and less liquid than certain other types of investments in that they do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying securities nor do they represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company.  Rights and warrants may lack a secondary market.
 

 
27

 

Credit Risk. A Fund could lose money on a debt security if an issuer or borrower is unable or fails to meet its obligations, including failing to make interest payments and/or to repay principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength, the market’s perception of the issuer’s financial strength or in a security’s credit rating, which reflects a third party’s assessment of the credit risk presented by a particular issuer, may affect debt securities’ values. The Fund may incur substantial losses on debt securities that are inaccurately perceived to present a different amount of credit risk by the market, the Advisor or the rating agencies than such securities actually do.
 
Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk. The value of your investment in a Fund may change in response to changes in interest rates.  An increase in interest rates may cause a fall in the value of the debt securities in which the Fund invests.  The longer the duration of a debt security, the more its value typically falls in response to an increase in interest rates.  The value of your investment in a Fund may change in response to the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio of debt securities.  The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating.  Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. The financial condition of an issuer of a debt security held by a Fund may cause it to default or become unable to pay interest or principal due on the security.  A Fund cannot collect interest and principal payments on a debt security if the issuer defaults.  Prepayment and extension risks may occur when interest rates decline and issuers of debt securities experience acceleration in prepayments.  The acceleration can shorten the maturity of the debt security and force the Fund to invest in securities with lower interest rates, reducing the Fund’s return.  Issuers may decrease prepayments of principal when interest rates increase, extending the maturity of the debt security and causing the value of the security to decline.  Distressed debt securities involve greater risk of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities.  Distressed debt securities may also be less liquid than higher quality debt securities.
 
ETF Risk. Investments in ETFs (which may, in turn, invest in equities, bonds, and other financial vehicles) may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.  By investing in an ETF, a Fund becomes a shareholder of that ETF.  As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the ETF’s fees and expenses which are paid by the Fund as an ETF shareholder.  These fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations.  If the ETF fails to achieve its investment objective, the Fund’s investment in the ETF may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.  In addition, because ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an exchange, (1) the Fund may acquire ETF shares at a discount or premium to their net asset value per share (“NAV”) and (2) ETFs are subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund.  Finally, because the value of ETF shares depends on the demand in the market, the Advisor may not be able to liquidate a Fund’s holdings at the most optimal time, adversely affecting the Fund’s performance.
 
Foreign Securities Risk. If a Fund invests in foreign securities and ADRs, an investment in that Fund may have the following additional risks:
 
 
·
foreign securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than securities of U.S. companies because foreign markets may be smaller and less liquid than U.S. markets;
 
 
·
changes in foreign tax laws, exchange controls, investment regulations and policies on nationalization and expropriation as well as political instability may affect the operations of foreign companies and the value of their securities;
 
 
·
fluctuations in currency exchange rates and currency transfer restitution may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities, which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar;
 
 
·
foreign securities and their issuers are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers regarding information disclosure, insider trading and market manipulation.  There may be less publicly available information on foreign companies and foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial standards as are U.S. companies;
 

 
28

 

 
·
foreign securities registration, custody and settlements may be subject to delays or other operational and administrative problems;
 
 
·
certain foreign brokerage commissions and custody fees may be higher than those in the United States;
 
 
·
dividends payable on the foreign securities contained in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing the income available for distribution to a Fund’s shareholders; and
 
 
·
prices for stock or ADRs may fall over short or extended periods of time.
 
High Yield Securities Risk. Securities rated below investment grade, i.e.,  Ba or BB and lower (“junk” bonds), are subject to greater risks of loss of your money than higher rated securities.  Compared with issuers of investment grade fixed-income securities, junk bonds are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and to be materially affected by these difficulties.
 
Interest Rate Risk. If a Fund invests in fixed income securities, the value of your investment in that Fund may change in response to changes in interest rates.  An increase in interest rates may cause a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which a Fund invests, while a decrease in interest rates may cause a rise in the value of the fixed income securities in which a Fund invests.  The longer the duration of a fixed income security, the more its value typically falls in response to an increase in interest rates.  Changes in interest rates will affect the value of higher-quality securities more than lower-quality securities. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable, and are influenced by a number of factors including government policy, inflation expectations and supply and demand. A substantial increase in interest rates may have an adverse impact on the liquidity of a security, especially those with longer maturities. Changes in government monetary policy, including changes in tax policy or changes in a central bank’s implementation of specific policy goals, may have a substantial impact on interest rates. There can be no guarantee that any particular government or central bank policy will be continued, discontinued or changed nor that any such policy will have the desired effect on interest rates. The risks associated with rising interest rates may be more pronounced in the near future due to the current period of historically low rates.
 
Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Investments in other investment companies, including money market funds, may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses. By investing in other investment companies, a Fund becomes a shareholder of that company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses which the Fund pays as a shareholder of the other investment company. These fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. If the other investment company fails to achieve its investment objective, the Fund’s investment in the other investment company may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.
 
Leveraged Companies Risk.   Securities of leveraged companies tend to be more sensitive to issuer, political, market and economic developments than the market as a whole and the securities of other types of companies. A decrease in the credit quality of a leveraged company can lead to a significant decrease in the value of the company’s securities. Leveraged companies can have limited access to additional capital, which can limit their ability to capitalize on attractive business opportunities and make it more difficult for them to weather challenging business environments.
 
Companies with leveraged capital structures may be undergoing difficult business circumstances. These companies may face a greater risk of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy than companies with lower levels of leverage. In the event of liquidation, reorganization or bankruptcy, a company’s creditors take precedence over the company’s stockholders, which makes recovery of those stockholders’ investment relatively less likely .
 
Liquidity Risk. Certain securities held by a Fund may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Advisor would like.  As a result, a Fund may have to hold these securities longer than it would like and may forego other investment opportunities.  There is the possibility that a Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price. Illiquidity may result from political, economic or issuer specific events; changes in a specific market’s size or structure, including the number of
 

 
29

 

participants; or overall market disruptions. Liquid portfolio investments may become illiquid or less liquid after purchase by the Fund due to low trading volume, adverse investor perceptions and/or other market developments. Liquidity risk includes the risk that the Fund will experience significant net redemptions at a time when it cannot find willing buyers for its portfolio securities or can only sell its portfolio securities at a material loss. Liquidity risk can be more pronounced in periods of market turmoil.
 
Management Risk. Each Fund is actively managed and its performance may reflect the Advisor’s ability to make decisions which are suited to achieving a Fund’s investment objectives.  Due to its active management, a Fund could under perform other mutual funds with similar investment objectives.
 
Market Risk. The market values of securities owned by a Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities or other investments may decline in value due to factors affecting individual issuers, securities markets generally or sectors within the securities markets. The value of a security may go up or down due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular issuer, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in interest rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also go up or down due to factors that affect an individual issuer or a particular sector. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value. When markets perform well, there can be no assurance that securities held by the Fund will participate in or otherwise benefit from the advance. Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.
 
Maturity Risk. Generally, a bond with a longer maturity will entail greater interest rate risk but have a higher yield.  Conversely, a bond with a shorter maturity will entail less interest rate risk but have a lower yield.
 
Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk. If a Fund invests in mid-capitalization companies, an investment in the Fund may have the following additional risks:

 
·
analysts and other investors typically follow these companies less actively and therefore information about these companies is not always readily available;
 
·
changes in the value of midsize company stocks may not mirror the fluctuation of the market; and
 
·
more limited product lines, markets and financial resources make these companies more susceptible to economic or market setbacks.

For these and other reasons, the prices of mid-capitalization securities can fluctuate more significantly than the securities of larger companies.  The smaller the company, the greater effect these risks may have on that company’s operations and performance.  As a result, an investment in a Fund may exhibit a higher degree of volatility than the general domestic securities market.

Payment-In-Kind Securities Risk.   Payment-in-kind securities may be subject to greater fluctuation in value and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities paying cash interest at regular interest payment periods. Prices on non-cash-paying instruments may be more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s financial condition, fluctuation in interest rates and market demand/supply imbalances than cash-paying securities with similar credit ratings, and thus may be more speculative. Investors may purchase payment-in-kind securities at a price below the amount payable at maturity. Because such securities do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity, this prevents any reinvestment of interest payments at prevailing interest rates if prevailing interest rates rise. The higher yields and interest rates on payment-in-kind securities reflect the payment deferral and increased credit risk associated with such instruments and that such investments may represent a higher credit risk than coupon loans. Payment-in-kind securities may have a potential variability in valuations because their continuing accruals require continuing judgments about the collectability of the deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. Special tax considerations are associated with investing in certain lower-grade securities, such as payment-in-kind securities.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Advisor’s tactical investment process is expected to result in a high portfolio turnover rate. High portfolio turnover, or frequent trading, involves correspondingly greater expenses, such as brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in
 

 
30

 

other securities, and may result in higher taxable gains.  Increased transaction costs could detract from the Fund’s performance.
 
Preferred Stock Risk . Preferred stocks are subject to the risks associated with other types of equity securities, as well as additional risks, such as potentially greater volatility and risks related to deferral, non-cumulative dividends, subordination, liquidity, limited voting rights, and special redemption rights.
 
Prepayment Risk. Debt securities are subject to prepayment risk when the issuer can “call” the security, or repay principal, in whole or in part, prior to the security’s maturity. When the Fund reinvests the prepayments of principal it receives, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on the existing security, potentially lowering the Fund’s income, yield and its distributions to shareholders. Securities subject to prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and have greater price volatility. Prepayment risk is greater in periods of falling interest rates.
 
Private Placement Risk. The Fund may invest in privately issued securities, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not registered with the SEC.  Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for specific privately issued securities may vary.  Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.  Privately issued securities that the Advisor determines to be “illiquid” are subject to the Fund’s policy of not investing more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 
Rating Agencies Risk . The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to the credit ratings of that Fund’s portfolio securities.  The degree of risk for a particular security may be reflected in its credit rating.  Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines.  Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained.  There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant.  A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests.  The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.
 
Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates.  In addition, rating agencies are subject to an inherent conflict of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.
 
Redemption Risk.   The Fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the Fund to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value, particularly during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Redemption risk is greater to the extent that the Fund has investors with large shareholdings, short investment horizons or unpredictable cash flow needs.  In addition, redemption risk is heightened during periods of overall market turmoil. The redemption by one or more large shareholders of their holdings in the Fund could hurt performance and/or cause the remaining shareholders in the Fund to lose money. If one decision maker has control of Fund shares owned by separate Fund shareholders, including clients of the Advisor, redemptions by these shareholders may further increase the Fund’s redemption risk. If the Fund is forced to liquidate its assets under unfavorable conditions or at inopportune times, the value of your investment could decline.
 
REIT Risk. A REIT’s performance depends on the types, values and locations of the properties it owns and how well those properties are managed. A decline in rental income may occur because of extended vacancies, increased competition from other properties, tenants’ failure to pay rent or poor management. Because a REIT may be invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, it may be more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. Loss of status as a qualified REIT under the U.S. federal tax laws could adversely affect the value of a particular REIT or the market for REITs as a whole. These risks may also apply to securities of REIT-like entities domiciled outside the U.S.
 

 
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Small-Capitalization Companies Risk. If a Fund invests in small-capitalization companies, an investment in the Fund may have the following additional risks:
 

 
·
analysts and other investors typically follow these companies less actively and therefore information about these companies is not always readily available;
 
·
securities of many smaller companies are traded in the over-the-counter markets or on a regional securities exchange potentially making them thinly traded, less liquid and their prices more volatile than the prices of the securities of larger companies;
 
·
changes in the value of smaller company stocks may not mirror the fluctuation of the market; and
 
·
more limited product lines, markets and financial resources make these companies more susceptible to economic or market setbacks.

For these and other reasons, the prices of small-capitalization securities can fluctuate more significantly than the securities of larger companies.  The smaller the company, the greater effect these risks may have on that company’s operations and performance.  As a result, an investment in a Fund may exhibit a higher degree of volatility than the general domestic securities market.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
 
Organization.   Each Fund is a series of PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”).   The Board oversees the business of the Trust and the Funds.  The Board meets periodically to review each Fund’s performance, monitor investment activities, and discuss other matters affecting the Funds.  Additional information regarding the Board, as well as the Trust’s executive officers, may be found in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).
 
Investment Advisor.   PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., Navy Yard Corporate Center, Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112, is the Funds’ investment advisor (the “Advisor”).  The Advisor has provided investment advisory and management services to clients since 1987. As of September 30, 2015, the Advisor had approximately $6.5 billion in discretionary assets under management.
 
The Advisor receives an advisory fee from the Funds at an annual rate of each Fund’s average daily net assets, as shown in the following table:
 
 
Annual Advisory Fee
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
0.90%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
0.95%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.69%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.69%
 
The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay Fund expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Funds (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) do not exceed the amounts shown below. The expense limitation agreement will remain in place for the period ending November 30, 2016. Thereafter, the expense limitation agreement for the Funds will be reviewed each year, at which time the continuation of the expense limitation agreement will be discussed by the Advisor and the Board. The expense limitation agreement also provides that the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by a Fund for any fees it waived and/or expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid.
 

 
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Institutional
Class
Investor Class
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
1.06%
1.31%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
1.09%
1.34%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.72%
0.97%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.74%
0.99%

At its own expense, the Advisor may compensate certain financial institutions, including the Funds’ distributor, for providing distribution and distribution-related services and/or for performing certain administrative/shareholder servicing functions for the benefit of the Funds’ shareholders.  These payments may create an incentive for such financial institutions to recommend the purchase of the Funds’ shares.
 
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Advisor on behalf of each Fund will be available in the Funds’ next report to shareholders.
 
The Advisor’s Equity Team is overseen by Richard A. Hocker and Eric J. Green, CFA.
 
 
·
Richard A. Hocker founded the Advisor in 1987 and serves as Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer, with oversight responsibility for the Advisor’s overall portfolio strategies. Mr. Hocker’s investment experience spans over forty years. Previously, he was a Partner with Delaware Investment Advisors (1977-1987), and also founded Covenant Bank, which was acquired by Wachovia Corporation. Mr. Hocker received his B.S. and M.B.A. from the Kogod School of Business, American University.
 
 
·
Eric J. Green, CFA, is a Senior Managing Partner and the Director of Research.  Mr. Green has oversight responsibility for the Advisor’s equity portfolio strategies and guides the day-to-day research process.  Mr. Green joined the Advisor in 1997. Previously, Mr. Green was a financial analyst with the SEC in the Division of Investment Management.  Mr. Green received a B.S./B.A., cum laude, from the Kogod School of Business, American University, and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.
 
The Advisor’s Fixed Income Team is overseen by Mr. Hocker, Mr. Green, and Peter R. Duffy, CFA.
 
 
·
Peter R. Duffy, CFA is a Partner and the Chair of the Advisor’s Credit Committee. Mr. Duffy   joined the Advisor in 2006.  Previously, Mr. Duffy was a Director for Deutsche Asset Management and a Manager of Finance for GE Capital, as well as Management Consultant for Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Duffy received a B.S., summa cum laude, from Villanova University, and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
 
Portfolio Managers.
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
 
The portfolio managers primarily responsible for the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund’s day-to-day management are:
 
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer .  Information about Mr. Hocker is provided above.  Mr. Hocker has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Eric J. Green, CFA, Senior Managing Partner and Director of Research.   Information about Mr. Green is provided above.  Mr. Green has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Joseph C. Maguire, CFA, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager .  Mr. Maguire joined the Advisor in 2005. Previously, he was with Acquisition Management Services, Inc. and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Maguire received a B.B.A. from The College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Mr. Maguire has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 

 
33

 

PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
 
The portfolio managers primarily responsible for the PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund’s day-to-day management are:
 
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer .  Information about Mr. Hocker is provided above.  Mr. Hocker has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Eric J. Green, CFA, Senior Managing Partner and Director of Research.   Information about Mr. Green is provided above.  Mr. Green has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
 
The portfolio managers primarily responsible for the PENN Capital High Yield Fund’s day-to-day management are:
 
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer .  Information about Mr. Hocker is provided above.  Mr. Hocker has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Martin A. Smith, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager .  Mr. Smith joined the Advisor in 1999. Previously,  he was with Cantone Research, Inc. and Merrill Lynch Asset Management. Mr. Smith received a B.B.A. from Pace University, and an M.B.A. from Rutgers University. Mr. Smith has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
David H. Jackson, Portfolio Manager .  Mr. Jackson joined the Advisor in 2008 as a Senior Research Analyst and has been a Portfolio Manager since 2012. Previously, he was with Financial Institutions Group at Fitch Ratings and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Mr. Jackson received a B.S. from Rutgers University School of Business. Mr. Jackson has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
 
The portfolio managers primarily responsible for the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund’s day-to-day management are:
 
Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer .  Information about Mr. Hocker is provided above.  Mr. Hocker has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
Kevin C. Roche, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager .  Mr. Roche joined the Advisor in 2002. Previously, he was with Fidelity Investments, C.P. Baker, and LPL Financial. Mr. Roche received a B.A. from The Catholic University of America, and an M.B.A. from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.  Mr. Roche has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
 
The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation arrangements, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.
 
Fund Distributor .  Foreside Fund Services, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”), acts as the Trust’s distributor in connection with the offering of Fund shares. The Distributor may enter into arrangements with banks, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase or redeem shares. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Advisor, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, U.S. Bank N.A. or their affiliates.
 
Fund Transfer Agent, Administrator and Accountant .  U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC serves as the Funds’ administrator, fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent (the “Transfer Agent”).
 
Custodian .  U.S. Bank N.A., an affiliate of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, serves as the Funds’ custodian (the “Custodian”).
 

 
34

 

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings .  A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the SAI, which is available without charge on the Funds’ website at www.penncapitalfunds.com and by calling the Funds at 844-302-PENN (7366).
 
CLASSES OF SHARES
 
When and How NAV is Determined.   Each Fund’s share price is known as its NAV.  The NAV is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets, minus all liabilities, by the number of shares outstanding (assets – liabilities / number of shares = NAV).  The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees, including management, administration and other fees, which are accrued daily. Due to the fact that different expenses are charged to the Institutional Class and Investor Class shares, the NAV of the two classes of a Fund may vary.  Each Fund’s share price is calculated as of the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. The Funds do not determine the NAV on any day when the NYSE is not open for trading, such as weekends and certain national holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available are generally priced at their market value.  If market quotations are readily available for portfolio securities listed on a securities exchange, a Fund values those securities at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the day, respectively, or, if there is no reported sale, at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked price.  Because a Fund may invest in foreign securities, the Fund’s NAV may change on days when a shareholder will not be able to purchase or redeem Fund shares because foreign markets are open at times and on days when U.S. markets are not.  Investments quoted in foreign currencies will be valued daily in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the time such valuation is determined.  Foreign currency exchange rates are generally determined as of the close of the NYSE. Fixed income securities and bank loans are generally priced on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service.  Independent pricing services value fixed income securities and bank loans at an evaluated bid price by employing methodologies that use actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities.  A Fund’s portfolio holdings may also consist of shares of other investment companies in which the Fund invests.  The value of each such investment company will be its NAV at the time the Fund’s shares are priced. Each investment company calculates its NAV based on the current market value for its portfolio holdings. Each investment company values securities and other instruments in a manner as described in that investment company’s prospectus.  The investment company’s prospectus explains the circumstances under which the company will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.  For all other securities, methods approved by the Board are used that are designed to price securities at their fair market values.

Fair Value Determinations .  Occasionally, reliable market quotations are not readily available (such as for certain restricted or unlisted securities and private placements) or securities and other assets may not be reliably priced (such as in the case of trade suspensions or halts, price movement limits set by certain foreign markets, and thinly traded or illiquid securities), or there may be events affecting the value of foreign securities or other securities held by the Funds that occur when regular trading on foreign or other exchanges is closed, but before trading on the NYSE is closed.  Fair value determinations are then made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board.  Under the procedures adopted by the Board, the Board has delegated the responsibility for making fair value determinations to a Valuation Committee, subject to the Board’s oversight. Generally, the fair value of a portfolio security or other asset shall be the amount that the owner of the security or asset might reasonably expect to receive upon its current sale.

Because the Funds may invest in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, a significant gap in time can exist between the time of a particular security’s last trade on a foreign market, and the time at which a Fund calculates its NAV.  If an event that could materially affect the value of the Fund’s securities has occurred between the time the securities were last traded and the time that the Fund calculates its NAV, the closing price of the Fund’s securities may no longer reflect their market value at the time the Fund calculates its NAV.  In such a case, the Fund may use fair value methods to value such securities.
 
 
Attempts to determine the fair value of securities introduce an element of subjectivity to the pricing of securities.  As

 
35

 

a result, the price of a security determined through fair valuation techniques may differ from the price quoted or published by other sources and may not accurately reflect the market value of the security when trading resumes.  If a reliable market quotation becomes available for a security formerly valued through fair valuation techniques, the Fund would compare the new market quotation to the fair value price to evaluate the effectiveness of its fair valuation determination.  If any significant discrepancies are found, the Fund may adjust its fair valuation procedures.

About Institutional Class and Investor Class Shares.
Each Class has its own expense structure, allowing you to invest in the way that best suits your needs. When investing, consider the size of your investment and how long you plan to hold your shares. Your financial consultant or other financial intermediary can help you determine which Class is best suited to your personal financial goals.  If you qualify to purchase Institutional Class shares, you should purchase them rather than Investor Class shares, since Investor Class shares have higher expenses than Institutional Class shares.  Each Class invests in the same portfolio of securities; however, the returns for each Class differ because each Class is subject to different expenses.
 
Eligible investors may purchase Institutional Class shares of the Funds may do so at the Funds’ NAV without a sales charge or other fee.
 
If you select Investor Class shares, you may purchase shares at the Funds’ NAV without a sales charge or other fee. The Funds have adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), on behalf of the Investor Class shares that allows the Funds to pay distribution and service fees for the sale, distribution and shareholder servicing of their shares.  If you buy Investor Class shares, you pay out of Fund assets this annual distribution and service fee of 0.25%. Because distribution and service fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
 
Certain financial intermediaries that make the Funds’ shares available to their customers may charge fees in addition to those described in this Prospectus for providing certain services, including: marketing, distribution or other services intended to assist in the offer and sale of Fund shares; shareholder servicing activities; and/or sub-transfer agency services provided to individual shareholders or beneficial owners where a financial intermediary maintains omnibus accounts with the Funds’ Transfer Agent.  The Advisor or its affiliates may pay all or a portion of those fees out of their own resources (that is, without additional cost to a Fund or its shareholders).  The compensation is discretionary and may be available only to selected selling and servicing agents. The amount of fees paid to a financial intermediary in any given year will vary and may be based on one or more factors, including a fixed amount, a fixed percentage rate, a financial intermediary’s sales of Fund shares, assets in Fund shares held by the intermediary’s customers, or other factors.  In addition, consistent with applicable regulations, the Advisor or its affiliates may from time to time pay for or make contributions to financial intermediaries or their employees in connection with various activities including: training and education seminars for financial intermediary employees, clients and potential clients; due diligence meetings regarding the Funds; recreational activities; gifts; and/or other non-cash items.  See the SAI for a discussion of marketing and support payments and sub-transfer agency policies.
 
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the “Servicing Plan”) that allows the Funds to pay servicing fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisers or other financial institutions that provide shareholder services, such as for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.  Under the Servicing Plan, each Fund may pay servicing fees to such intermediaries at an annual rate not to exceed 0.15% of the average daily value of net assets.  Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of charges.
 
Institutional Class Shares
Institutional Class shares are offered primarily for investors such as pension and profit-sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and high net worth individuals. Institutional Class shares also may be offered through certain financial intermediaries that charge their customers transaction or other service fees with respect to their customers’ investments in the Funds.
 

 
36

 

Pension and profit-sharing plans, employee benefit trusts and employee benefit plan alliances and “wrap account” or “managed fund” programs established with broker-dealers or financial intermediaries that maintain an omnibus or pooled account for a Fund and do not require a Fund or the Advisor to pay an annual administrative or service fee greater than 0.25% generally may purchase Institutional Class shares, subject to investment minimums and any applicable waivers.
 
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1 million. The Advisor may waive the initial minimum in certain circumstances, including the following:
 
 
·
Transfers of shares from existing accounts if the registration or beneficial owner remains the same.
 
 
·
Employees of the Advisor and its affiliates and their families.
 
 
·
Employee benefit plans sponsored by the Advisor.
 
 
·
Certain wrap or other fee based programs offered by financial intermediaries.
 
 
·
Trustees of the Trust and their families.
 
 
·
Institutional clients of the Advisor.
 
 
·
Defined contribution plans of at least $5 million or defined contribution plans that the Advisor believes will reach the $1 million minimum within the first year.
 
 
·
The minimum initial investment for registered investment advisors purchasing shares for their clients through transaction fee programs is $250,000 per Fund or as stipulated by the clearing platform.
 
Before making an investment in Institutional Class shares, you should call the Fund at 1-844-302-PENN (7366) to determine if you are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares. You will receive an application form and further instructions on how to invest. The Funds’ Transfer Agent must receive your completed application before you may make an initial investment.
 
HOW TO BUY, SELL, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER SHARES.
 
The following chart summarizes how to buy, sell, exchange and transfer shares. The Funds do not issue share certificates.
 
In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, please note that the Transfer Agent will verify certain information on your application as part of the Funds’ Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested on the application, you must supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address. Mailing addresses containing only a P.O. Box will not be accepted. Please contact the Transfer Agent if you need additional assistance with your application.
 
If the Funds do not have a reasonable basis for determining your identity, the account will be rejected or you will not be allowed to perform transactions on the account until the necessary information to confirm your identity is received. The Funds reserve the right to close the account within five (5) business days if such information is not received.  The Funds reserve the right to reject purchases, or suspend or redeem an account, without the owner’s permission, if the Funds reasonably believe there is suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal activity in the account.
 
Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States.
 

 
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Your Choices
 
Information Important for You to Know
Buy Shares
 
First, select the appropriate share Class.
 
Refer to section entitled “Classes of Shares – About Institutional Class and Investor Class Shares”. Be sure to read this Prospectus carefully.
   
Next, determine the amount of your investment.
 
For Institutional Class shares, the minimum initial investment is $1 million.  For Investor Class shares, the minimum initial investment is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA or other individual retirement accounts). There is no minimum initial investment for retirement plans.  (The minimums for initial investments may be reduced or waived under certain circumstances.)
Financial advisors, broker-dealers, bank trust departments, or other financial intermediaries offering asset allocation models or other fee-based programs may have initial investment minimums of less than $2,500.  Consult your investment professional for the minimum initial investment specified by the program’s provider.
   
Have your financial consultant, selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary submit your purchase order.
 
The price of your shares is based on the next calculation of NAV after receipt of your order.  Purchase orders must be received in “good order” and the Fund reserves the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in good order. “Good order” means that your purchase request includes:  (i) the name of the Fund, (ii) the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, (iii) your purchase application or investment stub, and (iv) a check payable to the Fund in which you are investing, or, if paying by wire, receipt of Federal funds.  The requirements for good order may be revised at any time and without prior notice.
Purchase orders received in good order prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) are priced at the NAV determined that day.  Certain financial intermediaries, however, may require submission of orders prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Purchase orders received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time are priced based on the NAV determined on the next business day. The Fund may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the sale of shares at any time. Certain financial intermediaries may charge a fee to process a purchase.
   
Purchase through the Transfer Agent
 
Purchase By Mail
Send a completed account application along with a check payable to PENN Capital Funds Trust to the following address:
(regular mail)
PENN Capital Funds Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201-0701
(overnight)
PENN Capital Funds Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5207
The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agents.  Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at the U.S. Bancorp
 

 
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If You Want To
 
Your Choices
 
Information Important for You to Know
       
Fund Services, LLC post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Funds’ Transfer Agent.
Checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars for the exact amount of the purchase.  You will receive the NAV next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your check and completed application. The Funds will not accept payment in cash, money orders, cashier’s checks in an amount less than $10,000, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks, starter checks, drafts or third party checks. The Funds are unable to accept post-dated checks, post-dated on-line bill pay checks or any conditional order or payment.  If your check does not clear, you will be charged a $25 service charge and for any other losses sustained by the Funds.
       
Purchase By Wire
If you are making your first investment in the Funds, before you wire funds, the Transfer Agent must have a completed account application.  You may mail or overnight deliver your account application to the Transfer Agent.  Upon receipt of your completed account application, the Transfer Agent will establish an account for you.  The account number assigned will be required as part of the instruction that should be provided to your financial institution to send the wire.  Your financial institution must include the name of the Fund you are purchasing, the account number, and your name so that the wire may be correctly applied.  Your bank should transmit funds by wire to:
U.S. Bank N.A.
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI  53202
ABA #075000022
For credit to U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account #112-952-137
Further Credit: PENN Capital Funds Trust, [INSERT FUND NAME HERE]
[SHAREHOLDER NAME - SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT #]
Federal fund purchases will only be accepted on a day on which the Funds and the Custodian are open for business. Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time to be eligible for same day pricing.  The Funds and U.S. Bank N.A. are not responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions .
Add to Your Investment
 
Purchase additional shares
 
The minimum investment for additional purchases is generally $100. (The minimums for additional purchases may be waived under certain circumstances.)
If you purchased your shares through the Transfer Agent, forms for additional contributions are included with your account statements or by calling 1-844-302-PENN (7366). You may purchase additional shares via wire. Before sending your wire, please contact the Transfer Agent to advise them of your intent to wire funds. This will ensure prompt and accurate credit of your wire.
Your financial consultant, selected securities dealer or other

 
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If You Want To
 
Your Choices
 
Information Important for You to Know
       
financial intermediary may also submit your order.
   
Acquire additional shares through the automatic dividend reinvestment plan
 
Unless you elect to receive dividends in cash, all dividends are automatically reinvested.
   
Participate in the automatic investment plan
 
You may invest a specific amount on a periodic basis through the Transfer Agent. The current minimum for such automatic investments is $100 (subsequent to the minimum initial investment). The minimum may be waived or revised under certain circumstances. To participate in the plan, your financial institution must be a member of the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network. You may change or terminate your participation in the plan at any time by notifying the Transfer Agent five (5) business days prior to your next transaction.  To change your financial institution, a signature guarantee or signature validation may be required. If your financial institution rejects your transaction, the Transfer Agent will charge a $25 fee to your account. Selected securities dealers or other financial intermediaries may also offer automatic investment plans.
Sell Your Shares
 
Have your financial consultant, selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary submit your sales order.
 
The price of your shares is based on the next calculation of NAV after receipt of your order. For your redemption request to be priced at the NAV on the day of your request, you must submit your request to your selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary prior to that day’s close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time).
Certain financial intermediaries, however, may require submission of orders prior to that time. Redemption requests received after that time are priced at the NAV at the close of regular trading on the next business day. Certain financial intermediaries may charge a fee to process a sale of shares.
The Fund may reject an order to sell shares under certain circumstances permitted by the SEC, including during unusual market conditions or emergencies when the Fund can’t determine the value of its assets or sell its holdings.
   
Sell through the Transfer Agent
 
You may sell shares held at the Transfer Agent by writing to the Transfer Agent at the address on the back cover of this Prospectus. All shareholders on the account must sign the letter. A signature guarantee will generally be required, but may be waived, if your redemption proceeds (i) are more than $100,000, (ii) are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record, (iii) are sent to an address on record that has changed within 30 calendar days, or (iv) when ownership is being changed on the account. A signature guarantee or signature validation may be required when adding telephone redemption privileges or adding/changing automated financial institution instructions on an existing account or are paid to a corporation, partnership, trust or fiduciary.  Non-financial transactions including establishing or modifying certain services on an account may require a signature guarantee, signature
.

 
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If You Want To
 
Your Choices
 
Information Important for You to Know
       
guarantee or signature validation in other instances based on the circumstances relative to the particular situation.  You can obtain a signature guarantee from a bank, securities dealer, securities broker, credit union, savings association, national securities exchange or registered securities association. A notary public seal will not be acceptable. You may have to supply additional documentation at the request of the Transfer Agent, depending on the type of account. Shareholders who have an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption request whether to withhold federal income tax.  Redemption requests failing to indicate an election will generally be subject to a 10% withholding.
All requests received in good order by the Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) will be processed that day and the proceeds will usually be sent the next day.  “Good order” means your letter of instruction includes:  (i) the name of the Fund; (ii) the dollar amount of shares to be redeemed; (iii) signatures of all registered shareholders exactly as the shares are registered and a signature guarantee, when applicable; and (iv) the account number.  You may have a check sent to the address of record, proceeds may be wired to your pre-determined financial institution account or proceeds may be sent via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network using instructions previously provided to the Transfer Agent for your account. There is a $15 fee for outgoing wire transfers. In all cases, proceeds will be processed within seven calendar days following a properly completed request. If you make a redemption request before a Fund has collected payment for the purchase of shares, the Fund or the Transfer Agent may delay mailing your proceeds. This delay usually will not exceed 12 days from the date of purchase.
You may also sell shares held at the Transfer Agent by telephone request if the amount being sold does not exceed $100,000 and if certain other conditions are met. The $100,000 maximum does not apply to Institutional Class shares. Contact the Transfer Agent at 1-844-302-PENN (7366)for details.  If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, the Transfer Agent will accept telephone instructions from any one owner or authorized person.
Sell Shares Systematically
 
Participate in a Fund’s Systematic Withdrawal Plan
 
You can choose to receive systematic payments from your Fund account either by check or through direct deposit to your financial institution account of at least $100 per payment if you have at least $10,000 in your account. You can generally arrange through the Transfer Agent or your selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary for systematic sales of shares of a fixed dollar amount as frequently as monthly, subject to certain conditions. Under either method, you should have dividends automatically reinvested.
Ask your financial intermediary or the Transfer Agent for details. Each withdrawal is generally a taxable event for federal income tax purposes.

 
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If You Want To
 
Your Choices
 
Information Important for You to Know
Exchange Your Shares
 
Select the Fund into which you want to exchange.
 
You can exchange your shares of a Fund for shares of another PENN Capital Fund subject to the policies and procedures adopted by the participating securities dealer or other financial intermediary and to the policies described below. The minimum exchange amount is $2,500. Exchanges generally are considered a sale for federal income tax purposes.
Each Class of Fund shares generally is exchangeable for shares of the same Class of another PENN Capital Fund.
To exercise the exchange privilege, contact your financial consultant, selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary or call the Transfer Agent at 1-844-302-PENN (7366).
Transfer Shares to Another Securities Dealer or Other Financial Intermediary
 
Transfer to a participating securities dealer or other financial intermediary
 
You may transfer your Fund shares to another selected securities dealer or other financial intermediary if authorized dealer agreements are in place between the Distributor and the transferring intermediary and the Distributor and the receiving intermediary. Certain shareholder services may not be available for all transferred shares. All future trading of these assets must be coordinated by the receiving intermediary.
   
Transfer to a non-participating securities dealer or other financial intermediary
 
You must either:
           Transfer your shares to an account with the Transfer Agent or
           Sell your shares.

 
During periods of substantial economic or market change, you may find telephone redemptions difficult to implement and may encounter higher than usual call waits.  Telephone trades must be received by or prior to market close.  Please allow sufficient time to place your telephone transaction prior to market close.  If a servicing agent or shareholder cannot contact the Transfer Agent by telephone, they should make a redemption request in writing in the manner described earlier. Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be canceled or modified.
 
Right to Suspend Sales and Reject Purchase Orders. The Funds reserve the right to suspend the offering of shares at any time, and to reject a purchase order.
 
The Advisor and the Funds are dedicated to minimizing or eliminating short-term and/or active trading in the Funds. Purchases and exchanges of the Funds should be made for long-term investment purposes. Short-term or excessive trading into or out of a Fund may harm other shareholders in various ways, including disrupting portfolio management strategies, increasing brokerage and administrative costs, and causing the Fund to generate taxable gains. To protect the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders, the Board has adopted the following policies and has authorized the Advisor to make adjustments to specific provisions in these policies as necessary to ensure their effectiveness.
 
The Funds discourage frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares, whether for “market timing” or any other purpose. Accordingly, the Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange request for any reason, including transactions representing excessive trading and transactions accepted by any shareholder’s financial intermediary.  For example, a Fund may reject any purchase order, including an exchange, from any investor who, in the Advisor’s opinion, has a pattern of short-term or excessive trading in the Funds or whose trading has been disruptive to a Fund.
 
The Funds monitor trading activity in a variety of ways. Active trading within a 30-day period will generally be questioned if the trades meet certain thresholds for materiality. However, the Funds may reject trades from any shareholder who the Funds believe is engaged in excessive trading, whether or not in violation of these guidelines. The Funds may consider trading patterns over a longer period than 30 days and may take into account market
 

 
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conditions, the number of trades and the amount of the trades in making such determinations. In applying these policies, the Funds consider the information available to them at the time and reserve the right to consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control or influence. Additionally, these guidelines may be changed at any time without prior notice to shareholders.
 
When excessive or short-term trading is detected, the party involved may be banned from future trading in the Funds. Judgments related to the rejection of purchases and the banning of future trades are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Advisor will seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Funds’ shareholders.
 
Persons engaged in excessive trading practices may use a variety of strategies to avoid detection, such as trading through multiple financial intermediaries or within omnibus accounts that pool transactions together in one account. The Funds may not be able to effectively monitor or detect excessive or short-term trading that occurs through financial intermediaries, particularly in an omnibus account. It is common for a substantial portion of Fund shares to be held in omnibus accounts. The Funds may not always be able to detect or curtail excessive or short-term trading in omnibus accounts, which may harm shareholders as described above.
 
In addition, the Funds attempt to limit exchanges in retirement plans, which often trade in omnibus accounts, to no more than one round-trip exchange per participant within a 30-day period. It is the responsibility of plan sponsors to communicate the Funds’ restrictions to plan participants and monitor and apply the exchange limitation. The exchange limits may be modified to conform to individual plan exchange limits, Department of Labor regulations and automated asset allocation or dollar-cost-averaging programs. Certain automated or pre-established exchange, asset allocation and dollar-cost-averaging programs may not be subject to these exchange limits.
 
The Distributor may enter into agreements with respect to financial advisers and other financial intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts with the Transfer Agent pursuant to which such financial advisors and other financial intermediaries undertake to cooperate with the Advisor and the Distributor in monitoring purchase, exchange and redemption orders by their customers in order to detect and prevent short-term or excessive trading of the Funds’ shares through such accounts.  Certain plan recordkeepers may offer the Funds a menu of options designed to limit active trading.  These options may include blocking of exchanges or round-trip limitations for certain time periods.  Generally, the Funds prefer to implement buy blocks, whereby a participant who initiates a sale in a Fund would not be able to make a purchase for 30 days.  This limitation does not include payroll contributions, rollovers, loan transactions, automatic rebalancing or other similar transactions.  It may not be practical for each plan sponsor and/or recordkeeper to implement this systematic limitation or other short-term trading policies.  The Funds will accept as adequate reasonable policies and procedures to detect and deter active trading even though those policies may not be as restrictive as those of the Funds.  Shareholders who own Fund shares through plan sponsors may request copies of such policies and procedures from those plan sponsors and/or recordkeepers.
 
For purposes of application of these policies, the Funds generally do not consider the following types of transactions to be active trading (unless significant in size or frequency of trades):
 
 
·
With respect to discretionary wrap programs, changes in investment models by research teams;
 
 
·
“Rebalancing” transactions by brokers or investment advisors to align accounts with target portfolios;
 
 
·
“Rebalancing” transactions by shareholders between taxable and non-taxable accounts;
 
 
·
Sales and purchases effected for the purpose of changing the class of Fund shares held;
 
 
·
Sales and purchases effected for the purpose of realizing tax gains/losses in order to offset other tax gains/losses; and
 
 
·
Sales and purchases effected by plan sponsors, recordkeepers or other intermediaries for various operational purposes.
 

 
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Redemption Fee. To discourage frequent short-term trading in Fund shares, the Funds impose a redemption fee on redemptions, including exchanges for shares of other PENN Capital Funds.  If you purchase Fund shares  you will be charged a 2.00% fee for any redemption of those shares made 90 days or less from the initial purchase.  The 90-day period begins on the purchase date and ends 90 days from that date.
 
This redemption fee is assessed and retained by a Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders. The redemption fee is not a sales charge and is not paid to the Advisor or any third party.  The redemption fee applies to redemptions from a Fund and exchanges from a Fund into another  Fund advised by the Advisor.  The fee is applied to the shares being redeemed or exchanged in the order in which they were purchased. For this purpose, shares of a Fund will be treated as redeemed as follows: first, reinvested shares; second, on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis.  The Funds reserve the right to modify the terms of, or terminate, this fee at any time.
 
The redemption fee is not imposed in connection with the following:
 
 
·
redemption of shares associated with periodic distributions from retirement accounts (including IRAs and retirement plans);
 
 
·
redemption of shares acquired through reinvestments of dividends or capital gain distributions;
 
 
·
redemption of shares in certain hardship situations, such as death or disability of the shareholder;
 
 
·
redemption of shares to return an excess contribution to a retirement account;
 
 
·
redemption of shares in connection with qualified default investment alternatives;
 
 
·
redemption of shares as part of a systematic plan, such as an Automatic Investment Plan or Systematic Withdrawal Plan; and
 
 
·
redemption of shares through omnibus accounts or financial intermediaries in connection with periodic rebalancing of asset allocation programs or fund of funds products, if it has been determined that such activity does not constitute frequent trading.
 
If your shares are held through an intermediary in an omnibus account, the Trust relies on the intermediary to assess the redemption fee on underlying shareholder accounts. The Trust seeks to identify intermediaries establishing omnibus accounts and to enter into agreements requiring the intermediary to assess the redemption fees. There are no assurances that the Trust will be successful in identifying all intermediaries or that the intermediaries will properly assess the fees.
 
Certain intermediaries may not apply the exemptions previously listed to the redemption fee policy; all redemptions by persons trading through such intermediaries may be subject to the fee. Certain intermediaries may exempt transactions not listed from redemption fees, if approved by the Trust. Persons redeeming shares through an intermediary should check with their respective intermediary to determine which transactions are subject to the fees.
 
The Funds reserve the right to waive the redemption fee in other circumstances.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
 
Policy on Foreign Shareholders.   Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States. To invest in the Funds, you must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien or a U.S. entity, you must have a U.S. tax identification (social security or employer identification) number, and you must reside in the United States and its territories or have a U.S. military address. The Funds reserve the right to refuse investments from shareholders or entities that must file a W-8 tax form. The Funds reserve the right to close the account within 5 business days if clarifying information or documentation is not received.
 

 
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Liquidating Small Accounts.   Because of the high cost of maintaining smaller shareholder accounts, if you redeem shares and your account balance falls below $500, the Funds may redeem all of your shares in your account after sixty (60) days’ written notice to you.  A redemption of all of your shares generally will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes and may be subject to tax.
 
Converting from Investor Class to Institutional Class Shares.   If the current market value of the Investor Class shares in your Fund account is at least $1 million dollars, you may convert your Investor Class shares to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund on the basis of relative NAVs. Converting from Investor Class shares to Institutional Class shares may not be available at certain financial intermediaries, or there may be additional costs associated with the conversion resulting from fees charged by your financial intermediary. There are no fees or other charges for converting accounts held directly with the Funds. Because the NAV of the Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than that of the Investor Class shares at the time of conversion, although the total dollar value will be the same, a shareholder may receive more or fewer Institutional Class shares than the number of Investor Class shares converted.
 
If you have a direct account with the Funds, you may convert from Investor Class to Institutional Class shares by calling the Funds at 844-302-PENN (7366).  Otherwise, your financial intermediary can contact the Funds to convert your shares from Investor Class to Institutional Class.
 
Holders of Investor Class shares may convert their Investor Class shares to Institutional Class shares provided that they: (1) hold their shares through an institution that has a valid Institutional Class sales agreement with the Distributor authorizing such a conversion; and (2) are eligible to invest in Institutional Class shares in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Prospectus.  Any such conversion is subject to the Funds’ discretion to accept or reject the conversion.  For federal income tax purposes, a same-Fund share Class conversion generally will not result in the recognition by the investor of a capital gain or loss.  However, investors should consult their own tax or legal adviser to discuss their particular circumstances.  Investor Class shareholders should contact their financial institution for information on the availability of Institutional Class shares, and should read and consider the Institutional Class shares information in the Prospectus before any such conversion.
 
Converting from Institutional Class to Investor Class Shares.   If your Institutional Class share account falls below the stated investment minimum due to redemptions, then the Funds reserve the right to give you 30 days’ written notice to make additional investments so that your account balance is $1 million or more.  If you do not make additional investments, then the Funds may convert your Institutional Class shares to Investor Class shares, at which time your account will be subject to the expenses, policies and procedures for Investor Class shares. Any such conversion will occur at the relative NAVs of the two share classes, without the imposition of any fees or other charges if the accounts are held directly with the Funds.  Because the NAV of the Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than that of the Investor Class shares at the time of conversion, although the total dollar value will be the same, a shareholder may receive more or fewer Investor Class shares than the number of Institutional Class shares converted.
 
Where a retirement plan or other financial intermediary holds Institutional Class shares on behalf of its participants or clients, shares held by such participants or clients will remain Institutional Class shares when a participant or client rolls over its accounts with the retirement plan or financial intermediary into an individual retirement account.
 
Responsibility for Fraud.   The Funds will not be responsible for any account losses due to fraud, so long as we reasonably believe that the person transacting on an account is authorized to do so.  Please protect your account information and keep it private.  Contact the Funds immediately about any transactions you believe to be unauthorized.
 
Retirement Distributions .   A request for distribution from an IRA or other retirement account may be delayed by the Funds pending proper documentation.  If a shareholder does not want tax withholding from distributions, the shareholder may state in the distribution request that no withholding is desired and that the shareholder understands that there may be a liability for income tax on the distribution, including penalties for failure to pay estimated taxes.
 
Redemption in Kind.   The Funds reserve the right to pay shareholders redeeming large amounts with securities instead of cash in certain circumstances.  If your shares are thusly redeemed in kind, you will incur transaction costs
 

 
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when you subsequently sell the securities distributed to you.  You should also understand that, as a result of subsequent market volatility, the net proceeds from the ultimate sale of any securities that you receive upon a redemption may vary, either positively or negatively, and perhaps significantly, from the redemption value of your Fund shares. Redemptions in kind are taxable for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as redemptions for cash.
 
Unclaimed Property.   Your mutual fund account may be transferred to your state of residence if no activity occurs within your account during the “inactivity period” specified in your state’s abandoned property laws.
 
Householding.   In order to control costs associated with mailings on behalf of the Funds, the Funds will, until notified otherwise, send only one copy of each Prospectus, shareholder report and proxy statement to each household address that it has on record for you and your family members living in the same home.
 
This process, known as “householding,” does not apply to account statements, confirmations or personal tax information.  If you do not wish to participate in householding, or wish to discontinue householding at any time, call 844-302-PENN (7366).  The Funds will resume separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request.
 
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
 
Dividends and Distributions
Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code.  As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you.  The PENN Capital High Yield Fund and the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund expect to declare and distribute all of their net investment income, if any, to shareholders as dividends at least monthly.  The PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund and PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund expect to declare and distribute all of their net investment income, if any, to shareholders as dividends at least annually.  Each Fund will distribute net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually, usually in December. A Fund may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution will vary, and there is no guarantee a Fund will pay either an income dividend or a capital gains distribution.
 
Distributions may be taken in cash or in additional shares at NAV.  For Federal income tax purposes, distributions are treated the same whether they are received in cash or reinvested.  Shares become entitled to receive distributions on the day after the shares are issued. Dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares unless a shareholder has elected, by written notice to the Funds, or by telephone, to receive dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.  Any changes to the distribution option should be submitted at least 5 days in advance of the payment date for the distribution.
 
If you elect to receive distributions and/or capital gains paid in cash, and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the check, or if a check remains outstanding for six months, the Funds reserve the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account, at the current NAV for the applicable Fund, and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.
 
Annual Statements
Each year, the Funds will send you an annual statement (Form 1099) of your account activity to assist you in completing your federal, state and local tax returns.  Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.  Prior to issuing your statement, the Funds make every effort to reduce the number of corrected forms mailed to you.  However, if a Fund finds it necessary to reclassify its distributions or adjust the cost basis of any covered shares (defined below) sold or exchanged after you receive your tax statement, the Fund will send you a corrected Form 1099.
 
Avoid “Buying a Dividend”
At the time you purchase your Fund shares, a Fund’s NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Fund.  For taxable investors, a subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable.
 

 
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Buying shares in a Fund just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”
 
Tax Considerations
Fund Distributions .  Each Fund expects, based on its investment objective and strategies, that its distributions, if any, will be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both.  This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash.
 
For federal income tax purposes, Fund distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income.  Fund distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares.  A portion of income dividends reported by a Fund may be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.  Because the income of the PENN Capital High Yield Fund and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund is primarily derived from investments earning interest rather than dividend income, generally none or only a small portion of the income dividends paid to you by such Funds is anticipated to be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individuals at long-term capital gain tax rates.
 
Sale or Redemption of Fund Shares .  A sale or redemption of Fund shares is a taxable event and, accordingly, a capital gain or loss may be recognized.  For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Fund is the same as a sale.  The Funds are required to report to you and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) annually on Form 1099-B not only the gross proceeds of Fund shares you sell or redeem but also the cost basis of Fund shares you sell or redeem (“covered shares”). Cost basis will be calculated using the Funds’ default method, unless you instruct a Fund to use a different calculation method. The Funds have chosen average cost as their standing (default) tax lot identification method for all shareholders, which means this is the method the Funds will use to determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing NAVs, and the entire position is not sold at one time.  You may choose a method other than the Funds’ standing method at the time of your purchase or upon the sale of covered shares.  The cost basis method a shareholder elects may not be changed with respect to a redemption of shares after the settlement date of the redemption.  Shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Funds and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns. If your account is held by your investment representative (financial advisor or other broker), please contact that representative with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account. Tax-advantaged retirement accounts will not be affected.
 
Medicare Tax.   An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.  This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
 
Backup Withholding .  By law, if you do not provide a Fund with your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications, you may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale of your shares.  A Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid.
 
State and Local Taxes .  Fund distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your Fund shares generally are subject to state and local taxes .
 
Non-U.S. Investors .  Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and U.S. estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits.  An exemption from U.S. withholding tax is provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Fund from long-term capital gains, if any. The exemptions from U.S. withholding for interest-related dividends paid by a Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends have expired for taxable years that begin on or after January 1, 2015.  It is unclear as of the date of this prospectus whether Congress will reinstate the exemptions for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends or, if reinstated, whether such
 

 
47

 

exemptions would have retroactive effect.  However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
 
Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements.   Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), a Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) income dividends paid by the Fund, and (b) after December 31, 2016, certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions or non-financial foreign entities, that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts.  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 or similar tax laws.  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.
 
This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice.  Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Fund.
 

 
48

 

HISTORICAL INVESTMENT ADVISOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
Although the Funds are newly organized and do not yet have their own performance record, the Advisor manages certain discretionary investment management accounts ( i.e. , actual private funds and separately managed accounts) using substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the Funds (collectively, the “Related Accounts”).  The tables below show those returns for the composites of all Related Accounts (the “Related Account Composites”) and for the Funds’ broad based benchmark indices.  The Advisor claims compliance with Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS ® ) and that claim of compliance has been verified by ACA Performance Services, an independent third-party verifier, between the dates January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2014.  The index information is provided to represent the investment environment existing at the time periods shown.  Indices do not reflect the deduction of fees, expenses or taxes.   Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.   No performance information is shown for the Funds, which did not have their own performance records as of the date of this Prospectus.   Investors should not consider this performance data as an indication of the future performance of the Funds or the Related Account Composites.
 
The performance figures for the Related Account Composites are shown “net of fees,” which means that they reflect the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown ( i.e. , they reflect the payment of management fees, brokerage commissions and execution costs paid by the Related Accounts included in the Related Account Composites, without taking into account federal or state income taxes), and not the fees and expenses payable by the Funds.  None of the Related Accounts are registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act.   The Related Accounts included in the Related Account Composites were not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements and other restrictions imposed on mutual funds by the 1940 Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected the performance of these accounts.  Additionally, although it is anticipated that the Funds and Related Accounts included in the Related Account Composites may hold similar securities, their investment results are expected to differ.  In particular, differences in asset sizes and in cash flows resulting from purchases and redemptions of Fund shares may result in different security selections, differences in the relative weightings of securities or differences in the price paid for particular Fund holdings.   In addition, the Funds’ total operating expenses are generally expected to be higher than those of the Related Accounts; if the Funds’ expenses were reflected, the performance shown would be lower.  These differences do not alter the conclusion that the Funds and their corresponding Related Accounts have substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies.  Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future returns, and that the investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, sometimes dramatically, so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
 
Historical performance information for the Related Account Composites and broad based benchmark indices are shown below.   Performance figures are time-weighted rates of return, which include the deduction of portfolio transaction costs.  The GIPS ® calculation method differs from guidelines of the SEC for calculating performance of mutual funds.  All returns are calculated in U.S. dollars and reflect the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions.  Additional information regarding Advisor’s policies and procedures for calculating and reporting performance returns, and a listing and description of all of its composites, are available upon request by calling 844-302-PENN (7366).  The Advisor has been verified in its claim of compliance with the GIPS ® standards including having a Performance Examination of the Related Account Composite for the periods January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2014 conducted by ACA Performance Services, an independent third-party verifier.

 

 
49

 


Historical Performance Information for the Advisor of the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Related Account Composite
 
Year Ended
December 31
Related Account
Composite
Total Return (Net of Fees)*
Russell 2500
Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Related Account
Composite
Total Assets (Millions)
       
2014
-0.45%
7.07%
$157.28
2013
37.59
36.80
168.41
2012
14.50
17.88
286.62
2011
-17.72
-2.51
474.90
2010
34.52
26.71
627.50
2009
52.85
34.39
433.96
2008
-50.82
-36.79
276.07
2007
3.59
1.38
539.36
2006
19.79
16.16
196.72
2005
19.22
8.11
38.34
2004
24.33
18.29
12.94
 
*“Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund.
 
The year-to-date total return of the Related Account Composite as of September 30, 2015 was -9.70%.
 
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2014
 
 
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Since January 1, 2004
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Related Account Composite  (Net of Fees)*
-0.45%
11.66%
6.80%
8.29%
Russell 2500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
7.07
16.36
8.72
9.55
 
* “Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund.


 
50

 

Historical Performance Information for the Advisor of the PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
 
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Related Account Composite
 
Year Ended
December 31
Related Account
Composite
Total Return (Net of Fees)*
Russell 2000
Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Related Account
Composite
Total Assets (Millions)
       
2014
-4.63%
4.89%
$791.13
2013
48.92
38.82
337.04
2012
22.44
16.35
488.61
2011
-10.83
-4.18
415.08
2010
42.27
26.85
424.53
2009
58.67
27.17
352.89
2008
-52.22
-33.79
286.66
2007
-3.65
-1.57
718.78
2006
17.07
18.37
789.94
2005
11.66
4.55
672.22
2004
23.07
18.33
272.70
       
  
*“Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund.
 
The year-to-date total return of the Related Account Composite as of September 30, 2015 was -9.34%.
 
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2014
 
 
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Since January 1, 2004
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Related Account Composite (Net of Fees)*
-4.63%
17.14%
7.74%
9.05%
Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
4.89
15.55
7.77
8.69
 
* “Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund.



 
51

 

Historical Performance Information for the Advisor of the PENN Capital High Yield Fund
 
PENN Capital High Yield Related Account Composite
 
Year Ended
December 31
Related Account
Composite
Total Return (Net of Fees)*
BofA ML US High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Related Account
Composite
Total Assets (Millions)
       
2014
-1.27%
2.51%
$1,570.74
2013
8.91
7.41
792.72
2012
14.69
15.55
889.80
2011
1.83
4.37
568.04
2010
18.27
15.07
829.36
2009
55.83
58.10
735.94
2008
-27.44
-26.11
345.48
2007
1.41
2.53
390.81
2006
11.97
10.76
234.23
2005
6.59
2.78
182.39
2004
14.25
10.87
177.18
 
*“Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital High Yield Fund.
 
The year-to-date total return of the Related Account Composite as of September 30, 2015 was -4.46%.
 
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2014
 
 
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Since January 1, 2004
PENN Capital High Yield Related Account Composite (Net of Fees)*
-1.27%
8.23%
7.35%
7.96%
BofA ML US High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.51
8.85
7.62
7.91
 
* “Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital High Yield Fund.


 
52

 

Historical Performance Information for the Advisor of the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
 
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Related Account Composite
 
Year Ended
December 31
Related Account
Composite
Total Return (Net of Fees)*
Credit Suisse Institutional Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
Related Account
Composite
Total Assets (Millions)
       
2014
0.81%
2.17%
$103.40
2013**
3.67
3.33
54.82
 
*“Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund.
 
**Inception date June 30, 2013.
 
The year-to-date total return of the Related Account Composite as of September 30, 2015 was 3.33%.
 
Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2014
 
 
1 Year
Since Inception*
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Related Account Composite (Net of Fees)**
0.81%
2.98%
Credit Suisse Institutional Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
2.17
3.67
 
*Inception date June 30, 2013.
 
**“Net of Fees” performance reflects the deduction of all actual fees and expenses of the Related Accounts during the periods shown and not the fees and expenses payable by the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund.


 

 

 
53

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
No financial highlights are presented for the Funds because the Funds had not commenced investment operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
 

 
54

 


FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
Annual/Semi-Annual Reports
Additional information about each Fund’s investments will be in the Funds’ annual/semi-annual reports to shareholders (when available).  As of the date of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports for the Funds are not available because the Funds had not commenced operations.  The Funds’ annual report discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.
 
Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”)
The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds and is incorporated by reference into, and is legally part of, this Prospectus.
 
Contacting the Fund
 
You can get free copies of the Prospectus, SAI and annual/semi-annual reports or other information by visiting the Funds’ website at www.penncapitalfunds.com or by contacting the Funds at:
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
844-302-PENN (7366) (toll free)
 
SEC Information
 
You can review the Funds’ annual/semi-annual reports, the SAI and other information about the Funds at the Public Reference Room of the SEC. The scheduled hours of operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. You can get copies of this information by visiting the SEC’s website www.sec.gov or, for a fee, e-mailing or writing to:
 
Public Reference Room
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549-1520
E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov
 
Distributor
Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME  04101
www.foreside.com


 
Investment Company Act File No. 811-23011
 

 
55

 

PENN Capital Funds Trust
 
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
November 18, 2015
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PSMPX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PSMQX)
 
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PSCNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PSCQX)
 
 
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PHYNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PHYVX)
 
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
Institutional Class (Ticker: PFRNX)
Investor Class (Ticker: PFRVX)
 
This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) provides additional information to the Prospectus dated November 18, 2015, as may be amended from time to time, offering shares of the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital High Yield Fund, and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund (collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of PENN Capital Funds Trust, a registered, open-end management investment company (the “Trust”).  This SAI is not a prospectus and should only be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.  You may obtain the Prospectus without charge by contacting U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC at the address or telephone number listed below or by visiting the Funds’ website at www.penncapitalfunds.com .
 
Once available, copies of the Annual Report to Shareholders may be obtained, without charge, upon request by contacting U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC at the address or telephone number listed below:
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701
Phone: 844-302-PENN (7366)


 
 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
1
DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNDS
1
DIVERSIFICATION OF THE FUNDS
1
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
1
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND ASSOCIATED RISKS
2
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
31
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
32
SERVICE PROVIDERS
39
CODES OF ETHICS
40
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
40
VALUATION OF SHARES
40
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
41
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
43
TAXES
44
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
56
LEGAL COUNSEL
56
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
57
APPENDIX A
A-1
APPENDIX B
B-1

 

 


 
-i-

 

General Information about the Funds
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on August 29, 2014.  The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series of shares of beneficial interest (each of which is a separate mutual fund, and is referred to as a “Fund” and, collectively, as the “Funds”) and separate classes of such series.  The Trust offers two classes of shares of each Fund:  Institutional Class and Investor Class.  Shares of each class participate equally in the earnings, dividends, and assets allocated to the particular share class of that Fund.  Upon liquidation of a Fund, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of such Fund available for distribution to shareholders.  Expenses attributable to any Fund are borne by that Fund.
 
The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of interests (or shares) with no par value.  Shares of each series have equal voting rights, and are voted in the aggregate and not by the series except in matters where a separate vote is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or when the matter affects only the interest of a particular Fund. The Funds may hold special meetings of shareholders to elect or remove Trustees (as defined below), change fundamental policies, approve a management contract, or for other purposes. The Funds will mail proxy materials in advance of a shareholder meeting, including a proxy and information about the proposals to be voted on. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional shares owned.  The shares of the Funds do not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights.  The Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders.
 
Description of the Funds
 
Each Fund has its own investment objectives and policies.  Each Fund’s investment objective is non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) without shareholder approval.  Unless otherwise noted, all of the other investment policies and strategies described in the Prospectus or hereafter are non-fundamental.  PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., serves as the investment advisor to the Funds (the “Advisor”).
 
Diversification of the Funds
 
All of the Funds are classified and operate as diversified funds under the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund is a fund that meets the following requirements: at least 75% of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), government securities, securities of other investment companies, and other securities for the purposes of this calculation limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the total assets of such management company and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.  A Fund may not change its diversification classification to become non-diversified without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.  As used in this SAI, “a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Fund.
 
Investment Restrictions
 
Each of the Funds has adopted and is subject to the following fundamental investment restrictions.  These investment restrictions may be changed only with the approval of the holders of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities.
 
The percentage limitations referred to in these restrictions generally apply only at the time of investment.  A later increase or decrease in a percentage that results from a change in value in the portfolio securities held by a Fund will not be considered a violation of such limitation, with the exception of the Fund’s limitations on borrowing as described below, and a Fund will not necessarily have to sell a portfolio security or adjust its holdings in order to comply.
 
Each Fund may not:
 
1.
borrow money or issue senior securities, except as the 1940 Act, any rules or orders thereunder, or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff interpretation thereof, may permit;
 

 
1

 

2.
underwrite the securities of other issuers, except that it may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);
 
3.
purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein, and (ii) making, purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;
 
4.
make loans, provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from purchasing debt obligations, entering into repurchase agreements, loaning its assets to broker/dealers or institutional investors and investing in loans, including assignments and participation interests;
 
5.
make investments that will result in the concentration (as that term may be defined in the 1940 Act, any rules or orders thereunder, or SEC staff interpretation thereof) of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies, whether registered or excluded from registration under Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act); and
 
6.
purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this limitation does not prevent the Fund from (i) purchasing or selling securities of companies that purchase or sell commodities or that invest in commodities; (ii) engaging in any transaction involving currencies, options, forwards, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, swaps, hybrid instruments or other derivatives; or (iii) investing in securities, or transacting in other instruments, that are linked to or secured by physical or other commodities.
 
With respect to #1 above, for more information about the restrictions of the 1940 Act on the Funds with respect to borrowing and senior securities, see the section “Borrowings” below.  With respect to #5 above, the Funds do not consider investment companies to be an industry.  In addition, with respect to #5 above, a Fund will look through to the security holdings of any investment company in which it invests.  With respect to #5 above, for more information about the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions as they relate to mortgage-backed securities, see the section “Mortgage-Backed Securities” below.
 
Investment Policies and Associated Risks
 
The Funds may invest in a variety of securities and employ a number of investment techniques, which involve risks.  This SAI contains additional information regarding both the principal and non-principal investment strategies of the Funds. Unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus or this SAI or subject to a limitation under the 1940 Act and its related regulations, the investments listed below are not subject to a specific percentage limitation so long as they are made in a manner consistent with a Fund’s principal investment strategies.
 
The following table sets forth the types of additional investment strategies that each Fund may employ. The descriptions following the table provide more detailed information about each type of investment strategy and associated risks.
 

 
2

 


 
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
Asset-Backed Securities
   
X
X
Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments
   
X
X
Borrowings
X
X
X
X
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”)
   
X
X
Common and Preferred Stock
X
X
X
 
Cybersecurity Risk
X
X
X
X
Debt/Fixed Income Securities
   
X
X
Emerging Market Countries
X
X
X
X
Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
X
X
X
X
Exchange Traded Notes (“ETNs”)
   
X
X
Foreign Currency Transactions
X
X
X
X
Foreign Securities
X
X
X
X
Futures Contracts
X
X
X
X
Index Warrants
X
X
X
X
Inflation-Linked and Inflation-Indexed Securities
X
X
X
X
Investments in Banks
X
X
X
X
Investment Companies
X
X
X
X
Loan Based Derivatives
   
X
X
Mortgage-Backed Securities
   
X
X
Options
X
X
X
X
Options on Foreign Currencies
   
X
X
Options on Indices
X
X
X
X
Over-The-Counter (“OTC”) Options
X
X
X
X
Private Placements
X
X
X
X
REITs
X
X
X
X
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements
X
X
X
X
Restricted and Illiquid Securities
X
X
X
X
Step-Coupon Securities
   
X
X
Structured Notes
   
X
X
Supranational Entities
X
X
X
X
Swaps—Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars, Inflation Indexed Swaps
X
X
X
X
Synthetic Securities
X
X
X
X
Temporary Investments
X
X
X
X
Trust Preferred Securities
   
X
X
U.S. Government Obligations
X
X
X
X
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments
   
X
X
Warrants
X
X
X
 
When-Issued Purchases, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments
X
X
X
X
Zero-Coupon, Delayed Interest and Capital Appreciation Securities
   
X
 

Exclusion of Adviser from Commodity Pool Operator Definition
 
With respect to each Fund, the Advisor has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
 

 
3

 

(“CFTC”) and, therefore, is not subject to CFTC registration or regulation as a CPO. In addition, the Advisor is relying upon a related exclusion from the definition of “commodity trading advisor” (“CTA”) under the CEA and the rules of the CFTC.
 
The terms of the CPO exclusion require each Fund, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in “commodity interests,” which include commodity futures, commodity options and swaps. Because the Advisor and the Funds intend to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, a Fund may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment objective, to limit its investments in these types of instruments. The Funds are not intended as vehicles for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Advisor’s reliance on these exclusions, or the Funds, their investment strategies, the Prospectus or this SAI.
 
Generally, the exclusion from CPO regulation on which the Advisor relies requires each Fund to meet one of the following tests for its commodity interest positions, other than positions entered into for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined in the rules of the CFTC): either (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund’s positions in commodity interests may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent such position was established, may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of these trading limitations, the Funds may not be marketed as commodity pools or otherwise as vehicles for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. If, in the future, a Fund can no longer satisfy these requirements, the Advisor would withdraw its notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of a CPO with respect to that Fund, and the Advisor would be subject to registration and regulation as a CPO with respect to the Fund, in accordance with CFTC rules that apply to CPOs of registered investment companies. Generally, these rules allow for substituted compliance with CFTC disclosure and shareholder reporting requirements, based on the Advisor’s compliance with comparable SEC requirements. However, as a result of CFTC regulation with respect to the Fund, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses.
 
Policy Regarding Fund Names
 
As each Fund has adopted a policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets in the type of securities suggested by the Fund’s name, the term “net assets” means the Fund’s net assets, including any borrowings for investment purposes, consistent with SEC requirements.  Investments, such as derivative instruments, that provide exposure to the type of securities suggested by the Fund’s name may be used to satisfy the Fund’s 80% investment policy.  Investments in another investment company, including an ETF, will be considered to “provide exposure to” the type of securities suggested by the Fund’s name for purposes of this policy if the investment company has a policy of investing at least 80% of its assets in the type of securities suggested by the Fund’s name or investments that provide exposure to the type of securities suggested by the Fund’s name.
 
Asset-Backed Securities
 
The Funds may purchase debt obligations known as “asset-backed securities.”  Asset-backed securities are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets, most often a pool or pools of similar assets ( e.g. , receivables on home equity and credit loans and receivables regarding automobile, credit card, mobile home and recreational vehicle loans, wholesale dealer floor plans and leases).
 
Such receivables are securitized in either a pass-through or a pay-through structure.  Pass-through securities provide investors with an income stream consisting of both principal and interest payments based on the receivables in the underlying pool.  Pay-through asset-backed securities are debt obligations issued usually by a special purpose entity, which are collateralized by the various receivables and in which the payments on the underlying receivables provide that the Fund pay the debt service on the debt obligations issued.  The Funds may invest in these and other types of asset-backed securities that may be developed in the future.
 
The credit quality of most asset-backed securities depends primarily on the credit quality of the assets underlying such securities, how well the entity issuing the security is insulated from the credit risk of the originator or any other affiliated entities, and the amount and quality of any credit support provided to the securities.  The rate of principal payment on asset-backed securities generally depends on the rate of principal payments received on the underlying assets which in turn may
 

 
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be affected by a variety of economic and other factors.  As a result, the yield on any asset-backed security is difficult to predict with precision and actual yield to maturity may be more or less than the anticipated yield to maturity. Asset-backed securities may be classified as “pass-through certificates” or “collateralized obligations.”
 
Asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties.  To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payment, such securities may contain elements of credit support.  Such credit support falls into two categories: (i) liquidity protection; and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets.  Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments due on the underlying pool is timely.  Protection against losses resulting from ultimate default enhances the likelihood of payments of the obligations on at least some of the assets in the pool.  Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches.
 
Due to the shorter maturity of the collateral backing such securities, there is less of a risk of substantial prepayment than with mortgage-backed securities.  Asset-backed securities do, however, involve certain risks not associated with mortgage-backed securities, including the risk that security interests cannot be adequately, or in many cases, ever, established.  In addition, with respect to credit card receivables, a number of state and federal consumer credit laws give debtors the right to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thereby reducing the outstanding balance.  In the case of automobile receivables, there is a risk that the holders may not have either a proper or first security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables due to the large number of vehicles involved in a typical issuance and technical requirements under state laws.  Therefore, recoveries on repossessed collateral may not always be available to support payments on the securities.
 
Examples of credit support arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes subordinate to other classes as to the payment of principal thereof and interest thereon, with the result that defaults on the underlying assets are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “reserve funds” (where cash or investments, sometimes funded from a portion of the payments on the underlying assets, are held in reserve against future losses) and “over collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on, or the principal amount of, the underlying assets exceeds that required to make payments of the securities and pay any servicing or other fees).  The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical credit information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets.  Delinquencies or losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect the return on an investment in such issue.
 
The Funds may also gain exposure to asset-backed securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to asset-backed securities. For example, a Fund may enter into credit default swaps and can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying asset-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to asset-backed securities are subject to the risks associated with asset-backed securities generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions. See the section “Swaps--Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars, Inflation Indexed Swaps” below.
 
Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments
 
The Funds may invest in bank loans, which include both secured and unsecured loans made by banks and other financial institutions to corporate customers. Senior loans typically hold the most senior position in a borrower’s capital structure, may be secured by the borrower’s assets and have interest rates that reset frequently. The proceeds of senior loans primarily are used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, and, to a lesser extent, to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes. These loans may not be rated investment grade by the rating agencies. Although secured loans are secured by collateral of the borrower, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Economic downturns generally lead to higher non-payment and default rates and a senior loan could lose a substantial portion of its value prior to a default. Some senior loans are subject to the risk that a court could subordinate such senior loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of senior loans,
 

 
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including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such senior loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the borrower.
 
Each Fund’s investments in loans are subject to credit risk. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantial risks, and may be highly speculative. The interest rates on many bank loans reset frequently, and thus bank loans are subject to interest rate risk. Most bank loans are not traded on any national securities exchange. Bank loans generally have less liquidity than investment grade bonds and there may be less public information available about them.
 
Large loans to corporations or governments may be shared or syndicated among several lenders, usually (but often not limited to) banks. Each Fund may participate in the primary syndicate for a loan and may purchase loans from other lenders (sometimes referred to as loan assignments), in either case becoming a direct lender. Each Fund also may acquire a participation interest in another lender’s portion of the loan. Participation interests involve special types of risk, including liquidity risk and the risks of being a lender. When investing in a loan participation, a Fund typically will have the right to receive payments only from the lender to the extent the lender receives payments from the borrower, and not from the borrower itself. Likewise, a Fund typically will be able to enforce its rights only through the lender, and not directly against the borrower. As a result, a Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation.
 
Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks to the Fund. For example, if the loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is possible that a Fund could be held liable as a co-lender. Loans and other debt instruments that are not in the form of securities may offer less legal protection to the Fund in certain circumstances.
 
A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless the Fund has direct recourse against the borrower, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness the Fund may have to rely on the agent to pursue appropriate credit remedies against a borrower.
 
In addition to investing in senior secured loans, a Fund may invest in other loans, such as second lien loans and other secured loans, as well as unsecured loans. Second lien loans and other secured loans are subject to the same risks associated with investment in senior loans and lower-rated debt securities. However, such loans may rank lower in right of payment than senior secured loans, and are subject to additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and any property securing the loan may be insufficient to meet scheduled payments after giving effect to the higher ranking secured obligations of the borrower. Second lien loans and other secured loans are expected to have greater price volatility than more senior loans and may be less liquid. There is also a possibility that originators will not be able to sell participations in lower-ranking loans, which would create greater credit risk exposure. Each of these risks may be increased in the case of unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral.
 
Loan interests may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Funds, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
 
Borrowings
 
Each Fund may borrow funds to meet redemptions, for other emergency purposes or to increase its portfolio holdings of securities, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.  Such borrowings may be on a secured or unsecured basis, and at fixed or variable rates of interest.  A Fund may borrow for such purposes an amount up to 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed, but less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) from banks.  The 1940 Act requires a Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of not less than 300% with respect to all borrowings.  If such asset coverage should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or other reasons, a Fund may be required to dispose of some of its portfolio holdings within three days in order to reduce the Fund’s debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to dispose of assets at that time.
 
In addition to borrowings that are subject to 300% asset coverage and are considered by the SEC to be permitted “senior securities,” a Fund is also permitted under the 1940 Act to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets at the time when the loan is made.  A loan will be presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within 60 days and is not extended or renewed.
 

 
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Leveraging, by means of borrowing, may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio securities on a Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”), and money borrowed will be subject to interest and other costs (which may include commitment fees and/or the cost of maintaining minimum average balances), which may or may not exceed the income received from the investments purchased with borrowed funds.
 
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) and Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”)
 
The Funds may invest in CMOs and REMICs.  A CMO is a debt security on which interest and prepaid principal are paid, in most cases, semi-annually.  CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by GNMA, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Company, or the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae ® ”) and their income streams. Privately-issued CMOs tend to be more sensitive to interest rates than government-issued CMOs .
 
CMOs are structured into multiple classes, each bearing a different stated maturity.  Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral.  CMOs provide for a modified form of call protection through a de facto breakdown of the underlying pool of mortgages according to how quickly the loans are repaid.  Monthly payments of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, is first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class.  The investors holding the longer maturity classes receive principal only after the first class has been retired.  An investor is partially guarded against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments.
 
In a typical CMO transaction, a corporation issues multiple series ( e.g. , A, B, C, Z) of CMO bonds (“Bonds”).  Proceeds of the Bond offering are used to purchase mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (“Collateral”).  The Collateral is pledged to a third-party trustee as security for the Bonds. Principal and interest payments from the Collateral are used to pay principal on the Bonds in a specified order ( e.g. , first A, then B, then C, then Z).  The A, B and C Bonds all bear current interest.  Interest on the Z Bond is accrued and added to principal and a like amount is paid as principal on the A, B, or C Bond currently being paid off.  When the A, B and C Bonds are paid in full, interest and principal on the Z Bond begins to be paid currently.  With some CMOs, the issuer serves as a conduit to allow loan originators (primarily builders or savings and loan associations) to borrow against their loan portfolios.  REMICs are private entities formed for the purpose of holding a fixed pool of mortgages secured by an interest in real property.  REMICs are similar to CMOs in that they issue multiple classes of securities.
 
CMOs and REMICs issued by private entities are not government securities and are not directly guaranteed by any government agency.  They are secured by the underlying collateral of the private issuer.  Yields on privately issued CMOs, as described above, have been historically higher than yields on CMOs issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies. However, the risk of loss due to default on such instruments is higher because they are not guaranteed by the U.S. government.  Such instruments also tend to be more sensitive to interest rates than U.S. government-issued CMOs.  For federal income tax purposes, a Fund will be required to accrue income on regular interest in CMOs and REMICs using the “catch-up” method, with an aggregate prepayment assumption.
 
Common and Preferred Stock
 
Equity securities, such as common stocks, represent shares of ownership of a corporation.  Preferred stocks are equity securities that often pay dividends at a specific rate and have a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and the liquidation of assets.  Some preferred stocks may be convertible into common stock.  Convertible securities are securities (such as debt securities or preferred stock) that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.
 
Cybersecurity Risk
 
The Funds, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks. Cyber security failures or breaches of the Funds or their service providers or the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs.  The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.
 

 
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Debt/Fixed Income Securities
 
The Funds may invest in debt securities, including those convertible into common stocks.
 
The Funds consider investment grade securities to be those rated BBB- or higher by Standard and Poor’s ® Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P ® ”), or Baa or higher by Moody’s Investors Service © , Inc. (“Moody’s”), or an equivalent rating by Fitch, Inc. © (“Fitch”), or determined to be of comparable quality by the Advisor if the security is unrated.  Bonds in the lowest investment grade category (BBB- by S&P ® or Baa by Moody’s) have speculative characteristics, and changes in the economy or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the bonds to make principal and interest payments than would occur with bonds rated in higher categories.
 
The Funds may invest in high-yield debt securities or “junk bonds,” which are securities rated BB+ or below by S&P ® or Ba or below by Moody’s (“lower-rated securities”).  Lower-rated securities are considered to be of poor standing and predominantly speculative and are subject to a substantial degree of credit risk.  Lower-rated securities may be issued as a consequence of corporate restructurings, such as leveraged buy-outs, mergers, acquisitions, debt recapitalizations or similar events.  Also, lower-rated securities are often issued by smaller, less creditworthy companies or by highly leveraged (indebted) firms, which are generally less able than more financially stable firms to make scheduled payments of interest and principal.  The risks posed by securities issued under such circumstances are substantial.
 
The higher yields from lower-rated securities may compensate for the higher default rates on such securities.  However, there can be no assurance that higher yields will offset default rates on lower-rated securities in the future.  Issuers of these securities are often highly leveraged, so their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired.  In addition, such issuers may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them and may be unable to repay their debt at maturity by refinancing.  The risk of loss due to default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of lower-rated securities because such securities may be unsecured and may be subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.  Further, an economic recession may result in default levels with respect to such securities in excess of historic averages.
 
The value of lower-rated securities will be influenced not only by changing interest rates, but also by the market’s perception of credit quality and the outlook for economic growth.  When economic conditions appear to be deteriorating, lower-rated securities may decline in market value due to investors’ heightened concern over credit quality, regardless of prevailing interest rates.
 
Especially during times of deteriorating economic conditions, trading in the secondary market for lower-rated securities may become thin and market liquidity may be significantly reduced.  Even under normal conditions, the market for lower-rated securities may be less liquid than the market for investment grade debt securities.  There are fewer securities dealers in the high yield market and purchasers of lower-rated securities are concentrated among a smaller group of securities dealers and institutional investors.  In periods of reduced market liquidity, lower-rated securities’ prices may become more volatile and a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues when necessary to meet that Fund’s liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer may be adversely affected.
 
The ratings of S&P ® , Moody’s and other nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) represent the opinions of those rating agencies as to the quality of debt securities.  It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and debt securities with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields, while debt securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield.
 
The payment of principal and interest on most debt securities will depend upon the ability of the issuers to meet their obligations. An issuer’s obligations in connection with its debt securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by federal or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations.  The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on, and principal of, its debt securities may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.
 

 
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Subsequent to its purchase by a Fund, a rated security may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Fund.  The Advisor will consider such an event in determining whether the Fund involved should continue to hold the security.  For a more detailed description of the ratings of debt securities, see Appendix A to this SAI.
 
Emerging Market Countries
 
The Funds may invest in emerging market countries or developing countries as defined by the World Bank, International Financial Corporation or any country included in an “emerging markets” index.
 
Investments in companies domiciled or with significant operations in developing market or emerging market countries may be subject to potentially higher risks than investments in developed countries. These risks include, among others (i) less social, political and economic stability; (ii) smaller securities markets with low or nonexistent trading volume, which result in greater illiquidity and greater price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict a Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (iv) foreign taxation, including less transparent and established taxation policies; (v) less developed regulatory or legal structures governing private or foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property; (vi) the absence, until recently in many developing market countries, of a capital market structure or market-oriented economy; (vii) more widespread corruption and fraud; (viii) the financial institutions with which a Fund may trade may not possess the same degree of financial sophistication, creditworthiness or resources as those in developed markets; and (ix) the possibility that recent favorable economic developments in some developing market countries may be slowed or reversed by unanticipated economic, political or social events in such countries.
 
Due to political, military or regional conflicts or due to terrorism or war, it is possible that the United States, other nations or other governmental entities (including supranational entities) could impose sanctions on certain issuers that limit or restrict foreign investment, the movement of assets or other economic activity in a country that is involved in such conflicts. Such sanctions or other intergovernmental actions could result in the devaluation of a country’s currency, a downgrade in the credit ratings of issuers in such country, or a decline in the value and liquidity of securities of issuers in that country. In addition, an imposition of sanctions upon certain issuers in a country could result in an immediate freeze of that issuer’s securities, impairing the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities. Counter measures could be taken by the country’s government, which could involve the seizure of a Fund’s assets. In addition, such actions could adversely affect a country’s economy, possibly forcing the economy into a recession.
 
In addition, many developing market countries have experienced substantial, and during some periods, extremely high rates of inflation, for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some developing market countries may differ unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, currency depreciation, debt burden, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. The economies of some developing market countries may be based on only a few industries, and may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions.
 
Settlement systems in developing market countries may be less organized than in developed countries. Supervisory authorities may also be unable to apply standards which are comparable with those in more developed countries. There may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities belonging to a Fund may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the settlement systems. Market practice may require that payment be made prior to receipt of the security which is being purchased or that delivery of a security must be made before payment is received. In such cases, default by a broker or bank (the “counterparty”) through whom the relevant transaction is effected might result in a loss being suffered by a Fund. Each Fund seeks, where possible, to use counterparties whose financial status reduces this risk. However, there can be no certainty that a Fund will be successful in eliminating or reducing this risk, particularly as counterparties operating in developing market countries frequently lack the substance, capitalization and/or financial resources of those in developed countries. Uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets may increase the risk of competing claims to securities held by or to be transferred to a Fund. Legal compensation schemes may be non-existent, limited or inadequate to meet a Fund’s claims in any of these events.
 
Securities trading in developing markets presents additional credit and financial risks. A Fund may have limited access to, or there may be a limited number of, potential counterparties that trade in the securities of developing market issuers. Governmental regulations may restrict potential counterparties to certain financial institutions located or operating in the
 

 
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particular developing market. Potential counterparties may not possess, adopt or implement creditworthiness standards, financial reporting standards or legal and contractual protections similar to those in developed markets. Currency and other hedging techniques may not be available or may be limited.
 
The local taxation of income and capital gains accruing to non-residents varies among developing market countries and may be comparatively high. Developing market countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and procedures and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that a Fund could in the future become subject to local tax liabilities that had not been anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets.
 
Many developing market countries suffer from uncertainty and corruption in their legal frameworks. Legislation may be difficult to interpret and laws may be too new to provide any precedential value. Laws regarding foreign investment and private property may be weak or non-existent. Investments in developing market countries may involve risks of nationalization, expropriation and confiscatory taxation. For example, the Communist governments of a number of Eastern European countries expropriated large amounts of private property in the past, in many cases without adequate compensation, and there can be no assurance that similar expropriation will not occur in the future. In the event of expropriation, a Fund could lose all or a substantial portion of any investments it has made in the affected countries. Accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain countries in which a Fund may invest may not provide the same degree of investor protection or information to investors as would generally apply in major securities markets. In addition, it is possible that purported securities in which a Fund invested may subsequently be found to be fraudulent and as a consequence a Fund could suffer losses.
 
Finally, currencies of developing market countries are subject to significantly greater risks than currencies of developed countries. Some developing market currencies may not be internationally traded or may be subject to strict controls by local governments, resulting in undervalued or overvalued currencies and associated difficulties with the valuation of assets, including a Fund’s securities, denominated in that currency. Some developing market countries have experienced balance of payment deficits and shortages in foreign exchange reserves. Governments have responded by restricting currency conversions. Future restrictive exchange controls could prevent or restrict a company’s ability to make dividend or interest payments in the original currency of the obligation (usually U.S. dollars). In addition, even though the currencies of some developing market countries, such as certain Eastern European countries, may be convertible into U.S. dollars, the conversion rates may be artificial to the actual market values and may be adverse to a Fund’s shareholders.
 
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
 
The Funds may invest in shares of ETFs. An ETF is an investment company and typically is registered under the 1940 Act.  Most ETFs hold a portfolio of investments designed to track the performance of a particular index; however, certain ETFs utilize active management of their investment portfolios.  An ETF sells and redeems its shares at NAV in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares or more) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on one or more national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day.  Some ETFs are non-registered investment companies that invest directly in securities, commodities or other assets (such as precious metals).
 
Investments in an ETF involve certain risks generally associated with investments in a broadly based portfolio of securities, including risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument. In addition, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of the temporary unavailability of certain investments in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting or number of investments held. ETFs that invest in other assets, such as commodities, are subject to the risks associated with directly investing in those assets.
 
Because ETFs and pools that issue similar instruments bear various fees and expenses, a Fund’s investment in these instruments will involve certain indirect costs, as well as transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions. The Advisor may consider the expenses associated with an investment in determining whether to invest in an ETF. See the section “Investment Companies” below for information about investments in investment companies generally.
 
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”)
 
The Funds may invest in ETNs.  ETNs are debt securities that are traded on an exchange ( e.g. , the New York Stock Exchange) whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy.  If a Fund holds an
 

 
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ETN to maturity, the issuer of the ETN will pay the Fund a cash amount that is linked to the performance of the corresponding index during the period beginning on the inception date and ending at maturity, less investor fees.  ETNs generally do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection.  An ETN that is tied to a specific benchmark or strategy may not produce returns that replicate exactly the performance of its corresponding benchmark or strategy.
 
ETNs are subject to credit risk, including the credit risk of the issuer.  The value of an ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, even when the underlying benchmark or strategy remains unchanged.  An ETN may trade at a premium or discount to its benchmark or strategy.  The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying assets. When a Fund invests in ETNs, it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. A decision by the Fund to sell ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.  Some ETNs that use leverage may be relatively illiquid at times and, as a result, may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price.  Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage.
 
Foreign Currency Transactions
 
Although the Funds value their assets daily in U.S. dollars, they are not required to exchange their holdings of foreign currencies to U.S. dollars on a daily basis.  A Fund’s foreign currencies generally will be held as “foreign currency call accounts” at foreign branches of foreign or domestic banks.  These accounts bear interest at negotiated rates and are payable upon relatively short demand periods.  If a bank at which a Fund maintains such an account becomes insolvent, the Fund could suffer a loss of some or all of the amounts deposited.  A Fund may exchange foreign currency to U.S. dollars from time to time.  Although foreign exchange dealers generally do not charge a stated commission or fee for conversion, the prices posted generally include a “spread,” which is the difference between the prices at which the dealers are buying and selling foreign currencies.
 
The Funds may enter into forward currency contracts. A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific non-U.S. currency in exchange for another currency, which may be U.S. dollars, at an agreed exchange rate (price) at a future date.  Forward currency contracts are typically individually negotiated and privately traded by currency traders and their customers in the interbank market.
 
To the extent required under the 1940 Act or SEC interpretations thereof, when a Fund enters into forward contracts or currency futures, the Advisor will determine that Fund holdings it believes to be liquid exist in sufficient quantity to at least equal the amounts required for segregation in accordance with pertinent positions of the SEC. (Any such assets and securities identified as segregated on a Fund’s records, or by the custodian on its records, are referred to in this SAI as “Segregated Assets.”)
 
Certain transactions involving forward currency contracts may serve as long hedges (for example, if a Fund seeks to buy a security denominated in a foreign currency, it may purchase a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar price of the security) or as short hedges (if a Fund anticipates selling a security denominated in a foreign currency, it may sell a forward currency contract to lock in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the anticipated sales proceeds).
 
A Fund may seek to hedge against changes in the value of a particular currency by using forward contracts on another foreign currency or a basket of currencies, the value of which the Advisor believes will have a positive correlation to the values of the currency being hedged.  In addition, each Fund may use forward currency contracts to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.  For example, if a Fund owns securities denominated in a foreign currency and the Advisor believes that currency will decline relative to another currency, it might enter into a forward contract to sell an appropriate amount of the first foreign currency, with payment to be made in the second currency.  Transactions that use two foreign currencies are sometimes referred to as “cross hedges.”  Use of different foreign currency magnifies the risk that movements in the price of the instrument will not correlate or will correlate unfavorably with the foreign currency being hedged.
 
The cost to a Fund of engaging in forward currency contracts or currency futures contracts varies with factors such as the interest rate environments in the relevant countries, the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing.  Because forward currency contracts are usually entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.  When a Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it relies on the counterparty to make or
 

 
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take delivery of the underlying currency at the maturity of the contract.  Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.
 
As is the case with futures contracts, holders and writers of forward currency contracts can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions on futures, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument held or written.  Secondary markets generally do not yet exist for forward currency contracts, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contacts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty.  Thus, there can be no assurance that a Fund will in fact be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price.  In addition, in the event of insolvency of the counterparty, a Fund might be unable to close out a forward currency contract.
 
The successful use of forward currency contracts will usually depend on Advisor’s ability to accurately forecast currency exchange rate movements. Should exchange rates move in an unexpected manner, a Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction, or it may realize losses. In addition, these techniques could result in a loss if the counterparty to the transaction does not perform as promised, including because of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Investors should bear in mind that a Fund is not obligated to actively engage in hedging or other currency transactions. For example, a Fund may not have attempted to hedge its exposure to a particular foreign currency at a time when doing so might have avoided a loss.
 
Forward currency contracts may limit potential gain from a positive change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in poorer overall performance for a Fund than if it had not engaged in such contracts. Moreover, there may be an imperfect correlation between a Fund’s portfolio holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and the currencies bought or sold in the forward contracts entered into by the Fund. This imperfect correlation may cause the Fund to sustain losses that will prevent the Fund from achieving a complete hedge or expose the Fund to risk of foreign exchange loss.
 
Foreign Securities
 
Each Fund’s investments in the securities of foreign issuers may include both securities of foreign corporations and securities of foreign governments and their political subdivisions.
 
The Funds may invest in foreign securities directly, or through   depositary receipts, such as   American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) or Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”).  Depositary receipts are typically issued by a U.S. or foreign bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation.
 
There are substantial risks associated with investing in the securities of governments and companies located in, or having substantial operations in, foreign countries, which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in domestic investments. The value of foreign securities (like U.S. securities) is affected by general economic conditions and individual issuer and industry earnings prospects. Investments in depositary receipts also involve some or all of the risks described below.
 
There is the possibility of cessation of trading on foreign exchanges, expropriation, nationalization of assets, confiscatory or punitive taxation, withholding and other foreign taxes on income or other amounts, foreign exchange controls (which may include suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a given country), restrictions on removal of assets, political or social instability, military action or unrest, or diplomatic developments, including sanctions imposed by other countries or governmental entities, that could affect investments in securities of issuers in foreign nations. There is no assurance that the Advisor will be able to anticipate these potential events. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies and of dividends and interest paid with respect to such securities will fluctuate based on the relative strength of the U.S. dollar.
 
There may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers comparable to the reports and ratings published about issuers in the U.S. Foreign issuers generally are not subject to uniform accounting or financial reporting standards. Auditing practices and requirements may not be comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers. Certain countries’ legal institutions, financial markets and services are less developed than those in the U.S. or other major economies. A Fund may have greater difficulty voting proxies, exercising shareholder rights, securing dividends and obtaining information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis, pursuing legal remedies, and obtaining judgments with respect to foreign investments in foreign courts than with respect to domestic issuers in U.S. courts. The costs associated with foreign investments, including withholding taxes, brokerage commissions, and custodial costs, are generally higher than with U.S. investments.
 

 
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Certain countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company. Some countries limit the investment of foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of an issuer that may have less advantageous terms than securities of the issuer available for purchase by nationals. Although securities subject to such restrictions may be marketable abroad, they may be less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions. In some countries the repatriation of investment income, capital and proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval. A Fund could be adversely affected by delays in or a refusal to grant any required governmental registration or approval for repatriation.
 
From time to time, trading in a foreign market may be interrupted. Foreign markets also have substantially less volume than the U.S. markets and securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. A Fund, therefore, may encounter difficulty in obtaining market quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its NAV.
 
In many foreign countries there is less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the U.S., which may result in greater potential for fraud or market manipulation. Foreign over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than foreign stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated. Brokerage commission rates in foreign countries, which generally are fixed rather than subject to negotiation as in the U.S., are likely to be higher. Foreign security trading, settlement and custodial practices (including those involving securities settlement where assets may be released prior to receipt of payment) are often less developed than those in U.S. markets, may be cumbersome and may result in increased risk or substantial delays. This could occur in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of, or breach of duty by, a foreign broker-dealer, securities depository, or foreign subcustodian.
 
To the extent that a Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region or country, the Fund will have more exposure to economic risks related to such region or country than a fund whose investments are more geographically diversified. Adverse conditions or changes in policies in a certain region or country can affect securities of other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated but are otherwise connected. In the event of economic or political turmoil, a deterioration of diplomatic relations or a natural or man-made disaster in a region or country where a substantial portion of a Fund’s assets are invested, the Fund may have difficulty meeting a large number of shareholder redemption requests. The holding of foreign securities may be limited by a Fund to avoid investment in certain Passive Foreign Investment Companies (“PFICs”) and the imposition of a PFIC tax on the Fund resulting from such investments.
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
 
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the U.S. dollar market value of securities denominated in such foreign currencies and any income received or expenses paid by a Fund in that foreign currency. This may affect a Fund’s share price, income and distributions to shareholders. Some countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. It will be more difficult for the Advisor to value securities denominated in currencies that are fixed or managed. Certain currencies may not be internationally traded, which could cause illiquidity with respect to a Fund’s investments in that currency and any securities denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets. Each Fund endeavors to buy and sell foreign currencies on as favorable a basis as practicable. Some price spread in currency exchanges (to cover service charges) may be incurred, particularly when a Fund changes investments from one country to another or when proceeds of the sale of securities in U.S. dollars are used for the purchase of securities denominated in foreign currencies. Some countries may adopt policies that would prevent a Fund from transferring cash out of the country or withhold portions of interest and dividends at the source.
 
Certain currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. Any devaluations in the currencies in which a Fund’s portfolio securities are denominated may have a detrimental impact on the Fund. Where the exchange rate for a currency declines materially after a Fund’s income has been accrued and translated into U.S. dollars, the Fund may need to redeem portfolio securities to make required distributions. Similarly, if an exchange rate declines between the time a Fund incurs expenses in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses are paid, the Fund will have to exchange a greater amount of the currency into U.S. dollars in order to pay the expenses.
 
Investing in foreign currencies for purposes of gaining from projected changes in exchange rates further increases a Fund’s exposure to foreign securities losses.
 
Futures Contracts
 

 
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The Funds may purchase or sell futures contracts traded on domestic and foreign exchanges, including those based on particular interest rates, securities, foreign currencies, securities indices and other financial instruments and indices.  The Funds may also purchase and write call and put options on such futures contracts, in order to seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates, securities prices, or currency exchange rates, or, to the extent permitted by its investment policies, to otherwise manage its portfolio of investments.  The Funds may purchase or sell currency futures contracts.  Generally, a futures contract is a standard binding agreement to buy or sell a specified quantity of an underlying reference instrument, such as a specific security, currency or commodity, at a specified price at a specified later date.  Although some futures contracts by their terms require the actual delivery or acquisition of the underlying instrument or asset, some require cash settlement.  In most cases the contractual obligation under a futures contract may be offset, or “closed out,” before the settlement date so that the parties do not have to make or take delivery.
 
Each Fund has the ability to buy and sell stock index futures contracts.  A stock index futures contract is an agreement between two parties to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount, times the difference between the stock index value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.  A stock index futures contract does not involve the physical delivery of the underlying stocks in the index.  Although stock index futures contracts call for the actual taking or delivery of cash, in most cases a Fund expects to liquidate its stock index futures positions through offsetting transactions, which may result in a gain or a loss, before cash settlement is required.
 
Futures contracts in the U.S. have been designed by exchanges that have been designated “contract markets” by the CFTC and must be executed through a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), which is a brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant contract market. Futures contracts may also be entered into on certain exempt markets, including exempt boards of trade and electronic trading facilities, available to certain market participants.
 
A Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases and/or sells futures contracts, and at the time a Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, it must make a good faith deposit known as the “initial margin.”  Thereafter, a Fund may need to make subsequent deposits, known as “variation margin,” to reflect changes in the marked-to-market value of the futures contract.
 
To the extent a Fund enters into a futures contract, it will maintain Segregated Assets in accordance with pertinent SEC positions.
 
Futures are derivative instruments that are subject to a number of risks.  Purchases and sales of stock index futures contracts may not completely offset a decline or rise in the value of a Fund’s investments during certain market conditions.  In the futures markets, it may not always be possible to execute a buy or sell order at the desired price, or to close out an open position due to market conditions, limits on open positions and/or daily price fluctuations.  Changes in the market value of a Fund’s investment securities may differ substantially from the changes anticipated by a Fund when it established its hedged positions, and unanticipated price movements in a futures contract may result in a loss substantially greater than such Fund’s initial investment in such a contract.
 
There is a risk of loss by a Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract. The assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If an FCM does not provide accurate reporting, a Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty.
 
There is no assurance that an active market will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. An active market makes it more likely that futures contracts will be liquid and bought and sold at competitive market prices. In addition, many of the futures contracts available may be relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active market will develop or continue to exist.
 
Successful use of futures contracts depends upon the Advisor’s ability to correctly predict movements in the securities markets generally or of a particular segment of a securities market.  No assurance can be given that the Advisor’s judgment in this respect will be correct.
 

 
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The CFTC and the various exchanges have established limits, referred to as “speculative position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short position that any person may hold or control in a particular futures contract.  Trading limits are imposed on the number of contracts that any person may trade on a particular trading day.  An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of these limits and it may impose sanctions or restrictions. Futures exchanges may also limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. This daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and does not limit potential losses because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions.
 
Participation in foreign futures and foreign options transactions involves the execution and clearing of trades on or subject to the rules of a foreign board of trade.  Neither the National Futures Association nor any domestic exchange regulates activities of any foreign boards of trade, including the execution, delivery and clearing of transactions, or has the power to compel enforcement of the rules of a foreign board of trade or any applicable foreign law.  This is true even if the exchange is formally linked to a domestic market so that a position taken on the market may be liquidated by a transaction on another market.  Moreover, such laws or regulations will vary depending on the foreign country in which the foreign futures or foreign options transaction occurs.  Futures contracts that are traded on non-U.S. exchanges may not be as liquid as those purchased on CFTC-designated contract markets.
 
Customers who trade foreign futures of foreign options contracts may not be afforded certain of the protective measures provided by the CEA, the CFTC’s regulations and the rules of the National Futures Association and any domestic exchange, including the right to use reparations proceedings before the CFTC and arbitration proceedings provided by the National Futures Association or any domestic futures exchange.  In particular, a Fund’s investments in foreign futures or foreign options transactions may not be provided the same protections in respect of transactions on U.S. futures exchanges.  In addition, the price of any foreign futures or foreign options contract and, therefore the potential profit and loss thereon may be affected by any variance in the foreign exchange rate between the time an order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised.
 
Index Warrants
 
The Funds may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified indices (“index warrants”). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at a time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is more than the value of the underlying index, or in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If a Fund were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, a Fund would lose the amount of the purchase price it paid for the warrant. A Fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on indices.
 
Inflation-Linked and Inflation-Indexed Securities
 
The Funds may invest in inflation-linked bonds. The principal amount of these bonds increases with increases in the price index used as a reference value for the bonds. In addition, the amounts payable as coupon interest payments increase when the price index increases because the interest amount is calculated by multiplying the principal amount (as adjusted) by a fixed coupon rate.
 
Although inflation-indexed securities protect their holders from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may result in a decline in value. The values of inflation-linked securities generally fluctuate in response to changes to real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a rate faster than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of the inflation-linked securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real
 

 
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interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of inflation-linked securities. If inflation is lower than expected during a period a Fund holds inflation-linked securities, a Fund may earn less on such bonds than on a conventional bond. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in inflation-linked securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the price index used as a reference for the securities. There can be no assurance that the price index used for an inflation-linked security will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Inflation-linked and inflation-indexed securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities issued by the U.S. government (see the section “U.S. Government Obligations” below for additional information), but also may include securities issued by state, local and non-U.S. governments and corporations and supranational entities.
 
Investments in Banks
 
The Funds may invest in certificates of deposit (certificates representing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time), time deposits (non-negotiable deposits maintained in a bank for a specified period of time up to seven days at a stated interest rate), bankers’ acceptances (credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer) and other securities and instruments issued by domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks.
 
A Fund also may purchase U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued by foreign branches of domestic banks or foreign branches of foreign banks (“Eurodollar” obligations) and domestic branches of foreign banks (“Yankee dollar” obligations).
 
Eurodollar and other foreign obligations involve special investment risks, including the possibility that (i) liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable domestic obligations of domestic issuers, (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, (iv) deposits may be seized or nationalized, (v) foreign governmental restrictions, such as exchange controls, may be adopted, which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations, (vi) the selection of foreign obligations may be more difficult because there may be less information publicly available concerning foreign issuers, (vii) there may be difficulties in securing or enforcing a judgment against a foreign issuer, and (viii) the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign issuers may differ from those applicable to domestic issuers. In addition, foreign banks are not subject to examination by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities.
 
Investment Companies
 
The Funds may invest in other investment companies, including ETFs, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, SEC rules thereunder and exemptions thereto.  Section 12(d)(1) (A) of the 1940 Act requires that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets will be invested in securities of investment companies as a group, and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the Fund. Certain exceptions to these limitations may apply, and the Funds may also rely on any future applicable SEC rules or orders that provide exceptions to these limitations.
 
  Investment companies are essentially pools of securities. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying securities, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company level, such as investment advisory fees and operating expenses. In some cases, investing in an investment company may involve the payment of a premium over the value of the assets held in that investment company’s portfolio. As an investor in another investment company, a Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, and a Fund’s shareholders will bear such expenses indirectly, in addition to similar fees and expenses of a Fund. Despite the possibility of greater fees and expenses, the Advisor will invest if it believes investment in other investment companies provides attractive return opportunities. In addition, it may be more efficient for a Fund to gain exposure to particular market segments by investing in shares of one or more investment companies.
 
Loan Based Derivatives
 
The Funds may invest in derivative instruments that provide exposure to one or more credit default swaps. For example, a Fund may invest in a derivative instrument known as the Loan-Only Credit Default Swap Index (“LCDX”), a tradable index with 100 equally weighted underlying single-name loan-only credit default swaps (“LCDS”). Each underlying LCDS
 

 
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references an issuer whose loans trade in the secondary leveraged loan market. A Fund can either buy the index (take on credit exposure) or sell the index (pass credit exposure to a counterparty). While investing in these types of derivatives will increase the universe of debt securities to which a Fund is exposed, such investments entail additional risks, such as those discussed below, that are not typically associated with investments in other debt securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to loans are subject to the risks associated with loans generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions.  For more information, see the section “Swaps--Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars, Inflation Indexed Swaps” below.
 
Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
The Funds may purchase mortgage-backed securities.  Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others.  Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations as further described below.  The Funds may also purchase debt securities which are secured with collateral consisting of mortgage-backed securities (“Collateralized Mortgage Obligations”) and in other types of mortgage-related securities.  Mortgage-backed securities may be issued or guaranteed by U.S. government entities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), or by private lenders.
 
The timely payment of principal and interest on mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA is backed by GNMA and the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.  These guarantees, however, do not apply to the market value of fund shares.  Also, securities issued by GNMA and other mortgage-backed securities may be purchased at a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages.  This premium is not guaranteed and would be lost if prepayment occurs.  Mortgage-backed securities issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities other than GNMA are not “full faith and credit” obligations.  Unscheduled or early payments on the underlying mortgages may shorten the securities’ effective maturities and reduce returns.  A Fund may agree to purchase or sell these securities with payment and delivery taking place at a future date.  A decline in interest rates may lead to a faster rate of repayment of the underlying mortgages and expose the fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment.  To the extent that such mortgage-backed securities are held by a Fund, the prepayment right of mortgagors may limit the increase in NAV of the Fund because the value of the mortgage-backed securities held by the Fund may not appreciate as rapidly as the price of noncallable debt securities.
 
Interests in pools of mortgage-backed securities differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates.  Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment which consists of both interest and principal payments.  In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities.  Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs which may be incurred.  Some mortgage-backed securities (such as securities issued by the GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through.”  These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payments dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
 
Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans.  Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities.  Pools created by such non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments.  However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit.  The insurance guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.  Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof are generally considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets a Fund’s investment quality standards.  There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee or guarantees, even if through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originators/servicers and poolers, the Advisor determines that the securities meet the Fund’s quality standards.
 
Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities are not subject to the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions, set forth above in the section “Investment Restrictions,” by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. government securities.
 

 
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Options
 
The Funds may purchase and write call or put options on securities and indices and enter into related closing transactions.
 
All of the Funds may invest in options that are listed on exchanges or traded over the counter.  Certain over-the-counter options may be illiquid.  Thus, it may not be possible to close such options positions at the time or price desired, which may have an adverse impact on a Fund’s investments in such options.  Over-the-counter options are generally considered illiquid by the SEC.  Accordingly, a Fund will only invest in such options to the extent consistent with its limit on investments in illiquid securities.
 
Call Options
 
A purchaser (holder) of a call option pays a non-refundable premium to the seller (writer) of a call option to obtain the right to purchase a specified amount of an investment at a fixed price (the exercise price) during a specified period (exercise period).  Conversely, the seller (writer) of a call option, upon payment by the holder of the premium, has the obligation to sell the investment to the holder of the call option at the exercise price during the exercise period.  The Funds may both purchase and write call options.
 
The premium that a Fund pays when purchasing a call option or receives when writing a call option will reflect, among other things, the market price of the investment, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the investment, the relationship of the exercise price to the volatility of the investment, the length of the option period and supply and demand factors.  The premium is the market value of an option.
 
Purchasing Call Options
 
The Funds may purchase call options.  As a holder of a call option, a Fund has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase an investment at the exercise price during the exercise period.  Instead of exercising the option and purchasing the investment, a Fund may choose to allow the option to expire or enter into a “closing sale transaction” with respect to the option.  A closing sale transaction gives a Fund the opportunity to cancel out its position in a previously purchased option through the offsetting sale during the exercise period of an option having the same features.  The Fund will realize a profit from a closing sale transaction if the cost of the transaction is more than the premium it paid to purchase the option.  The Fund will realize a loss from the closing sale transaction if the cost of the transaction is less than the premium paid by the Fund.  A Fund may purchase call options on investments that it intends to buy in order to limit the risk of a substantial change in the market price of the investment.  A Fund may also purchase call options on investments held in its portfolio and on which it has written call options.
 
Although a Fund will generally purchase only those call options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options, no secondary market on an exchange may exist.  In such event, it may not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result being that a Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage commissions upon the exercise of such options and upon the subsequent disposition of the underlying investments acquired through the exercise of such options.  Further, unless the price of the underlying investment changes sufficiently, a call option purchased by a Fund may expire without any value to the Fund, in which event the Fund would realize a capital loss which will be short-term unless the option was held for more than one year.
 
Writing Call Options
 
The Funds may write call options.  As the writer of a call option, a Fund has the obligation to sell the security at the exercise price during the exercise period.
 
A Fund will generally only write “covered call options”; however, a Fund may write a call option that is not “covered” if the Fund maintains Segregated Assets in accordance with pertinent SEC guidelines.  A call option is “covered” when the Fund either holds the security that is the subject of the option or possesses the option to purchase the same security at an exercise price equal to or less than the exercise price of the covered call option.
 

 
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As the writer of a call option, in return for the premium, the Fund gives up the opportunity to realize a profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price and retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline.  If a call option written by a Fund is not exercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium.  However, any gain may be offset by a decline in the market value of the security during the exercise period.  If the option is exercised, the Fund will experience a profit or loss from the sale of the underlying security.  The Fund may have no control over when the underlying securities must be sold because the Fund may be assigned an exercise notice at any time during the exercise period.
 
A Fund may choose to terminate its obligation as the writer of a call option by entering into a “closing purchase transaction.”  A closing purchase transaction allows a Fund to terminate its obligation to sell a security subject to a call option by allowing the Fund to cancel its position under a previously written call option through an offsetting purchase during the exercise period of an option having the same features.  A Fund may not effect a closing purchase transaction once it has received notice that the option will be exercised.  In addition, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to engage in a closing purchase transaction at a time or price desirable to the Fund.  Effecting a closing purchase transaction on a call option permits a Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with a different exercise price, exercise date or both.  If a Fund wants to sell a portfolio security that is subject to a call option, it will effect a closing purchase transaction prior to or at the same time as the sale of the security.
 
A Fund will realize a profit from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option.  Conversely, a Fund will experience a loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option.  Because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the closing purchase transaction of a written call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund.
 
Put Options
 
A purchaser (holder) of a put option pays a non-refundable premium to the seller (writer) of a put option to obtain the right to sell a specified amount of a security at a fixed price (the exercise price) during a specified period (exercise period).  Conversely, the writer of a put option, upon payment by the holder of the premium, has the obligation to buy the security from the holder of the put option at the exercise price during the exercise period.  The Funds may both purchase and write put options.
 
Purchasing Put Options
 
As a holder of a put option, a Fund has the right, but not the obligation, to sell a security at the exercise price during the exercise period.  Instead of exercising the option and selling the security, a Fund may choose to allow the option to expire or enter into a closing sale transaction with respect to the option.  A closing sale transaction gives a Fund the opportunity to cancel out its position in a previously purchased option through the offsetting sale during the exercise period of an option having the same features.
 
A Fund may purchase put options on it portfolio securities for defensive purposes (“protective puts”).  A Fund may purchase a protective put for a security it holds in its portfolio to protect against a possible decline in the value of the security subject to the put option.  A Fund may also purchase a protective put for a security in its portfolio to protect the unrealized appreciation of the security without having to sell the security.  By purchasing a put option, a Fund is able to sell the security subject to the put option at the exercise price during the exercise period even if the security has significantly declined in value.
 
A Fund may also purchase put options for securities it is not currently holding in its portfolio.  A Fund would purchase a put option on a security it does not own in order to benefit from a decline in the market price of the security during the exercise period.  A Fund will only make a profit by exercising a put option if the market price of the security subject to the put option plus the premium and the transaction costs paid by the Fund together total less than the exercise price of the put option.
 
Writing Put Options
 

 
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As the writer of a put option, a Fund has the obligation to buy the underlying security at the exercise price during the exercise period.
 
For a put option to be considered covered, the Fund must either (1) maintain cash, U.S. government securities, other liquid high-grade debt obligations, or other suitable cover permitted by the SEC having a value of not less than the exercise price of the option; or (2) own an option to sell the security subject to the put option, which has an exercise price during the entire option period equal to or greater than the exercise price of the covered put option.  The rules of a clearing corporation may require that such assets be deposited in escrow to ensure payment of the exercise price.
 
If a put option written by a Fund is not exercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium.  If the put option is exercised, the Fund must fulfill the obligation to purchase the underlying security at the exercise price, which will usually exceed the market value of the underlying security at that time.  The Fund may have no control over when the underlying securities must be purchased because the Fund may be assigned an exercise notice at any time during the exercise period.
 
A Fund may choose to terminate its obligation as the writer of a put option by entering into a “closing purchase transaction.”  A closing purchase transaction allows a Fund to terminate its obligation to purchase a security subject to a put option by allowing the Fund to cancel its position under a previously written put option through an offsetting purchase during the exercise period of an option having the same features.  A Fund may not effect a closing purchase transaction once it has received notice that the option will be exercised.  In addition, there is no guarantee that a Fund will be able to engage in a closing purchase transaction at a time or price desirable to the Fund.  Effecting a closing purchase transaction on a put option permits the Fund to write another put option.
 
A Fund will realize a profit from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option.  Conversely, a Fund will experience a loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option.
 
A Fund may write put options in situations when the Advisor wants to buy the underlying security for the Fund’s portfolio at a price lower than the current market price of the security.  To effect this strategy, the Fund would write a put option at an exercise price that, reduced by the premium received on the option, reflects the lower price the Fund is willing to pay.  Since the Fund may also receive interest on debt securities or currencies maintained to cover the exercise price of the option, this technique could be used to enhance current return during periods of market uncertainty.  The risk of this strategy is that the market price of the underlying security would decline below the exercise price less the premiums received.
 
Optio ns on Foreign Currencies
 
The Funds may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be used. In addition, options on foreign currencies may be used to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, a Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, a Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio.
 
Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, a Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to the Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, a Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options that would require a Fund to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.
 
The Funds also may write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, a Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by a Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities will be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of
 

 
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purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, a Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the manner projected by a Fund, will expire unexercised and allow a Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and a Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, a Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.
 
Options on Indices
 
The Funds may invest in options on indices. Put and call options 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 a 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 a 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 dollar value for each point of such difference. When a Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When a 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 a Fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to a Fund an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the value of the index, times a multiplier, similar to that described above for calls. When a Fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require a Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.
 
Because the value of an index option depends upon movements in the level of the index rather than the price of a particular security, whether a Fund will realize gain or loss on the purchase of an option on an index depends upon movements in the level of prices in the market generally or in an industry or market segment rather than movements in the price of a particular security.  Accordingly, successful use by a Fund of options on indices is subject to the Advisor’s ability to predict correctly the direction of movements in the market generally or in a particular industry.  This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.
 
Index prices may be distorted if trading of a substantial number of securities included in the index is interrupted causing the trading of options on that index to be halted.  If a trading halt occurred, a Fund would not be able to close out options which it had purchased and the Fund may incur losses if the underlying index moved adversely before trading resumed.  If a trading halt occurred and restrictions prohibiting the exercise of options were imposed through the close of trading on the last day before expiration, exercises on that day would be settled on the basis of a closing index value that may not reflect current price information for securities representing a substantial portion of the value of the index.
 
If a Fund holds an index option and exercises it before final determination of the closing index value for that day, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may change before closing.  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.  Although a Fund may be able to minimize this risk by withholding exercise instructions until just before the daily cutoff time or by selling rather than exercising the option when the index level is close to the exercise price, it may not be possible to eliminate this risk entirely because the cutoff times for index options may be earlier than those fixed for other types of options and may occur before definitive closing index values are announced.
 
Over-The-Counter (“OTC”) Options
 
The Funds may write covered put and call options and buy put and call options that trade in the OTC market to the same extent that it may engage in exchange traded options.  OTC options differ from exchange traded options in certain material respects.  OTC options are arranged directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation.  Thus, there is a risk of non-performance by the dealer.  Because there is no exchange, pricing is typically done based on information from market makers.  OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and in a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices, however, than exchange traded options and the writer of an OTC option is paid the premium in advance by the dealer.  There can be no assurance that a continuous liquid secondary market will exist for any particular OTC option at any
 

 
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specific time.  A Fund may be able to realize the value of an OTC option it has purchased only by exercising it or entering into a closing sale transaction with the dealer that issued it.  A Fund may suffer a loss if it is not able to exercise or sell its position on a timely basis.  When a Fund writes an OTC option, it generally can close out that option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer with which the Fund originally wrote the option.  A Fund will treat OTC options and “cover” assets as illiquid securities for the purposes of the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.
 
Private Placements
 
Each Fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements, which are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for these securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell the securities when the Advisor believes that it is advisable to do so, or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if the securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of the securities for purposes of computing a Fund’s NAV.
 
While private placements may offer opportunities for investment that are not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so purchased are often “restricted securities” that cannot be sold to the public without registration under the 1933 Act, the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rule 144 or Rule 144A under the 1933 Act) or that are not readily marketable because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays or restrictions on resale.
 
The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments such as private placements. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell the illiquid securities promptly at an acceptable price. A Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting the registration. In addition, market quotations are typically less readily available for these securities. The judgment of the Advisor may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of unrestricted securities.
 
Generally, restricted securities may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers, in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and when other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration, or in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the 1933 Act. A Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act when selling restricted securities to the public. As such, a Fund may be liable to purchasers of the securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement, is materially inaccurate or misleading.
 
REITs
 
The PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund and PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund may invest in equity REITs and equity interests issued by REITs and the PENN Capital High Yield Fund and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund may invest in debt obligations issued by REITs.  REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. Debt securities issued by REITs are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are subject to risks associated with REITs.
 
Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. An equity REIT may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the REIT. A mortgage REIT may be affected by changes in interest rates and the ability of the issuers of its portfolio mortgages to repay their obligations in addition to the fact that a mortgage REIT that is in its liquidation stage may return capital to investors when it is disadvantageous to do so. REITs are dependent upon the skills of their managers and are not diversified. REITs are generally dependent upon maintaining cash flows to repay borrowings and to make distributions to shareholders and are subject to the risk of default by lessees or borrowers. REITs whose underlying assets are concentrated
 

 
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in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to risks associated with such industry. In addition, REITS are subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.
 
REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks, including prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.
 
REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a more limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than more widely held securities.
 
A Fund’s investment in a REIT may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received or may result in a Fund making distributions that constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. In addition, distributions by a Fund from REITs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction, or, generally, for treatment as qualified dividend income.
 
Repurchase and Reverse Repurchase Agreements
 
Under a repurchase agreement, a Fund agrees to buy securities guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government or its agencies from a qualified bank or broker-dealer and then to sell the securities back to the bank or broker-dealer after a short period of time (generally, less than seven days) at a higher price.  The bank or broker-dealer must transfer to a Fund’s custodian securities with an initial market value of at least 100% of the dollar amount invested by a Fund in each repurchase agreement.  The Advisor will monitor the value of such securities daily to determine that the value equals or exceeds the repurchase price.
 
Repurchase agreements may involve risks in the event of default or insolvency of the bank or broker-dealer, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to sell the underlying securities.  A Fund will enter into repurchase agreements only with parties who meet certain creditworthiness standards, i.e. , banks or broker-dealers that the Advisor has determined present no serious risk of becoming involved in bankruptcy proceedings within the time frame contemplated by the repurchase transaction.
 
The Funds may also each enter into reverse repurchase agreements.  Under a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund agrees to sell a security in its portfolio and then to repurchase the security at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment.  A Fund will maintain Segregated Assets in accordance with pertinent SEC positions with a value equal to the value of its obligation under the agreement, including accrued interest.  The securities subject to the reverse repurchase agreement will be marked-to-market daily.
 
The use of repurchase agreements by a Fund involves certain risks.  For example, if the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, a Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the security.  If the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the bankruptcy code or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for the loan by a Fund not within the control of that Fund, and therefore the realization by a Fund on the collateral may be automatically stayed.  Finally, it is possible that a Fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.  While the Advisor acknowledges these risks, it is expected that if repurchase agreements are otherwise deemed useful to a Fund, these risks can be controlled through careful monitoring procedures.
 
Restricted and Illiquid Securities
 
Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid, which includes securities with legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, and securities for which there are no readily available market quotations.  Generally, an “illiquid security” is any security that cannot be disposed of within seven days at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the instrument.  The Advisor and/or third-party pricing services will determine the value of such securities in good faith in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act under procedures adopted by the Board.  Illiquid
 

 
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securities present the risks that a Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired.  There are no restrictions on a Fund’s ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the 1933 Act), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid.  Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the 1933 Act will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board.
 
After the purchase of a security, the Board and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of that security.  If the Advisor determines that a security purchased that was previously determined to be liquid is no longer liquid and, as a result, a Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities exceed the Fund’s 15% limit on investment in such securities, or if there are changes in the value of portfolio holdings or other circumstances that cause a Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities to exceed the Fund’s 15% limit on investment in such securities, the Advisor will determine what corrective action shall be taken that is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in order to ensure that an adequate level of liquidity is maintained, which may include disposing of illiquid securities.
 
Step-Coupon Securities
 
Each Fund may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for a Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.
 
Structured Notes
 
Structured notes are derivative debt securities, the interest rate and/or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured notes is determined by reference to changes in the return, interest rate or value at maturity of a specific asset, reference rate or index (the “reference instrument”) or the relative change in two or more reference instruments.  The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased, depending upon changes in the applicable reference instruments.  Structured notes may be positively or negatively indexed, so that an increase in value of the reference instrument may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or value of the structured note at maturity.  In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the structured note at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the reference investment; therefore, the value of such note may be very volatile.  Structured notes may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the reference instrument.  Structured notes may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.  In connection with its investments in structured notes, a Fund will maintain Segregated Assets in accordance with pertinent SEC guidelines to cover its obligations with respect to such instruments.
 
Supranational Entities
 
The Funds may invest in obligations of supranational entities. A supranational entity is an entity designated or supported by national governments to promote economic reconstruction, development or trade amongst nations. Examples of supranational entities include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (also known as the World Bank) and the European Investment Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are subject to the risk that the governments on whose support the entity depends for its financial backing or repayment may be unable or unwilling to provide that support. Obligations of a supranational entity that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described above in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions.”
 
Swaps–Interest Rate Swaps, Mortgage Swaps, Credit Swaps, Currency Swaps, Total Return Swaps, Options on Swaps and Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars, Inflation Indexed Swaps
 
The Funds may enter into interest rate, mortgage, credit, currency and total return swaps, as well as interest rate caps, floors and collars.  The Funds may also purchase and write (sell) options contracts on swaps, referred to as “swaptions.”  Generally, swap agreements are contracts between a Fund and another party (the swap counterparty) involving the exchange of payments on specified terms over periods ranging from a few days to multiple years. A swap agreement may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between the two parties (for an uncleared swap) or, in some instances, must be transacted through an FCM and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty (for a cleared swap).
 

 
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In a basic swap transaction, a Fund agrees with the swap counterparty to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) and/or cash flows earned or realized on a particular “notional amount” or value of predetermined underlying reference instruments. The notional amount is the set dollar or other value selected by the parties to use as the basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The parties typically do not actually exchange the notional amount. Instead they agree to exchange the returns that would be earned or realized if the notional amount were invested in given investments or at given rates.  An inflation index swap is a contract between two parties, whereby one party makes payments based on the cumulative percentage increase in an index that serves as a measure of inflation (typically, the Consumer Price Index) and the other party makes a regular payment based on a compounded fixed rate.  Typically, an inflation index swap has payment obligations netted and exchanged upon maturity.  The value of an inflation index swap is expected to change in response to changes in the rate of inflation.  If inflation increases at a faster rate than anticipated at the time the swap is entered into, the swap will increase in value.  Similarly, if inflation increases at a rate slower than anticipated at the time the swap is entered into, the swap will decrease in value.
 
The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. Mortgage swaps are similar to interest rate swaps in that they represent commitments to pay and receive interest. The notional principal amount, however, is tied to a reference pool or pools of mortgages. Credit swaps involve the receipt of floating or fixed rate payments in exchange for assuming potential credit losses of an underlying security. Credit swaps give one party to a transaction the right to dispose of or acquire an asset (or group of assets), or the right to receive or make a payment from the other party, upon the occurrence of specified credit events. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the parties’ respective rights to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Total return swaps are contracts that obligate a party to pay or receive interest in exchange for payment by the other party of the total return generated by a security, a basket of securities, an index, or an index component. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap agreement. Like other types of options, the buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.
 
A great deal of flexibility is possible in the way swap transactions are structured.   The Funds will generally enter into swap agreements on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams that are to be made by a Fund and its counterparty with respect to a particular swap agreement are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net difference in the two payments.  Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate and mortgage swaps is normally limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any. In contrast, currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal amount of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. To the extent that the Fund’s potential exposure in a transaction involving a swap or an interest rate floor, cap or collar is covered by the segregation of cash or liquid assets, the Fund and the Advisor believe that the transactions do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to a Fund’s borrowing restrictions.
 
In an uncleared swap, the swap counterparty is typically a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution. During the term of an uncleared swap, a Fund is usually required to pledge to the swap counterparty, from time to time, an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to the total net amount (if any) that would be payable by the Fund to the counterparty if the swap were terminated on the date in question, including any early termination payments. Periodically, changes in the amount pledged are made to recognize changes in value of the contract. Likewise, the counterparty may be required to pledge cash or other assets to cover its obligations to the Fund.  However, the amount pledged may not always be equal to or more than the amount due to the other party. Therefore, if a counterparty defaults in its obligations to a Fund, the amount pledged by the counterparty and available to the Fund may not be sufficient to cover all the amounts due to the Fund and the Fund may sustain a loss.
 

 
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Currently, a Fund does not typically provide initial margin in connection with uncleared swaps. Rules requiring both initial and variation margin for uncleared swaps have been proposed and are expected to be adopted, although the timing is not certain. When these rules take effect, as a general matter, margin for uncleared swaps is expected to be higher than margin for cleared swaps (discussed below).
 
Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange-trading. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and implementing rules will ultimately require the clearing and exchange-trading of many swaps. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing will occur on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant, CFTC approval of contracts for central clearing and public trading facilities making such cleared swaps available to trade. To date, the CFTC has designated only certain of the most common types of credit default index swaps and interest rate swaps as subject to mandatory clearing and certain public trading facilities have made certain of those cleared swaps available to trade, but it is expected that additional categories of swaps will in the future be designated as subject to mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements.
 
In a cleared swap, a Fund’s ultimate counterparty is a central clearinghouse rather than a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution. Cleared swaps are submitted for clearing through each party’s FCM, which must be a member of the clearinghouse that serves as the central counterparty.  Transactions executed on a swap execution facility (“SEF”) may increase market transparency and liquidity but may require the Fund to incur increased expenses to access the same types of swaps that it has used in the past.  When a Fund enters into a cleared swap, it must deliver to the central counterparty (via the FCM) an amount referred to as “initial margin.” During the term of the swap agreement, a “variation margin” amount may also be required to be paid by the Fund or may be received by the Fund in accordance with margin controls set for such accounts, depending upon changes in the marked-to-market value of the swap agreement.  If the value of a Fund’s cleared swap declines, the Fund will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments to the FCM to settle the change in value. Conversely, if the market value of a Fund’s position increases, the FCM will post additional “variation margin” to the Fund’s account.
 
The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If the Advisor, in using swap agreements, is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates, inflation, currency exchange rates or other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be less than its performance would have been if it had not used the swap agreements.
 
In an uncleared swap, performance is the responsibility only of the swap counterparty and not of any exchange or clearinghouse. As a result, a Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will be unable or will refuse to perform under such agreement, including because of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. A Fund risks the loss of the accrued but unpaid amounts under a swap agreement, which could be substantial, in the event of a default, insolvency or bankruptcy by a swap counterparty. In such an event, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the swap agreements, but bankruptcy and insolvency laws could affect the Fund’s rights as a creditor. If the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement would likely decline, potentially resulting in losses.
 
Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant’s swap, but it does not eliminate those risks completely and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps. There is also a risk of loss by a Fund of the initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position, or the central counterparty in a swap contract. The assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, a Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty.  Finally, a Fund is subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction. In such an event, the Fund may be required to break the trade and make an early termination payment to the executing broker.  Credit risk of cleared swap participants is concentrated in a few clearinghouses, and the consequences of insolvency of a clearinghouse are not clear.
 
The Funds may invest in publicly or privately issued interests in investment pools whose underlying assets are credit default, credit-linked, interest rate, currency exchange, equity-linked or other types of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements. The pools’ investment results may be designed to correspond generally to the
 

 
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performance of a specified securities index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single security. These types of pools may be used by a Fund to gain exposure to multiple securities with a smaller investment than would be required to invest directly in the individual securities. They also may be used by a Fund to gain exposure to foreign securities markets without investing in the foreign securities themselves and/or the relevant foreign market. To the extent that a Fund invests in pools of swaps and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign securities index or one or more foreign securities, investing in such pools will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities. See the section “Foreign Securities” above. In addition to the risks associated with investing in swaps generally, a Fund bears the risks and costs generally associated with investing in pooled investment vehicles, such as paying the fees and expenses of the pool and the risk that the pool or the operator of the pool may default on its obligations to the holder of interests in the pool, such as a Fund. Interests in privately offered investment pools of swaps may be considered illiquid.
 
The regulation of cleared and uncleared swaps, as well as other derivatives, is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.
 
It is not possible to predict fully the effects of current or future regulation. However, it is possible that developments in government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, such as speculative position limits on certain types of derivatives, or limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which a Fund engages in derivative transactions, may limit or prevent the Fund from using or limit the Fund’s use of these instruments effectively as a part of its investment strategy, and could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
 
Synthetic Securities
 
Incidental to other transactions in fixed income securities and/or for investment purposes, a Fund also may combine options on securities with cash, cash equivalent investments or other fixed income securities in order to create “synthetic” securities that approximate desired risk and return profiles. This may be done where a “non-synthetic” security having the desired risk/return profile either is unavailable ( e.g. , short-term securities of certain non-U.S. governments) or possesses undesirable characteristics ( e.g. , interest payments on the security would be subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes). A Fund also may purchase forward non-U.S. exchange contracts in conjunction with U.S. dollar-denominated securities in order to create a synthetic non-U.S. currency denominated security that approximates desired risk and return characteristics where the non-synthetic securities either are not available in non-U.S. markets or possess undesirable characteristics. The use of synthetic bonds and other synthetic securities may involve risks different from, or potentially greater than, risks associated with direct investments in securities and other assets including market risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk, and their value may or may not correlate with the value of the relevant underlying asset.
 
Temporary Investments
 
Under normal circumstances, each Fund may have money received from the purchase of Fund shares, or money received on the sale of its portfolio securities for which suitable investments consistent with such Fund’s investment objective(s) are not immediately available.  Under these circumstances, each Fund may have such monies invested in cash or cash equivalents in order to earn income on this portion of its assets.  Cash equivalents include money market mutual funds, as well as investments such as U.S. government obligations, repurchase agreements, bank obligations, commercial paper and corporate bonds with remaining maturities of thirteen months or less.  A Fund may also have a portion of its assets invested in cash equivalents in order to meet anticipated redemption requests or if other suitable securities are unavailable.  In addition, each Fund may reduce its holdings in equity and other securities and may invest in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments for temporary defensive purposes, during periods in which the Advisor believes changes in economic, financial, political or other conditions make it advisable.
 
Bank obligations include bankers’ acceptances, negotiable certificates of deposit and non-negotiable time deposits, including U.S. dollar-denominated instruments issued or supported by the credit of U.S. or foreign banks or savings institutions.  Although each of the Funds may invest in money market obligations of foreign banks or foreign branches of U.S. banks only where the Advisor determines the instrument to present minimal credit risks, such investments may nevertheless entail risks that are different from those of investments in domestic obligations of U.S. banks due to differences in political, regulatory and economic systems and conditions.  All investments in bank obligations are limited to
 

 
27

 

the obligations of financial institutions having more than $1 billion in total assets at the time of purchase, and investments by each Fund in the obligations of foreign banks and foreign branches of U.S. banks will not exceed 10% of such Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase.  Each Fund may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 10% of its net assets.
 
Investments by a Fund in commercial paper will consist of issues rated at the time of investment as A-1 and/or P-1 by S&P ® , Moody’s or a similar rating by another NRSRO.  In addition, a Fund may acquire unrated commercial paper and corporate bonds that are determined by the Advisor at the time of purchase to be of comparable quality to rated instruments that may be acquired by such Fund, as previously described.
 
Trust Preferred Securities
 
The Funds may also purchase trust preferred securities, which have characteristics of both subordinated debt and preferred stock. Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust subsidiary backed by subordinated debt of a corporate parent. These securities generally have a final stated maturity date and a fixed schedule for periodic payments. In addition, these securities have provisions that afford preference over common and preferred stock upon liquidation, although the securities are subordinated to other, more senior debt securities of the same issuer. The issuers of these securities often have the right to defer interest payments for a period of time.
 
Holders of trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust, and no voting rights with respect to the parent company. The market value of trust preferred securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust preferred securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or otherwise subject to restrictions on resale. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of trust preferred securities and the ability of holders, such as a Fund, to sell their holdings. If the parent company defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of its securities.
 
U.S. Government Obligations
 
Each Fund may invest in a variety of U.S. Treasury obligations including bonds, notes and bills, which mainly differ only in their interest rates, maturities and time of issuance.  The Funds may also each invest in other securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, such as obligations of Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, GNMA, Fannie Mae ® , General Services Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Maritime Administration and Resolution Trust Corp.  Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk.  Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae ® , present little credit risk. Government agency obligations also include instruments issued by certain instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S. government, including the Federal Home Loan Banks, Fannie Mae ® , and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (‘‘FHLMC’’ or “Freddie Mac ®” ). Although these securities are issued, in general, under the authority of an Act of Congress, the U.S. government is not obligated to provide financial support to the issuing instrumentalities and these securities are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. government. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has the authority to support FNMA and FHLMC by purchasing limited amounts of their respective obligations. In addition, the U.S. government has, in the past, provided financial support to FNMA and FHLMC with respect to their debt obligations. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so or would do so yet again.
 
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments
 
The Funds may purchase variable- and floating-rate instruments (including bank loans, which are discussed in the section “Bank Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments” above). These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. These instruments may also include leveraged inverse floating-rate debt instruments, or “inverse floaters.” The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest on a security or interest to which it is related. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest, and is subject to many of the same risks as derivatives. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market
 

 
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values. Certain of these investments may be illiquid. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to these investments could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that a Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and a Fund could, for these or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to such instruments.
 
Warrants
 
Each of the Funds has the ability to purchase warrants and similar rights, which are privileges issued by corporations enabling the owners to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at the specified price during a specified period of time.  Warrants do not represent ownership of the securities, but only the right to buy them.  Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the company issuing them.  Warrants differ from call options in that warrants are issued by the issuer of the security that may be purchased on their exercise, whereas call options may be written or issued by anyone.  The prices of warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities.
 
The purchase of warrants involves the risk that a Fund could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrant’s expiration.  Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price, such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.  Under normal circumstances, no more than 5% of each Fund’s net assets will be invested in warrants.  This 5% limit includes warrants that are not listed on any stock exchange.  Warrants acquired by a Fund in units or attached to securities are not subject to these limits.
 
When-Issued Purchases, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitments
 
Each Fund may purchase or sell particular securities with payment and delivery taking place at a later date.  When any Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or enter into a forward commitment to purchase securities, it will maintain Segregated Assets in accordance with pertinent SEC positions in an amount equal to the amount of the commitment.
 
When-issued and forward commitment transactions involve the risk that the price or yield obtained in a transaction (and therefore the value of a security) may be less favorable then the price or yield (and therefore the value of a security) available in the market when the delivery of the securities takes place.
 
If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, a Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to a Fund on the settlement date.  In these cases, a Fund may realize a capital gain or loss.
 
When a Fund engages in when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade.  Failure of such party to do so may result in a Fund incurring a loss or failing to receive a cumulative profit on the trade.
 
The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase or a forward commitment to purchase securities, and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value, are taken into account when determining the NAV of a Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. A Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date.  When a Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in such Fund’s assets.  Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment remains in effect.
 
Zero-Coupon, Delayed Interest and Capital Appreciation Securities
 
A Fund may invest in zero-coupon, delayed interest, pay-in-kind (“PIK”) and capital appreciation securities, which are securities that make no periodic interest payments, but are sold at a deep discount from their face value.  The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date.  The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, the liquidity of the security, and the issuer’s perceived credit quality.  The discount, in the absence of financial difficulties of the issuer, typically decreases as the final maturity date approaches.  If the issuer defaults, the Fund may not
 

 
29

 

receive any return on its investment.  Because such securities bear no interest and compound semi-annually at the rate fixed at the time of issuance, their value generally is more volatile than the value of other fixed income securities.  Since such bondholders do not receive interest payments, when interest rates rise, zero-coupon, delayed interest and capital appreciation securities fall more dramatically in value than bonds paying interest on a current basis.  When interest rates fall, zero-coupon, delayed interest and capital appreciation securities rise more rapidly in value because the bonds reflect a fixed rate of return.  An investment in zero-coupon, delayed interest and capital appreciation securities may cause a Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on its investment.  To generate cash to satisfy distribution requirements, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise would have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of Fund shares.
 
PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash.  Similar to zero-coupon bonds and delayed interest securities, PIK securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow.  PIK securities that are debt securities can be either senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat ( i.e. , without interest).  The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.
 

 
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Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
 
The Board has adopted a policy and procedures relating to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information (the “Policy”).  Generally, the Policy restricts the disclosure of portfolio holdings data to certain persons or entities, under certain conditions.  In all cases, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) is responsible for authorizing the disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio holdings, and for monitoring that the Funds do not accept compensation or consideration of any sort in return for the preferential release of portfolio holdings information.  Any such disclosure is made only if consistent with the general anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Advisor’s fiduciary duties to its clients, including the Funds.
 
The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and staff are responsible for monitoring the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and ensuring that any such disclosures are made in accordance with the Policy.  The Board has, through the adoption of the Policy, delegated the monitoring of the disclosure of portfolio holdings information to the Advisor’s compliance staff.  The Board reviews the Policy for operational effectiveness and makes revisions as needed, in order to ensure that the disclosures are in the best interest of the shareholders and to address any conflicts between the shareholders of the Funds and those of the Advisor or any other affiliate of the Funds.
 
In accordance with the Policy, each Fund will disclose its portfolio holdings periodically, to the extent required by applicable federal securities laws.  These disclosures include the filing of a complete schedule of each Fund’s portfolio holdings with the SEC semi-annually on Form N-CSR and following the Fund’s first and third fiscal quarters, on Form N-Q.  These filings are available to the public through the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet website at:  http://www.sec.gov.  The Funds also post their respective portfolio holdings on their website atwww.penncapitalfunds.com, subject to a month’s lag, on approximately the first business day following the calendar month end.  The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (or designee) will conduct periodic reviews of compliance with the procedures established by the Policy.
 
The Policy also provides that a Fund’s portfolio holdings information may be released to selected third parties only when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for doing so and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality (including appropriate related limitations on trading), either through the nature of their relationship with the Funds or through a confidentiality agreement.  Under the Policy, the Funds may share their portfolio holdings information with certain primary service providers that have a legitimate business need for such information, including, but not limited to, the Funds’ custodian; administrator; proxy voting vendor; third parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services; financial printers; pricing information vendors; derivatives collateral managers; legal counsel and independent registered public accounting firm as well as rating and ranking organizations.  The Trust’s service arrangements with each of these entities include a duty of confidentiality (including appropriate limitations on trading) regarding portfolio holdings data by each service provider and its employees, either by law or by contract.  The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a service provider, and the length of lag, if any, between the date of information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the service provider, is to be determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the Funds’ shareholders, and the legitimate fund business purposes served by such disclosure.  Neither the Advisor, the Funds nor any other person may pay or receive any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions.  “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Funds or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.
 
The Advisor may receive compensation for furnishing to separate account clients (including sponsors of wrap accounts) model portfolios, the composition of which may be similar to those of a Fund.  Such clients have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to the Policy.  In general, the provision of portfolio management services and/or model portfolio information to wrap program sponsors is subject to contractual confidentiality provisions that the sponsor will only use such information in connection with the program.  Finally, the Advisor may distribute to investment advisory clients analytical information concerning a model portfolio, which information may correspond substantially to the characteristics of a particular Fund’s portfolio, provided that the applicable Fund is not identified in any manner as being the model portfolio.  The potential provision of information in the various ways discussed in this paragraph is not subject to the Policy and is not deemed to be the disclosure of a Fund’s nonpublic portfolio holdings information.  As a result of a Fund’s inability to control the disclosure of information as noted above, there can be no guarantee that this information would not be used in a way that adversely impacts a Fund.  Nonetheless, a Fund has oversight processes in place to attempt to minimize this risk.
 

 
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Management of the Funds
 
Board of Trustees
 
The Board supervises the Funds’ management and affairs.  The Board consists of 3 individuals, 2 of whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”).  The Board establishes policies for the operation of the Funds and appoints the officers who conduct the Funds’ daily business.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, and their years of birth are listed below together with their addresses, present positions with the Trust, term of office and length of time served with the Trust, principal occupations over at least the last five years, and other directorships/trusteeships held.
 
Name, Address and
Year of Birth
Position with
the Trust
Term of Office and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation
During the
Past Five Years
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
Other Directorship/ Trusteeship Positions held by Trustee During the Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees
Dennis S. Hudson, III
c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Year of Birth: 1955
Trustee
Since 2015
Chief Executive Officer (since 1998) and Chairman (since 2005), Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Seacoast National Bank (since 1992).
 
4
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (since 2006).
John R. Schwab
c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Year of Birth: 1967
Trustee
Since 2015
Chief Financial Officer, Flagship Credit Corp. (since 2015); Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The J.G. Wentworth Company (from 2013 to 2015); Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Expert Global Solutions (from 2004 to 2012).
 
4
N/A
Interested Trustee
Richard A. Hocker*
c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Year of Birth: 1946
Trustee, President and Chairman
 
 
 
Since
2014
 
 
 
Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer, PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (since 1987).
 
4
N/A


 
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Name, Address and
Year of Birth
Position with
the Trust
Term of Office
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupations
During the Past Five Years
Officers of the Trust**
Gerald McBride
c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Year of Birth: 1963
Treasurer
Since 2014
 
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (since 2007).
 
Lisa L.B. Matson
c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
Year of Birth: 1970
Secretary
 
Since
2014
General Counsel, PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (since 2014); Senior Counsel and Assistant Vice President, Lincoln Financial Group, Inc., and Assistant Secretary, Lincoln Investment Advisors, Corp., Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust and Lincoln Advisors Trust (from 2012 to 2014); Associate Counsel, The Vanguard Group, Inc. (from 2002 to 2012)
 
Jack P. Huntington
10 High Street
Suite 302
Boston, MA 02110
Year of Birth: 1970
Chief Compliance Officer
 
Since
2015
Fund Chief Compliance Officer, Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC (since 2015); Senior Vice President of Regulatory Administration, Citi Fund Services Ohio, Inc. (from 2008 to 2015).
 
*
Richard A. Hocker is a Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act because he is an officer of the Advisor and certain of its affiliates.
**
Each Officer serves at the pleasure of the Board.
 
Leadership Structure, Qualifications and Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
 
The Role of the Board
 
The Board oversees the Trust’s management and operations.  Like all mutual funds, the Trust’s day-to-day management and operation is the responsibility of the various service providers, such as the Advisor, the Distributor, the Administrator, the Custodian, and the Transfer Agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI.  In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from the Trust’s officers and service providers. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters.  These reports are provided as part of formal Board Meetings, which are typically held quarterly, in person, and involve the Board’s review of recent operations in compliance with the reports required by Rule 38a-1under the 1940 Act.  The Board’s role is one of oversight and not day-to-day management over the Trust’s affairs.
 
Board Structure, Leadership
 
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively.  It has established a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee. Each Committee is discussed in greater detail below under “Trust Committees”.  A majority of the Board is comprised of Trustees who are Independent Trustees, and are not affiliated with the Advisor, the principal underwriter, or their affiliates.
 
The majority of the Board is comprised of Independent Trustees, which the Board believes will allow the Board to operate in a manner that provides for an appropriate level of independent action and oversight.  The Independent Trustees meet in a separate quarterly session in conjunction with each quarterly meeting during which they review matters relating to their independent oversight. The Independent Trustees have determined that because they comprise a majority of the Board, they
 

 
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can act independently and effectively without having an Independent Trustee serving as Chairman of the Board or as a lead independent trustee.
 
The Board reviews its structure and the structure of its Committees annually.  The Board has determined that the composition of the Board and the function and composition of its various Committees are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
 
Board Oversight of Risk Management

As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel.  Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements ( e.g. , investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, etc.), the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function.  The Board meets regularly with the Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance and operational risks and how they are managed.  With respect to investment risks, the Board receives reports from the Advisor describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Funds. The Board discusses these reports and the performance of the Funds and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings.  The Board also approves any material changes to a Fund’s investment policies or restrictions.
 
With respect to valuation, the Board reviews fair valuation reports at quarterly meetings that enable the Board to monitor fair valued securities in the Funds. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid securities held by the Funds. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each Fund’s year end financial statements.
 
Information about Each Trustee’s Qualification, Experience, Attributes or Skills
 
The Board believes that each Trustee has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills appropriate to his continued service as Trustee.  In addition to a demonstrated record of business and/or professional accomplishment, each Trustee has demonstrated a commitment to discharging his oversight duties in the interests of shareholders.  The Board annually conducts a “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board and individual Trustees is reviewed.
 
In addition to the information provided in the chart above, below is a brief description of the experience and attributes of each Trustee that led the Board to conclude that each Trustee is qualified to serve as Trustee.  The information is not all-inclusive.  Many of the Trustee’s attributes and skills involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, integrity, work ethic, the ability to work collectively, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to exercise judgment, to ask incisive questions, and a commitment to shareholder interests.
 
Dennis S. Hudson, III. Mr. Hudson currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (since 1998) and as its Chairman (since 2005). Mr. Hudson has also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seacoast National Bank (since 1992). Mr. Hudson has held various positions at Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida and Seacoast National Bank since joining both in 1978. Mr. Hudson also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, a public gas and electric utilities company (since 2006). Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (2005 – 2010). Mr. Hudson is actively involved in the community, having previously served on the boards of Martin County YMCA Foundation, Council on Aging, The Pine School, the Job Training Center, American Heart Association, Martin County United Way, the Historical Society of Martin County and Economic Council of Martin County as chairman. He has been recognized for his achievements with several awards including the Florida Senate Medallion of Excellence Award presented by Florida Senator Ken Pruitt in 2001.
 
John R. Schwab.   Mr. Schwab is the Chief Financial Officer at Flagship Credit Corp. and is responsible for the overall financial management of the company.  Previously, he served   as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The J.G. Wentworth Company™ (2013-2015), where he was responsible for financial management, financial reporting and corporate functions including controllership, treasury and tax compliance. Prior to joining The J.G. Wentworth Company in 2013, Mr. Schwab held a number of senior positions with Expert Global Solutions, Inc. (global business outsourcing), including Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy (2012) and Chief Financial Officer (2006-2012).
 

 
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He served as the Chief Financial Officer for RMH Teleservices (outsourced telemarketing) (2003-2004) and Inrange Technologies (technology service provider) (2000-2003). Mr. Schwab also spent eleven years at Arthur Andersen (accounting) (1989-2000) as a Senior Manager and Certified Public Accountant.
 
Richard A. Hocker. Mr. Hocker is the Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. Mr. Hocker founded the Advisor in 1987 and guides the overall portfolio strategy.  His investing and institutional non-investment grade corporate lending experience spans over forty years. While serving as a Partner for Delaware Investment Advisors (DIA) from 1977 to 1987, Mr. Hocker built the investment side of DIA’s fixed income operation.  During this period, he developed and managed one of the nation’s first high yield mutual funds, the Delchester High Yield Bond Fund. Prior to DIA, Mr. Hocker oversaw corporate lending and served as Head of the Investment Division of Provident National Bank, a $3 billion regional bank, which is now a part of PNC.  Mr. Hocker also founded Covenant Bank, a NJ based regional bank which grew to 16 branches before being acquired by Wachovia Corporation in 1997.  Mr. Hocker founded and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ethel Mae Hocker Foundation.
 
Trust Committees
 
The Nominating Committee, comprised of all the Independent Trustees, is responsible for identifying, evaluating and nominating candidates for consideration as Trustees and meets only as necessary.  While the Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of Trustee candidates, the Nominating Committee may consider nominees recommended by Fund shareholders. The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders sent to the Secretary of the Trust, c/o PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112. A nomination submission must include all information relating to the recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy statements for the election of Trustees, as well as information sufficient to evaluate the individual’s qualifications. Nomination submissions must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders, and such additional information must be provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Nominating Committee.
 
The Audit Committee is comprised of all the Independent Trustees.  The Audit Committee oversees the Funds’ financial reporting processes.  The Audit Committee’s function is to review the scope and results of the audit and any matters bearing on the audit or a Fund’s financial statements and to ensure the integrity of a Fund’s pricing and financial reporting.
 
As the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, none of the Trust’s Committees have met.
 
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests
 
As the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, no Trustee beneficially owned shares of the Funds.
 
Furthermore, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Advisor, the Funds’ principal underwriter, or any of their affiliates. During the two most recently completed calendar years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have had a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Advisor, the Trust’s principal underwriter or any of its affiliates.
 
Compensation
 
Each Independent Trustee receives a quarterly retainer as well as a per meeting  fee for each meeting they attend.  The Audit Committee Chair receives an additional quarterly fee for his Chairmanship. The Independent Trustees are reimbursed for the travel and other expenses they incur in attending Board meetings. Because the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, the following compensation figures represent estimates for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2016:
 

 
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Name
 
Aggregate Compensation from the Trust
 
Pension Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Trust Expenses
 
Estimate Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
 
Total Compensation from the Complex
                 
Dennis S. Hudson, III.
 
$12,000
 
$ N/A
 
$ N/A
 
$12,000
John R. Schwab
 
$15,000
 
$ N/A
 
$ N/A
 
$15,000
Richard A. Hocker (1)
 
$0
 
$ N/A
 
$ N/A
 
$0

(1)
Richard A. Hocker is considered to be an interested person, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Trust due to his position with the Advisor. Mr. Hocker is not paid for his service as a Trustee, but is paid by the Advisor for his role with the Advisor.

Principal Holders, Control Persons and Management Ownership
 
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any  Fund.  A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.  Note that a control person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote of the Trust.
 
The Advisor has provided an initial investment in the Funds. For so long as the Advisor has a greater than 25% interest in the Funds, the Advisor may be deemed be a “control person” of the Funds for purposes of the 1940 Act.
 
Investment Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., (the “Advisor”) located at Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112, serves as the Funds’ investment advisor. Founded in 1987 by Richard A. Hocker, the Advisor is 100% employee owned. The Advisor is an SEC-registered investment adviser.
 
The Advisory Agreement between the Advisor and the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, was initially approved by the Board for a two-year period. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor furnishes, at its own expense, all services, facilities and personnel necessary in connection with managing each Fund’s investments and effecting portfolio transactions. The Advisor also may pay fees to certain brokers/dealers to have the Funds available for sale through such institutions, as well for certain shareholder services provided to customers purchasing Fund shares through such institutions.
 
For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor is entitled to receive an advisory fee from the Funds as shown below.  The Advisor’s fee is calculated as a percentage of each Fund’s average daily net assets. The fee, if not waived, is accrued daily by each Fund and is assessed to each share class based on average net assets. The Advisor’s fee is paid monthly based on average net assets for the prior month.
 
Fund
Advisory Fee
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
0.90%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
0.95%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.69%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.69%

No advisory fee information is provided since the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 
The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay Fund expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Funds (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) do not exceed the amounts shown below. The expense limitation agreement will remain in   place for the period ending November 30, 2016.  Thereafter, the expense limitation agreement for the Funds will be reviewed each year, at which time the continuation of the expense limitation agreement will be discussed by the Advisor and the Board. The expense limitation agreement also provides that the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by a Fund for any fees it waived and/or expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid.
 

 
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Fund
Institutional Class Waiver (Fees not to exceed amounts shown)
Investor Class Waiver
(Fees not to exceed amounts shown)
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
1.06%
1.31%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
1.09%
1.34%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.72%
0.97%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.74%
0.99%

Portfolio Managers
 
Other Accounts Under Management.   The table below identifies, for each portfolio manager of each Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Funds) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts.  Information in the table is shown as of September 30, 2015.  Asset amounts are approximate and have been rounded.
 
Portfolio Manager
Other Accounts
Total Accounts
Accounts with Performance Fees
Number
Assets
Number
Assets
Richard A. Hocker
       
Registered Investment Companies
5
$458.1 million
2
$125.6 million
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
13
$641.9 million
3
$26.6 million
Other Accounts
140
$4.9 billion
8
$343.5 million
         
Eric J. Green, CFA
       
Registered Investment Companies
1
$112.9 million
0
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
4
$31.0 million
1
$3.5 million
Other Accounts
42
$847.4 million
6
$32.8 million
         
Joseph C. Maguire, CFA
       
Registered Investment Companies
1
$28.1 million
1
$28.1 million
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
2
$20.5 million
0
$0
Other Accounts
23
$256.8 million
0
$0
         
Martin A. Smith
       
Registered Investment Companies
1
$117.2 million
0
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
1
$28.3 million
0
$0
Other Accounts
20
$1.2 billion
1
$139.6 million
         
Kevin C. Roche
       
Registered Investment Companies
0
$0
0
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
1
$105.2 million
0
$0
Other Accounts
2
$213.9 million
0
$0
         
David H. Jackson
       
Registered Investment Companies
1
$117.2 million
0
$0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
3
$42.2 million
2
$13.8 million
Other Accounts
28
$1.2 billion
5
$153.5 million

Portfolio Manager Compensation
 
Compensation.
The Advisor compensation plans are designed to incentivize employees responsible for investment management and trading.  Compensation plans include salaries commensurate with experience, investment performance-based bonuses, profit participation plan and equity ownership for selected individuals.  Salary is determined by certain factors including
 

 
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experience, leadership, management, and contributions to the strategic planning and decision-making within the investment processes. The investment performance-based bonuses are based on certain factors, including but not limited to, investment returns as relative to the Fund’s benchmark over the 1, 3 and 5-year periods, volatility measurements and individual professional investment performance attribution. Profit participation awards and stock ownership eligibility are awarded based on distinguishing accomplishments to the investment process and/or the Advisor’s business.  Compensation plans of employees responsible for investment management is managed by the Advisor’s executive committee.
 
Potential Conflicts of Interest

Potential conflicts of interest may arise when a Fund’s portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or accounts, as is the case for the Funds’ portfolio managers.
 
The Advisor and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Advisor and the individuals that it employs. For example, the Advisor seeks to minimize the effects of competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by assigning portfolio managers to manage funds and accounts that share a similar investment style. The Advisor has also adopted trade allocation procedures that are designed to facilitate the fair allocation of limited investment opportunities among multiple funds and accounts. There is no guarantee, however, that these policies and procedures will be able to detect and/or prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may appear.
 
These potential conflicts include:
 
Allocation of Limited Time and Attention . A portfolio manager who manages multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. As a result, the portfolio manager may not be able to focus on the investment opportunities for each of those accounts as fully as might be the case if he or she were to devote attention to a single fund.
 
Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities . If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit a single fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity.
 
Pursuit of Differing Strategies . At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which could affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts.
 
Selection of Brokers/Dealers. Portfolio managers may be able to select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds and/or account that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)), which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might have otherwise been available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or accounts than to others.
 
Variation in Compensation . A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to the portfolio manager differ among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages. If the structure of the Advisor’s management fee and/or the portfolio manager’s compensation differs among funds and/or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager might be motivated to help certain funds and/or accounts over others.
 
Portfolio Managers Ownership in the Funds.
 
No ownership information by the portfolio managers in the Funds is provided since the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 

 
38

 

Service Providers
 
The Trust entered into a number of agreements whereby certain parties provide various services to the Funds.
 
Distributor
 
Distribution Services
 
Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) is the distributor (also known as principal underwriter) of the shares of the Funds and is located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
 
Under a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Funds. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Funds on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust.
 
The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Funds. With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Funds and/or the Advisor, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements. These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor. These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Funds.
 
Investors who purchase shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Funds through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote shares depending upon their arrangement with the intermediary. The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Funds for its distribution services except the distribution/service fees with respect to the shares of those classes for which a Rule 12b-1 plan is effective, as applicable. The Advisor pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.
 
The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities in accordance with the 1940 Act. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of a Fund on no less than 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, or by the Distributor, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).
 
Fund Transfer Agent, Administrator and Accountant
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS”) provides accounting and administrative services and shareholder servicing to the Funds as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.  USBFS’ address is 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.  The services provided under the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement include processing purchase and redemption transactions; establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records; disbursing dividends declared by the Funds; day-to-day administration of matters related to the existence of the Trust under state law (other than rendering investment advice); maintenance of its records; preparation, mailing and filing of reports; and assistance in monitoring the total number of shares sold in each state for “Blue Sky” purposes.
 
Pursuant to a Fund Administration Servicing Agreement and a Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement, each between USBFS and the Trust, USBFS also performs certain administrative, accounting and tax reporting functions for the Funds, including preparing and filing federal and state tax returns, preparing and filing securities registration compliance filings with various states, compiling data for and preparing notices to the SEC, assistance in the preparation of the Funds’
 

 
39

 

registration statement under federal and state securities laws, preparing financial statements for the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, monitoring the Funds’ expense accruals, calculating the daily NAV for each Fund, and monitoring the Funds’ compliance with their investment objectives and restrictions.
 
No administration fee information is provided since the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 
Custodian
 
U.S. Bank N.A., an affiliate of USBFS, is the custodian of the assets of the Funds (“Custodian”) pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust.  The Custodian’s address is Custody Operations, 1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212.
 
Compliance Services
 
Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC (“FFOS”), an affiliate of the Distributor, located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, provides a CCO and an Anti-Money Laundering Officer as well as certain additional compliance support functions under a Fund CCO Agreement between FFOS and the Trust. As compensation for the foregoing services, FFOS receives certain out of pocket costs and fixed fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly by the Funds.
 
The Fund CCO Agreement with respect to the Funds continues in effect until terminated. The Fund CCO Agreement is terminable with or without cause and without penalty by the Board on 60 days’ written notice to FFOS or by FFOS on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of the Fund CCO Agreement related to CCO services may be terminated at any time by the Board, effective upon written notice to the CCO, without the payment of any penalty.
 
Codes of Ethics
 
The Trust, the Advisor and Foreside Financial Group, LLC, on behalf of FFOS, have adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act.  These codes of ethics permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of each of those entities to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by a Fund.
 
Proxy Voting Guidelines
 
The Trust and the Advisor have adopted procedures for voting proxies for equity securities on behalf of the Funds (“Proxy Voting Guidelines”).  The Proxy Voting Guidelines are included in Appendix B to this SAI.  When available, information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 (when available) may be obtained (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-352-9910 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Valuation of Shares
 
Fund Shares are sold on a continuous basis at the NAV next computed following acceptance of an order by the Fund.  Each Fund’s NAV for the purpose of pricing purchase and redemption orders is generally determined at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard time on each day the Fund is open as determined by the Board.  The Funds are generally open on the same days that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading.  The NYSE is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
 
A Fund’s NAV is calculated by adding the value of all assets of the Fund attributable to that share class, deducting all liabilities attributable to that share class, and dividing by the number of outstanding shares of that share class, the result being adjusted to the nearest cent.  Due to the fact that different expenses are charged to the Institutional Class and Investor Class shares of the Funds, the NAV of the two classes of a Fund may vary.  Each Fund’s daily NAV is available by calling 844-302-PENN (7366).
 
Information about the market value of each portfolio security may be obtained by the Advisor from an independent pricing service. The pricing service relies primarily on prices of actual market transactions as well as trader quotations.  However,
 

 
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the pricing service may use a matrix system to determine valuations of fixed income securities and bank loans. This system considers such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations.  The procedures used by the pricing service and its valuations are reviewed by the officers of the Trust under the general supervision of the Board.
 
Portfolio securities listed on a national or foreign securities exchange, except those listed on the NASDAQ ® Stock Market and Small Cap SM exchanges (“NASDAQ ® ”), for which market quotations are available, are valued at the last quoted sale price on each business day (defined as days on which the Funds are open for business (“Business Day”)).  Portfolio securities traded on the NASDAQ ® will be valued at the NASDAQ ® Official Closing Price on each Business Day.  If there is no such reported sale on an exchange or NASDAQ ® , the portfolio security will be valued at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked price.  Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded.
 
Options traded on an exchange are valued at the last reported sale price on the exchange on which the option is traded.  If no sales are reported for exchange-traded options, or the options are not exchange-traded, then they are valued at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked price.  Futures contracts are valued at the daily quoted settlement prices.  Other assets and securities for which no quotations are readily available (such as for certain restricted or unlisted securities and private placements) or that may not be reliably priced (such as in the case of trade suspensions or halts, price movement limits set by certain foreign markets, and thinly traded or illiquid securities) will be valued in good faith at fair value using procedures and methods approved by the Board.  Under the procedures adopted by the Board, the Board has delegated day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations to a Valuation Committee comprised of representatives from the Advisor.
 
Purchase and Redemption of Shares
 
The Prospectus describes the manner in which the Funds’ shares may be purchased and redeemed. Shares of each Fund are offered directly to the public by the Distributor.
 
The purchase and redemption price of shares is the NAV next calculated after receipt of an order in proper form.  As described in the Prospectus, financial institutions and intermediaries may purchase or redeem Fund shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business by placing orders with the Funds’ transfer agent (or their authorized agent).  Institutions and intermediaries that use certain proprietary systems of the Advisor may place orders electronically through those systems.  Each Fund reserves the right to refuse any purchase requests, particularly those that the Funds determine would not be in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders, or that could adversely affect the Fund or its operations.
 
It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash.  The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities held by a Fund in lieu of cash.  Shareholders may incur subsequent brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions.  A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes may be realized by a taxable shareholder upon an in-kind redemption depending upon the shareholder’s basis in the shares of the Trust redeemed.
 
The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which trading on the NYSE is restricted, or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or evaluation of the portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit.  The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Funds for any period during which the NYSE, the Distributor and/or the Custodian are not open for business.
 
Investor Class Shares Conversion – Shareholders may be able to convert Investor Class shares to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, if they satisfy the eligibility requirements for Institutional Class shares.  Please contact your financial intermediary for additional information on how to convert shares.  For federal income tax purposes, a conversion between share classes of the same Fund is considered a non-taxable event.
 
Distribution and Servicing Plan – (Investor Class shares)
 
The Funds have adopted a distribution and servicing plan for their Investor Class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”).  Under the 12b-1 Plan, each Fund pays a fee to the Distributor or others for distribution and shareholder services (the “Distribution Fee”) at an annual rate of 0.25% for Investor Class shares of the Fund’s average daily NAV of its Investor Class shares.  The 12b-1 Plan provides that the Distributor or others may use all or any portion of
 

 
41

 

such Distribution Fee to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, subject to the terms of the 12b-1 Plan, or to provide certain shareholder services.
 
The Distributor does not retain any 12b-1 fees for profit.  All 12b-1 fees are held in a retention account to pay for and/or reimburse the Advisor or others for distribution related expenses.
 
The 12b-1 Plan is a compensation plan.  Thus, the Distribution Fee is payable regardless of the distribution-related expenses actually incurred and so the amount of distribution fees paid by the Investor Class shares during any year may be more than actual expenses incurred pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan.  A Fund will not pay more than the maximum amount allowed under the 12b-1 Plan.
 
The Distribution Fee may be used to pay for services covered by the 12b-1 Plan including, but not limited to, advertising, compensating underwriters, dealers and selling personnel engaged in the distribution of Fund shares, the printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports, the printing and mailing of sales literature pertaining to the Funds, and obtaining whatever information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that the Funds may, from time to time, deem advisable.
 
The 12b-1 Plan provides that it will continue from year to year upon approval by the majority vote of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the 12b-1 Plan or in any agreement related to such plan (the “Qualified Trustees”), as required by the 1940 Act, provided that such Qualified Trustees determine that there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders.  All material amendments to the 12b-1 Plan or any related agreements must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Board and the Qualified Trustees.
 
The 12b-1 Plan requires that the Distributor provide to the Board, at least quarterly, a written report on the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the 12b-1 Plan.  The Distributor also is required to furnish the Board with such other information as may reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board to make an informed determination of whether the 12b-1 Plan should be continued.
 
The 12b-1 Plan permits a Fund to pay financial intermediaries (including those that sponsor mutual fund supermarkets), plan administrators and other service providers to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares (distribution services) and for the provision of personal services to shareholders.  The payments made by the Funds to financial intermediaries are based primarily on the dollar amount of assets invested in the Funds through the financial intermediaries.  These financial intermediaries may pay a portion of the payments that they receive from the Fund to their investment professionals.  In addition to the ongoing asset-based fees paid to these financial intermediaries the Funds may, from time to time, make payments under the 12b-1 Plan that help defray the expenses incurred by these intermediaries for conducting training and educational meetings about various aspects of the Funds for their employees.  In addition, the Funds may make payments under the 12b-1 Plan for exhibition space and otherwise help defray the expenses these financial intermediaries incur in hosting client seminars where the Funds are discussed.
 
In addition, the Funds may participate in various “fund supermarkets” in which a mutual fund supermarket sponsor (usually a broker-dealer) offers many mutual funds to the sponsor’s customers without charging the customers a sales charge.  In connection with its participation in such platforms, the Distributor may use all or a portion of the Distribution Fee to pay one or more supermarket sponsors a negotiated fee for distributing the Funds’ shares.  In addition, in its discretion, the Advisor may pay additional fees to such intermediaries from its own assets.
 
No 12b-1 expense information is provided for the Investor Class shares since the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 
Shareholder Servicing Plan
 
The Trust has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the “Servicing Plan”) that allows the Funds to pay servicing fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisers or other financial institutions (“Service Organizations”) that provide shareholder services (“Shareholder Servicing Activities”).  Shareholder Servicing Activities include one or more of the following:  (1) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders of the Funds; (2) aggregating and processing orders involving the shares of the Funds and related payments; (3) maintaining and operating websites or other systems through which shareholders access the Funds and receive related services; (4) processing dividend and other
 

 
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distribution payments from the Funds on behalf of shareholders; (5) providing information to shareholders as to their ownership of Fund shares or about other aspects of the operations of the Funds; (6) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of shareholders; (7) facilitating the transmission of proxy statements, annual and semiannual reports, prospectuses (including summary prospectuses) and other communications from the Funds to shareholders; (8) assisting shareholders in changing the Funds’ records as to their addresses, dividend options, account registrations or other data; (9) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to the Funds necessary for sub-accounting; (10) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed and other matters pertaining to the Funds; (11) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; (12) receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Funds proxies executed with respect to special meetings of shareholders of the Funds; (13) assisting in responding to regulatory inquiries regarding shareholders and the Funds; and (14) providing such other related services as the Funds or customers of the intermediary may reasonably request.  Under the Servicing Plan, each Fund may pay servicing fees to Service Organizations at an annual rate not to exceed 0.15% of the average daily value of net assets.
 
To the extent that the costs of the arrangements with the Service Organizations (1) are not paid out of the Servicing Plan or (2) are related to distribution or marketing of a Fund’s shares and not paid out of the 12b-1 Plan, the Advisor may make additional payments, out of its own assets, to compensate Service Organizations for these arrangements. These additional payments are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments. The Advisor may benefit from these arrangements because the increase in the sale of Fund shares will result in an increase in a Fund’s assets and consequently an increase in advisory fees.  These fees may be in addition to fees paid from a Fund’s assets to them or other Service Organizations.
 
Portfolio Transactions
 
The Advisor invests Fund assets consistent with a Fund’s investment objectives, strategies, policies and restrictions.  The Advisor will seek to obtain the best net results taking into account such factors as price (including applicable dealer spread), size, type and difficulty of the transaction involved, the firm’s general execution and operational facilities, and the firm’s risk in positioning the securities involved.
 
The Funds have no obligation to deal with any broker-dealer or group of brokers or dealers in the execution of transactions in portfolio securities.  The Advisor may, from time to time, direct trades to certain brokers that provide favorable commission rates, consistent with its goal to seek best execution.  The Funds will not purchase portfolio securities from any affiliated person acting as principal except in conformity with SEC regulations.
 
For securities traded in the over-the-counter markets, the Advisor generally deals directly with the dealers who make markets in these securities unless better prices and execution are, in the Advisor’s opinion, available elsewhere.  The Advisor negotiates commission rates with brokers based on the quality and quantity of services provided in light of generally prevailing rates, and while the Advisor generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, a Fund does not necessarily pay the lowest commissions available.  The Board periodically reviews the commission rates and the allocation of orders.
 
Portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers who furnish the Advisor with investment research or services.  The commissions on such brokerage transactions with investment research or services may be higher than another broker might have charged for the same transaction in recognition of the value of research or services provided.  Such research or services include advice, both orally and in writing, as to:  the value of securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities; the availability of securities, or purchasers or sellers of securities; as well as analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts.  To the extent portfolio transactions are effected with broker-dealers who furnish research and/or other services to the Advisor, the Advisor receives a benefit.  Such research or services provided by a broker-dealer through whom the Advisor effects securities transactions for a Fund may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts.  In addition, the Advisor may not use all of the research and services provided by such broker-dealer in connection with the Fund.
 
The Trust also may enter into arrangements, commonly referred to as “brokerage/service arrangements , ” with broker-dealers pursuant to which a broker-dealer agrees to pay the cost of certain products or services provided to the Funds in exchange for fund brokerage.  Under a typical brokerage/service arrangement, a broker agrees to pay a portion of a Fund’s custodian, administrative or transfer agency fees, and in exchange, the Fund agrees to direct a minimum amount of brokerage to the broker.  The Advisor, on behalf of the Trust, usually negotiates the terms of the contract with the service provider, which is paid directly by the broker.
 

 
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The same security may be suitable for a Fund, another portfolio series of the Trust or other private accounts managed by the Advisor.  If and when a Fund and two or more accounts simultaneously purchase or sell the same security, the transactions will be allocated as to price and amount in accordance with arrangements equitable to the Fund and the accounts.  The simultaneous purchase or sale of the same securities by a Fund may negatively affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtainable or able to be sold by the Fund.
 
No brokerage commission information is provided since the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 
Portfolio Turnover
 
Although the Funds 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 Advisor, investment considerations warrant such action.  The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) 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 a 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 higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
 
No portfolio turnover rates are provided because the Funds had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.
 
Taxes
 
The following is a summary of certain additional tax considerations generally affecting a Fund (sometimes referred to as “the Fund”) and its shareholders that are not described in the Prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.
 
This is for general information only and not tax advice.  All investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the federal, state, local and foreign tax provisions applicable to them.
 
Taxation of the Fund . The Fund intends to elect and qualify, each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “fund”) under Subchapter M of the Code.  If the Fund so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.
 
In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund must satisfy the following requirements:
 
 
·
D istribution Requirement — the Fund must distribute an amount equal to the sum of at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (including, for purposes of satisfying this distribution requirement, certain distributions made by the Fund after the close of its taxable year that are treated as made during such taxable year).
 
 
·
I ncome Requirement — the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).
 
 
·
A sset Diversification Test — the Fund must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets must consist of cash and cash
 

 
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items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 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 securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, in the securities of one or more QPTPs.
 
In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Fund for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to satisfy these requirements.  See, “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments.  In other circumstances, the Fund may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test, which may have a negative impact on the Fund’s income and performance.  In lieu of potential disqualification, the Fund is permitted to pay a tax for certain failures to satisfy the Asset Diversification Test or Income Requirement, which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
 
The Fund may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed.  If the Fund uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Fund shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Fund’s allocation is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Fund may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. If, as a result of such adjustment, the Fund fails to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, the Fund will not qualify that year as a regulated investment company the effect of which is described in the following paragraph.
 
If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Fund’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test , which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Fund will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year.  Even if such savings provisions apply, the Fund may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more.  Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.
 
Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Fund shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate may result in higher taxes. This is because a fund with a high turnover rate is likely to accelerate the recognition of capital gains and more of such gains are likely to be taxable as short-term rather than long-term capital gains in contrast to a comparable fund with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Fund’s after-tax performance.  See, “Taxation of Fund Distributions - Distributions of capital gains”  below.  For non-U.S. investors, any such acceleration of the recognition of capital gains that results in more short-term and less long-term capital gains being recognized by the Fund may cause such investors to be subject to increased U.S. withholding taxes.  See, “Non-U.S. Investors — Capital gain dividends” and “— Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends” below.
 
Capital loss carryovers . The capital losses of the Fund, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Fund may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Rules similar to those that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals apply to RICs. Thus, if the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year.  Any such net capital losses of the Fund that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Fund in succeeding taxable years.  The amount of capital
 

 
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losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Fund.  An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Fund increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate, thereby reducing the Fund’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Fund’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Fund undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another fund. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Fund’s control, there can be no assurance that the Fund will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.  Additionally, if the Fund engages in a tax-free reorganization with another fund, the effect of these and other rules not discussed herein may be to disallow or postpone the use by the Fund of its capital loss carryovers (including any current year losses and built-in losses when realized) to offset its own gains or those of the other fund, or vice versa, thereby reducing the tax benefits Fund shareholders would otherwise have enjoyed from use of such capital loss carryovers.
 
Deferral of late year losses .  The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits.  The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year (see, “Taxation of Fund Distributions - Distributions of capital gains” below).  A “qualified late year loss” includes:
 
 
1.
any net capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year or, if there is no such loss, any net long-term capital loss or any net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October capital losses”), and
 
 
2.
the sum of (1) the excess, if any, of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, over (b) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year and (2) the excess, if any, of (a) ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (b) the ordinary income incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.
 
The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses and gains, and losses and gains resulting from holding stock in a PFIC for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary income” mean other ordinary losses and income that are not described in the preceding sentence. Special rules apply to a fund with a fiscal year ending in November or December that elects to use its taxable year for determining its capital gain net income for excise tax purposes.
 
Undistributed capital gains . The Fund may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year.  The Fund currently intends to distribute net capital gains.  If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, the Fund will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Fund elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Fund also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
 
Federal excise tax.   To avoid a 4% non-deductible excise tax, the Fund must distribute by December 31 of each year an amount equal to at least: (1) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income  (that is, the excess of the gains from sales or exchanges of capital assets over the losses from such sales or exchanges) for the one-year period ended on October 31 of such calendar year (or, at the election of a regulated investment company having a taxable year ending November 30 or December 31, for its taxable year), and (3) any prior year undistributed ordinary income and capital gain net income.  The Fund may elect to defer to the following year any net ordinary loss incurred for the portion of the calendar year which is after the beginning of the Fund’s taxable year.  Also, the Fund will defer any “specified gain” or “specified loss” which would be properly taken into account for the portion of the calendar year after October 31.  Any net ordinary loss, specified gain, or specified loss deferred shall be treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year.  Generally, the Fund intends to make sufficient distributions prior to the end of each calendar year to avoid any material liability for federal income and excise tax, but can give no assurances that all or a portion of such liability will be avoided.  In addition, under certain circumstances, temporary timing or permanent differences in the realization of income and expense for book and tax purposes can result in the Fund having to pay an excise tax.
 

 
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Foreign income tax .  Investment income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Fund. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other forms to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when the Fund will receive the tax reclaim is within the control of the individual country. Information required on these forms may not be available such as shareholder information; therefore, the Fund may not receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing requirements which may cause the Fund not to receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital gains realized by the Fund on sale or disposition of securities of that country to taxation. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Fund’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so.
 
Taxation of Fund Distributions .   The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for each taxable year. Distributions by the Fund will be treated in the manner described below regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund (or of another fund). The Fund will send you information annually as to the federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year.
 
Distributions of net investment income .  The Fund receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments.  The Fund may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits.  In the case of a Fund whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to you may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.  See the discussion below under the headings, “—Qualified dividend income for individuals” and “—Dividends-received deduction for corporations.”
 
Distributions of capital gains.   The Fund may derive capital gain and loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.  Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income.  Distributions paid from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund.  Any net short-term or long-term capital gain realized by the Fund (net of any capital loss carryovers) generally will be distributed once each year and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund.
 
Returns of capital.   Distributions by the Fund that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder’s tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares.  Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Fund shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Fund shares.  Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Fund over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see, “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investments in U.S. REITs” below).
 
Qualified dividend income for individuals. Ordinary income dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain.  “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Fund (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States.  Both the Fund and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Fund dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Fund must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend.  Similarly, investors must hold their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs and PFICs generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.  If the qualifying dividend income received by the Fund is equal to or greater than 95% of the Fund’s gross income
 

 
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(exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund will be qualifying dividend income.
 
Dividends-received deduction for corporations .  For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Fund may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction.  The portion of dividends paid by the Fund that so qualifies will be reported by the Fund to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Fund from domestic (U.S.) corporations.  The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Fund and the investor.  Specifically, the amount that the Fund may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Fund were debt-financed or held by the Fund for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend.  Similarly, if your Fund shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Fund dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated.  Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation .   Income derived by the Fund from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.
 
Impact of realized but undistributed income and gains, and net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities .  At the time of your purchase of shares, the Fund’s NAV may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation of portfolio securities held by the Fund. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable, and would be taxed as ordinary income (some portion of which may be taxed as qualified dividend income), capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. The Fund may be able to reduce the amount of such distributions from capital gains by utilizing its capital loss carryovers, if any.
 
Pass-through of foreign tax credits .  If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of a fiscal year is invested in foreign securities, the Fund may elect to pass through to you your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund.  If this election is made, the Fund may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes.  You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income, or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders).  The Fund will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election.  No deduction for foreign tax may be claimed by a noncorporate shareholder who does not itemize deductions or who is subject to the alternative minimum tax.  Shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their proportionate shares of the foreign income tax paid by the Fund due to certain limitations that may apply.  The Fund reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund.
 
Tax credit bonds.   If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more “tax credit bonds” (including build America bonds, clean renewable energy bonds and qualified tax credit bonds) on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year, the Fund may elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder’s proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. In such a case, shareholders must include in gross income (as interest) their proportionate share of the income attributable to their proportionate share of those offsetting tax credits. A shareholder’s ability to claim a tax credit associated with one or more tax credit bonds may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.
 
U.S. government securities.   Income earned on certain U.S. government obligations is exempt from state and local personal income taxes if earned directly by you.  States also grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Fund.  Income on investments by the Fund in certain other obligations, such as repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government obligations, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations ( e.g. , GNMA or FNMA obligations) generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment.  The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporations.
 
Dividends declared in December and paid in January .  Ordinarily, shareholders are required to take distributions by the Fund into account in the year in which the distributions are made. However, dividends declared in October, November or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month will be deemed to have been received by the shareholders (and made by the Fund) on December 31 of such calendar year if such dividends are
 

 
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actually paid in January of the following year. Shareholders will be advised annually as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of distributions made (or deemed made) during the year in accordance with the guidance that has been provided by the IRS.
 
Medicare tax .  A 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on net investment income earned by certain individuals, estates and trusts. “Net investment income,” for these purposes, means investment income, including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares, reduced by the deductions properly allocable to such income.  In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) the shareholder’s net investment income or (2) the amount by which the shareholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the shareholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the shareholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case).  This Medicare tax, if applicable, is reported by you on, and paid with, your federal income tax return.
 
Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions   of Fund Shares .   Sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) of Fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes.  If you redeem your Fund shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption.  If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be a capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.  Any redemption fees you incur on shares redeemed will decrease the amount of any capital gain (or increase any capital loss) you realize on the sale.  Capital losses in any year are deductible only to the extent of capital gains plus, in the case of a noncorporate taxpayer, $3,000 of ordinary income.
 
Tax basis information .  The Fund is required to report to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B the cost basis of shares where the cost basis of the shares is known by the Fund (referred to as “covered shares”) and   that are disposed of after that date.  However, cost basis reporting is not required for certain shareholders, including shareholders investing in the Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, or shareholders investing in a money market fund that maintains a stable NAV.
 
When required to report cost basis, the Fund will calculate it using the Fund’s default method of average cost, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different calculation method.  For additional information regarding the Fund’s available cost basis reporting methods, including its default method, please contact the Fund.  If you hold your Fund shares through a broker (or other nominee), please contact that broker (nominee) with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.
 
The IRS permits the use of several methods to determine the cost basis of mutual fund shares.  The method used will determine which specific shares are deemed to be sold when there are multiple purchases on different dates at differing share prices, and the entire position is not sold at one time. The Fund does not recommend any particular method of determining cost basis, and the use of other methods may result in more favorable tax consequences for some shareholders.  It is important that you consult with your tax advisor to determine which method is best for you and then notify the Fund if you intend to utilize a method other than the Fund’s default method for covered shares.  If you do not notify the Fund of your elected cost basis method upon the initial purchase into your account, the default method will be applied to your covered shares.
 
The Fund will compute and report the cost basis of your Fund shares sold or exchanged by taking into account all of the applicable adjustments to cost basis and holding periods as required by the Code and Treasury regulations for purposes of reporting these amounts to you and the IRS. However the Fund is not required to, and in many cases   the Fund does not possess the information to, take all possible basis, holding period or other adjustments into account in reporting cost basis information to you. Therefore, shareholders should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Fund.
 
Wash sales .  All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Fund shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Fund (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption.  Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.
 
Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase .  Any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.
 

 
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Conversion of shares into shares of the same Fund .  The conversion or exchange of shares of one class into another class of the same Fund is not taxable for federal income tax purposes.  Thus, the conversion of Investor Class shares to Institutional Class shares generally will be tax-free for federal income tax purposes.  However, shareholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax consequences of a conversion or exchange of shares.
 
Reportable transactions.   Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
 
Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions .  Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a fund and, in turn, affect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the fund to its shareholders.  This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion above under “Investment Policies and Associated Risks”   for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Fund.
 
In general .  In general, gain or loss recognized by a fund on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss.  Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.
 
Certain fixed-income investments .  Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a fund at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount which accrued during the period of time the fund held the debt obligation unless the fund made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a fund purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the fund generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount which accrues during such year. Therefore, a fund’s investment in such securities may cause the fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities.  To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a fund may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of fund shares.
 
Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a fund . Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a fund in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.
 
Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions . In general, option premiums received by a fund are not immediately included in the income of the fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option ( e.g. , through a closing transaction). If an option written by a fund is exercised and the fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the fund minus (b) the fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the fund generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a fund expires unexercised, the fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.
 

 
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The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a fund as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the fund on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.
 
In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a fund’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the fund, defer losses to the fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a fund-level tax.
 
Certain of a fund’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced by related deductions), (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.
 
Foreign currency transactions . A fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations 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.  This treatment could increase or decrease a fund’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the fund’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.  In certain cases, a fund may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.
 
PFIC investments .   A fund may invest in securities of foreign companies that may be classified under the Code as PFICs. In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. When investing in PFIC securities, a fund intends to mark-to-market these securities under certain provisions of the Code and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of the fund’s fiscal and excise tax years. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that a fund is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by a fund. Foreign companies are not required to identify themselves as PFICs.  Due to various complexities in identifying PFICs, a fund can give no assurances that it will be able to identify portfolio securities in foreign corporations that are PFICs in time for the fund to make a mark-to-market election.  If a fund is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on a fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.
 

 
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Investments in U.S. REITs.   A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders.  Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution.  Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a fund, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution.  However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see, “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property” below with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.
 
Investment in non-U.S. REITs .  While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a fund in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the fund, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. A fund’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the fund’s return on its investment.  A fund’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “PFIC investments.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Fund — Foreign income tax.” Also, a fund in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States, which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate .
 
Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income).   Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a fund’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit (“REMIC”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a fund will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.
 
These rules are potentially applicable to a fund with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT.  It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a fund that has a non-REIT strategy.
 
Investments in partnerships and QPTPs .  For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a fund from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the fund.  While the rules are not entirely clear with respect to a fund investing in a partnership outside a master-feeder structure, for purposes of testing whether a fund satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the fund generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See, “Taxation of the Fund.”  In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP.  A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income
 

 
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Requirement ( e.g. , because it invests in commodities).  All of the net income derived by a fund from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the fund may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs.  However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year.  Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a fund to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.  Although, in general, the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a fund with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP.  Fund investments in partnerships, including in QPTPs, may result in the fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.
 
Investments in convertible securities .  Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium ( i.e. , for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond.  If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event.  Mandatorily convertible debt ( e.g. , an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt.  Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt.  Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount   principles. A change in the conversion ratio or conversion price of a convertible security on account of a dividend paid to the issuer’s other shareholders may result in a deemed distribution of stock to the holders of the convertible security equal to the value of their increased interest in the equity of the issuer. Thus, an increase in the conversion ratio of a convertible security can be treated as a taxable distribution of stock to a holder of the convertible security (without a corresponding receipt of cash by the holder) before the holder has converted the security.
 
Investments in securities of uncertain tax character.   A fund may invest in securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by a fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the fund, requiring the fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code.
 
Backup Withholding .  By law, the Fund may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:
 
 
·
provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,
 
 
·
certify that this number is correct,
 
 
·
certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and
 
 
·
certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).
 
The Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax.  Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.  Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors to avoid backup withholding are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.
 
Non-U.S. Investors .  Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.
 
In general .  The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Fund, subject to certain exemptions described below.  However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income
 

 
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and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Fund shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.
 
Capital gain dividends .  In general, capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains, other than long-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below), are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.
 
Interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends .  The prior exemptions from U.S. withholding for interest-related dividends paid by the Fund from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends have expired.  With respect to taxable years of the Fund that began before January 1, 2015, dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources were not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” included, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation that is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company.  Similarly, with respect to taxable years of the Fund that began before January 1, 2015, short-term capital gain dividends reported by the Fund to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below), were not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you were a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year. It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend these exemptions to taxable years of a fund beginning on or after January 1, 2015 or what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect.  If the exemptions are reinstated, the Fund reserves the right to not report small amounts of interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends.  Additionally, the Fund’s reporting of interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.
 
Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; foreign tax credits .  Ordinary dividends paid by the Fund to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax.  Foreign shareholders may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% on the income resulting from an election to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, but may not be able to claim a credit or deduction with respect to the withholding tax for the foreign tax treated as having been paid by them.
 
Income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business .  If the income from the Fund is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then ordinary income dividends, capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens or domestic corporations and require the filing of a nonresident U.S. income tax return.
 
Investment in U.S. real property .  The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) as if he or she were a U.S. person.  Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain.  The Fund may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in USRPI, including U.S. REITs, which may trigger FIRPTA gain to the Fund’s non-U.S. shareholders.  The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain when a RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity.  A RIC will be classified as a qualified investment entity only with respect to any distribution by the RIC which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution to the RIC from a U.S. REIT (“FIRPTA distribution”) and if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consist of interests in U.S. REITs and other U.S. real property holding corporations (“USRPHC”).  If a RIC is a qualified investment entity and the non-U.S. shareholder owns more than 5% of a class of Fund shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the FIRPTA distribution, the FIRPTA distribution to the non-U.S. shareholder is treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distribution to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring the non-U.S. shareholder to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.
 
In addition, even if the non-U.S. shareholder does not own more than 5% of a class of Fund shares, but the Fund is a qualified investment entity, the FIRPTA distribution will be taxable as ordinary dividends (rather than as a capital gain or short-term capital gain dividend) subject to withholding at 30% or lower treaty rate.
 

 
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It is currently unclear whether Congress will extend the look-through rules previously in effect before January 1, 2015 for distributions of FIRPTA gain to other types of distributions on or after January 1, 2015 from a RIC to a non-US shareholder from the RIC’s direct or indirect investment in USRPI or what the terms of any such extension would be, including whether such extension would have retroactive effect.  Because the Fund expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Fund expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Fund shares nor Fund dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.
 
U.S. estate tax . Transfers by gift of shares of the Fund by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax.  An individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Fund shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property ( i.e. , Fund shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released.  In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000).  For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Fund may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount.
 
U.S. tax certification rules .  Special U.S. tax certification requirements may apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. backup withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence.  In general, if you are a non-U.S. shareholder, you must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty.  A Form W-8 BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.  Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding.
 
The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund, including the applicability of foreign tax.
 
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) .  Under FATCA, the Fund will be required to withhold a 30% tax on (a) income dividends paid by the Fund, and (b) after December 31, 2016, certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund, to certain foreign entities, referred to as foreign financial institutions (“FFI”) or non-financial foreign entities (“NFFE”), that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.   -owned foreign investment accounts.  The FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, if it reports 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, reporting information relating to them.  The U.S. Treasury has negotiated intergovernmental agreements (“IGA”) with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with a number of other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA; an entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of an IGA instead of U.S.   Treasury regulations.
 
An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding if it is deemed compliant or by becoming a “participating FFI,” which requires the FFI to enter into a U.S. tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Code (“FFI agreement”) under which it agrees to verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and meet certain other specified requirements. The FFI will either report the specified information about the U.S. accounts to the IRS, or, to the government of the FFI’s country of residence (pursuant to the terms and conditions of applicable law and an applicable IGA entered into between the US and the FFI’s country of residence), which will, in turn, report the specified information to the IRS.  An FFI that is resident in a country that has entered into an IGA with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the FFI shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.
 
An NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from the Fund can avoid the FATCA withholding tax generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or by providing the name, address and taxpayer identification
 

 
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number of each substantial U.S. owner.  The NFFE will report the information to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report the information to the IRS.
 
Such foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA.  An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding.  Non-U.S. investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the impact of these requirements on their investment in the Fund.  The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the U.S. tax certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above.  Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these requirements to their own situation.
 
Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations .  The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes, including provisions of current law that sunset and thereafter no longer apply, or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Fund.
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
KPMG LLP, 1601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, whose services include an audit of the Funds’ financial statements and the performance of other related audit and tax services.
 
Legal Counsel
 
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ legal counsel.
 

 
56

 

Financial Statements
 


 
57

 


 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (in Organization)
 
 
November 17, 2015
 
 
1.
Organization
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on August 29, 2014, and intends to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The Trust will consist of four series: the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, the PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund, the PENN Capital High Yield Fund, and the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund (collectively referred to as the “Funds”, and each individually referred to as a “Fund”). The investment objective of the PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund and PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund is to provide capital appreciation. The PENN Capital High Yield Fund seeks to provide total return through interest income and capital appreciation, and the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund seeks current income.
 
Each Fund consists of an Institutional (“I”) and Investor (“V”) class with no front-end or back-end sales charges. There are an unlimited number of authorized shares for each share class.
 
As of November 17, 2015, the Trust has had no operations other than those actions relating to organizational and registration matters, including the sale and issuance to PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Advisor”) of 10,000 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $100,000 in the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund. The proceeds of the 10,000 shares in the Fund were held in cash.
 
2.
Significant Accounting Policies
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for investment companies.
 
(a) Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
(b) Federal Income Taxes
 
Each Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If so qualified, the Funds will not be subject to federal income tax to the extent they distribute substantially all of their net investment income and capital gains to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
 
(c) Organization and Offering Costs
 
Organization costs are expensed as incurred. Offering costs are amortized for a period of twelve months upon inception of a Fund. The Advisor has agreed to pay directly the organization and offering costs of the Trust incurred through November 17, 2015.  These costs will not be subject to recoupment under the expense limitation agreement as discussed in Note 3.

 
58

 

(d) Expenses
 
Expenses of the Trust that can be directly attributed to a particular Fund are borne by that Fund. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among the Funds of the Trust based on the number of Funds and/or relative net assets.
 
3.   Agreements
 
Investment Advisory Agreement
 
Upon registration under the 1940 Act, the Funds will enter into an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Advisor.  Pursuant to the Agreement, the Funds have agreed to pay the Advisor an advisory fee at an annual rate of each Fund’s average daily net assets, as shown in the following table:
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
0.90%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
0.95%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.69%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.69%
 
Upon the Funds’ registration under the 1940 Act, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or pay Fund expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Funds (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) do not exceed the amounts shown below. The expense limitation agreement will remain in place for the period ending November 30, 2016.  Thereafter, the expense limitation agreement for the Funds will be reviewed each year, at which time the continuation of the expense limitation agreement will be discussed by the Advisor and the Board. The expense limitation agreement also provides that the Advisor is entitled to be reimbursed by a Fund for any fees it waived and/or expenses it paid for a period of three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Advisor waived fees or paid expenses, to the extent such reimbursement will not cause the Fund to exceed any applicable expense limit that was in place when the fees were waived or expenses paid.
 
 
Institutional
Class
Investor Class
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
1.06%
1.31%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
1.09%
1.34%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
0.72%
0.97%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
0.74%
0.99%
 
Fund Transfer Agent, Administrator and Accountant Agreement
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC serves as the Funds’ administrator, fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent (the “Transfer Agent”).
 
Distribution Agreement
 
Foreside Fund Services, LLC, the Trust’s principal underwriter (the “Distributor”), acts as the Trust’s distributor in connection with the offering of Fund shares. The Distributor may enter into arrangements with banks, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase or redeem shares. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Advisor, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, U.S. Bank N.A. or their affiliates.
 
The Funds have adopted a distribution and servicing plan for their Investor Class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”).  Under the 12b-1 Plan, each Fund pays a fee to the Distributor or others for distribution and shareholder services at an annual rate of 0.25% for Investor Class shares of the Fund’s average daily NAV of its Investor Class shares.

 
59

 

Other Expenses
 
The Funds may bear certain other operating expenses, including brokerage and commission expenses; interest charges on borrowings; fees and expenses of legal counsel and independent auditors; compensation of the Trust’s officers and trustees; registration fees; printing and shareholder report expenses; custodian fees; transfer agent fees; and other miscellaneous expenses.
 
4. Indemnifications
 
In the normal course of business the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. Under the Trust’s organizational documents, each Trustee, officer, employee or other agent of the Trust is indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements cannot be known; however, the Funds expect any risk of loss to be remote.
 
5. Subsequent Events
 
 
For the purpose of issuing these financial statements, management evaluated subsequent events through November 18, 2015, the date the financial statements were available to be issued. Management has determined that there are no material events that would require disclosure in the Funds’ financial statements through this date.
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Shareholder and Board of Trustees
of PENN Capital Funds Trust:

 
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities (in Organization) of PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Funds”), comprised of PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital High Yield Fund, and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund, as of November 17, 2015. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statements presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the Funds comprising PENN Capital Funds Trust as of November 17, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 18, 2015



 
60

 

Appendix A
 
Standard & Poor’s ® Financial Services LLC (“S&P ® ”) Corporate Bond Rating Definitions
 
AAA- Debt rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P ® . Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
 
AA- Debt rated “AA” has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher-rated issues only in small degree.
 
A- Debt rated “A” has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher-rated categories.
 
BBB- Debt rated “BBB” is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher-rated categories.
 
BB, B, CCC, CC- Debt rated “BB,” “B,” “CCC” and “CC” is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. “BB” indicates the lowest degree of speculation and “CC” the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties of major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
 
CI- The rating “CI” is reversed for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
 
D- Debt rated “D” is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
 
Moody’s Investors Service © , Inc. Corporate Bond Rating Definitions
 
Aaa- Bonds which are rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the best quality.  They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure.  While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
 
Aa- Bonds which are rated “Aa” are judged to be of high quality by all standards.  Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
 
A- Bonds which are rated “A” possess many favorable investment attributes and are considered as upper medium-grade obligations.  Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the near future.
 
Baa- Bonds which are rated “Baa” are considered as medium-grade obligations ( i.e. , they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and, in fact, have speculative characteristics as well.
 
Ba- Bonds which are “Ba” are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered well assured.  Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
 
B- Bonds which are rated “B” generally lack characteristics of a desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
 

 
 
 
A-1

 

Caa- Bonds which are rated “Caa” are of poor standing.  Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
 
Ca- Bonds which are “Ca” represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
 
C- Bonds which are rated “C” are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
 
Fitch Ratings, Inc. © Bond Rating Definitions
 
AAA- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.
 
AA- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated “AAA.” Because bonds rated in the “AAA” and “AA” categories are not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable future developments, short-term debt of these issuers is generally rated “F-1+.”
 
A- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered strong, but may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances than bonds with higher ratings.
 
BBB- Bonds considered to be investment grade and of satisfactory credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is considered to be adequate. Adverse changes in economic conditions and circumstances, however, are more likely to have adverse impact on these bonds, and therefore impair timely payment. The likelihood that the ratings of these bonds will fall below investment grade is higher than for bonds with higher ratings.
 
BB- Bonds are considered speculative.  The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal may be affected over time by adverse economic changes. However, business and financial alternatives can be identified which could assist the obligor in satisfying its debt service requirements.
 
B- Bonds are considered highly speculative.  While bonds in this class are currently meeting debt service requirements, the probability of continued timely payment of principal and interest reflects the obligor’s limited margin of safety and the need for reasonable business and economic activity throughout the life of the issue.
 
CCC- Bonds have certain identifiable characteristics which, if not remedied, may lead to default.  The ability to meet obligations requires an advantageous business and economic environment.
 
CC- Bonds are minimally protected.  Default in payment of interest and/or principal seems probable over time.
 
C- Bonds are in imminent default in payment of interest or principal.
 
DDD, DD, D- Bonds are in default on interest and/or principal payments. Such bonds are extremely speculative and should be valued on the basis of their ultimate recovery value in liquidation or reorganization of the obligor. “DDD” represents the highest potential for recovery on these bonds, and “D” represents the lowest potential for recovery.
 


 
 
 
A-2

 

Appendix B
 
The following information is a summary of the proxy voting guidelines for the Advisor
 
PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
 
Introduction
PENN has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the economic interest of its clients.
 
This policy sets forth the guidelines that PENN uses in voting specific proposals presented by the boards of directors or shareholders of companies whose securities are held in client portfolios.
 
How Advisor Votes Proxies
For clients that give us authority to vote proxies, we have the ability to tailor voting.  We vote proxies based on a client’s instruction or a client’s legal structure, such as an ERISA pension plan.  Absent legal structure considerations or specific instructions, clients’ proxies are voted in accordance with what PENN believes is in the economic interest of the shareholders, in consultation with our proxy research provider, as described below.  Additionally, some clients contractually reserve the right to vote their own proxies or contractually direct us to vote their proxies in a certain manner.
 
We utilize the services of the research firm of Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) to provide proxy research and voting recommendations. Recommendations are based on objective analysis.  PENN does not consider recommendations from Glass Lewis to be determinative of its ultimate decision. Rather, PENN exercises its independent judgment in making voting decisions and reserves the right to vote contrary to Glass Lewis recommendations in the event that PENN determines that it is in the client’s interest.
 
We utilize the services of the Proxy Edge automated voting system provided by Broadridge to electronically vote ballots. Broadridge notifies PENN in advance of the board meetings, provides the appropriate proxies to be voted, and maintains records of proxy statements received and votes cast.
 
Proxy Voting Guidelines
The following Glass Lewis guidelines have been adopted by PENN to objectively evaluate proxy votes that are in the economic interest of our clients. These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of all the issues that may arise and PENN cannot anticipate all future situations. In all cases, each proxy will be considered based on the relevant facts and circumstances.
 
 
1.
Board of Directors : The election of directors and an independent board is important to ethical and effective corporate governance. Directors are expected to be competent individuals and they should be accountable and responsive to shareholders. Advisor supports an independent board of directors, and prefers that key committees such as audit, nominating, and compensation committees be comprised of independent directors. Advisor generally votes against management efforts to classify a board and generally supports proposals to declassify the board of directors. Advisor considers withholding votes from directors with an unsatisfactory attendance record. While generally in favor of separating Chairman and CEO positions, Advisor will review this issue on a case-by-case basis, considering other factors, including the company’s corporate governance guidelines and performance. Advisor evaluates proposals to restore or provide for cumulative voting on a case-by-case basis and considers such factors as corporate governance provisions as well as relative performance.
 
 
2.
Ratification of Auditors : In light of several high profile accounting scandals, Glass Lewis closely scrutinizes the role and performance of auditors. On a case-by-case basis, Glass Lewis examines proposals relating to non-audit relationships and non-audit fees. Glass Lewis considers, on a case-by-case basis, proposals to rotate auditors, and votes against the ratification of auditors when there is clear and compelling evidence of accounting irregularities or negligence attributable to the auditors.
 
 
3.
Management & Director Compensation : A company’s equity-based compensation plan should align with the shareholders’ long-term interests. Glass Lewis evaluates plans on a case-by-case basis by considering several factors to determine whether the plan is fair and reasonable. Advisor generally opposes plans that have the potential to be excessively dilutive. The Advisor generally supports employee stock option plans. Severance
 

 
B-1

 

compensation arrangements are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, although Advisor generally opposes “golden parachutes” that are considered excessive. Advisor normally supports proposals that require a percentage of director compensation be in the form of common stock, as it aligns their interests with those of the shareholders. Advisor reviews on a case-by-case basis any shareholder proposals to adopt policies on expensing stock option plans, and continues to monitor future developments in this area.
 
 
4.
Anti-Takeover Mechanisms and Related Issues : Advisor generally opposes anti-takeover measures since they tend to reduce shareholder rights. However, as with all proxy issues, Glass Lewis conducts an independent review of each anti-takeover proposal. Occasionally, Advisor may vote with management when the research analyst has concluded that the proposal is not onerous and would not harm Client interests as stockholders. Advisor generally supports proposals that require shareholder rights plans (“poison pills”) to be subject to a shareholder vote. Advisor evaluates shareholder rights’ plans on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they warrant support. Advisor generally votes against any proposal to issue stock that has unequal or subordinate voting rights. Additionally, Advisor generally opposes any supermajority voting requirements as well as the payment of “greenmail.” Advisor usually supports “fair price” provisions and confidential voting.
 
 
5.
Changes to Capital Structure : Advisor realizes that a company’s financing decisions significantly impact its shareholders, particularly when they involve the issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock or the assumption of additional debt. Glass Lewis will carefully review, on a case-by-case basis, proposals by companies to increase authorized shares and the purpose for the increase. Advisor generally votes against dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares where that class of stock would have superior voting rights. Advisor generally votes in favor of the issuance of preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock issuance are deemed reasonable. Glass Lewis reviews proposals seeking preemptive rights on a case-by-case basis.
 
 
6.
Social and Corporate Policy Issues : As a fiduciary, Advisor is primarily concerned about the financial interests of its Clients. Advisor generally gives management discretion with regard to social, environmental and ethical issues, although Advisor may vote in favor of those issues that are believed to have significant economic benefits or implications.
 
Responsibility and Oversight
PENN has established a Proxy Voting Committee, which is responsible for the review and approval of the firm’s written Proxy Policy procedures and guidelines.  The firm’s Chief Compliance Officer monitors regulatory developments with respect to proxy voting and works with the Proxy Voting Committee to develop policies that implement those requirements.  Daily administration of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of the Portfolio Accounting department.
 
PENN will generally attempt to process every proxy it receives for all domestic and foreign securities. However, there may be situations in which PENN may be unable to vote a proxy, or may choose not to vote a proxy, such as where: (i) the proxy ballot was not received from the custodian bank; (ii) a meeting notice was received too late; (iii) there are fees imposed upon the exercise of a vote and it is determined that such fees outweigh the benefit of voting; (iv) there are legal encumbrances to voting, including blocking restrictions in certain markets that preclude the ability to dispose of a security if PENN votes a proxy or where PENN is prohibited from voting by applicable law or other regulatory or market requirements, including but not limited to, effective powers of attorney; (v) PENN held shares on the record date but has sold them prior to the meeting date; (vi) proxy voting service is not offered by the custodian in the market; (vii) PENN  believes it is not in the best interest of a Fund or its shareholders to vote the proxy for any other reason not enumerated herein; or (viii) a security is subject to a securities lending or similar program that has transferred legal title to the security to another person. In some foreign jurisdictions, even if PENN uses reasonable efforts to vote a proxy on behalf of a Fund, such vote or proxy may be rejected because of (a) operational or procedural issues experienced by one or more third parties involved in voting proxies in such jurisdictions; (b) changes in the process or agenda for the meeting by the issuer for which PENN does not have sufficient notice; and (c) the exercise by the issuer of its discretion to reject the vote of PENN.
 
Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest will be resolved in favor of the clients’ interests. The CCO is responsible for resolving potential conflicts of interest in the proxy voting process. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include:
 
 
1.
Advisor or principals have a business or personal relationship with participants in a proxy contest, corporate directories or candidates for directorships;

 
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2.
The Advisor or principals have a material business relationship with a proponent of a proxy proposal and this business relationship may influence how the proxy vote is cast.

When a potential material conflict of interest exists, PENN will obtain Client consent before voting.  PENN will provide the Client with sufficient information regarding the shareholder vote and the Advisor’s potential conflict, so the Client can make an informed decision whether to consent.
 


 
 
 

 
B-3

 

PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28.  Exhibits.

(a)
Articles of Incorporation
     
 
(1)
Certificate of Trust (1)
     
 
(2)
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 21, 2015 (2)
     
(b)
By-Laws effective as of August 29, 2014 (1)
     
(c)
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders
     
 
(1)
Agreement and Declaration of Trust
(i)Article III:  Shares
(ii)Article V:  Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings
(iii)Article VI:  Net Asset Value; Distributions; Redemptions; Transfers
(iv)Article VIII:  Certain Transactions, Section 4
(v)Article X:  Miscellaneous, Section 4
 
 
(2)
By-Laws
(i)Article II:  Meetings of Shareholders
(ii)Article VI:  Records and Reports, Sections 1, 2, and 3
(iii)Article VII:  General Matters, Sections 3, 4, 6, and 7
(iv)Article VIII:  Amendments, Section 1
     
(d)
Investment Advisory Contracts
     
 
(1)
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (2)
     
 
(2)
Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (2)
     
(e)
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (2)
     
(f)
Bonus or profit sharing contracts – none
     
(g)
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association (2)
     
(h)
Other Material Contracts
     
 
(1)
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2)
     
 
 
 
 
C-1

 
 
 
 
(2)
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2)
     
 
(3)
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2)
 
 
(4)
Fund CCO Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Compliance Services, LLC (2)
     
 
(5)
Form of Shareholder Servicing Plan
     
(i)
Opinion and Consent of Counsel (2)
     
(j)
Other Opinions
     
 
(1)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (2)
     
 
(2)
Power of Attorney (2)
     
 
(3)
Consent of ACA Performance Services (2)
     
(k)
Omitted Financial Statements – none
     
(l)
Initial Capital Agreement (2)
     
(m)
Form of Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (2)
     
(n)
Form of Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan (2)
     
(o)
Reserved
     
(p)
Codes of Ethics
     
 
(1)
Code of Ethics of PENN Capital Funds Trust (2)
 
 
(2)
Code of Ethics of PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (2)
 
 
(3)
Code of Ethics of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (2)

-----------------------------------------------------------
(1)  Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on November 13, 2014.
 
(2)  Filed herewith.
 

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

None

Item 30.  Indemnification

Under the terms of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (“DSTA”) and the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”), no officer or trustee of the Registrant shall have any liability to the Registrant,

 
C-2

 

its shareholders, or any other party for damages, except to the extent such limitation of liability is precluded by Delaware law, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws of the Registrant.

Subject to the standards and restrictions set forth in the Declaration of Trust, DSTA, Section 3817, permits a statutory trust to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee, beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.  DSTA, Section 3803 protects trustees, officers, managers and other employees, when acting in such capacity, from liability to any person other than the Registrant or beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Registrant or any trustee thereof, except as otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust.

The Declaration of Trust provides that any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or other agent, including the underwriter, of such Trust shall be liable to the Trust and its shareholders only for (1) any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or (2) the person’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person (such conduct referred to herein as Disqualifying Conduct) and for nothing else. Except in these instances and to the fullest extent that limitations of liability of agents are permitted by the DSTA, these Agents (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) shall not be responsible or liable for any act or omission of any other Agent of the Trust or any investment adviser or principal underwriter. Moreover, except and to the extent provided in these instances, none of these Agents, when acting in their respective capacity as such, shall be personally liable to any other person, other than such Trust or its shareholders, for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any trustee thereof.

The Trust shall indemnify, out of its property, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any of the persons who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) because the person is or was an Agent of such Trust. These persons shall be indemnified against any Expenses (as defined in the Declaration of Trust), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the Proceeding if the person acted in good faith or, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not in itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful. There shall nonetheless be no indemnification for a person’s own Disqualifying Conduct.

Indemnification of Registrant’s Trustees, officers, advisor, distributor, custodian, administrator, transfer agent and accounting services provider against certain stated liabilities is provided for in the following documents:

(a)  Section 7 of the Investment Advisory Agreement, as filed herewith.

(b)  Sections 7 and 8 of the Distribution Agreement, as filed herewith.

(c)  Article X, Section 10.01 of the Custody Agreement, as filed herewith.

(d)  Section 6 of the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement, as filed herewith.

(e)  Section 8 of the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement and Exhibit C thereto, as filed herewith.

(f)  Section 9 of the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement, as filed herewith.

(g)  Section 3 of the Fund CCO Agreement, as filed herewith.

 
C-3

 

Pursuant to Rule 484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant furnishes the following undertaking: “Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 Registrant 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.”

Item 31.  Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., the investment advisor to each series of the Trust, is a registered investment advisor.  For additional information, please see PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.’s Form ADV (SEC File No. 801-31452), incorporated herein by reference, which sets forth the directors and officers of PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. and its directors and officers during the past two years.
 
Item 32.  Principal Underwriter

Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for each series of the Trust.

(a)
The Distributor serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 
1)
Absolute Shares Trust
 
2)
AdvisorShares Trust
 
3)
ALTMFX Trust
 
4)
American Beacon Funds
 
5)
American Beacon Select Funds
 
6)
Archstone Alternative Solutions Fund
 
7)
Ark ETF Trust
 
8)
Avenue Mutual Funds Trust
 
9)
BP Capital TwinLine Energy Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
 
10)
BP Capital TwinLine MLP Fund, Series of Professionally Managed Portfolios
 
11)
Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
 
12)
Calamos ETF Trust
 
13)
Cane Alternative Strategies Fund, Series of Northern Lights Fund Trust III
 
14)
Capital Innovations Global Agri, Timber, Infrastructure Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
 
15)
Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
 
16)
Context Capital Funds
 
17)
CornerCap Group of Funds
 
18)
Corsair Opportunity Fund
 
19)
Direxion Shares ETF Trust
 
20)
Evanston Alternative Opportunities Fund
 
21)
Exchange Listed Funds Trust
 
22)
FlexShares Trust

 
C-4

 

 
23)
Forum Funds
 
24)
Forum Funds II
 
25)
FQF Trust
 
26)
FSI Low Beta Absolute Return Fund
 
27)
Gottex Trust
 
28)
Henderson Global Funds
 
29)
Horizon Spin-off and Corporate Restructuring Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust (f/k/a Liberty Street Horizon Fund)
 
30)
Horizons ETF Trust
 
31)
Infinity Core Alternative Fund
 
32)
Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
 
33)
Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
 
34)
John Hancock Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
 
35)
Little Harbor Multistrategy Composite Fund
 
36)
Manor Investment Funds
 
37)
Montage Managers Trust
 
38)
Outlook Funds Trust
 
39)
Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
 
40)
Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
 
41)
Pine Grove Alternative Fund
 
42)
Pine Grove Alternative Institutional Fund
 
43)
Plan Investment Fund, Inc.
 
44)
PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
 
45)
Precidian ETFs Trust
 
46)
Quaker Investment Trust
 
47)
Recon Capital Series Trust
 
48)
Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
 
49)
RevenueShares ETF Trust
 
50)
Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
 
51)
Salient MF Trust
 
52)
SharesPost 100 Fund
 
53)
Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
 
54)
Steben Alternative Investment Funds
 
55)
Steben Select Multi-Strategy Fund
 
56)
The 504 Fund
 
57)
The Roxbury Funds
 
58)
TIFF Investment Program
 
59)
Toroso Newfound Tactical Allocation Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
 
60)
TrimTabs ETF Trust
 
61)
Turner Funds
 
62)
West Loop Realty Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
 
63)
Wintergreen Fund, Inc.
 
64)
Wisdom Tree Trust

(b)
The following information is furnished with respect to the directors and officers of the Distributor. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

Name
Address
Position with Underwriter
Position with Registrant
Mark A. Fairbanks
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101
President
None
Richard J. Berthy
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101
Vice President, Treasurer and Manager
None
 
 
 
C-5

 
 
 
Jennifer E. Hoopes
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101
Secretary
None
Nanette K. Chern
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101
Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President
None
Paula R. Watson
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101
Assistant Secretary
None

(c)
Not applicable

Item 33.  Location of Accounts and Records

The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of:

(a)      PENN Capital Funds Trust, Navy Yard Corporate Center, 3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112;

(b)      PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., Navy Yard Corporate Center, 3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112, for records relating to its function as investment adviser;

(c)      U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, for records relating to its function as administrator, fund accountant, transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent;

(d)      U.S. Bank, N.A., 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212, for records relating to its function as custodian; and

(e)      Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, for records relating to its function as principal underwriter.

Item 34.  Management Services

Not applicable

Item 35.  Undertakings

None


 
C-6

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of November, 2015.

 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
   
 
By:  /s/ Richard A. Hocker              
 
Richard A. Hocker*
 
President and Trustee

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

Signature
Title
Date
     
  /s/ Richard A. Hocker                                     
President and Trustee
November 18, 2015
Richard A. Hocker*
   
     
  /s/ Gerald McBride                                        
Treasurer
November 18, 2015
Gerald McBride
   
     
  /s/ Dennis S. Hudson, III                                
Trustee
November 18, 2015
Dennis S. Hudson, III*
   
     
  /s/ John R. Schwab                                         
Trustee
November 18, 2015
John R. Schwab*
   
     

*By:
/s/ Lisa L.B. Matson                                                                  
Lisa L.B. Matson
Attorney-in-Fact
(Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith)

 
C-7

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.
Exhibit
EX-99.a.2
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 21, 2015
EX-99.d.1
Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
EX-99.d.2
Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
EX-99.e
Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Fund Services, LLC
EX-99.g
Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association
EX-99.h.1
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
EX-99.h.2
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
EX-99.h.3
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
EX-99.h.4
Fund CCO Agreement between the Registrant and Foreside Compliance Services, LLC
EX-99.h.5
Form of Shareholder Servicing Plan
EX-99.i
Opinion and Consent of Counsel
EX-99.j.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
EX-99.j.2
Power of Attorney
EX-99.j.3
Consent of ACA Performance Services
EX-99.l
Initial Capital Agreement
EX-99.m
Form of Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1
EX-99.n
Form of Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan
EX-99.p.1
Code of Ethics of PENN Capital Funds Trust
EX-99.p.2
Code of Ethics of PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.
EX-99.p.3
Code of Ethics of Foreside Financial Group, LLC


 
C-8
 
 


 
EX-99.a.2













AMENDED AND RESTATED
 
 
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST

of

PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST
a Delaware Statutory Trust

(Original Agreement and Declaration of Trust was adopted August 29, 2014;
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust
was adopted October 21, 2015.)


 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS
     
ARTICLE I. NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS
2
 
Section 1. Name
2
 
Section 2. Offices of the Trust
2
 
Section 3. Registered Agent and Registered Office
2
 
Section 4. Definitions
2
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE OF TRUST
4
ARTICLE III. SHARES
7
 
Section 1. Division of Beneficial Interest
7
 
Section 2. Ownership of Shares
9
 
Section 3. Sale of Shares
9
 
Section 4. Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability
9
 
Section 5. Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election
10
 
Section 6. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes
10
 
Section 7. Indemnification of Shareholders
14
ARTICLE IV. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
15
 
Section 1. Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation
15
 
Section 2. Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting
15
 
Section 3. Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote
15
 
Section 4. Payment of Expenses by the Trust
18
 
Section 5. Payment of Expenses by Shareholders
18
 
Section 6. Ownership of Trust Property
18
 
Section 7. Service Contracts
18
ARTICLE V. SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
20
 
Section 1. Voting Powers
20
 
Section 2. Quorum and Required Vote
20
 
Section 3. Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting
20
 
Section 4. Record Dates
21
 
Section 5. Additional Provisions
22
ARTICLE VI. NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS;
REDEMPTIONS; TRANSFERS
22
 
Section 1. Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions
22
 
Section 2. Redemptions at the Option of a Shareholder
24
 
 
 
i

 
 
 
 
   
 
Section 3. Redemptions at the Option of the Trust
25
 
Section 4. Transfer of Shares
25
ARTICLE VII. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT
26
 
Section 1. Limitation of Liability
26
 
Section 2. Indemnification
27
 
Section 3. Insurance
28
 
Section 4. Derivative Actions
28
ARTICLE VIII. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
29
 
Section 1. Dissolution of Trust or Series
29
 
Section 2. Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization
30
 
Section 3. Master Feeder Structure
32
 
Section 4. Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters’ Rights
32
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
32
 
Section 1. Amendments Generally
32
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
32
 
Section 1. References; Headings; Counterparts
32
 
Section 2. Applicable Law
33
 
Section 3. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations
33
 
Section 4. Statutory Trust Only
34
 
Section 5. Use of the Name “PENN Capital” or “PENN”
34


 
ii

 



AMENDED AND RESTATED
 
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
 
OF
 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST
 
THIS AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of this 21 st day of October, 2015, by the Trustees hereunder and by the holders of Shares to be issued by PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”) hereunder, and (i) incorporates herein and makes a part of this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust the resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust adopted prior to the date set forth above, pursuant to the provisions of the original Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated August 29, 2014 (the “Original Declaration of Trust”), regarding the establishment and designation of Series and/or Classes of the Shares of the Trust, and any amendments or modifications to such resolutions adopted through the date hereof, as of the date of the adoption of each such resolution, and (ii) amends and restates the Original Declaration of Trust pursuant to Article IX, Section 1, of such Original Declaration of Trust, as hereinafter provided.
 
WITNESSETH:
 
WHEREAS this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an open-end management investment company as defined in the 1940 Act; and
 
WHEREAS this Trust is authorized to divide its Shares into two or more Classes, to issue its Shares in separate Series, to divide Shares of any Series into two or more Classes and to issue Classes of the Trust or the Series, if any, all in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth; and
 
WHEREAS the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their hands as trustees of a Delaware statutory trust in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended from time to time, and the provisions hereinafter set forth.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that:
 
(i)           the Original Declaration of Trust is amended and restated in its entirety in the manner hereinafter set forth;
 
(ii)            the Trustees will hold all cash, securities and other assets that they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder IN TRUST and will manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shares created hereunder as hereinafter set forth; and
 
(iii)           this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws shall be binding in accordance with their terms on every Trustee, by virtue of having become a Trustee of the Trust, and on every
 

 
 

 
Shareholder, by virtue of having become a Shareholder of the Trust, pursuant to the terms of the Original Declaration of Trust and/or this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws.
 
ARTICLE I.
 
 
NAME; OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT; DEFINITIONS
 
Section 1.   Name .  This Trust shall be known as “PENN Capital Funds Trust” and the Board of Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name, or any other name as it may from time to time designate.
 
Section 2.   Offices of the Trust .  The Board may at any time establish offices of the Trust at any place or places where the Trust intends to do business.
 
Section 3.   Registered Agent and Registered Office .  The name of the registered agent of the Trust and the address of the registered office of the Trust are as set forth in the Trust’s Certificate of Trust.
 
Section 4.   Definitions .  Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided:
 
(a)           “ 1940 Act ” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
 
(b)           “ Affiliate ” shall have the same meaning as “affiliated person” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act when used with reference to a specified Person, as defined below;
 
(c)           “ Board of Trustees ” shall mean the governing body of the Trust, that is comprised of the number of Trustees of the Trust fixed from time to time pursuant to Article IV hereof, having the powers and duties set forth herein;
 
(d)           “ By-Laws ” shall mean By-Laws of the Trust, as amended or restated from time to time in accordance with Article VIII therein.  Such By-Laws may contain any provision not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration of Trust, relating to the governance of the Trust;
 
(e)           “ Certificate of Trust ” shall mean the certificate of trust of the Trust filed on August 29, 2014 with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as amended from time to time, to form the Trust, as such certificate shall be amended or restated from time to time and filed with such office;
 
(f)           “ Class ” shall mean each class of Shares of the Trust or of a Series of the Trust established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof or the corresponding provisions of the Original Declaration of Trust;
 
(g)           “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as adopted or amended from time to time;
 

 
2

 

(h)           “ Commission ” shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
 
(i)           “ DSTA ” shall mean the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C . § 3801, et seq .), as amended from time to time;
 
(j)           “ Declaration of Trust ” shall mean this Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, including resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust that have been adopted prior to the date of this document, or that may be adopted hereafter, regarding the establishment and designation of Series and/or Classes of Shares of the Trust, and any amendments or modifications to such resolutions, as of the date of the adoption of each such resolution;
 
(k)           “ General Liabilities ” shall have the meaning given it in Article III, Section 6(b) of this Declaration of Trust;
 
(l)           “ Interested Person ” shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
 
(m)           “ Investment Adviser ” or “ Adviser ” shall mean a Person, as defined below, furnishing services to the Trust pursuant to any investment advisory or investment management contract described in Article IV, Section 7(a) hereof;
 
(n)           “ National Financial Emergency ” shall mean the whole or any part of any period during (i) which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Trust of securities or other assets owned by the Trust is not reasonably practicable; (ii) which it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust fairly to determine the net asset value of its assets; or (iii) such other period as the Commission may by order permit for the protection of investors;
 
(o)           “ Person ” shall mean a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, corporation, organization, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity, in each case, whether domestic or foreign, and a statutory trust or a foreign statutory or business trust;
 
(p)           “ Principal Underwriter ” shall have the meaning given that term in the 1940 Act;
 
(q)           “ Series ” shall mean each Series of Shares established and designated under and in accordance with the provisions of Article III hereof, or the corresponding provisions of the Original Declaration of Trust;
 
(r)           “ Shares ” shall mean the transferable shares of beneficial interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust have been or shall be divided from time to time, and shall include fractional and whole Shares;
 
(s)           “ Shareholder ” shall mean a record owner of Shares pursuant to the By-Laws;
 

 
3

 

(t)           “ Trust ” shall mean PENN Capital Funds Trust, the Delaware statutory trust formed pursuant to the Original Declaration of Trust and by the filing of the Certificate of Trust with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
 
(u)           “ Trust Property ” shall mean any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust, or one or more of any Series thereof, including, without limitation, the rights referenced in Article X, Section 5 hereof; and
 
(v)           “ Trustee ” or “ Trustees ” shall mean each Person who signs this Declaration of Trust as a trustee and all other Persons who may, from time to time, be duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and the By-Laws, so long as such signatory or other Person continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof and the By-Laws.  Reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons in such Person’s or Persons’ capacity as a trustee or trustees hereunder and under the By-Laws.
 
ARTICLE II.
 
 
PURPOSE OF TRUST
 
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business of a registered management investment company registered under the 1940 Act, directly, or if one or more Series is established hereunder, through one or more Series, investing primarily in securities, and to exercise all of the powers, rights and privileges granted to, or conferred upon, a statutory trust formed under the DSTA, including, without limitation, the following powers:
 
(a)           To hold, invest and reinvest its funds, and in connection therewith, to make any changes in the investment of the assets of the Trust, to hold part or all of its funds in cash, to hold cash uninvested, to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, mortgage, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future acquisition or delivery of fixed income or other securities, and securities or property of every nature and kind, including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks, shares, units of beneficial interest, preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, money market instruments, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, bills, notes, mortgages, commercial paper, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements, bankers’ acceptances, finance paper, and any options, certificates, receipts, warrants, futures contracts or other instruments representing rights to receive, purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or interests therein or in any property or assets, and other securities of any kind, as the foregoing are issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons, including, without limitation, states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any international instrumentality, or by any bank or savings institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of the United States or of any state, territory, or
 

 
4

 
possession thereof, or by any corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in “when issued” contracts for any such securities;
 
(b)           To exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges with reference to or incident to ownership or interest, use and enjoyment of any of such securities and other instruments or property of every kind and description, including, but without limitation, the right, power and privilege to own, vote, hold, purchase, sell, negotiate, assign, exchange, lend, transfer, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, pledge or write options with respect to or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy any rights, title, interest, powers or privileges under or with reference to any of such securities and other instruments or property, the right to consent and otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of any of said instruments, and to do any and all acts and things for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of any of such securities and other instruments or property;
 
(c)           To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease or write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Series, subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act;
 
(d)           To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such Person or Persons as the Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such Person or Persons such power and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
 
(e)           To exercise powers and right of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities and/or other property;
 
(f)           To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is trust property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a subcustodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities depository, subject in each case to proper safeguards according to the usual practice of investment companies or any rules or regulations applicable thereto;
 
(g)           To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
 
(h)           To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;
 

 
5

 

(i)           To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
 
(j)           To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any other combinations or associations;
 
(k)           To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
 
(l)           To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust Property such insurance as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, Investment Advisers, Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, to the fullest extent permitted by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and by applicable law;
 
(m)           To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;
 
(n)           To purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, sell, negotiate, exchange, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise deal with, dispose of, use, exercise or enjoy, property of all kinds;
 
(o)           To buy, sell, mortgage, encumber, hold, own, exchange, rent or otherwise acquire and dispose of, and to develop, improve, manage, subdivide, and generally to deal and trade in real property, improved and unimproved, and wheresoever situated; and to build, erect, construct, alter and maintain buildings, structures, and other improvements on real property;
 
(p)           To borrow or raise moneys for any of the purposes of the Trust, and to mortgage or pledge the whole or any part of the property and franchises of the Trust, real, personal, and mixed, tangible or intangible, and wheresoever situated;
 
(q)           To enter into, make and perform contracts and undertakings of every kind for any lawful purpose, without limit as to amount;
 
(r)           To issue, purchase, sell and transfer, reacquire, hold, trade and deal in stocks, Shares, bonds, debentures and other securities, instruments or other property of the Trust, from time to time, to such extent as the Board of Trustees shall, consistent with the provisions of
 

 
6

 
this Declaration of Trust, determine; and to re-acquire and redeem, from time to time, its Shares or, if any, its bonds, debentures and other securities;
 
(s)           To engage in and to prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith, including those of litigation, and such power shall include without limitation the power of the Trustees or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim, or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any Person, including a Shareholder in the Shareholder’s own name or the name of the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of the Trust;
 
(t)           To exercise and enjoy, in Delaware and in any other states, territories, districts and United States dependencies and in foreign countries, all of the foregoing powers, rights and privileges, and the enumeration of the foregoing powers shall not be deemed to exclude any powers, rights or privileges so granted or conferred; and
 
(u)           In general, to carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to its trust purposes, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of such purposes or for the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power hereinbefore set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to, or growing out of, or connected with, its business or purposes, objects or powers.
 
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the possible dissolution of the Trust or one or more of its Series.  Neither the Trust nor the Board of Trustees shall be required to obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other action hereunder.
 
The foregoing clauses shall each be construed as purposes, objects and powers, and it is hereby expressly provided that the foregoing enumeration of specific purposes, objects and powers shall not be held to limit or restrict in any manner the powers of the Trust, and that they are in furtherance of, and in addition to, and not in limitation of, the general powers conferred upon the Trust by the DSTA and the other laws of the State of Delaware or otherwise; nor shall the enumeration of one thing be deemed to exclude another, although it be of like nature, not expressed.
 
ARTICLE III.
 
 
SHARES
 
Section 1.   Division of Beneficial Interest .
 
(a)           The beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided into Shares, each Share without a par value.  The number of Shares in the Trust authorized under the Original

 
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Declaration of Trust and authorized hereunder, and of each Series and Class as may be established from time to time, is unlimited. The Board of Trustees may authorize the division of Shares into separate Classes of Shares and into separate and distinct Series of Shares and the division of any Series into separate Classes of Shares in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and, when applicable, the 1940 Act. The different Series and Classes shall be established and designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6 hereof. If no separate Series or Classes of Series shall be established, the Shares shall have the rights, powers and duties provided for herein and in Article III, Section 6 hereof to the extent relevant and not otherwise provided for herein, and all references to Series and Classes shall be construed (as the context may require) to refer to the Trust.
 
 
(i)
The fact that the Trust shall have one or more established and designated Classes of the Trust, shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional Classes of the Trust.  The fact that one or more Classes of the Trust shall have initially been established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of a Series (i.e., that all Shares of the Trust are initially Shares of one or more Classes) shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to later establish and designate a Series and establish and designate the Class or Classes of the Trust as Class or Classes, respectively, of such Series.
 
 
(ii)
The fact that a Series shall have initially been established and designated without any specific establishment or designation of Classes (i.e., that all Shares of such Series are initially of a single Class) shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate separate Classes of said Series.  The fact that a Series shall have more than one established and designated Class, shall not limit the authority of the Board of Trustees to establish and designate additional Classes of said Series.
 
(b)           The Board of Trustees shall have the power to issue authorized, but unissued Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust, or any Series and Class thereof, from time to time for such consideration paid wholly or partly in cash, securities or other property, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Trustees, subject to any requirements or limitations of the 1940 Act.  The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, may acquire and hold as treasury shares, reissue for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine, or cancel, at its discretion from time to time, any Shares reacquired by the Trust.  The Board of Trustees may classify or reclassify any unissued Shares of beneficial interest or any Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, that were previously issued and are reacquired, into one or more Series or Classes that may be established and designated from time to time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust and any Series thereof may acquire, hold, sell and otherwise deal in, for purposes of investment or otherwise, the Shares of any other Series of the Trust or Shares of the Trust, and such Shares shall not be deemed treasury shares or cancelled.
 
 
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(c)           Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article III, each Share shall entitle the holder to voting rights as provided in Article V hereof.  Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to subscribe for new or additional authorized, but unissued Shares or other securities issued by the Trust or any Series thereof.  The Board of Trustees may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of the Trust or any particular Series thereof into a greater or lesser number of Shares of the Trust or that Series, respectively.  Such division or combination shall not materially change the proportionate beneficial interests of the holders of Shares of the Trust or that Series, as the case may be, in the Trust Property at the time of such division or combination that is held with respect to the Trust or that Series, as the case may be.
 
(d)           Any Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust, and any organization in which any such Person has an economic or other interest, may acquire, own, hold and dispose of Shares of beneficial interest in the Trust or any Series and Class thereof, whether such Shares are authorized but unissued, or already outstanding, to the same extent as if such Person were not a Trustee, officer or other agent of the Trust; and the Trust or any Series may issue and sell and may purchase such Shares from any such Person or any such organization, subject to the limitations, restrictions or other provisions applicable to the sale or purchase of such Shares herein and the 1940 Act.
 
Section 2.   Ownership of Shares .  The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust kept by the Trust or by a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of the Trust and each Series and each Class thereof that has been established and designated.  No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time.  The Board of Trustees may make such rules not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act as it considers appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof, if any, and similar matters.  The record books of the Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof and as to the number of Shares of the Trust and each Series and Class thereof held from time to time by each such Shareholder.
 
Section 3.   Sale of Shares .  Subject to the 1940 Act and applicable law, the Trust may sell its authorized but unissued Shares of beneficial interest to such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as the Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize.  Each sale shall be credited to the individual purchaser’s account in the form of full or fractional Shares of the Trust or such Series thereof (and Class thereof, if any), as the purchaser may select, at the net asset value per Share, subject to Section 22 of the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder; provided, however, that the Board of Trustees may, in its sole discretion, permit the Principal Underwriter to impose a sales charge upon any such sale.  Every Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and to have become bound as a party hereto.
 
Section 4.   Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability .  Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving to Shareholders only the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, and under applicable law.  Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the

 
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Shareholder to any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners. Subject to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof, the death, incapacity, dissolution, termination, or bankruptcy of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust and any Series thereof shall not operate to dissolve the Trust or any such Series, nor entitle the representative of any deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated or bankrupt Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or elsewhere against the Trust, the Trustees or any such Series, but entitles such representative only to the rights of said deceased, incapacitated, dissolved, terminated or bankrupt Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor, except as specifically provided herein, to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay. Each Share, when issued on the terms determined by the Board of Trustees, shall be fully paid and nonassessable. As provided in the DSTA, Shareholders shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability as that extended to stockholders of a private corporation organized for profit under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
Section 5.   Power of Board of Trustees to Make Tax Status Election .  The Board of Trustees shall have the power, in its discretion, to make an initial entity classification election, and to change any such entity classification election, of the Trust and any Series for U.S. federal income tax purposes as may be permitted or required under the Code, without the vote or consent of any Shareholder.  In furtherance thereof, the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate officer as determined by the Board of Trustees, is authorized (but not required) to make and sign any such entity classification election on Form 8832, Entity Classification Election (or successor form thereto), on behalf of the Trust or any Series, sign the consent statement contained therein on behalf of all of the Shareholders thereof, and file the same with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
 
Section 6.   Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes .  The establishment and designation of any Series or Class shall be effective, without the requirement of Shareholder approval, upon the adoption of a resolution by not less than a majority of the then Board of Trustees, which resolution shall set forth such establishment and designation and may provide, to the extent permitted by the DSTA, for rights, powers and duties of such Series or Class (including variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Series and Classes) otherwise than as provided herein.  Each such resolution shall be incorporated herein upon adoption, and the resolutions that have been adopted prior to October 21, 2015 regarding the establishment and designation of Series and/or Classes of Shares of the Trust pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Original Declaration of Trust, and any amendments or modifications to such resolutions through the date hereof, are hereby incorporated herein as of the date of their adoption.  Any such resolution may be amended by a further resolution of a majority of the Board of Trustees, and if Shareholder approval would be required to make such an amendment to the language set forth in this Declaration of Trust, such further resolution shall require the same Shareholder approval that would be necessary to make such amendment to the language set forth in this Declaration of Trust.  Each such further resolution shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
 
 
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Each Series shall be separate and distinct from any other Series, separate and distinct records on the books of the Trust shall be maintained for each Series, and the assets and liabilities belonging to any such Series shall be held and accounted for separately from the assets and liabilities of the Trust or any other Series.  Each Class of the Trust shall be separate and distinct from any other Class of the Trust.  Each Class of a Series shall be separate and distinct from any other Class of the Series.  As appropriate, in a manner determined by the Board of Trustees, the liabilities belonging to any such Class shall be held and accounted for separately from the liabilities of the Trust, the Series or any other Class and separate and distinct records on the books of the Trust for the Class shall be maintained for this purpose.  Subject to Article II hereof, each such Series shall operate as a separate and distinct investment medium, with separately defined investment objectives and policies.
 
Shares of each Series (and Class where applicable) established and designated pursuant to this Section 6, or the corresponding provisions of the Original Declaration of Trust, shall have the following rights, powers and duties, unless otherwise provided to the extent permitted by the DSTA in the resolution establishing and designating such Series or Class:
 
(a)            Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Series .  All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably be held with respect to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors with respect to that Series, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust.  Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as “assets held with respect to” that Series.  In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, funds or payments which are not readily identifiable as assets held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Assets”), the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate officer as determined by the Board of Trustees, shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, deems fair and equitable, and any General Asset so allocated to a particular Series shall be held with respect to that Series.  Each such allocation by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes.
 
(b)            Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Series or Class .  The assets of the Trust held with respect to a particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses of the Trust incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to such Series.  Such liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series are herein referred to as “liabilities held with respect to” that Series.  Any liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as being liabilities held with respect to any particular Series (collectively “General Liabilities”) shall be allocated by the Board of Trustees, or an appropriate officer as determined by the Board
 
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of Trustees, to and among any one or more of the Series in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Trustees in its sole discretion deems fair and equitable. Each allocation of liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Series for all purposes. All Persons who have extended credit that has been allocated to a particular Series, or who have a claim or contract that has been allocated to any particular Series, shall look exclusively to the assets of that particular Series for payment of such credit, claim, or contract. In the absence of an express contractual agreement so limiting the claims of such creditors, claimants and contract providers, each creditor, claimant and contract provider shall be deemed nevertheless to have impliedly agreed to such limitation.
 
Subject to the right of the Board of Trustees in its discretion to allocate General Liabilities as provided herein, the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Series, whether such Series is now or hereafter authorized and existing pursuant to the Original Declaration of Trust, or is hereafter authorized and existing pursuant to this Declaration of Trust, shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to that Series only, and not against the assets of any other Series or the Trust generally and none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally or any other Series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets held with respect to such Series.  Notice of this limitation on liabilities between and among Series has been set forth in the Certificate of Trust filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DSTA, and having given such notice in the Certificate of Trust, the statutory provisions of Section 3804 of the DSTA relating to limitations on liabilities between and among Series (and the statutory effect under Section 3804 of setting forth such notice in the Certificate of Trust) are applicable to the Trust and each Series.
 
Liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses related to the distribution of, and other identified expenses that should or may properly be allocated to, the Shares of a particular Class may be charged to and borne solely by such Class.  The bearing of expenses solely by a particular Class of Shares may be appropriately reflected (in a manner determined by the Board of Trustees) and may affect the net asset value attributable to, and the dividend, redemption and liquidation rights of, such Class.  Each allocation of liabilities, debts, obligations, costs, charges, reserves and expenses by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Classes for all purposes.  All Persons who have extended credit that has been allocated to a particular Class, or who have a claim or contract that has been allocated to any particular Class, shall look, and may be required by contract to look, exclusively to that particular Class for payment of such credit, claim, or contract.
 
(c)            Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions .  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, including, without limitation, Article VI hereof, no dividend or distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon dissolution of the Trust or of any Series with respect to, nor any redemption of, the Shares of any Series or Class of such Series shall be effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such Series, nor, except as specifically provided in Section 7 of this Article III, shall any Shareholder of any particular Series otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held
 
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with respect to any other Series or the Trust generally except, in the case of a right or claim against the assets held with respect to any other Series, to the extent that such Shareholder has such a right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Series. The Board of Trustees shall have full discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, to determine which items shall be treated as income and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders. In addition, the Board may delegate to a committee of the Board or an officer of the Trust, the authority to fix the amount and other terms of any dividend or distribution, including without limitation, the power to fix the declaration, record, ex-dividend, payment and reinvestment dates of the dividend or distribution.
 
(d)            Voting .  All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote in the aggregate without differentiation between the Shares of the separate Series, if any, or separate Classes, if any; provided that (i) with respect to any matter that affects only the interests of some but not all Series, then only the Shares of such affected Series, voting separately, shall be entitled to vote on the matter, (ii) with respect to any matter that affects only the interests of some but not all Classes, then only the Shares of such affected Classes, voting separately, shall be entitled to vote on the matter; and (iii) notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any matter as to which the 1940 Act or other applicable law or regulation requires voting, by Series or by Class, then the Shares of the Trust shall vote as prescribed in such law or regulation.
 
(e)            Equality .  Each Share of any particular Series shall be equal to each other Share of such Series (subject to the rights and preferences with respect to separate Classes of such Series).
 
(f)            Fractions .  A fractional Share of a Series shall carry proportionately all the rights and obligations of a whole Share of such Series, including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions, redemption of Shares and dissolution of the Trust or that Series.
 
(g)            Exchange Privilege .  The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to provide that the holders of Shares of any Series shall have the right to exchange said Shares for Shares of one or more other Series in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board of Trustees, and in accordance with the 1940 Act.
 
(h)            Combination of Series or Classes .
 
 
(i)
The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval, vote or consent of the Shareholders of any Series, unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine the assets and liabilities held with respect to any two or more Series into assets and liabilities held with respect to a single Series; provided that upon completion of such combination of Series, the interest of each Shareholder, in the combined assets and liabilities held with respect to the combined Series shall equal the interest of each such Shareholder in the aggregate of the assets and liabilities held with respect to the Series that were combined.
 

 
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(ii)
The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, without the approval, vote or consent of the Shareholders of any Series or Class, unless otherwise required by applicable law, to combine, merge or otherwise consolidate the Shares of two or more Classes of Shares of a Series with and/or into a single Class of Shares of such Series, with such designation, preference, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, terms and conditions of redemption and other characteristics as the Trustees may determine; provided, however, that the Trustees shall provide written notice to the affected Shareholders of any such transaction.
 
 
(iii)
The transactions in (i) and (ii) above may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sales of assets, Shareholder in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees.
 
(i)            Dissolution or Termination .  Any particular Series shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of the applicable dissolution events set forth in Article VIII, Section 1 hereof.  Upon dissolution of a particular Series, the Trustees shall wind up the affairs of such Series in accordance with Article VIII, Section 1 hereof and thereafter, rescind the establishment and designation thereof.  The Board of Trustees shall terminate any particular Class and rescind the establishment and designation thereof:  (i) upon approval by a majority of votes cast at a meeting of the Shareholders of such Class, provided a quorum of Shareholders of such Class are present, or by action of the Shareholders of such Class by written consent without a meeting pursuant to Article V, Section 3; or (ii) at the discretion of the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are no Shares outstanding of such Class, or (B) upon prior written notice to the Shareholders of such Class; provided , however , that upon the rescission of the establishment and designation of any particular Series, every Class of such Series shall thereby be terminated and its establishment and designation rescinded.  Each resolution of the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Section 6(i) shall be incorporated herein by reference upon adoption.
 
Section 7.   Indemnification of Shareholders .  No shareholder as such shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust.  If any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability, charged with liability, or held personally liable, for any obligations or liability of the Trust, by reason of a claim or demand relating exclusively to his or her being or having been a Shareholder of the Trust or a Shareholder of a particular Series thereof, and not because of such Shareholder’s actions or omissions, such Shareholder or former Shareholder (or, in the case of a natural person, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust or out of the assets of such Series thereof, as the case may be, against all loss and expense, including without limitation, attorneys’ fees, arising from such claim or demand; provided , however , such indemnity shall not cover (i) any taxes due or paid by reason of such Shareholder’s ownership of any Shares and (ii) expenses charged to a Shareholder pursuant to Article IV, Section 5 hereof.
 

 
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ARTICLE IV.
 
 
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
Section 1.   Number, Election, Term, Removal and Resignation .
 
(a)           In accordance with Section 3801 of the DSTA, each Trustee shall become a Trustee and be bound by this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws when such Person signs this Declaration of Trust as a trustee and/or is duly elected or appointed, qualified and serving on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof and the By-Laws, so long as such signatory or other Person continues in office in accordance with the terms hereof.
 
(b)           The number of Trustees constituting the entire Board of Trustees may be fixed from time to time by the vote of a majority of the then Board of Trustees; provided , however , that the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15).  The number of Trustees shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any Trustee then in office.
 
(c)           Each Trustee shall hold office for the lifetime of the Trust or until such Trustee’s earlier death, resignation, removal, retirement or inability otherwise to serve, or, if sooner than any of such events, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees or consent of Shareholders in lieu thereof for the election of Trustees, and until the election and qualification of his or her successor.
 
(d)           Any Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the Trustees then in office, or by vote of the Shareholders at any meeting called for that purpose.
 
(e)           Any Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to the secretary of the Trust or to a meeting of the Board of Trustees.  Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless specified to be effective at some later time.
 
Section 2.   Trustee Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting .  To the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act, any action that may be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting and without prior written notice if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Trustees having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all Trustees on the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof, as the case may be, were present and voted.  Written consents of the Trustees may be executed in one or more counterparts.  A consent transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 3806 of the DSTA) by a Trustee shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of this Section.  All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust’s records.
 
Section 3.   Powers; Other Business Interests; Quorum and Required Vote .
 
(a)            Powers .  Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the business of the Trust (including every Series thereof) shall be managed by or under the direction
 

 
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of the Board of Trustees, and such Board of Trustees shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility. The Board of Trustees shall have full power and authority to do any and all acts and to make and execute any and all contracts and instruments that it may consider necessary or appropriate in connection with the operation and administration of the Trust (including every Series thereof). The Board of Trustees shall not be bound or limited by present or future laws or customs with regard to investments by trustees or fiduciaries, but, subject to the other provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws, shall have full authority and absolute power and control over the assets and the business of the Trust (including every Series thereof) to the same extent as if the Board of Trustees was the sole owner of such assets and business in its own right, including such authority, power and control to do all acts and things as it, in its sole discretion, shall deem proper to accomplish the purposes of this Trust. Without limiting the foregoing, the Board of Trustees may, subject to the requisite vote for such actions as set forth in this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws: (1) adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with applicable law or this Declaration of Trust; (2) amend, restate and repeal such By-Laws, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of such By-Laws; (3) fill vacancies on the Board of Trustees in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws; (4) elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents as it considers appropriate, in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws; (5) establish and terminate one or more committees of the Board of Trustees pursuant to the By-Laws; (6) place Trust Property in custody as required by the 1940 Act, employ one or more custodians of the Trust Property and authorize such custodians to employ sub-custodians and to place all or any part of such Trust Property with a custodian or a custodial system meeting the requirements of the 1940 Act; (7) retain a transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, a shareholder servicing agent or administrative services agent, or any number thereof or any other service provider as deemed appropriate; (8) provide for the issuance and distribution of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust or other securities or financial instruments directly or through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise; (9) retain one or more Investment Adviser(s); (10) re-acquire and redeem Shares on behalf of the Trust and transfer Shares pursuant to applicable law; (11) set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with respect to various matters, in the manner provided in Article V, Section 4 of this Declaration of Trust; (12) declare and pay dividends and distributions to Shareholders from the Trust Property, in accordance with this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws; (13) establish, designate and redesignate from time to time, in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, any Series or Class of the Trust or of a Series; (14) hire personnel as staff for the Board of Trustees or, for those Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal Underwriter, set the compensation to be paid by the Trust to such personnel, exercise exclusive supervision of such personnel, and remove one or more of such personnel, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees; (15) retain special counsel, other experts and/or consultants for the Board of Trustees, for those Trustees who are not Interested Persons of the Trust, the Investment Adviser, or the Principal Underwriter, and/or for one or more of the committees of the Board of Trustees, set the compensation to be paid by the Trust to such special counsel, other experts and/or consultants, and remove one or more of such special counsel, other experts and/or consultants, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees; (16) engage in and prosecute, defend, compromise, abandon, or adjust, by arbitration, or otherwise, any actions, suits, proceedings, disputes, claims, and demands relating to the Trust, and out of the assets of the Trust to pay or to satisfy any debts, claims or expenses incurred in connection therewith, including those of litigation, and such
 
 

 
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power shall include, without limitation, the power of the Trustees, or any appropriate committee thereof, in the exercise of their or its good faith business judgment, to dismiss any action, suit, proceeding, dispute, claim or demand, derivative or otherwise, brought by any person, including a shareholder in its own name or in the name of the Trust, whether or not the Trust or any of the Trustees may be named individually therein or the subject matter arises by reason of business for or on behalf of the Trust; and (17) in general delegate such authority as it considers desirable to any Trustee or officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trust, to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any custodian, transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing agent, Principal Underwriter, Investment Adviser, or other service provider.
 
The powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this Section 3(a) are without prejudice to any other powers of the Board of Trustees set forth in this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws.  Any determination as to what is in the best interests of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof and its Shareholders made by the Board of Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive.  In construing the provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Board of Trustees.
 
The Trustees shall be subject to the same fiduciary duties to which the directors of a Delaware corporation would be subject if the Trust were a Delaware corporation, the Shareholders were shareholders of such Delaware corporation and the Trustees were directors of such Delaware corporation, and such modified duties shall replace any fiduciary duties to which the Trustees would otherwise be subject.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all actions and omissions of the Trustees shall be evaluated under the doctrine commonly referred to as the “business judgment rule,” as defined and developed under Delaware law, to the same extent that the same actions or omissions of directors of a Delaware corporation in an substantially similar circumstance would be evaluated under such doctrine.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto of a Trustee otherwise applicable under the foregoing standard or otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by each Shareholder and the Trust to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Trustee.
 
(b)            Other Business Interests .  The Trustees shall devote to the affairs of the Trust (including every Series thereof) such time as may be necessary for the proper performance of their duties hereunder, but neither the Trustees nor the officers, directors, shareholders, partners or employees of the Trustees, if any, shall be expected to devote their full time to the performance of such duties.  The Trustees, or any Affiliate, shareholder, officer, director, partner or employee thereof, or any Person owning a legal or beneficial interest therein, may engage in, or possess an interest in, any business or venture other than the Trust or any Series thereof, of any nature and description, independently or with or for the account of others.  None of the Trust, any Series thereof or any Shareholder shall have the right to participate or share in such other business or venture or any profit or compensation derived therefrom.
 
(c)            Quorum and Required Vote .  At all meetings of the Board of Trustees, a majority of the Board of Trustees then in office shall be present in person in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the departure of Trustees from the meeting, if any

 
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action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting. Subject to Article III, Sections 1 and 6 of the By-Laws and except as otherwise provided herein or required by applicable law, the vote of not less than a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Trustees.
 
Section 4.   Payment of Expenses by the Trust .  Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, an authorized officer of the Trust shall pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or any particular Series or Class thereof, or partly out of the principal and partly out of the income of the Trust or any particular Series or Class thereof, and charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the Series or Classes that may be established or designated pursuant to Article III, Section 6 hereof, as such officer deems fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in connection with the maintenance or operation of the Trust or a particular Series or Class thereof, or in connection with the management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees’ compensation and such expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities associated with the services of the Trust’s officers, employees, Investment Adviser(s), Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel, custodian, sub-custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other agents or independent contractors and such other expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
 
Section 5.   Payment of Expenses by Shareholders .  The Board of Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as it may determine, to cause any Shareholder to pay directly, in advance or arrears, an amount fixed from time to time by the Board of Trustees or an officer of the Trust for charges of the Trust’s custodian or transfer, dividend disbursing, shareholder servicing or similar agent which are not customarily charged generally to the Trust, a Series or a Class, where such services are provided to such Shareholder individually, rather than to all Shareholders collectively, by setting off such amount due from such Shareholder from the amount of (i) declared but unpaid dividends or distributions owed such Shareholder, or (ii) proceeds from the redemption by the Trust of Shares from such Shareholder pursuant to Article VI hereof.
 
Section 6.   Ownership of Trust Property .  Legal title to all of the Trust Property shall at all times be vested in the Trust, except that the Board of Trustees shall have the power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held by or in the name of any Person as nominee, on such terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, in accordance with applicable law.
 
Section 7.   Service Contracts .
 
(a)           Subject to this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws and the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive investment advisory or investment management services for the Trust or for any Series thereof with any corporation, trust, association or other organization, including any Affiliate; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Board of Trustees may determine, including without limitation, delegation of authority to the Investment Adviser to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Board of Trustees what securities and other instruments or property shall be purchased or otherwise acquired, owned, held, invested or reinvested in, sold, exchanged, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, assigned, negotiated, or otherwise dealt with or disposed of, and what portion, if any, of the Trust Property shall be held uninvested and to
 

 
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make changes in the Trust’s or a particular Series’ investments, or to engage in such other activities, including administrative services, as may specifically be delegated to such party.
 
(b)           The Board of Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract with any Person, including any Affiliate, appointing it or them as the exclusive or nonexclusive placement agent, distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or one or more of the Series or Classes thereof, or for other securities or financial instruments to be issued by the Trust, or appointing it or them to act as the administrator, fund accountant or accounting agent, custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and/or shareholder servicing agent for the Trust or one or more of the Series or Classes thereof.
 
(c)           The Board of Trustees is further empowered, at any time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons, including any Affiliates, to provide such other services to the Trust or one or more of its Series, as the Board of Trustees determines to be in the best interests of the Trust, such Series and its Shareholders.
 
(d)           None of the following facts or circumstances shall affect the validity of any of the contracts provided for in this Article IV, Section 7, or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee, employee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust, any Series thereof or the Shareholders, provided that the establishment of and performance of each such contract is permissible under the 1940 Act, and provided further that such Person is authorized to vote upon such contract under the 1940 Act:
 
 
(i)
the fact that any of the Shareholders, Trustees, employees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager, Adviser, placement agent, Principal Underwriter, distributor, or Affiliate or agent of or for any Person, or for any parent or Affiliate of any Person, with which any type of service contract provided for in this Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such Person, or any parent or Affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or
 
 
(ii)
the fact that any Person with which any type of service contract provided for in this Article IV, Section 7 may have been or may hereafter be made also has such a service contract with one or more other Persons, or has other business or interests.
 
(e)           Every contract referred to in this Section 7 is required to comply with this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act, other applicable law and any stipulation by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
 

 
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ARTICLE V.
 
 
SHAREHOLDERS’ VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
 
Section 1.   Voting Powers .  Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Shareholders shall have the power to vote only (i) on such matters required by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act, other applicable law and any registration statement of the Trust filed with the Commission, the registration of which is effective; and (ii) on such other matters as the Board of Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.  Subject to Article III hereof, the Shareholder of record (as of the record date established pursuant to Section 4 of this Article V) of each Share shall be entitled to one vote for each full Share, and a fractional vote for each fractional Share.  Shareholders shall not be entitled to cumulative voting in the election of Trustees or on any other matter.
 
Section 2.   Quorum and Required Vote .
 
(a)           One-third (33-1/3%) of the outstanding Shares entitled to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting, which are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Shareholders’ meeting, except when a larger quorum is required by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such requirements.  When a separate vote by one or more Series or Classes is required, one-third (33-1/3%) of the outstanding Shares of each such Series or Class entitled to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting of such Series or Class, which are present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at the Shareholders’ meeting of such Series or Class, except when a larger quorum is required by this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares of such Series or Class are listed for trading, in which case such quorum shall comply with such requirements.
 
(b)           Subject to the provisions of Article III, Section 6(d), when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the votes cast shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee, except when a larger vote is required by any provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or by applicable law.  Pursuant to Article III, Section 6(d) hereof, where a separate vote by Series and, if applicable, by Class is required, the preceding sentence shall apply to such separate votes by Series and Classes.
 
(c)           Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as votes present at a Shareholders’ meeting; abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as votes cast at such meeting.  Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore (i) will be included for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present; and (ii) will have no effect on proposals that require a plurality for approval, or on proposals requiring an affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast for approval.
 
Section 3.   Shareholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting .  Any action which may be taken at any meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the action so taken is or are signed by the holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on such action (or such different proportion thereof as
 

 
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shall be required by law, the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws for approval of such action) and is or are received by the secretary of the Trust either: (i) by the date set by resolution of the Board of Trustees for the shareholder vote on such action; or (ii) if no date is set by resolution of the Board, within 30 days after the record date for such action as determined by reference to Article V, Section 4(b) hereof. The written consent for any such action may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A consent transmitted by electronic transmission (as defined in the DSTA) by a Shareholder or by a Person or Persons authorized to act for a Shareholder shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of this Section. All such consents shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust and shall be maintained in the Trust’s records. Any Shareholder that has given a written consent or the Shareholder’s proxyholder or a personal representative of the Shareholder or its respective proxyholder may revoke the consent by a writing received by the secretary of the Trust either: (i) before the date set by resolution of the Board of Trustees for the shareholder vote on such action; or (ii) if no date is set by resolution of the Board, within 30 days after the record date for such action as determined by reference to Article V, Section 4(b) hereof.
 
Section 4.   Record Dates .
 
(a)           For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of Shareholders, the Board of Trustees may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees, and which record date shall not be more than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting.  A determination of Shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Trustees may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting and shall fix a new record date for any meeting that is adjourned for more than one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date set for the original meeting.  For purposes of determining the Shareholders entitled to vote on any action without a meeting, the Board of Trustees may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees, and which record date shall not be more than thirty (30) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees.
 
(b)           If the Board of Trustees does not so fix a record date:
 
 
(i)
the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of Shareholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.
 
 
(ii)
the record date for determining Shareholders entitled to vote on any action by consent in writing without a meeting of Shareholders, (1) when no prior action by the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be the day on which the first signed written consent setting forth the action taken is delivered to the Trust, or
 

 
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(2) when prior action of the Board of Trustees has been taken, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
 
(c)           For the purpose of determining the Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution of assets of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof (other than in connection with a dissolution of the Trust or a Series, a merger, consolidation, conversion, reorganization, or any other transactions, in each case that is governed by Article VIII of the Declaration of Trust), the Board of Trustees may:
 
 
(i)
from time to time fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days before the date for the payment of such dividend and/or such other distribution;
 
 
(ii)
adopt standing resolutions fixing record dates and related payment dates at periodic intervals of any duration for the payment of such dividend and/or such other distribution; and/or
 
 
(iii)
delegate to an appropriate officer or officers of the Trust the determination of such periodic record and/or payments dates with respect to such dividend and/or such other distribution.
 
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the Board of Trustees from setting different record dates for different Series or Classes.
 
Section 5.   Additional Provisions .  The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders’ votes, meetings and related matters.
 
ARTICLE VI.
 
 
NET ASSET VALUE; DISTRIBUTIONS;
REDEMPTIONS; TRANSFERS
 
Section 1.   Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions .
 
(a)           Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to determine from time to time the offering price for authorized, but unissued, Shares of beneficial interest of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, respectively, that shall yield to the Trust or such Series or Class not less than the net asset value thereof, in addition to any amount of applicable sales charge to be paid to the Principal Underwriter or the selling broker or dealer in connection with the sale of such Shares, at which price the Shares of the Trust or such Series or Class, respectively, shall be offered for sale, subject to any other requirements or limitations of the 1940 Act.
 

 
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(b)           Subject to Article III, Section 6 hereof, the Board of Trustees may, subject to the 1940 Act, prescribe and shall set forth in the By-Laws, this Declaration of Trust or in a resolution of the Board of Trustees such bases and time for determining the net asset value per Share of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, or net income attributable to the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof or the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof, as it may deem necessary or desirable, and such dividends and distributions may vary between the Classes to reflect differing allocations of the expenses of the Trust between such Classes to such extent and for such purposes as the Trustees may deem appropriate.
 
(c)           The Shareholders of the Trust or any Series or Class, if any, shall be entitled to receive dividends and distributions, when, if and as declared by the Board of Trustees with respect thereto, provided that with respect to Classes, such dividends and distributions shall comply with the 1940 Act.  The right of Shareholders to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares of any Class may be set forth in a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees and amended from time to time pursuant to the 1940 Act.  No Share shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the Trust with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof; provided however, that
 
 
(i)
if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, no Share of a particular Series shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Series with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust or of such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof;
 
 
(ii)
if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Classes thereof, no Share of a particular Class shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Class with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of the Trust made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof; and
 
 
(iii)
if the Shares of a Series are divided into Classes thereof, no Share of a particular Class of such Series shall have any priority or preference over any other Share of the same Class of such Series with respect to dividends or distributions paid in the ordinary course of business or distributions upon dissolution of such Series made pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 hereof.
 
All dividends and distributions shall be made ratably among all Shareholders of the Trust, a particular Class of the Trust, a particular Series, or a particular Class of a Series from the Trust Property held with respect to the Trust, such Series or such Class, respectively, according to the number of Shares of the Trust, such Series or such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution; provided however, that
 

 
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(iv)
if the Shares of the Trust are divided into Series thereof, all dividends and distributions from the Trust Property and, if applicable, held with respect to such Series, shall be distributed to each Series thereof according to the net asset value computed for such Series and within such particular Series, shall be distributed ratably to the Shareholders of such Series according to the number of Shares of such Series held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution; and
 
 
(v)
if the Shares of the Trust or of a Series are divided into Classes thereof, all dividends and distributions from the Trust Property and, if applicable, held with respect to the Trust or such Series, shall be distributed to each Class thereof according to the net asset value computed for such Class and within such particular Class, shall be distributed ratably to the Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of such Class held of record by such Shareholders on the record date for any dividend or distribution.
 
Dividends and distributions may be paid in cash, in kind or in Shares.
 
(d)           Before payment of any dividend there may be set aside out of any funds of the Trust, or the applicable Series thereof, available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Trustees may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust, or any Series thereof, or for such other lawful purpose as the Board of Trustees shall deem to be in the best interests of the Trust, or the applicable Series, as the case may be, and the Board of Trustees may abolish any such reserve in the manner in which the reserve was created.
 
Section 2.   Redemptions at the Option of a Shareholder .  Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus of the Trust relating to the Shares, as such prospectus may be amended from time to time:
 
(a)           The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any Shareholder for redemption upon the presentation of a proper instrument of transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such Shares and/or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the Board of Trustees may from time to time authorize.  If certificates have been issued to a Shareholder, any request for redemption by such Shareholder must be accompanied by surrender of any outstanding certificate or certificates for such Shares in form for transfer, together with such proof of the authenticity of signatures as may reasonably be required on such Shares and accompanied by proper stock transfer stamps, if applicable.
 
(b)           The Trust shall pay for such Shares the net asset value thereof (excluding any applicable redemption fee or sales load), in accordance with this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, the 1940 Act, and other applicable law.  Payments for Shares so redeemed by the Trust shall be made in cash, except payment for such Shares may, at the option of the Board of Trustees, or such officer or officers as it may duly authorize in its complete discretion, be made in kind or partially in cash and partially in kind.  In case of any payment in kind, the Board of
 

 
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Trustees, or its authorized officers, shall have absolute discretion as to what security or securities of the Trust or the applicable Series shall be distributed in kind and the amount of the same; and the securities shall be valued for purposes of distribution at the value at which they were appraised in computing the then current net asset value of the Shares, provided that any Shareholder who cannot legally acquire securities so distributed in kind shall receive cash to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Shareholders shall bear the expenses of in-kind transactions, including, but not limited to, transfer agency fees, custodian fees and costs of disposition of such securities.
 
(c)           Payment by the Trust for such redemption of Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within seven days after the date on which the redemption request is received in proper form and/or such other procedures authorized by the Board of Trustees are complied with; provided, however, that if payment shall be made other than exclusively in cash, any securities to be delivered as part of such payment shall be delivered as promptly as any necessary transfers of such securities on the books of the several corporations whose securities are to be delivered practicably can be made, which may not necessarily occur within such seven-day period.  In no case shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
 
(d)           The obligations of the Trust set forth in this Section 2 are subject to the provision that such obligations may be suspended or postponed by the Board of Trustees (1) during any time the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) is closed for other than weekends or holidays; (2) if permitted by the rules of the Commission, during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted; or (3) during any National Financial Emergency.  The Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, declare that the suspension relating to a National Financial Emergency shall terminate, as the case may be, on the first business day on which the Exchange shall have reopened or the period specified above shall have expired (as to which, in the absence of an official ruling by the Commission, the determination of the Board of Trustees shall be conclusive).
 
(e)           The right of any Shareholder of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof to receive dividends or other distributions on Shares redeemed and all other rights of such Shareholder with respect to the Shares so redeemed, except the right of such Shareholder to receive payment for such Shares, shall cease at the time the purchase price of such Shares shall have been fixed, as provided above.
 
Section 3.   Redemptions at the Option of the Trust .  At the option of the Board of Trustees the Trust may, from time to time, without the vote of the Shareholders, but subject to the 1940 Act, redeem Shares or authorize the closing of any Shareholder account, subject to such conditions as may be established from time to time by the Board of Trustees.
 
Section 4.   Transfer of Shares .  Shares shall be transferable in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws.
 
 
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ARTICLE VII.
 

 
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
AND INDEMNIFICATION OF AGENT
 
Section 1.   Limitation of Liability .
 
(a)           For the purpose of this Article, “Agent” means any Person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or other agent of the Trust or is or was serving at the request of the Trust as a trustee, director, officer, employee or other agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise; “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative; and “Expenses” include without limitation attorneys’ fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
 
(b)           An Agent shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder for any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, for such Agent’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Agent (such conduct referred to herein as “Disqualifying Conduct”), and for nothing else.
 
(c)           Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 1 and to the fullest extent that limitations on the liability of Agents are permitted by the DSTA, the Agents shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any act or omission of any other Agent of the Trust or any Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter of the Trust.
 
(d)           No Agent, when acting in its respective capacity as such, shall be personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder to the extent provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 1, for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee thereof.
 
(e)           Each Trustee, officer and employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by the Investment Adviser, the Principal Underwriter, any other Agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.  The officers and Trustees may obtain the advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws, applicable law and their respective duties as officers or Trustees.  No such officer or Trustee shall be liable for any act or omission in accordance with such advice, records and/or reports and no inference concerning liability shall arise from a failure to follow such advice, records and/or reports.  The officers and Trustees shall not be required to give any bond hereunder, nor any surety if a bond is required by applicable law.
 
 
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(f)           The failure to make timely collection of dividends or interest, or to take timely action with respect to entitlements, on the Trust’s securities issued in emerging countries, shall not be deemed to be negligence or other fault on the part of any Agent, and no Agent shall have any liability for such failure or for any loss or damage resulting from the imposition by any government of exchange control restrictions which might affect the liquidity of the Trust’s assets or from any war or political act of any foreign government to which such assets might be exposed, except, in the case of a Trustee or officer, for liability resulting from such Trustee’s or officer’s Disqualifying Conduct.
 
(g)           The limitation on liability contained in this Article applies to events occurring at the time a Person serves as an Agent whether or not such Person is an Agent at the time of any Proceeding in which liability is asserted.
 
(h)           No amendment or repeal of this Article shall adversely affect any right or protection of an Agent that exists at the time of such amendment or repeal.
 
Section 2.   Indemnification .
 
(a)            Indemnification by Trust .  The Trust shall indemnify, out of Trust Property, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, any Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Agent of the Trust, against Expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such Proceeding if such Person acted in good faith or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of such Person was unlawful.  The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the Person did not act in good faith or that the Person had reasonable cause to believe that the Person’s conduct was unlawful.
 
(b)            Exclusion of Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for any liability arising by reason of the Agent’s Disqualifying Conduct.  In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that Person shall have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that Person’s duty to the Trust or the Shareholders, indemnification shall be made only to the extent that the court in which that action was brought shall determine, upon application or otherwise, that in view of all the circumstances of the case, that Person was not liable by reason of that Person’s Disqualifying Conduct.
 
(c)            Required Approval .  Any indemnification under this Article shall be made by the Trust if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of the Agent is proper in the circumstances by (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the Agent was not liable by reason of Disqualifying Conduct (including, but not limited to, dismissal of either a court action or an administrative proceeding against the Agent for insufficiency of evidence of any Disqualifying Conduct) or, (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Agent was not liable by reason of Disqualifying Conduct, by (1) the vote of a majority of a quorum of the Trustees who are not (x) “interested persons” of the Trust

 
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as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, (y) parties to the proceeding, or (z) parties who have any economic or other interest in connection with such specific case (the “disinterested, non-party Trustees”); or (2) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
 
(d)            Advancement of Expenses .  Expenses incurred by an Agent in defending any Proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the final disposition of the Proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Agent to repay the amount of the advance if it shall be determined ultimately that the Agent is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in this Article; provided, that at least one of the following conditions for the advancement of expenses is met:  (i) the Agent shall provide a security for his undertaking, (ii) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of the disinterested, non-party Trustees of the Trust, or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Agent ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
 
(e)            Other Contractual Rights .  Nothing contained in this Article shall affect any right to indemnification to which Persons other than Trustees and officers of the Trust or any subsidiary thereof may be entitled by contract or otherwise.
 
(f)            Fiduciaries of Employee Benefit Plan .  This Article does not apply to any Proceeding against any trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that Person’s capacity as such, even though that Person may also be an Agent of the Trust as defined in Section 1 of this Article.  Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to indemnification to which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.
 
Section 3.   Insurance .  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have the authority to purchase with Trust Property, insurance for liability and for all Expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by an Agent in connection with any Proceeding in which such Agent becomes involved by virtue of such Agent’s actions, or omissions to act, in its capacity or former capacity with the Trust, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Agent against such liability.
 
Section 4.   Derivative Actions .  In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 3816 of the DSTA, a Shareholder or Shareholders may bring a derivative action on behalf of the Trust only if the following conditions are met:
 
(a)           The Shareholder or Shareholders must make a pre-suit demand upon the Board of Trustees to bring the subject action unless an effort to cause the Board of Trustees to bring such an action is not likely to succeed.  For purposes of this Section 4, a demand on the Board of Trustees shall only be deemed not likely to succeed and therefore excused if a majority of the Board of Trustees, or a majority of any committee established to consider the merits of such action, is composed of Trustees who are not “independent trustees” (as such term is defined in the DSTA).
 
 
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(b)           Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, Shareholders eligible to bring such derivative action under the DSTA who hold at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, or 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Series or Class to which such action relates, shall join in the request for the Board of Trustees to commence such action; and
 
(c)           Unless a demand is not required under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, the Board of Trustees must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to consider such Shareholder request and to investigate the basis of such claim.  The Board of Trustees shall be entitled to retain counsel or other advisors in considering the merits of the request and shall require an undertaking by the Shareholders making such request to reimburse the Trust for the expense of any such advisors in the event that the Board of Trustees determine not to bring such action.
 
For purposes of this Section 4, the Board of Trustees may designate a committee of one Trustee to consider a Shareholder demand if necessary to create a committee with a majority of Trustees who are “independent trustees” (as such term in defined in the DSTA).
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
 
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
Section 1.   Dissolution of Trust or Series .  The Trust and each Series shall have perpetual existence, except that the Trust (or a particular Series) shall be dissolved:
 
(a)           With respect to the Trust, (i) upon the vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Shares of the Trust cast, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are no Shares outstanding of the Trust, or (B) upon prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust; or
 
(b)           With respect to a particular Series, (i) upon the vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the Shares of such Series cast, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board of Trustees either (A) at any time there are no Shares outstanding of such Series, or (B) upon prior written notice to the Shareholders of such Series; or
 
(c)           With respect to the Trust (or a particular Series), upon the occurrence of a dissolution or termination event pursuant to any other provision of this Declaration of Trust (including Article VIII, Section 2) or the DSTA; or
 
(d)           With respect to any Series, upon any event that causes the dissolution of the Trust.
 
Upon dissolution of the Trust (or a particular Series, as the case may be), the Board of Trustees shall (in accordance with Section 3808 of the DSTA) pay or make reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust and/or each Series (or the particular Series, as the case may be), including all contingent, conditional or unmatured claims and obligations known to the Trust, and all claims and obligations which are known to the Trust, but for which the identity of the claimant is unknown.  If there are sufficient assets held with respect to the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be), such claims and

 
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obligations shall be paid in full and any such provisions for payment shall be made in full. If there are insufficient assets held with respect to the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be), such claims and obligations shall be paid or provided for according to their priority and, among claims and obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets available therefor. Any remaining assets (including, without limitation, cash, securities or any combination thereof) held with respect to the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be) shall be distributed to the Shareholders of the Trust and/or each Series of the Trust (or the particular Series, as the case may be) ratably according to the number of Shares of the Trust and/or such Series thereof (or the particular Series, as the case may be) held of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such dissolution distribution; provided, however, that if the Shares of the Trust or a Series are divided into Classes thereof, any remaining assets (including, without limitation, cash, securities or any combination thereof) held with respect to the Trust or such Series, as applicable, shall be distributed to each Class of the Trust or such Series according to the net asset value computed for such Class and within such particular Class, shall be distributed ratably to the Shareholders of such Class according to the number of Shares of such Class held of record by the several Shareholders on the date for such dissolution distribution. Upon the winding up of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808 of the DSTA and its termination, any one (1) Trustee shall execute, and cause to be filed, a certificate of cancellation, with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions of Section 3810 of the DSTA.
 
Section 2.   Merger or Consolidation; Conversion; Reorganization .
 
(a)            Merger or Consolidation .  Pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, the Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, may cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one or more statutory trusts or “other business entities” (as defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA) formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state of the United States or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction.  Any such merger or consolidation shall not require the vote of the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided however, that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Shareholders of such merger or consolidation.  By reference to Section 3815(f) of the DSTA, any agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with this Section 2(a) may, without a Shareholder vote, unless required by the 1940 Act, the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, effect any amendment to this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws or effect the adoption of a new governing instrument if the Trust is the surviving or resulting statutory trust in the merger or consolidation, which amendment or new governing instrument shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation.  In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act, other applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish a merger or consolidation, including the power to create one or more separate statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts.  Upon completion of the merger or consolidation, if the Trust is the surviving or resulting statutory trust, any one (1) Trustee shall execute, and cause to be filed, a certificate of merger or consolidation in accordance with Section 3815 of the DSTA.
 

 
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(b)            Conversion .  The Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, may cause (i) the Trust to convert to an “other business entity” (as defined in Section 3801 of the DSTA) formed or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware as permitted pursuant to Section 3821 of the DSTA; (ii) the Shares of the Trust or any Series to be converted into beneficial interests in another statutory trust (or series thereof) created pursuant to this Section 2 of this Article VIII, or (iii) the Shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law.  Any such statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share exchange shall not require the vote of the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided however, that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust of any conversion of Shares of the Trust pursuant to Subsections (b)(i) or (b)(ii) of this Section 2 or exchange of Shares of the Trust pursuant to Subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 2, and at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Shareholders of a particular Series of any conversion of Shares of such Series pursuant to Subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 2 or exchange of Shares of such Series pursuant to Subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 2.  In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act, other applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish a statutory conversion, Share conversion or Share exchange, including the power to create one or more separate statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares of the Trust or any Series thereof into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts (or series thereof).
 
(c)            Reorganization .  The Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, may cause the Trust to sell, convey and transfer all or substantially all of the assets of the Trust (“sale of Trust assets”) or all or substantially all of the assets associated with any one or more Series (“sale of such Series’ assets”), to another trust, statutory trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other association organized under the laws of any state, or to one or more separate series thereof, or to the Trust to be held as assets associated with one or more other Series of the Trust, in exchange for cash, shares or other securities (including, without limitation, in the case of a transfer to another Series of the Trust, Shares of such other Series) with such sale, conveyance and transfer either (a) being made subject to, or with the assumption by the transferee of, the liabilities associated with the Trust or the liabilities associated with the Series the assets of which are so transferred, as applicable, or (b) not being made subject to, or not with the assumption of, such liabilities.  Any such sale, conveyance and transfer shall not require the vote of the Shareholders unless such vote is required by the 1940 Act; provided however, that the Board of Trustees shall provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Shareholders of the Trust of any such sale of Trust assets, and at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Shareholders of a particular Series of any sale of such Series’ assets.  Following such sale of Trust assets, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares or other securities ratably among the Shareholders of the Trust (giving due effect to the assets and liabilities associated with and any other differences among the various Series the assets associated with which have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, and due effect to the differences among the various Classes within each such Series).  Following

 
31

 
a sale of such Series’ assets, the Board of Trustees shall distribute such cash, shares or other securities ratably among the Shareholders of such Series (giving due effect to the differences among the various Classes within each such Series). If all of the assets of the Trust have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, the Trust shall be dissolved; and if all of the assets of a Series have been so sold, conveyed and transferred, such Series and the Classes thereof shall be dissolved. In all respects not governed by the DSTA, the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to prescribe additional procedures necessary or appropriate to accomplish such sale, conveyance and transfer, including the power to create one or more separate statutory trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of Shares into beneficial interests in such separate statutory trust or trusts.
 
Section 3.   Master Feeder Structure .  If permitted by the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees, by vote of a majority of the Trustees, and without a Shareholder vote, may cause the Trust or any one or more Series to convert to a master feeder structure (a structure in which a feeder fund invests all of its assets in a master fund, rather than making investments in securities directly) and thereby cause existing Series of the Trust to either become feeders in a master fund, or to become master funds in which other funds are feeders.
 
Section 4.   Absence of Appraisal or Dissenters’ Rights .  No Shareholder shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to relief as a dissenting Shareholder in respect of any proposal or action involving the Trust or any Series or any Class thereof.
 
ARTICLE IX.
 
 
AMENDMENTS
 
Section 1.   Amendments Generally .  This Declaration of Trust may be restated and/or amended at any time by an instrument in writing signed by not less than a majority of the Board of Trustees and, to the extent required by this Declaration of Trust, the 1940 Act or the requirements of any securities exchange on which Shares are listed for trading, by approval of such amendment by the Shareholders in accordance with Article III, Section 6 hereof and Article V hereof.  Any such restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be effective immediately upon execution and approval or upon such future date and time as may be stated therein.  The Certificate of Trust shall be restated and/or amended at any time by the Board of Trustees, without Shareholder approval, to correct any inaccuracy contained therein.  Any such restatement and/or amendment of the Certificate of Trust shall be executed by at least one (1) Trustee and shall be effective immediately upon its filing with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or upon such future date as may be stated therein.
 
ARTICLE X.
 
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
Section 1.   References; Headings; Counterparts .  In this Declaration of Trust and in any restatement hereof and/or amendment hereto, references to this instrument, and all expressions of similar effect to “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” shall be deemed to refer to this instrument

 
32

 
as so restated and/or amended. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument. Whenever the singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable. Any references herein to specific sections of the DSTA, the Code or the 1940 Act shall refer to such sections as amended from time to time or any successor sections thereof. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
 
Section 2.   Applicable Law .  This Declaration of Trust is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the State of Delaware and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Code; provided, that, all matters relating to or in connection with the conduct of Shareholders’ and Trustees’ meetings (excluding, however, the Shareholders’ right to vote), including, without limitation, matters relating to or in connection with record dates, notices to Shareholders or Trustees, nominations and elections of Trustees, voting by, and the validity of, Shareholder proxies, quorum requirements, meeting adjournments, meeting postponements and inspectors, which are not specifically addressed in this Declaration of Trust, in the By-Laws or in the DSTA (other than DSTA Section 3809), or as to which an ambiguity exists, shall be governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation, the Shareholders were shareholders of such Delaware corporation and the Trustees were directors of such Delaware corporation; provided, further, however, that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees, the Shareholders or any other Person or to this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws (a) the provisions of Sections 3533, 3540 and 3583(a) of Title 12 of the Delaware Code or (b) any provisions of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware (other than the DSTA) pertaining to trusts which relate to or regulate (i) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (ii) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (iii) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (iv) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (v) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, (vi) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding of trust assets, or (vii) the establishment of fiduciary or other standards or responsibilities or limitations on the indemnification, acts or powers of trustees or other Persons, which are inconsistent with the limitations of liabilities or authorities and powers of the Trustees or officers of the Trust set forth or referenced in this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.  The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and without limiting the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers that are ordinarily exercised by such a statutory trust.
 
Section 3.   Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations .
 
(a)           The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if the Board of Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the Code, the DSTA, or with other applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed not to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust from the time when such provisions became inconsistent with such laws or regulations; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this

 
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Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
 
(b)           If any provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
 
Section 4.   Statutory Trust Only .  It is the intention of the Trustees to create hereby a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA, and thereby to create the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of the DSTA between, respectively, the Trustees and each Shareholder.  It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment, or any form of legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the DSTA.  Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
 
Section 5.   Use of the Name “PENN Capital” or “PENN” .  The Board of Trustees expressly agrees and acknowledges that the names “PENN Capital” and “PENN” are the sole property of PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (“PCMC”).  PCMC has granted to the Trust a non-exclusive license to use such names as part of the name of the Trust and its Series now and in the future.  The Board of Trustees further expressly agrees and acknowledges that the non-exclusive license granted herein may be terminated by PCMC if the Trust ceases to use PCMC or one of its Affiliates as Investment Adviser or to use other Affiliates or successors of PCMC for such purposes.  In such event, the nonexclusive license may be revoked by PCMC and the Trust shall cease using the names “PENN Capital” and “PENN” or any name misleadingly implying a continuing relationship between the Trust and PCMC or any of its Affiliates, as part of its name or the name of any of its Series unless otherwise consented to by PCMC or any successor to its interests in such name.
 

The Board of Trustees further understands and agrees that so long as PCMC and/or any future advisory Affiliate of PCMC shall continue to serve as the Trust’s Investment Adviser, other registered open- or closed-end investment companies (“funds”) as may be sponsored or advised by PCMC or its Affiliates shall have the right permanently to adopt and to use the names “PENN Capital” or “PENN” in their names and in the names of any series or Class of shares of such funds.
 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Trustees of PENN Capital Funds Trust named below do hereby make and enter into this Agreement and Declaration of Trust as of the date first written above.  This instrument may be signed in one or more counterparts.
 



/s/Richard A. Hocker             
Richard A. Hocker, Trustee



 /s/Dennis S. Hudson, III            
Dennis S. Hudson, III, Trustee



/s/John R. Schwab                   
John R. Schwab, Trustee

 
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EX-99.d.1

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
 
THIS AGREEMENT, made by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of each of the funds listed on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trust has been organized and operates as an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended  (the “1940 Act”), and engages in the business of investing and reinvesting its assets in securities and other investments; and
 
WHEREAS, Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust has selected Adviser to serve as the investment adviser for the Funds effective as of the date of this Agreement.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and each of the parties hereto intending to be legally bound, it is agreed as follows:
 
1.           The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, hereby employs Adviser to manage the investment and reinvestment of such Fund’s assets, subject to the direction of the Board of Trustees  (the “Board” or “Trustees”) and the officers of the Trust, for the period and on the terms hereinafter set forth.  Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees during such period to render the services and assume the obligations herein set forth for the compensation herein provided.  Adviser shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor, and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided and authorized, have no authority to act for or to represent the Trust or a Fund in any way, or in any way be deemed an agent of the Trust or a Fund.  Adviser shall regularly make decisions as to what securities to purchase and sell on behalf of the Fund and shall record and implement such decisions and shall furnish the Board with such information and reports regarding the Funds’ investments as Adviser deems appropriate or as the Board may reasonably request.  Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, Adviser may retain as a sub-adviser to a Fund, at Adviser’s own expense, any investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act.
 
2.           The Trust shall conduct its own business and affairs and shall bear the expenses and salaries necessary and incidental thereto including, but not in limitation of the foregoing, the costs incurred in: the maintenance of its existence as a Delaware statutory trust; the maintenance of its registration statement under applicable federal securities laws; preparation, filing and printing of its prospectus, statement of additional information and sales literature; the maintenance of its compliance program; the compensation of its compliance officer(s); the maintenance of its own books, records and procedures; dealing with its own shareholders; the payment of dividends; transfer of stock, including issuance, redemption and repurchase of

 
 

 

 
shares; preparation of share certificates; reports and notices to shareholders; calling and holding of shareholders’ meetings; miscellaneous office expenses; brokerage commissions; custodian fees; legal and accounting fees; and taxes. In the conduct of the respective businesses of the parties hereto and in the performance of this Agreement, the Trust may obtain office space and facilities from Adviser and will reimburse Adviser for its rent or other expenses thereby incurred.
 
3.             (a)           Adviser shall place and execute Fund orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities with broker-dealers.  Subject to the obtaining the best price and execution reasonably available, Adviser is authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for a Fund with such broker-dealers as it may select from time to time.  Subject to subparagraph (b) below, Adviser is also authorized to place transactions with brokers who provide research or statistical information or analyses to such Fund, to Adviser, or to any other client for which Adviser provides investment advisory services.  Adviser also agrees that it will cooperate with the Trust to allocate brokerage transactions to brokers or dealers who provide benefits directly to such Fund; provided, however, that such allocation comports with applicable law including, without limitation, Rule 12b-1(h) under the 1940 Act.
 
(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) above and subject to such policies and procedures as may be adopted by the Board and officers of the Trust, Adviser is authorized to cause a Fund to pay a member of an exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission another member of an exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, in such instances where Adviser has determined in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to such Fund and to other funds or clients for which the Adviser exercises investment discretion.
 
(c)           Adviser is authorized to direct portfolio transactions to a broker that is an affiliated person of the Adviser, any sub-adviser or a Fund in accordance with such standards and procedures as may be approved by the Board in accordance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, or other rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Any transaction placed with an affiliated broker must (i) be placed at best execution and (ii) may not be a principal transaction.
 
(d)           Adviser is authorized to aggregate or “bunch” purchase or sale orders for a Fund with orders for various other clients when it believes that such action is in the best interests of such Fund and all other such clients.  In such an event, allocation of the securities purchased or sold will be made by Adviser in accordance with Adviser’s written policy.
 
(e)           Members and employees of Adviser may be trustees, officers or employees of the Trust.
 
4.            (a)           As compensation for the services to be rendered to the Fund by Adviser under the provisions of this Agreement, the Trust on behalf of the Fund shall pay to Adviser from a Fund’s assets an annual advisory fee equal to the amount of the daily average net assets of such Fund shown on Schedule A attached hereto, payable on a monthly basis.
 

 
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(b)           If this Agreement is terminated prior to the end of any calendar month, the advisory fee shall be prorated for the portion of any month in which this Agreement is in effect according to the proportion which the number of calendar days, during which the Agreement is in effect, bears to the number of calendar days in the month, and shall be payable within 10 days after the date of termination.
 
(c)           Adviser shall look exclusively to the assets of a Fund for payment of the Fund’s advisory fee.
 
5.           The services to be rendered by Adviser to the Trust on behalf of a Fund under the provisions of this Agreement are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and Adviser shall be free to render similar or different services to others so long as its ability to render the services provided for in this Agreement shall not be impaired thereby.  Without limiting the foregoing, Adviser, its members, employees and agents may engage in other businesses, may render investment advisory services to other investment companies, or to any other corporation, association, firm, entity or individual, and may render underwriting services to the Trust on behalf of a Fund or to any other investment company, corporation, association, firm, entity or individual.
 
6.           In accordance with the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, if there is a change in the ownership of Adviser, which is a corporation, Adviser shall, within a reasonable time after such change, notify the Trust and the Board of the change.
 
7.           In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard in the performance of its duties to a Fund, Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust, a Fund or to any Trustee or shareholder of the Trust or a Fund for any loss or damage arising from any action or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any investment or security, or otherwise.
 
8.             (a)           This Agreement shall be executed and become effective as of the date written below if approved by (i) the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of such party (the “Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; and (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.  It shall continue in effect for a period of two years and may be renewed annually thereafter only so long as such renewal and continuance is specifically approved as required by the 1940 Act (currently, at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund and only if the terms and the renewal hereof have been approved by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval).
 
(b)           No amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless the terms thereof have been approved as required by the 1940 Act (currently, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund unless such shareholder approval would not be required under applicable interpretations by the staff of the SEC, and by the vote of a majority of Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval).
 

 
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(c)           In connection with such renewal or amendment, it shall be the duty of the Board to request and evaluate, and the duty of Adviser to furnish, such information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of this Agreement and any amendment thereto.
 
(d)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by the Trust at any time, without the payment of a penalty, on sixty days’ written notice to Adviser of the Trust’s intention to do so, pursuant to action by the Board or pursuant to a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.  Adviser may terminate this Agreement at any time, without the payment of penalty, on sixty days’ written notice to the Trust of its intention to do so.  Upon termination of this Agreement, the obligations of all the parties hereunder shall cease and terminate as of the date of such termination, except for any obligation to respond for a breach of this Agreement committed prior to such termination, and except for the obligation of the Trust to pay to Adviser the fee provided in Paragraph 4 hereof.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its assignment unless the parties hereto, by agreement, obtain an exemption from the SEC from the provisions of the 1940 Act pertaining to the subject matter of this paragraph.
 
9.           This Agreement shall extend to and bind the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.
 
10.           For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities”; “interested persons”; and “assignment” shall have the meaning defined in the 1940 Act and the rules and interpretations thereunder.
 
11.           (a)           The Trust expressly agrees and acknowledges on behalf of the Funds that the names “PENN Capital” and “PENN” are the sole property of Adviser, and, with respect to such names, that similar names may from time to time be used by other funds in the investment business that are affiliated with Adviser.  Adviser consents to the use by the Trust on behalf of the Funds of the identifying words “PENN Capital” and “PENN” and grants to the Trust a nonexclusive license to use the names “PENN Capital” and “PENN” as part of the name of the Funds.  The Trust further expressly agrees and acknowledges that the non-exclusive license granted herein may be terminated by Adviser if the Trust ceases to use Adviser, an affiliate of Adviser or their successors as investment adviser or sub-adviser to the Funds.  In such event, the non-exclusive license granted herein may be revoked by Adviser and the Trust shall cease using the names “PENN Capital” and “PENN” as part of its name or the name of any series of shares, including the Funds, unless otherwise consented to by Adviser or any successor to its interests in such name.
 
(b)           The Trust further understands and agrees that so long as Adviser and/or its affiliates shall continue to serve as the Trust’s investment adviser or sub-adviser, other mutual funds or other investment products that may be sponsored or advised by Adviser and/or its affiliates shall have the right permanently to adopt and to use the words “PENN Capital” and “PENN” in their name and in the name of any series or class of shares of such funds or other investment products.
 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers this [__] day of November, 2015.
 
 
 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST
on behalf of the Funds listed on Schedule A attached hereto
 
 
 
By: ___________________________________________                                           
 
Name:
Title:
 
 
 
PENN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
 
 
 
By: ___________________________________________                                           
 
Name:
Title:

 
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Schedule A
 
Fund
Effective Date
Fee
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
November [_], 2015
0.90%
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
November [_], 2015
0.95%
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
November [_], 2015
0.69%
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
November [_], 2015
0.69%
 
 
 

 
6
 
 

EX-99.d.2
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust

Expense Limitation Agreement

 
THIS AGREEMENT is made by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of the funds listed on Schedule A hereto (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. , a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).
 
The Adviser hereby agrees to waive all or a portion of its advisory fees, and, if necessary, to assume certain other expenses (to the extent permitted by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of each Fund or any Class thereof, to the extent necessary so that total annual operating expenses (excluding any acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, brokerage fees, certain insurance costs, and extraordinary and other non-routine expenses) (“Expenses”) for a Fund or any Class thereof do not exceed the amount for each Class of each Fund listed on Schedule A hereto.
 
The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, agrees to repay the Adviser any fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed for a Fund or a Class thereof in later periods; provided, however, that the repayment shall be payable only to the extent that it (1) can be made during the three years following the end of the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived fees or assumed expenses for the Fund or Class under this Agreement, and (2) can be repaid without causing the Expenses of the Fund or Class to exceed any applicable fee waiver or expense limitation agreement that was in place for the Fund at the time the fees were waived or expenses were assumed.  The Trust agrees to furnish or otherwise make available to the Adviser such copies of its financial statements, reports, and other information relating to its business and affairs as the Adviser may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably request in connection with this Agreement.
 
This Agreement shall begin on November [__], 2015, shall continue in effect until November 30, 2016 for each Fund, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter, unless and until terminated as described below.  The Adviser may terminate the Agreement with respect to a Fund at the expiration of any one-year period, by notifying the Fund, at least thirty days (30) prior to the end of the one-year period for the Fund, of its intention to terminate the Agreement.  This Agreement may also be terminated with respect to a Fund by the Fund’s Board of Trustees at any time.
 
This Agreement may not be assigned by the Adviser without the prior consent of the Trust.  This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement or in the event of merger, reorganization or liquidation of the Fund.
 

 
 

 

The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the [__]   day of November, 2015 to be effective on the date set forth above.
 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST
 
By: _____________________________________                                                                         
 
Name and Title:                                                                   
 
PENN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.
 
By:                                                                                                                                                                   
 
Name and Title:                                                                   
 

 

 

 
 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Funds
  Expense Limitation (as a percentage of a Fund’s average daily net assets)
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
 
Investor Class
1.06%
Institutional Class
1.31%
   
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
 
Investor Class
1.09%
Institutional Class
1.34%
   
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
 
Investor Class
0.72%
Institutional Class
0.97%
   
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
 
Investor Class
0.74%
Institutional Class
0.99%




 
EX-99.e
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT


THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 22 nd day of October, 2015 by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Client”) and Foreside Fund Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Distributor”).

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

WHEREAS, the Client desires to retain the Distributor as principal underwriter in connection with the offering of the Shares of each series listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”);

WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);

WHEREAS, this Agreement has been approved by a vote of the Client’s board of trustees (the “Board”) and its disinterested directors in conformity with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, the Distributor is willing to act as principal underwriter for the Client with respect to the Shares of the Funds on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

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

1.            Appointment of Distributor .   The Client hereby appoints the Distributor as its agent for the sale and distribution of Shares of the Funds, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Distributor hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.

2.            Services and Duties of the Distributor .

A.           The Distributor agrees to act as agent of the Client for distribution of the Shares of the Funds, upon the terms and at the current offering price (plus sales charge, if any) described in the Prospectus.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Prospectus” shall mean each current prospectus, including the statement of additional information, as amended or supplemented, relating to any of the Funds and included in the currently effective registration statement(s) or post-effective amendment(s) thereto (the “Registration Statement”) of the Client under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the 1940 Act.

 
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B.           During the continuous public offering of Shares of the Funds, the Distributor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to distribute the Shares.  All orders for Shares shall be made through financial intermediaries or directly to the applicable Fund or its designated agent.  Such purchase orders shall be deemed effective at the time and in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.  The Client or its designated agent will confirm orders and subscriptions upon receipt, will make appropriate book entries and, upon receipt of payment therefor, will issue the appropriate number of Shares in uncertificated form.  The public offering price for all accepted orders for Shares will be the net asset value per Share, as determined in the manner described in each Fund’s then-current Prospectus.

C.           The Distributor shall maintain membership with the NSCC and any other similar successor organization to sponsor a participant number for the Funds so as to enable the Shares to be traded through FundSERV.  The Distributor shall not be responsible for any operational matters associated with FundSERV or Networking transactions.

D.           The Distributor acknowledges and agrees that it is not authorized to provide any information or make any representations regarding the Funds other than as contained in the Prospectus and any sales literature and advertising materials specifically approved by the Client.

E.           The Distributor agrees to review all proposed advertising materials and sales literature for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and if required by law or regulation, or otherwise at the request of the Client, shall file with appropriate regulators those advertising materials and sales literature it believes are in compliance with such laws and regulations.  The Distributor agrees to furnish to the Client, as promptly as practicable, any comments provided by regulators with respect to such materials.

F.           The Client agrees to redeem or repurchase Shares tendered by shareholders of the Funds in accordance with the Client’s obligations as set forth in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.  The Client reserves the right to suspend such repurchase right upon written notice to the Distributor.

G.           The Distributor may, in its discretion, and shall, at the request of the Client, enter into agreements with such qualified broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries as it may select, in order that such broker-dealers and other intermediaries also may sell Shares of the Funds.  The form of any dealer agreement shall be approved by the Client.  The Distributor shall not be obligated to make any payments to any broker-dealers, other financial intermediaries or other third parties, unless (i) the Distributor has received a corresponding payment from the applicable Fund’s plan of distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Plan”) and (ii) such corresponding payment has been approved by the Client’s Board.   The Distributor shall include in the forms of agreement with selling broker-dealers a provision for the forfeiture by them of any sales charge or discount with respect to Shares sold by them and redeemed, repurchased or tendered for redemption within seven business days after the date of confirmation of such purchases.

H.           The Distributor shall devote its best efforts to effect sales of Shares of the Funds but shall not be obligated to sell any certain number of Shares.

 
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I.           The Distributor shall prepare reports for the Board regarding its activities under this Agreement as from time to time shall be reasonably requested by the Board, including reports regarding the use of 12b-1 payments received by the Distributor, if any.  In order to assist the Client in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), the Distributor will provide the Client’s Chief Compliance Officer with reasonable access to the Distributor’s personnel and records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in the Rule) involving the Distributor that affect or could affect the Client.

J.           The Distributor may enter into agreements (“Subcontracts”) with qualified third parties to carry out some or all of the Distributor’s obligations under this Agreement, with the prior written consent of the Client, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided that execution of a Subcontract shall not relieve the Distributor of any of its responsibilities hereunder.

K.           The services furnished by the Distributor hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive and the Distributor shall be free to furnish similar services to others so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired thereby.

L.           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Distributor shall not be required to register as a broker or dealer in any specific jurisdiction or to maintain its registration in any jurisdiction in which it is now registered.

M.            T he Distributor agrees to maintain all appropriate books and records relating to its provision of services pursuant to this Agreement.  The books and records pertaining to the Funds, which are in the possession or under the control of Distributor, shall be the property of the Client.  Such books and records shall be prepared and maintained as required by the 1940 Act and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations.  The Client and any of its authorized persons shall have access to such books and records at all times during Distributor’s normal business hours.  Upon the reasonable request of the Client, copies of any such books and records shall be provided by Distributor to the Client or to an authorized person.

3.            Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Client .

A.           The Client hereby represents and warrants to the Distributor, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(i)
it is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation/organization and is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act;

 
(ii)
this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Client and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and legally binding

 
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obligation of the Client, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

 
(iii)
it is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws/operating agreement or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement;

 
(iv)
the Shares are validly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the description in the Prospectus, will be fully paid and nonassessable;

 
(v)
the Registration Statement and Prospectus included therein have been prepared in conformity with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

 
(vi)
the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any advertising materials and sales literature prepared by the Client or its agent have been reviewed pursuant to procedures reasonably designed to prevent an untrue statement of material fact or the omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that all statements or information furnished to the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects to the best of Client’s knowledge; and

 
(vii)
the Client owns, possesses, licenses or has other rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for or used in the conduct of the Client’s business and for the offer, issuance, distribution and sale of the Fund Shares in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and this Agreement, and such Intellectual Property does not and will not breach or infringe the terms of any Intellectual Property owned, held or licensed by any third party.

B.           The Client shall take, or cause to be taken, all necessary action to register the Shares under the federal and all applicable state securities laws and to maintain an effective Registration Statement for such Shares in order to permit the sale of Shares as herein contemplated.  The Client authorizes the Distributor to use the Prospectus, in the form furnished to the Distributor from time to time, in connection with the sale of Shares.

C.           The Client agrees to advise the Distributor promptly in writing:

 
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(i)
in the event of the issuance by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of any stop-order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose;
 
 
(ii)
of the happening of any event which, as determined by the Client in its sole discretion, makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in the Prospectus or which requires the making of a change in such Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not materially misleading;

 
(iii)
in the event that it determines to suspend the sale of Shares at any time in response to conditions in the securities markets or otherwise or to suspend the redemption of Shares of any Fund at any time as permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules of the SEC; and

 
(iv)
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Client or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of any of the Shares.

D.           The Client shall file such reports and other documents as may be required under applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including state blue sky laws, and shall notify the Distributor in writing of the states in which the Shares may be sold and of any changes to such information.

E.           The Client agrees to file from time to time such amendments to its Registration Statement and Prospectus that are reasonably designed to prevent its Registration Statement and Prospectus from containing any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

F.           The Client shall reasonably cooperate in the efforts of the Distributor to sell and arrange for the sale of Shares.  In addition, the Client shall keep the Distributor fully informed of its affairs as Client reasonably determines is necessary for Distributor to perform the services contemplated by this Agreement and shall provide to the Distributor from time to time copies of any information, financial statements, and other papers concerning the Client and the Funds that the Distributor may reasonably request for use in connection with the distribution of Shares, including, without limitation, certified copies of any financial statements prepared for the Client by its independent public accountants and such reasonable number of copies of the then-current Prospectus, statement of additional information and annual and interim reports to shareholders as the Distributor may reasonably request.  The Client shall forward a copy of any SEC filings, including the Registration Statement, to the Distributor within three business days of any such filings.  The Client represents that it will not use or authorize the use of any advertising or sales material unless and until such materials have been approved and authorized for use by the Distributor.

G.           The Client shall provide, and cause each other agent or service provider to the Client, including the Client’s transfer agent and investment adviser, to provide, to Distributor in a timely and accurate manner all such information (and in such reasonable medium) that the

 
5

 
 
Distributor may reasonably request that may be reasonably necessary for the Distributor to perform its duties under this Agreement.

H.           The Client shall not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that amends any provision therein which pertains to Distributor, the distribution of the Shares or the applicable sales loads or public offering price without giving Distributor reasonable advance notice thereof; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement shall in any way limit the Client’s right to file at any time such amendments to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, of whatever character, as the Client may deem advisable, such right being in all respects absolute and unconditional.

I.           The Client has adopted policies and procedures pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time.  In this regard, the Client (and relevant agents) shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent the unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Client and the owners of the Shares.

4.            Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Distributor .

A.           The Distributor hereby represents and warrants to the Client, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
 
 
(i)
it is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(ii)
this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Distributor and, when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Distributor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

 
(iii)
it is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, operating agreement or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and

 
(iv)
it is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing of FINRA.

 
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B.
In connection with all matters relating to this Agreement, the Distributor will comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the regulations of FINRA and all other applicable federal or state laws and regulations.
 
C.           The Distributor shall promptly notify the Client of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Distributor or any of its managers, officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of any of the Shares.

5.            Compensation .

A.           In consideration of the Distributor’s services in connection with the distribution of Shares of each Fund and Class thereof, the Distributor shall receive the compensation set forth in Exhibit B.

B.           Except as specified in Section 5(A), the Distributor shall be entitled to no compensation or reimbursement of expenses for services provided by the Distributor pursuant to this Agreement.  The Distributor may receive compensation from PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (“Adviser”) related to its services hereunder or for additional services all as may be agreed to between the Adviser and the Distributor.

6.            Expenses .

A.           The Client shall bear all costs and expenses in connection with registration of the Shares with the SEC and the applicable states, as well as all costs and expenses in connection with the offering of the Shares and communications with shareholders of its Funds, including but not limited to (i) fees and disbursements of its counsel and independent public accountants; (ii) costs and expenses of the preparation, filing, printing and mailing of Registration Statements and Prospectuses and amendments thereto, as well as related advertising and sales literature, (iii) costs and expenses of the preparation, printing and mailing of annual and interim reports, proxy materials and other communications to shareholders of the Funds; and (iv) fees required in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in such jurisdictions as shall be selected by the Client pursuant to Section 3(D) hereof.

B.           The Distributor shall bear the expenses of registration or qualification of the Distributor as a dealer or broker under federal or state laws and the expenses of continuing such registration or qualification.  The Distributor does not assume responsibility for any expenses not expressly assumed hereunder.

7.            Indemnification .

A.           Each Fund, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, its affiliates and each of their respective members, managers, directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or previously controlled the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all actual losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages and expenses (including the costs of investigating or defending any alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages or expenses and any reasonable external counsel fees

 
7

 
incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, “Losses”) that any Distributor Indemnitee may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (i) the Distributor serving as distributor of the Funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; (ii) the Client’s breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; (iii) the Client’s failure to comply with any applicable securities laws or regulations; or (iv) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, shareholder reports, sales literature and advertising materials or other information filed or made public by the Client (as from time to time amended) include or included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading under the 1933 Act, or any other statute or the common law any violation of any rule of FINRA or of the SEC or any other jurisdiction wherein Shares of the Funds are sold, provided, however, that a Fund’s obligation to indemnify any of the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, annual or interim report, or any such advertising materials or sales literature in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Client or its counsel by the Distributor or its agents in writing and acknowledging the purpose of its use. The Distributor shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities it may suffer. To the extent feasible, the Distributor shall endeavor to provide the Fund with reasonable estimates in connection with claims for which the Distributor seeks indemnity from the Fund. In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect or indemnify the Distributor against any liability to the Client, a Fund or its shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard or breach of its obligations under this Agreement.
 
The Fund’s agreement to indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees with respect to any action is expressly conditioned upon the Fund being notified of such action or claim of loss brought against any Distributor Indemnitee, within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Distributor Indemnitee, unless the failure to give notice does not prejudice the Fund.  Such notification shall be given by letter or by telegram addressed to the Fund’s President, but the failure so to notify the Fund of any such action shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which the Fund may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, or alleged omission, otherwise than on account of the Fund’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(A).

B.           The Fund shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such Losses, but if the Fund elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Fund and approved by the Distributor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In the event the Fund elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Distributor Indemnitee(s) in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them.  If the Fund does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Distributor

 
8

 
does not, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by the Fund or, if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Fund and the Distributor Indemnitee(s), the Fund will reimburse the Distributor Indemnitee(s) in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by Distributor and them. The Fund’s indemnification agreement contained in Sections 7(A) and 7(B) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Distributor Indemnitee(s), and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the termination of this Agreement. This agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Distributor’s benefit, to the benefit of each Distributor Indemnitee.
 
C.           The Distributor shall indemnify, defend and hold the Client, its affiliates, and each of their respective trustees, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, and any person who controls or previously controlled the Client within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Client Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Client Indemnitee may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, any other statute (including Blue Sky laws) or any rule or regulation thereunder, or under common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon (i) the Distributor’s breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; (ii) the Distributor’s failure to comply with any applicable securities laws or regulations; or (iii) any claim that the Registration Statement, Prospectus, sales literature and advertising materials or other information filed or made public by the Client (as from time to time amended) include or included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements not misleading, insofar as such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Client by the Distributor or its agents in writing.  The Client shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities it may suffer.  To the extent feasible, the Client shall endeavor to provide the Distributor with reasonable estimates in connection with claims for which the Client seeks indemnity from the Distributor.  In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect or indemnify the Client against any liability to the Distributor to which the Client would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard or breach of its obligations under this Agreement.

The Distributor’s agreement to indemnify the Client Indemnitees is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor’s being notified of any action or claim of loss brought against a Client Indemnitee, such notification to be given by letter or telegram addressed to the Distributor’s President, within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Client Indemnitee, unless the failure to give notice does not prejudice the Distributor.  The failure so to notify the Distributor of any such action shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability which the Distributor may have to the person against whom such action is brought by reason of any such untrue, or alleged untrue, statement or omission, otherwise than on account of the Distributor’s indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(D).

 
9

 


D.           The Distributor shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such Losses, but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Distributor and approved by the Client Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In the event the Distributor elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Client Indemnitee(s) in such suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them.  If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Client does not, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, approve of counsel chosen by the Distributor or, if under prevailing law or legal codes of ethics, the same counsel cannot effectively represent the interests of both the Distributor and the Client Indemnitee(s), the Distributor will reimburse the Client Indemnitee(s) in such suit, for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Client and them.  The Distributor’s indemnification agreement contained in Sections 7(D) and (E) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Client Indemnitee(s), and shall survive the delivery of any Shares and the termination of this Agreement.  This Agreement of indemnity will inure exclusively to the Client’s benefit, to the benefit of each Client Indemnitee.

E.           No person shall be obligated to provide indemnification under this Section 7 if such indemnification would be impermissible under the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or the rules of the FINRA; provided, however, in such event indemnification shall be provided under this Section 7 to the maximum extent so permissible.

8.            Dealer Agreement Indemnification .

A.           Distributor acknowledges and agrees that certain large and significant broker-dealers, such as (without limitation) Merrill Lynch, UBS and Morgan Stanley (all such brokers referred to herein as the “Brokers”), require that Distributor enter into dealer agreements (the “Non-Standard Dealer Agreements”) that contain certain representations, undertakings and indemnification that are not included in the Standard Dealer Agreement.

B.           To the extent that Distributor is requested or required by the Fund to enter into any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement, the Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor Indemnitees free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Distributor Indemnitee may incur arising out of or relating to (a) any representations made by the Distributor in any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that the Distributor is not required to make such representations in the Standard Dealer Agreement; or (b) any indemnification owed by the Distributor under a Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that such indemnification is beyond the indemnification the Distributor provides to intermediaries in the Standard Dealer Agreement.  In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect or indemnify the Distributor Indemnitees against any liability to the Client, a Fund or its shareholders to which the Distributor Indemnitees would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of Distributor’s obligations or duties under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement or by reason of Distributor’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement or Distributor’s breach of obligations or duties of Distributor under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement which are obligations or duties of Distributor under the Standard Dealer Agreement.
.

 
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9.            Limitations on Damages .   Neither party shall be liable for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages suffered by the other party, whether or not the likelihood of such losses or damages was known by the party.

10.            Force Majeure .   Neither party shall be liable for losses, delays, failure, errors, interruption or loss of data occurring directly or indirectly by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, Acts of Nature (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster); action or inaction of civil or military authority; acts of foreign enemies; war; terrorism; riot; insurrection; sabotage; epidemics; labor disputes; civil commotion; or interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, transportation, computer or communications capabilities; provided, however, that in each specific case such circumstance shall be beyond the reasonable control of the party seeking to apply this force majeure clause.

11.            Duration and Termination .

A.           This Agreement shall become effective with respect to each Fund listed on Exhibit A hereof as of the date hereof and, with respect to each Fund not in existence on that date, on the date an amendment to Exhibit A to this Agreement relating to that Fund is executed.  Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Agreement shall continue in effect for two years from the date hereof.  Thereafter, if not terminated, this Agreement shall continue automatically in effect as to each Fund for successive one-year periods, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the Client’s Board or (ii) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, in accordance with Section 15 of the 1940 Act.

B.           Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, with respect to a particular Fund (i) through a failure to renew this Agreement at the end of a term or (ii) upon mutual consent of the parties.  Further, this Agreement may be terminated upon no less than 60 days’ written notice by either the Client through a vote of a majority of the members of the Board who are not interested persons, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Agreement or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund, or by the Distributor.

C.           This Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment.  In addition, the Client may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of (i) the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Distributor or its parent company, or any of their assets, (ii) in the event the Distributor or its parent company goes into liquidation, (iii) there is a petition of insolvency filed by or against the Distributor or its parent company, or (iv) upon the happening of any like event described in (i)-(iii) at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.

 
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12.            Anti-Money Laundering Compliance .

A.           Each of Distributor and Client acknowledges that it is a financial institution subject to the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively, the “AML Acts”), which require, among other things, that financial institutions adopt compliance programs to guard against money laundering.  Each represents and warrants to the other that it is in compliance with and will continue to comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations in all relevant respects.

B.           The Distributor shall include specific contractual provisions regarding anti-money laundering compliance obligations in agreements entered into by the Distributor with any broker-dealer or other financial intermediary that is authorized to effect transactions in Shares of the Funds.

C.           Each of Distributor and Client agrees that it will take such further steps, and cooperate with the other as may be reasonably necessary, to facilitate compliance with the AML Acts, including but not limited to the provision of copies of its written procedures, policies and controls related thereto (“AML Operations”).  Distributor undertakes that it will grant to the Client, the Client’s anti-money laundering compliance officer and appropriate regulatory agencies, reasonable access to copies of Distributor’s AML Operations, and related books and records to the extent they pertain to the Distributor’s services hereunder.  It is expressly understood and agreed that the Client and the Client’s compliance officer shall have no access to any of Distributor’s AML Operations, books or records pertaining to other clients or services of Distributor.

13.            Privacy .   In accordance with Regulation S-P, the Distributor will not disclose any non-public personal information, as defined in Regulation S-P, received from the Client or any Fund regarding any Fund shareholder; provided, however, that the Distributor may disclose such information to any party as necessary in the ordinary course of business to carry out the purposes for which such information was disclosed to the Distributor.  The Distributor shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to consumers and customers of the Funds.

The Client represents to the Distributor that it has adopted a Statement of its privacy policies and practices as required by Regulation S-P and agrees to provide to the Distributor a copy of that statement annually.  The Distributor agrees to use reasonable precautions to protect, and prevent the unintentional disclosure of, such non-public personal information.

14.            Confidentiality .   During the term of this Agreement, the Distributor and the Client may have access to confidential information relating to such matters as either party’s business, trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, products, contracts, personnel, and clients.  As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means information belonging to the Distributor or the Client which is of value to such party and the disclosure of which could result in a competitive or other disadvantage to either party, including, without limitation, financial information, business practices and policies, know-how, trade secrets, market or sales

 
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information or plans, customer lists, business plans, and all provisions of this Agreement.  Confidential Information does not include: (i) information that was known to the receiving party before receipt thereof from or on behalf of the disclosing party; (ii) information that is disclosed to the receiving party by a third person who has a right to make such disclosure without any obligation of confidentiality to the party seeking to enforce its rights under this Section; (iii) information that is or becomes generally known in the trade without violation of this Agreement by the receiving party; or (iv) information that is independently developed by the receiving party or its employees or affiliates without reference to the disclosing party’s information.

Each party will protect the other’s Confidential Information with at least the same degree of care it uses with respect to its own Confidential Information, and will not use the other party’s Confidential Information other than in connection with its obligations hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party may disclose the other’s Confidential Information if (i) required by law, regulation or legal process or if requested by any Agency; (ii) it is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for failure to make such disclosure; (iii) requested to by the other party; provided that in the event of (i) or (ii) the disclosing party shall give the other party reasonable prior notice of such disclosure to the extent reasonably practicable and cooperate with the other party (at such other party’s expense) in any efforts to prevent such disclosure.
 
15.            Notices .   Any notice required or permitted to be given by any party to the others shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service or 3 days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address as set forth below:

Notices to the Distributor shall be sent to:

Foreside Fund Services, LLC
Attn: Legal Department
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, Maine 04101
Fax:  (207) 553-7151

notices to the Client shall be sent to:

PENN Capital Funds Trust
Attn: Legal Department
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Fax: (215) 468-1609

16.            Modifications .   The terms of this Agreement shall not be waived, altered, modified, amended or supplemented in any manner whatsoever except by a written instrument signed by the Distributor and the Client.  If required under the 1940 Act, any such amendment must be approved by the Client’s Board, including a majority of the Client’s Board who are not interested persons, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, of any party to this Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting for the purpose of voting on such amendment.

 
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17.            Governing Law .   This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

18.            Entire Agreement .   This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties hereto and supersedes all prior communications, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

19.            Survival .   The provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

20.            Miscellaneous .   The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.  Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

21.            Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed by the Parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same document.

22.            Insurance.   The Distributor agrees to maintain liability insurance coverage which is, in scope and amount, consistent with coverage customary in the industry for distribution activities similar to the distribution activities provided to the Client hereunder. Upon the request of the Client, the Distributor shall provide evidence that coverage is in place. The Distributor shall notify the Client promptly of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance.

23.            Trust Limitations.   This Agreement is executed by the Client with respect to each of the Funds and the obligations hereunder are not binding on any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Client individually but are binding only on the Fund to which such obligations pertain and the assets and property of such Fund. All obligations of the Client under this Agreement shall apply only on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and the assets of one Fund shall not be liable for the obligations of another Fund.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by a Fund shall be satisfied solely from the assets of such Fund and not any other entity or person.  In no event shall the Distributor or any of its affiliates have recourse, whether by set-off or otherwise, with respect to any such amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (A) any assets of any person or entity (including any person or entity whose account is under the management of the Client’s investment adviser) other than the Fund, (B) any assets of any affiliate of the Fund, or (C) any assets of the investment adviser or any affiliate of such investment adviser (other than the Fund) (the persons and entities identified in (A), (B) and (C) other than the Fund, being “Excluded

 
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Persons”) and none of the Excluded Persons is obligated to make contributions, loans or otherwise providing funding to the Fund.


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


FORESIDE FUND SERVICES, LLC


By: /s/ Mark A. Fairbanks
Name:  Mark A. Fairbanks
Title:  President


PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST


By: /s/ Lisa L.B. Matson
Name: Lisa L.B. Matson
Title: Secretary

 
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EXHIBIT A

Fund Names

PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund



 
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EXHIBIT B

Compensation

SALES LOADS * :

1.           With respect to Institutional Class and Investor Class Shares, the Distributor shall not be entitled to any compensation.

2.           With respect to any future Class of Shares, the Distributor shall be entitled to such consideration as the Fund and the Distributor shall agree at the time such Class of Shares is established.

*All Sales Loads received by the Distributor shall be held to be used solely for distribution-related expenses and shall not be retained as profit.

12b-1 PAYMENTS :

Attached to this Exhibit B are all plans of distribution under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act approved by the Funds and in effect (collectively, the “Distribution Plan”).  If the Funds have a Board approved Distribution Plan that authorizes them to compensate and reimburse the Distributor for distribution services, then the Funds shall be responsible for all compensation and reimbursements pursuant to this Agreement, or such portions thereof as are authorized under the Distribution Plan.





 
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EX-99.g

 
CUSTODY AGREEMENT
 
 
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 22 nd day of October, 2015, by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (the “Custodian”).
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
 
WHEREAS, the Custodian is a bank having the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of the cash and securities of each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit B hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”); and
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated to the Custodian the responsibilities set forth in Rule 17f-5(c) under the 1940 Act and the Custodian is willing to undertake the responsibilities and serve as the foreign custody manager for the Trust.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below unless the context otherwise requires:
 
1.01                   “Authorized Person” means any Officer or person who has been designated as such by written notice and named in Exhibit A and delivered to the Custodian by the Trust, or if the Trust has notified the Custodian in writing that it has an authorized investment manager or other agent, delivered to the Custodian by the Trust’s investment advisor or other agent.  Such Officer or person shall continue to be an Authorized Person until such time as the Custodian receives Written Instructions from the Trust or the Trust’s investment advisor or other agent that any such person is no longer an Authorized Person.
 
1.02                   “Board of Trustees” shall mean the trustees from time to time serving under the Trust’s declaration of trust, as amended from time to time.
 
1.03                   “Book-Entry System” shall mean a federal book-entry system as provided in Subpart O of Treasury Circular No. 300, 31 CFR 306, in Subpart B of 31 CFR Part 350, or in
 

 
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such book-entry regulations of federal agencies as are substantially in the form of such Subpart O.
 
1.04                   “Business Day” shall mean any day recognized as a settlement day by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and any other day for which the Trust computes the net asset value of Shares of the Fund.
 
1.05                   “Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Rule 17f-5(a)(1), including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.
 
1.06                   “Eligible Securities Depository” shall mean a system for the central handling of securities as that term is defined in Rule 17f-4 and 17f-7 under the 1940 Act.
 
1.07                   “Foreign Securities” means any investments of a Fund (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect such Fund’s transactions in such investments.
 
1.08                   “Fund Custody Account” shall mean any of the accounts in the name of the Trust, which is provided for in Section 3.2 below.
 
1.09                   “IRS” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
 
1.10                   “FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
 
1.11                   “Loan” means any U.S. dollar denominated commercial loan, or participation therein, made by a bank or other financial institution that by its terms provides for payments of principal and/or interest, including discount obligations and payment- in-kind obligations, acquired by any Fund from time to time.
 
1.12                   “Loan Checklist” means a list delivered to the Custodian in connection with delivery of a Loan to the Custodian that identifies the items contained in the related Loan File.
 
1.13                  “ Loan Documents ” means those documents related to Loans to the extent delivered to the Custodian.
 
1.14                   “Loan File” means, with respect to each Loan delivered to the Custodian, each of the Loan Documents identified on the related Loan Checklist.
 
1.15                   “Noteless Loan” means a Loan with respect to which (i) the related loan agreement does not require the obligor to execute and deliver an Underlying Note to
 

 
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evidence the indebtedness created under such Loan and (ii) no Underlying Notes are outstanding with respect to the portion of the Loan transferred to a Fund.
 
1.16                   “Officer” shall mean the Chairman, President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer of the Trust.
 
1.17                   “Participation” means an interest in a Loan that is acquired indirectly by way of a participation from a selling institution.
 
1.18                   “Proper Instructions” shall mean Written Instructions.
 
1.19                   “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
1.20                   “Securities” shall include, without limitation, common and preferred stocks, bonds, call options, put options, debentures, notes, bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, mortgage-backed securities or other obligations, and any certificates, receipts, warrants or other instruments or documents representing rights to receive, purchase or subscribe for the same, or evidencing or representing any other rights or interests therein, or any similar property or assets that the Custodian or its agents have the facilities to clear and service.
 
1.21                   “Securities Depository” shall mean The Depository Trust Company and any other clearing agency registered with the SEC under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), which acts as a system for the central handling of Securities where all Securities of any particular class or series of an issuer deposited within the system are treated as fungible and may be transferred or pledged by bookkeeping entry without physical delivery of the Securities.
 
1.22                   “Shares” shall mean, with respect to a Fund, the units of beneficial interest issued by the Trust on account of the Fund.
 
1.23                   “Sub-Custodian” shall mean and include (i) any branch of a “U.S. bank,” as that term is defined in Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act, and (ii) any “Eligible Foreign Custodian” having a contract with the Custodian which the Custodian has determined will provide reasonable care of assets of the Fund based on the standards specified in Section 3.3 below.  Such contract shall be in writing and shall include provisions that provide: (i) for indemnification or insurance arrangements (or any combination of the foregoing) such that the Fund will be adequately protected against the risk of loss of assets held in accordance with such contract; (ii) that the Foreign Securities will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of the Sub-Custodian or its creditors except a claim of payment for their safe custody or administration, in the case of cash deposits, liens or rights in favor of creditors of the Sub-Custodian arising under bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws; (iii) that beneficial ownership for the Foreign Securities will be freely transferable without the payment of money or value other than for safe custody or administration; (iv) that adequate records will be maintained identifying the assets as belonging to the Fund or as being held by a third party for the benefit of the Fund; (v) that the
 

 
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Fund’s independent public accountants will be given access to those records or confirmation of the contents of those records; and (vi) that the Fund will receive periodic reports with respect to the safekeeping of the Fund’s assets, including, but not limited to, notification of any transfer to or from a Fund’s account or a third party account containing assets held for the benefit of the Fund.  Such contract may contain, in lieu of any or all of the provisions specified in (i)-(vi) above, such other provisions that the Custodian determines will provide, in their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for Fund assets as the specified provisions.
 
1.24                   “Trade Confirmation” means a confirmation to the Custodian from the Trust (or Fund) of a Fund’s acquisition of a Loan, and setting forth applicable information with respect to such Loan, which confirmation may be in the form of Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof, subject to such changes or additions as may be agreed to by, or in such other form as may be agreed to by, the Custodian and the Trust from time to time.
 
1.25                   “Underlying Note” means the one or more promissory notes executed by an obligor evidencing a Loan.
 
1.26                   “Written Instructions” shall mean (i) written communications received by the Custodian and signed by an Authorized Person, (ii) communications by facsimile or Internet electronic e-mail or any other such system from one or more persons reasonably believed by the Custodian to be an Authorized Person.
 
ARTICLE II.
 
APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN
 
2.01                   Appointment .  The Trust hereby appoints the Custodian as custodian of all Securities and cash owned by or in the possession of the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and the Custodian hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.  The Trust hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to Rule 17f-5(b), the responsibilities with respect to the Fund’s Foreign Securities, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as foreign custody manager with respect to the Fund.  The services and duties of the Custodian shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against the Custodian hereunder.
 
2.02                   Documents to be Furnished .  The following documents, including any amendments thereto, will be provided contemporaneously with the execution of the Agreement to the Custodian by the Trust:
 
 
(a)
A copy of the Trust’s declaration of trust, certified by the Secretary;
 
 
(b)
A copy of the Trust’s bylaws, certified by the Secretary;
 
 
(c)
A copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Trust appointing the Custodian, certified by the Secretary;
 

 
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(d)
A copy of the current prospectuses of the Fund (the “Prospectus”);
 
 
(e)
A certification of the Chairman or the President and the Secretary of the Trust setting forth the names and signatures of the current Officers of the Trust and other Authorized Persons; and
 
 
(f)
An executed authorization required by the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985, attached hereto as Exhibit D .
 

2.03                   Notice of Appointment of Transfer Agent .  The Trust agrees to notify the Custodian in writing of the appointment, termination or change in appointment of any transfer agent of the Fund.
 
ARTICLE III.
 
CUSTODY OF CASH AND SECURITIES
 
3.01                   Segregation .  All Securities and non-cash property held by the Custodian for the account of the Fund (other than Securities maintained in a Securities Depository, Eligible Securities Depository or Book-Entry System) shall be physically segregated from other Securities and non-cash property in the possession of the Custodian (including the Securities and non-cash property of the other series of the Trust, if applicable) and shall be identified as subject to this Agreement.
 
3.02                   Fund Custody and Cash Accounts .  As to each Fund, the Custodian shall open and maintain in its trust department:  (x) a custody account in the name of the Trust coupled with the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry all Securities (other than Loans), cash and other assets of such Fund which are delivered to it and (y) cash accounts, including any subaccounts, in the name of the Trust coupled with the name of the Fund, subject only to draft or order of the Custodian, in which the Custodian shall enter and carry all principal and interest received with respect to the Loans.  The amounts held in the cash accounts shall be transferred in the respective Fund’s custody account on a daily basis.
 
3.03                  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Securities and cash held by Custodian on behalf of each Fund shall not be sold, rehypothecated, pledged, assigned, invested or otherwise disposed by Custodian and (ii) beneficial ownership of the Securities shall be freely transferable without payment of money or value other than for safe custody and administration.
 
3.04                   Appointment of Agents .
 
 
(a)
In its discretion, the Custodian may appoint one or more Sub-Custodians to establish and maintain arrangements with (i) Eligible Securities Depositories or (ii) Eligible Foreign Custodians who are members of the Sub-Custodian’s network to hold Securities and cash of the Fund and to carry out such other provisions of this Agreement as it may determine;
 

 
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provided, however, that the appointment of any such agents and maintenance of any Securities and cash of the Fund shall be at the Custodian’s expense and shall not relieve the Custodian of any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement.  The Custodian shall be liable for the actions of any Sub-Custodians (regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Sub-Custodian, a member of its network or an Eligible Securities Depository) appointed by it as if such actions had been done by the Custodian.
 
 
(b)
If, after the initial appointment of Sub-Custodians by the Board of Trustees in connection with this Agreement, the Custodian wishes to appoint other Sub-Custodians to hold property of the Fund, it will so notify the Trust and make the necessary determinations as to any such new Sub-Custodian’s eligibility under Rule 17f-5 under the 1940 Act.
 
 
(c)
In performing its delegated responsibilities as foreign custody manager to place or maintain the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian, the Custodian will determine that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Fund’s assets will be held by that Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).
 
 
(d)
The agreement between the Custodian and each Sub-Custodian acting hereunder shall contain the required provisions set forth in Rule 17f-5(c)(2) under the 1940 Act.
 
 
(e)
At the end of each calendar quarter, the Custodian shall provide written reports notifying the Board of Trustees of the withdrawal or placement of the Securities and cash of the Fund with a Sub-Custodian and of any material changes in the Fund’s arrangements.  Such reports shall include an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with any Eligible Securities Depositories.  The Custodian shall promptly take such steps as may be required to withdraw assets of the Fund from any Sub-Custodian arrangement that has ceased to meet the requirements of Rule 17f-5 or Rule 17f-7 under the 1940 Act, as applicable, and shall notify the Board of Trustees as promptly as practicable under the circumstances of such action.
 
 
(f)
With respect to its responsibilities under this Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 3.03, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a professional person having responsibility for the safekeeping of property of the Fund; provided, however, with respect to custody of any Loans, the Custodian’s responsibility shall be limited to the exercise of reasonable care, prudence and diligence in the physical custody of any such documents delivered to it, and any related instrument, security, credit agreement, assignment agreement and/or other agreements or documents, if any, that may be delivered to it, such as a professional person having responsibility for the physical custody of such documents.  The Custodian further warrants that the Fund’s assets will be subject to reasonable care if maintained with a Sub-Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation:  (i) the Sub-Custodian’s practices, procedures, and internal controls for certificated securities (if applicable), its method of keeping custodial records, and its security and data protection
 

 
6

 

 
practices;  (ii)  whether the Sub-Custodian has the requisite financial strength to provide reasonable care for Fund assets; (iii)  the Sub-Custodian’s general reputation and standing and, in the case of a Securities Depository, the Securities Depository’s operating history and number of participants; (iv) ensuring Fund assets held by a Sub-Custodian shall not be sold, rehypothecated, pledged, assigned, invested or otherwise disposed by the Sub-Custodian and beneficial ownership of the Securities held by such Sub-Custodian shall be freely transferable without payment of money or value other than for safe custody and administration; and (iv)  whether the Fund will have jurisdiction over and be able to enforce judgments against the Sub-Custodian, such as by virtue of the existence of any offices of the Sub-Custodian in the United States or the Sub-Custodian’s consent to service of process in the United States.
 
 
(g)
The Custodian shall establish a system or ensure that its Sub-Custodian has established a system to monitor on a continuing basis (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Fund’s assets with a Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodians who are members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; (ii) the performance of the contract governing the Fund’s arrangements with such Sub-Custodian or Eligible Foreign Custodian’s members of a Sub-Custodian’s network; and (iii) the custody risks of maintaining assets with an Eligible Securities Depository.  The Custodian must promptly notify the Fund or its investment adviser of any material change in these risks.
 
 
(h)
The Custodian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to Foreign Securities to which the Fund shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Trust.  In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Trust and Custodian shall consult as to the measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.
 
3.05                   Delivery of Assets to Custodian .  The Trust shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Custodian all of the Fund’s Securities, cash and other investment assets, including (i) all payments of income, payments of principal and capital distributions received by the Fund with respect to such Securities, cash or other assets owned by the Fund at any time during the period of this Agreement, and (ii) all cash received by the Fund for the issuance of Shares.   With respect to Loans, the Loan Documents and other underlying loan documents may be delivered to the Custodian at the address identified below in Section 15.08.  With respect to assets other than Loans, such assets shall be delivered to the Custodian, and at the address identified below in Section 15.08.   Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, delivery of Securities to the Custodian shall be in Street Name or other good delivery form.  The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually delivered to, and received by it.   The Custodian shall not be responsible for such Securities, cash or other assets until actually received by it.
 
3.06                   Securities Depositories and Book-Entry Systems .  The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain Securities (excluding Loans) of the Fund in a Securities Depository or in a Book-Entry System, subject to the following provisions:
 

 
7

 
 
 
(a)
The Custodian, on an on-going basis, shall deposit in a Securities Depository or Book-Entry System all Securities eligible for deposit therein and shall make use of such Securities Depository or Book-Entry System to the extent possible and practical in connection with its performance hereunder, including, without limitation, in connection with settlements of purchases and sales of Securities, loans of Securities, and deliveries and returns of collateral consisting of Securities.
     
 
(b)
Securities (other than Loans) of the Fund kept in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall be kept in an account (“Depository Account”) of the Custodian in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository which includes only assets held by the Custodian as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for customers.
 
 
(c)
The records of the Custodian with respect to Securities of the Fund maintained in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository shall, by book-entry, identify such Securities (other than Loans) as belonging to the Fund.
 
 
(d)
If Securities purchased by the Fund are to be held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall pay for such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that such Securities have been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the books and records of the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the Fund.  If Securities sold by the Fund are held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, the Custodian shall transfer such Securities upon (i) receipt of advice from the Book-Entry System or Securities Depository that payment for such Securities has been transferred to the Depository Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on the books and records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and payment for the account of the Fund.
 
 
(e)
The Custodian shall provide the Trust with copies of any report (obtained by the Custodian from a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository in which Securities of the Fund are kept) on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities deposited in such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository.
 
 
(f)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Custodian shall be liable to the Trust for any loss or damage to the Fund resulting from (i) the use of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository by reason of any negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or (ii) failure of the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian to enforce effectively such rights as it may have against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository.  At its election, the Trust shall be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claim against a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository or any other person from any loss or damage to the Fund arising from the use of such Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, if and to the extent that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss or damage, provided that the Custodian shall take appropriate action to recover such losses or damages.
 
 
(g)
With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.05 and pursuant to Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to
 

 
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(i) exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain such assets, (ii) provide, promptly upon request by the Trust, such reports as are available concerning the Custodian’s internal accounting controls and financial strength, and (iii) require any Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain assets corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders.
 
3.07                   Disbursement of Moneys from Fund Custody Account .  Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall disburse moneys from the Fund Custody Account, including, but not limited to, the following cases:
 
 
(a)
For the purchase of Securities for the Fund but only in accordance with Section 4.01 of this Agreement and only (i) in the case of Securities (other than options on Securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts), against the delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such Securities registered as provided in Section 3.09 below or in proper form for transfer, or if the purchase of such Securities is effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.05 above; (ii) in the case of options on Securities, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of such receipts as are required by the customs prevailing among dealers in such options; (iii) in the case of futures contracts and options on futures contracts, against delivery to the Custodian (or any Sub-Custodian) of evidence of title thereto in favor of the Fund or any nominee referred to in Section 3.09 below; and (iv) in the case of repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements entered into between the Trust and a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System or between the Trust and a primary dealer in U.S. Government securities, against delivery of the purchased Securities either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository with such Securities;
 
 
(b)
In connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender, as set forth in Section 3.07(f) below, of Securities owned by the Fund;
 
 
(c)
For the payment of any dividends or capital gain distributions declared by the Fund;
 
 
(d)
In payment of the redemption price of Shares as provided in Section 5.01 below;
 
 
(e)
For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Fund, including, but not limited to, the following payments for the account of the Fund:  interest; taxes; administration, investment advisory, accounting, auditing, transfer agent, custodian, trustee and legal fees; and other operating expenses of the Fund; in all cases, whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or in part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;
 
 
(f)
For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
 

 
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(g)
For transfer in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;
 
 
(h)
For the funding of any uncertificated time deposit or other interest-bearing account with any banking institution (including the Custodian), which deposit or account has a term of one year or less; and
 
 
(i)
For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the amount and purpose of such payment, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.
 
3.08                   Delivery of Securities from Fund Custody Account .  Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall release and deliver, or cause the Sub-Custodian to release and deliver, Securities from the Fund Custody Account or Loan Documents, including, but not limited to, the following cases:
 
 
(a)
Upon the sale of Securities for the account of the Fund but only against receipt of payment therefor in cash, by certified or cashiers check or bank credit;
 
 
(b)
In the case of a sale effected through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.05 above;
 
 
(c)
To an offeror’s depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for Securities of the Fund; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;
 
 
(d)
To the issuer thereof or its agent (i) for transfer into the name of the Fund, the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian, or any nominee or nominees of any of the foregoing, or (ii) for exchange for a different number of certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;
 
 
(e)
To the broker selling the Securities, for examination in accordance with the “street delivery” custom;
 
 
(f)
For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the issuer of such Securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such Securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement, including surrender or receipt of underlying Securities in connection with the issuance or cancellation of depository receipts; provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
 
 
(g)
Upon receipt of payment therefor pursuant to any repurchase or reverse repurchase agreement entered into by the Fund;
 

 
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(h)
In the case of warrants, rights or similar Securities, upon the exercise thereof, provided that, in any such case, the new Securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;
 
 
(i)
For delivery in connection with any loans of Securities of the Fund, but only against receipt of such collateral as the Trust shall have specified to the Custodian in Proper Instructions;
 
 
(j)
For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by the Fund requiring a pledge of assets by the Trust, but only against receipt by the Custodian of the amounts borrowed;
 
 
(k)
Pursuant to any authorized plan of liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation or recapitalization of the Trust;
 
 
(l)
For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or of any similar organization or organizations) regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
 
 
(m)
For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any contract market (or any similar organization or organizations) regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Fund;
 
 
(n)
For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, specifying the Securities to be delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such Securities shall be made; or
 
 
(o)
To brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.
 
3.09                   Actions Not Requiring Proper Instructions .  Unless otherwise instructed by the Trust, the Custodian shall with respect to all Securities held for the Fund:
 
 
(a)
Subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which the Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business;
 
 
(b)
Present for payment and, subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable;
 

 
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(c)
Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;
 
 
(d)
Surrender interim receipts or Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form;
 
 
(e)
Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the IRS and the Trust at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;
 
 
(f)
Hold for the Fund, either directly or, with respect to Securities held therein, through a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, all rights and similar Securities issued with respect to Securities of the Fund; and
 
 
(g)
In general, and except as otherwise directed in Proper Instructions, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with Securities and other assets of the Fund.
 
3.10                   Registration and Transfer of Securities .  All Securities (other than Loans) held for the Fund that are issued or issuable only in bearer form shall be held by the Custodian in that form, provided that any such Securities (other than Loans) shall be held in a Book-Entry System if eligible therefor.  All other Securities held for the Fund may be registered in the name of the Fund, the Custodian, a Sub-Custodian or any nominee thereof, or in the name of a Book-Entry System, Securities Depository or any nominee of either thereof.  The records of the Custodian with respect to Foreign Securities of the Fund that are maintained with a Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers shall identify those securities as belonging to the Fund.  The Trust shall furnish to the Custodian appropriate instruments to enable the Custodian to hold or deliver in proper form for transfer, or to register in the name of any of the nominees referred to above or in the name of a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository, any Securities (other than Loans)  registered in the name of the Fund.
 
3.11                   Records .
 
 
(a)
The Custodian shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Fund, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefor and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest receivable; (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto; and (iv) all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement.  The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Fund as the Trust shall reasonably request, or as may be required by the 1940 Act,
 

 
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including, but not limited to, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and Rule 31a-2 promulgated thereunder.
 
 
(b)
All such books and records maintained by the Custodian shall (i) be maintained in a form acceptable to the Trust and in compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, (ii) be the property of the Trust and at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be made available upon request for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Trust and employees or agents of the SEC, and (iii) if required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, be preserved for the periods prescribed in Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 under the 1940 Act.
 
3.12                   Fund Reports by Custodian .  The Custodian shall furnish the Trust with a daily activity statement and a summary of all transfers to or from each Fund Custody Account on the day following such transfers.  At least monthly, the Custodian shall furnish the Trust with a detailed statement of the Securities and moneys held by the Custodian and the Sub-Custodians for the Fund under this Agreement.
 
3.13                   Other Reports by Custodian .  As the Trust may reasonably request from time to time, the Custodian shall provide the Trust with reports on the internal accounting controls and procedures for safeguarding Securities which are employed by the Custodian or any Sub-Custodian.
 
3.14                   Proxies and Other Materials .  The Custodian shall cause all proxies relating to Securities which are not registered in the name of the Fund to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such Securities, without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted, and shall promptly deliver to the Trust such proxies, all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such Securities.  With respect to the foreign Securities, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued.  The Trust acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Trust to exercise shareholder rights.
 
3.15                   Information on Corporate Actions .  The Custodian shall promptly deliver to the Trust all information received by the Custodian and pertaining to Securities being held by the Fund with respect to optional tender or exchange offers, calls for redemption or purchase, expiration of rights or other similar transactions (collectively, “Corporate Events”).  If the Trust desires to take action with respect to any Corporate Event, the Trust shall notify the Custodian at least three  Business Days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take such action (the “Notification Deadline”; provided, however, that if the Trust notifies the Custodian in connection with Corporate Events on or after the Notification Deadline, Custodial shall use reasonable efforts to take any such action or exercise any such rights in respect of Corporate Events on or after the Notification Deadline.  The Trust will provide or cause to be provided to the Custodian all relevant information for any Security which has
 

 
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unique put/option provisions at least three Business Days prior to the beginning date of the tender period.
 
ARTICLE IV.
 
PURCHASE AND SALE OF INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND
 
4.01                   Purchase of Securities.
 
 
(a)
Promptly upon each purchase of Securities (other than Loans) for a Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (i) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (ii) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any) or other units purchased, (iii) the date of purchase and settlement, (iv) the purchase price per unit, (v) the total amount payable upon such purchase, and (vi) the name of the person to whom such amount is payable.  The Custodian shall upon receipt of such Securities purchased by the Fund pay out of the moneys held for the account of the Fund the total amount specified in such Written Instructions to the person named therein.  The Custodian shall not be under any obligation to pay out moneys to cover the cost of a purchase of Securities for the Fund, if in the Fund Custody Account there is insufficient cash available to the Fund for which such purchase was made.
 
 
(b)
(i) In connection with its acquisition of a Loan or other delivery of a Security constituting a Loan, the Trust shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Custodian a completed Trade Confirmation containing such information in respect of such Loan as the Custodian may reasonably require in order to enable the Custodian to perform its duties hereunder in respect of such Loan on which the Custodian may conclusively rely without further inquiry or investigation, in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require, and may, but is not required, deliver to the Custodian the Loan Documents for all Loans, including the Loan Checklist.
 
 
(ii)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, delivery of Loans acquired by the Trust (or, if applicable, Subsidiary thereof) which constitute Noteless Loans or Participations or Assignments or which are otherwise not evidenced by a “security” or “instrument” as defined in Section 8-102 and Section 9-102(a)(47) of the UCC, respectively, shall be made by delivery to the Custodian of (i) in the case of a Noteless Loan, a copy of the loan register with respect to such Noteless Loan evidencing registration of such Loan on the books and records of the applicable obligor or bank agent to the name of the Fund or, if applicable, a Subsidiary (or, in either case, its nominee) or a copy (which may be a facsimile copy) of an assignment agreement  in favor of the Trust (or the applicable Subsidiary) as assignee, or (ii) in the case of a Participation, a copy of the related participation agreement.  Any duty on the part of the Custodian with respect to the custody of such Loans shall be limited to the exercise of reasonable care, prudence and diligence in the physical custody of any such documents delivered to it, and any related instrument, security, credit agreement, assignment agreement and/or other agreements or documents, if any (collectively, “ Financing Documents ”), that may be
 

 
14

 

 
delivered to it, such as a professional person having responsibility for the physical custody of such documents.  Nothing herein shall require the Custodian to credit to the Securities Account or to treat as a financial asset (within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC) any such Loan or other asset in the nature of a general intangible (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(42) of the UCC) or to “maintain” a sufficient quantity thereof.
 
(iii)           The Custodian may assume the genuineness of any such Financing Document it may receive and the genuineness and due authority of any signatures appearing thereon, and shall be entitled to assume that each such Financing Document it may receive is what it purports to be. If an original “security” or “instrument” as defined in Section 8-102 and Section 9-102(a)(47) of the UCC, respectively, is or shall be or become available with respect to any Loan to be held by the Custodian under this Agreement, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Trust (or Fund) to make or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall not be under any obligation at any time to determine whether any such original security or instrument has been or is required to be issued or made available in respect of any Loan or to compel or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian.
 
(iv)            Contemporaneously with the acquisition of any Loan, the Trust may (i) cause the Loan Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the  Custodian; (ii) if requested by the Custodian, provide to the Custodian an amortization schedule of principal payments and a schedule of the interest payable date(s) identifying the amount and due dates of all scheduled principal and interest payments for such Loan and (iii) a completed Trade Confirmation containing such information in respect of such Loan as the Custodian may reasonably require in order to enable the Custodian to perform its duties hereunder in respect of such Loan on which the Custodian may conclusively rely without further inquiry or investigation, in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require; (iv) take all actions reasonably necessary for the Fund to acquire good title to such Loan; and (v) take all actions as may be reasonably necessary (including appropriate payment notices and instructions to bank agents or other applicable paying agents) to cause (A) all payments in respect of the Loan to be made to the Custodian and (B) all notices, solicitations and other communications in respect of such Loan to be directed to the Trust.  The Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Trust to provide necessary information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof, or for any delay or failure on the part of the Trust to give such effective payment instruction to bank agents and other paying agents, in respect of the Loans.  With respect to each such Loan, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information and notices it may receive from time to time from the related bank agent, obligor or similar party with respect to the related Loan Asset, and shall be entitled to update its records (as it may deem necessary or appropriate), or from the Trust or Fund, on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information.
 
4.02                   Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased .  In any and every case where payment for the purchase of Securities for the Fund is made by the Custodian in advance of receipt of the Securities purchased and in the absence of specified
 

 
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Written Instructions to so pay in advance, the Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for such payment.
 
4.03                   Sale of Securities .  Promptly upon each sale of Securities by the Fund, Written Instructions shall be delivered to the Custodian, specifying (i) the name of the issuer or writer of such Securities, and the title or other description thereof, (ii) the number of shares, principal amount (and accrued interest, if any), or other units sold, (iii) the date of sale and settlement, (iv) the sale price per unit, (v) the total amount payable upon such sale, and (vi) the person to whom such Securities are to be delivered.  Upon receipt of the total amount payable to the Fund as specified in such Written Instructions, the Custodian shall deliver such Securities to the person specified in such Written Instructions.  Subject to the foregoing, the Custodian may accept payment in such form as shall be satisfactory to it, and may deliver Securities and arrange for payment in accordance with the customs prevailing among dealers in Securities.
 
4.04                   Delivery of Securities Sold .  Notwithstanding Section 4.03 above or any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian, when instructed to deliver Securities (or Loan Documents) against payment, shall be entitled, if in accordance with generally accepted market practice, to deliver such Securities (or Loan Documents) prior to actual receipt of final payment therefor.  In any such case, the Fund shall bear the risk that final payment for such Securities may not be made or that such Securities may be returned or otherwise held or disposed of by or through the person to whom they were delivered, and the Custodian shall have no liability for any for the foregoing.
 
4.05                   Payment for Securities Sold .  In its sole discretion and from time to time, the Custodian may credit the Fund Custody Account, prior to actual receipt of final payment thereof, with (i) proceeds from the sale of Securities which it has been instructed to deliver against payment, (ii) proceeds from the redemption of Securities or other assets of the Fund, and (iii) income from cash, Securities or other assets of the Fund.  Any such credit shall be conditional upon actual receipt by Custodian of final payment and may be reversed if final payment is not actually received in full.  The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, permit the Fund to use funds so credited to the Fund Custody Account in anticipation of actual receipt of final payment.  Any such funds shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by the Custodian at any time prior to the actual receipt of all final payments in anticipation of which funds were credited to the Fund Custody Account.
 
4.06                   Advances by Custodian for Settlement .  The Custodian may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, advance funds to the Trust to facilitate the settlement of a Fund’s transactions in the Fund Custody Account.  Any such advance shall be repayable immediately upon demand made by Custodian.
 
ARTICLE V.
 
REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
 
5.01                   Transfer of Funds .  From such funds as may be available for the purpose in the relevant Fund Custody Account, and upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying that the
 

 
16

 

funds are required to redeem Shares of the Fund, the Custodian shall wire each amount specified in such Proper Instructions to or through such bank or broker-dealer as the Trust may designate.
 
5.02                   No Duty Regarding Paying Banks .  Once the Custodian has wired amounts to a bank or broker-dealer pursuant to Section 5.01 above, the Custodian shall not be under any obligation to effect any further payment or distribution by such bank or broker-dealer.
 
ARTICLE VI.
 
SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS
 
Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Fund, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or Securities, including Securities maintained in a Depository Account:
 
 
(a)
in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Trust, the Custodian and a broker-dealer registered under the 1934 Act and a member of FINRA (or any futures commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to compliance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Fund;
 
 
(b)
for purposes of segregating cash or Securities in connection with securities options purchased or written by the Fund or in connection with financial futures contracts (or options thereon) purchased or sold by the Fund;
 
 
(c)
which constitute collateral for loans of Securities made by the Fund;
 
 
(d)
for purposes of compliance by the Fund with requirements under the 1940 Act for the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies in connection with reverse repurchase agreements and when-issued, delayed delivery and firm commitment transactions; and
 
 
(e)
for other proper corporate purposes, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, setting forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and  declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes.
 
Each segregated account established under this Article VI shall be established and maintained for the Fund only.  All Proper Instructions relating to a segregated account shall specify the Fund.
 

 
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ARTICLE VII.
 
COMPENSATION OF CUSTODIAN
 
7.01                   Compensation .  The Custodian shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time).  The Custodian shall also be compensated for such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by the Custodian in performing its duties hereunder.  The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute.  The Trust shall notify the Custodian in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith. The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid.  With the exception of any fee or expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to the Custodian shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
 
7.02                   Overdrafts .  The Trust is responsible for maintaining an appropriate level of short term cash investments to accommodate cash outflows.  The Trust may obtain a formal line of credit for potential overdrafts of its custody account.  In the event of an overdraft or in the event the line of credit is insufficient to cover an overdraft, the overdraft amount or the overdraft amount that exceeds the line of credit will be charged in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time)
 
ARTICLE VIII.
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
8.01                   Representations and Warranties of the Trust .  The Trust hereby represents and warrants to the Custodian, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
 
 
(a)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
 
 
(b)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
 
 
(c)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals
 

 
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necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
 
8.02                   Representations and Warranties of the Custodian .  The Custodian hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
 
 
(a)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
 
 
(b)
It is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5.
 
 
(c)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Custodian in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Custodian, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
 
 
(d)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE IX.
 
CONCERNING THE CUSTODIAN
 
9.01                   Standard of Care .  The Custodian shall use best efforts and exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.  The Custodian shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, except a loss arising out of or relating to the Custodian’s (or a Sub-Custodian’s) refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement), applicable law or from its (or a Sub-Custodian’s) bad faith, negligence, fraud or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement) (the “Standard of Care”).  The Custodian shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon the written advice of external counsel on all matters relating to this Agreement, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice, provided that such action is consistent with Custodian’s rights and responsibilities hereunder.  The Custodian shall promptly notify the Trust of any action taken or omitted by the Custodian pursuant to advice of counsel.
 

 
19

 

9.02                   Actual Collection Required .  The Custodian shall not be liable for, or considered to be the custodian of, any cash belonging to the Fund or any money represented by a check, draft or other instrument for the payment of money, until the Custodian or its agents actually receive such cash or collect on such instrument.
 
9.03                   No Responsibility for Title, etc.   So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement.
 
9.04                   Limitation on Duty to Collect .  Custodian shall not be required to enforce collection, by legal means or otherwise, of any money or property due and payable with respect to Securities held for the Fund if such Securities are in default or payment is not made after due demand or presentation.
 
9.05                   Reliance Upon Documents and Instructions .  The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonably rely upon any certificate, notice or other instrument in writing received by it and reasonably believed by it to be genuine.  The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon any Written Instructions actually received by it pursuant to this Agreement.
 
9.06                   Cooperation .
 
 
(a)
The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Trust to keep the books of account of the Fund and/or compute the value of the assets of the Fund.  The Custodian shall take all such reasonable actions as the Trust may from time to time request to enable the Trust to obtain, from year to year, favorable opinions from the Trust’s independent accountants with respect to the Custodian’s activities hereunder in connection with (i) the preparation of the Trust’s reports on Form N-1A and Form N-SAR and any other reports required by the SEC, and (ii) the fulfillment by the Trust of any other requirements of the SEC.
 
 
(b)
The Custodian shall perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, provided the same shall not be deemed to change the Custodian’s standard of care as set forth herein.
 
 
(c)
In order to assist the Trust in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), the Custodian will provide the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer with reasonable access to the Custodian’s personnel and records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in the Rule) involving the Custodian that affect or could affect the Trust.
 

 
20

 
 
ARTICLE X.
 
INDEMNIFICATION
 
10.01                   Indemnification by Trust .  Each Fund, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian, any Sub-Custodian and any nominee thereof (each, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all actual claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable external attorneys’ fees) that an Indemnified Party may actually sustain or incur or that may be asserted against an Indemnified Party by any person arising directly or indirectly (i) from the fact that Securities are registered in the name of any such nominee, (ii) from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Custodian or such Sub-Custodian (a) at the request or direction of or in reasonable reliance on the advice of the Trust, or (b) upon Proper Instructions, or (iii) from the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any sub-custody agreement, provided that neither the Custodian nor any such Sub-Custodian shall be indemnified and held harmless from and against any such claim, demand, loss, expense or liability arising out of or relating to its refusal or failure to comply or act in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement) or its Standard of Care.  The Custodian and Sub-Custodian shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities they may suffer.  This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, provided that the Fund’s continuing obligations to indemnify Custodian after the termination of this Agreement shall relate to solely those claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) sustained in connection with Custodian provision of services pursuant to this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the terms “Custodian” and “Sub-Custodian” shall include their respective directors, officers and employees.  Custodian shall endeavor to provide the Fund such reasonable estimates, including reasonable estimates related to amounts incurred for services provided hereunder, in connection with claims for which Custodian seeks indemnity from the Fund.
 
10.02                   Indemnification by Custodian .  The Custodian shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Trust may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising directly or indirectly out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Indemnified Party’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement (or any sub-custody agreement) or its Standard of Care.  This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Custodian, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the term “Trust” shall include the Trust’s trustees, officers and employees.
 
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian agrees to indemnify the Trust with respect to any and all claims arising out of or related to occurrences which the Custodian is required to insure against pursuant to this Agreement or applicable law.
 

 
21

 

10.03                   Security .  (a) If the Custodian advances cash or Securities to the Fund for any purpose, either at the Trust’s request or as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, Custodian shall have a continuing security in and right of setoff against such Securities and the proceeds thereof until such time as Custodian is repaid the amount of such advance. If at any time before such repayment the market value of such Securities is less than the amount of the advance made to finance their purchase, Custodian shall have a continuing security interest in and right of setoff against such additional Securities in Fund Custody Account as is necessary for the repayment of such advance by Custodian to be fully secured.
 
(b) In the event that a Fund is, except as set forth in 10.03(a), otherwise indebted to Custodian or its nominee, in connection with its performance under this Agreement (except such indebtedness as may arise from its or its nominee’s bad faith, negligence, fraud or willful misconduct), then, in any such event, Custodian shall have the right to retain or set-off against any property at any time held for the account of the Fund with at least two Business Days advance notice, provided that (i) the Custodian shall furnish the Fund with a detailed invoice which reasonably describes such indebtedness and the Fund is not, in good faith, disputing such indebtedness, (ii) the Fund has failed to promptly repay the Custodian prior to the date on which Custodian indicated it intended to exercise its set-off rights, then Custodian shall be entitled to exercise its setoff rights hereunder and to utilize available cash of such Fund and to dispose of other assets of such Fund to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement for such indebtedness.
 
10.04                   Miscellaneous .
 
 
(a)
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement.
 
 
(b)
The indemnity provisions of this Article shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.
 
 
(c)
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Article X shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this Article X.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.
 

 
22

 

 
(d)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by the Fund, shall be satisfied solely from the assets of the Fund and not any other entity or person.  In no event shall Custodian, any Sub-Custodian or any of either of their affiliates have recourse, whether by set-off or otherwise, with respect to any such amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (A) any other series of the Trust other than the applicable Fund to which such obligations relate, (B) any assets of any person or entity (including any person or entity whose account is under the management of the Trust’s investment adviser) other than the Fund, or (C) any assets of the investment adviser of the Fund or any affiliate of such investment adviser. The persons and entities identified in (A), (B) and (C), other than the Fund, being “Excluded Persons,” and none of the Excluded Persons is obligated to make contributions, loans or otherwise providing funding to the Fund.
 
ARTICLE XI.
 
FORCE MAJEURE
 
Neither the Custodian nor the Trust shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; acts of terrorism; sabotage; strikes; epidemics; riots; power failures; computer failure and any such circumstances beyond its reasonable control as may cause interruption, loss or malfunction of utility, transportation, computer (hardware or software) or telephone communication service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation; provided, however, that in the event of a failure or delay, the Custodian (i) shall not discriminate against the Fund in favor of any other customer of the Custodian in making computer time and personnel available to input or process the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) shall use its best efforts to ameliorate the effects of any such failure or delay.
 
ARTICLE XII.
 
PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
 
12.01                  The Custodian agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where the Custodian may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities although the Custodian will promptly report such disclosure to the Trust if disclosure is permitted by applicable law and regulation, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust.  Records and other information which have become known to the
 

 
23

 

public through no wrongful act of the Custodian or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of the Custodian prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
 
12.02                  Further, the Custodian will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time.  In this regard, the Custodian shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Trust and its shareholders.
 
ARTICLE XIII.
 
EFFECTIVE PERIOD; TERMINATION
 
13.01                   Effective Period .  This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of two years, thereafter continuing in effect for one year terms.
 
13.02                   Termination .  This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 60 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party specifying in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.  In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian or its affiliates, by regulatory authorities or upon the happening of any like event at the direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
 
13.03                   Early Termination .  In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the initial two year term, the Trust agrees to pay the following fees:
 
a) All monthly fees through the life of the Agreement;
b) All fees associated with converting services to a successor service provider;
c) All fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting
obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a
successor service provider; and
d) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs associated with a-c above.
 
13.04                   Appointment of Successor Custodian .  If a successor custodian shall have been appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of a notice of acceptance by the successor custodian, on such specified date of termination (i) deliver directly to the successor custodian all Securities (other than Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository) and cash then owned by the Fund and held by the
 

 
24

 

Custodian as custodian, and (ii) transfer any Securities held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository to an account of or for the benefit of the Fund at the successor custodian, provided that the Trust shall have paid to the Custodian all fees, expenses and other amounts to the payment or reimbursement of which it shall then be entitled.  In addition, the Custodian shall, at the expense (which shall include only out-of-pocket costs and not personnel costs) of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by the Custodian under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which the Custodian has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any out-of-pocket expenses (not personnel costs) associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from the Custodian’s personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor.  Upon such delivery and transfer, the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Custodian terminates this Agreement or if termination results from failure to perform in accordance with this Agreement (including negligent performance) or the Custodian transfers this Agreement to an affiliate, the transfer to the successor shall be at the expense of the Custodian, and if the form in which the Trust instructs that transfer be made to the successor differs from the form in which the Custodian has maintained the same, the Custodian shall pay any expenses associated with transferring the same in the form as instructed by the Trust.
 
13.05                   Failure to Appoint Successor Custodian .  If a successor custodian is not designated by the Trust on or before the date of termination of this Agreement, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company of its own selection, which bank or trust company (i) is a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act, and (ii) has aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits as shown on its most recent published report of not less than $25 million, all Securities, cash and other property held by Custodian under this Agreement and to transfer to an account of or for the Fund at such bank or trust company all Securities of the Fund held in a Book-Entry System or Securities Depository.  Upon such delivery and transfer, such bank or trust company shall be the successor custodian under this Agreement and the Custodian shall be relieved of all obligations under this Agreement.  In addition, under these circumstances, all books, records and other data of the Trust shall be returned to the Trust.
 

 
25

 

ARTICLE XIV.

CLASS ACTIONS

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

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

In the event the Fund(s) are closed, the Custodian shall only file the class action claims upon written instructions by an authorized representative of the closed Fund(s).  Any expenses associated with such filing will be assessed against the proceeds received of any class action settlement.

ARTICLE IV.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
15.01            Compliance with Laws .  The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information.  The Custodian’s services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Trustee’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
 
15.02    Amendment .  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by the Custodian and the Trust, and authorized or approved by the Board of Trustees.
 
15.03            Assignment .  This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Board of Trustees.
 
15.04     Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law principles.  To the extent
 

 
26

 

that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
 
15.05    No Agency Relationship .  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
 
15.06    Services Not Exclusive .  Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the Custodian from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.
 
15.07            Invalidity.  Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.
 
15.08    Notices .  Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:
 
Notice to the Custodian shall be sent to:
U.S Bank, N.A.
1555 N. Rivercenter Dr., MK-WI-S302
Milwaukee, WI 53212

Attn:  Tom Fuller
Phone: 414-905-6118
Fax: 866-350-5066

With a copy of notices related to Loans or Loan Documents, to

U.S. Bank National Association
One Federal Street, 3 rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Attn: Jonathan Sammarco, Vice President
E-mail:  Jonathan.sammarco@usbank.com
Telephone:  617-603-6696


 
27

 

and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:

PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia PA, 19112

Attn:  Lisa Matson, Legal Department
Phone: 215-302-1574
Fax: 215-468-1029

15.09    Multiple Originals .  This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
 
15.10   No Waiver .  No failure by either party hereto to exercise, and no delay by such party in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof.  The exercise by either party hereto of any right hereunder shall not preclude the exercise of any other right, and the remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided at law or in equity.
 
15.11   References to Custodian .  The Trust shall not circulate any printed matter which contains any reference to Custodian without the prior written approval of Custodian, excepting printed matter contained in the Prospectus or statement of additional information for the Fund and such other printed matter as merely identifies Custodian as custodian for the Fund.  The Trust shall submit printed matter requiring approval to Custodian in draft form, allowing sufficient time for review by Custodian and its counsel prior to any deadline for printing.
 
15.12   Insurance .  The Custodian shall maintain a fidelity bond covering larceny and embezzlement, an insurance policy with respect to directors and officers errors and omissions coverage and electronic data processing insurance coverage, in amounts that are appropriate in light of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. Upon the request of the Trust, the Custodian shall provide evidence that coverage is in place. The Custodian shall notify the Trust should its insurance coverage with respect to professional liability or errors and omissions coverage be reduced or canceled. Such notification shall include the date of cancellation or reduction and the reasons therefore. The Custodian shall notify the Trust promptly of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the Trust promptly should the total outstanding claims made by the Custodian under its insurance coverage materially impair, or threaten to materially impair, the adequacy of its coverage.
 
15.13   Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, appendices or schedules expressly referenced herein, sets forth the sole and complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral, between the parties.
 

 
28

 

15.14.   Trust Limitations .  This Agreement is executed by the Trust with respect to each of the Funds and the obligations hereunder are not binding on any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually but are binding only on the Fund to which such obligations pertain and the assets and property of such Fund. All obligations of the Trust under this Agreement shall apply only on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and the assets of one Fund shall not be liable for the obligations of another Fund.
 
[Signatures on the following page]
 

 
29

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.
 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST                                                                                      U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 
By:  /s/ Lisa Matson                                                                            By: /s/ Michael R. McVoy
 
Name: Lisa Matson                                                                                    Name: Michael R. McVoy
 
Title:  Secretary                                                                         Title: Senior Vice President



 
30

 

Schedule A to the Custody Agreement



List of Data Elements for Loan Trade Confirmation


Trade Date

Issuer Description

Investment Description

CUSIP/Investment ID

Maturity Date

Coupon Rate

Currency

Quantity

Price

Trade Fees

Accrued Interest

Broker

Comments


 
31

 



EXHIBIT A

AUTHORIZED PERSONS


Set forth below are the names and specimen signatures of the persons authorized by the Trust to administer the Fund Custody Accounts.




Name
Telephone/Fax Number
Signature
   
______________________
   
______________________
   
______________________
   
______________________
   
______________________
 
 


 
 

 
32

 

EXHIBIT B
 
to the Custody Agreement
 
Fund Names
 

Separate Series of PENN Capital Funds Trust

 
Name of Series
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund

 

 

 


 
33

 

EXHIBIT C to the Custody Agreement – PENN Capital Funds Trust

 
34

 


 
EXHIBIT D

SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS ACT AUTHORIZATION

PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST

The Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 requires banks and trust companies to make an effort to permit direct communication between a company which issues securities and the shareholder who votes those securities.

Unless you specifically require us to NOT release your name and address to requesting companies, we are required by law to disclose your name and address.

Your “yes” or “no” to disclosure will apply to all securities U.S. Bank holds for you now and in the future, unless you change your mind and notify us in writing.



______ YES
 
U.S. Bank is authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust.
     
______ NO
 
U.S. Bank is NOT authorized to provide the Trust’s name, address and security position to requesting companies whose stock is owned by the Trust.




PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST

By: __________________________________

Title: ________________________________

Date: ________________________________




 
35
 
 


EX-99.h.1
 
FUND ADMINISTRATION SERVICING AGREEMENT
 
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 22 nd day of October, 2015, by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC , a Wisconsin limited liability company (“USBFS”).
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
 
WHEREAS, USBFS is, among other things, in the business of providing fund administration services for the benefit of its customers; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain USBFS to provide fund administration services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
 
1.
Appointment of USBFS as Administrator
 
The Trust hereby appoints USBFS as administrator of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and USBFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.  The services and duties of USBFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against USBFS hereunder.
 
2.
Services and Duties of USBFS
 
USBFS shall provide the following administration services to a Fund:
 
 
A.
General Fund Management:
 
(1)
Act as liaison among Fund service providers, including, but not limited to, the Trust’s investment adviser, external legal counsel, accounting and audit firms and external compliance consultants.

 
(2)
Supply:
 
a.
Office facilities (which may be in USBFS’, or an affiliate’s, or Fund’s own offices).
 
b.
Non-investment-related statistical and research data as requested.

 
(3)
Coordinate the Trust’s board of trustees’ (the “Board of Trustees” or the “Trustees”) communications, such as:
 
 
 
1

 
 
a.
Prepare meeting agendas and resolutions, with the assistance of Fund counsel.
 
b.
Prepare reports for the Board of Trustees based on financial and administrative data.
 
c.
Assist with the selection of the independent auditor.
 
d.
Secure and monitor fidelity bond and director and officer liability coverage, and make the necessary Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings relating thereto.
 
e.
Prepare minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees and Fund shareholders.
 
f.
Recommend dividend declarations to the Board of Trustees and prepare and distribute to appropriate parties notices announcing declaration of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
 
g.
Attend Board of Trustees meetings and present materials for Trustees’ review at such meetings.

 
(4)
Audits:
 
a.
For the annual Fund audit, prepare appropriate schedules and materials. Provide requested information to the independent auditors, and facilitate the audit process.
 
b.
For SEC or other regulatory audits, provide requested information to the SEC or other regulatory agencies and facilitate the audit process.
 
c.
For all audits, provide office facilities, as needed.

 
(5)
Assist with overall operations of the Fund.
 
(6)
Pay Fund expenses upon written authorization from the Trust.
 
(7)
Keep the Trust’s governing documents, including its charter, bylaws and minute books, but only to the extent such documents are provided to USBFS by the Trust or its representatives for safe keeping.

 
B.
Compliance:
 
(1)
Regulatory Compliance:
 
a.
Monitor compliance with the 1940 Act requirements, including:
 
(i)
Asset and diversification tests.
 
(ii)
Total return and SEC yield calculations.
 
(iii)
Maintenance of books and records under Rule 31a-3.
 
(iv)
Code of ethics requirements under Rule 17j-1 for the disinterested Trustees.

 
b.
Monitor Fund’s compliance with the policies and investment limitations as set forth in its prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (the “SAI”).

 
c.
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably

 
2

 

 
requested by the Trust in connection with any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’ standard of care as set forth herein.

 
d.
In order to assist the Trust in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), USBFS will provide the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer with reasonable access to USBFS’ personnel and records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in the Rule) involving USBFS that affect or could affect the Trust.

 
e.
Monitor applicable regulatory and operational service issues, and update Board of Trustees periodically.

 
(2)
Blue Sky Compliance:
 
a.
Prepare and file with the appropriate state securities authorities any and all required compliance filings relating to the qualification of the securities of the Fund so as to enable the Fund to make a continuous offering of its shares in all states and applicable U.S. territories.
 
b.
Monitor status and maintain registrations in each state and applicable U.S. territories.
 
c.
Provide updates regarding material developments in state securities regulation.

 
(3)
SEC Registration and Reporting:
 
a.
Assist Fund counsel in annual update of the Trust’s Registration Statement.
 
b.
Prepare and file annual and semiannual shareholder reports, Form N-SAR, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q filings and Rule 24f-2 notices.  As requested by the Trust, prepare and file Form N-PX filings.
 
c.
Coordinate the printing, filing and mailing of Prospectuses and shareholder reports, and amendments and supplements thereto.
 
d.
File fidelity bond under Rule 17g-1.
 
e.
Monitor sales of Fund shares and ensure that such shares are properly registered or qualified, as applicable, with the SEC and the appropriate state authorities.
 
f.
Assist Fund counsel in preparation of proxy statements and information statements, as requested by the Trust.
 
 
 
3

 

 
 
(4)
IRS Compliance:
 
a.
Monitor the Trust’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), including without limitation, review of the following:
 
(i)
Diversification requirements.
 
(ii)
Qualifying income requirements.
 
(iii)
Distribution requirements.
 
b.
Calculate required annual excise distribution amounts for the review and approval of Fund management and/or its independent accountant.

 
C.
Financial Reporting:
 
(1)
Provide financial data required by the Prospectus and SAI.
 
(2)
Prepare financial reports for officers, shareholders, tax authorities, performance reporting companies, the Board of Trustees, the SEC, and the independent auditor.
 
(3)
Supervise the Fund’s custodian and fund accountants in the maintenance of the Fund’s general ledger and in the preparation of the Fund’s financial statements, including oversight of expense accruals and payments, the determination of net asset value and the declaration and payment of dividends and other distributions to shareholders.
 
(4)
Compute the yield, total return, expense ratio and portfolio turnover rate of the Fund.
 
(5)
Monitor expense accruals and make adjustments as necessary; notify the Trust’s management of any proposed adjustments.
 
(6)
Prepare financial statements, which include, without limitation, the following items:
 
a.
Schedule of Investments.
 
b.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
 
c.
Statement of Operations.
 
d.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
 
e.
Statement of Cash Flows (if applicable).
 
f.
Financial Highlights.
 
(7)
Pursuant to Rule 31a-1(b)(9) of the 1940 Act, prepare quarterly broker security transaction summaries.

 
4

 
 
D.
Tax Reporting:
 
(1)
Prepare for the review of the independent accountants and/or Fund management the federal and state tax returns including without limitation, Form 1120 RIC and applicable state returns including any necessary schedules. USBFS will prepare annual Fund federal and state income tax return filings as authorized by and based on the instructions received by Fund management and/or its independent accountant.  File on a timely basis appropriate federal and state tax returns including, without limitation, Forms 1120/8613, with any necessary schedules.
 
(2)
Provide the Fund’s management and Fund’s independent accountant with tax reporting information pertaining to the Fund and available to USBFS as required in a timely manner.
 
(3)
Prepare Fund financial statement tax footnote disclosures for the review and approval of Fund Management and/or its independent accountant.
 
(4)
Prepare and file on behalf of Fund management Form 1099 MISC Forms for payments to disinterested Trustees and other qualifying service providers.
 
(5)
Monitor wash sale losses.
 
(6)
Calculate Qualified Dividend Income (“QDI”) for qualifying Fund shareholders.

3.
License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights
 
 
A .
USBFS has entered into an agreement with MSCI index data services (“MSCI”), Standard & Poor Financial Services LLC (“S&P”), and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (“FACTSET”) and obligates USBFS to include a list of required provisions in this Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B .  The index data services being provided to the Trust by USBFS pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust.  The provisions in Exhibit B shall not have any affect upon the standard of care and liability USBFS has set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
 
 
B.
The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless USBFS, its information providers, and any other third party identified to the Fund as being involved in or related to the making or compiling of the Data, their affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (such information providers and other third parties, collectively, “Data Providers”) from and against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, as incurred, arising in and any manner out of the Trust’s or any third party’s use of, or inability to use, the Data or any material breach by the Trust of any provision contained in Exhibit B attached to this Agreement.  The immediately preceding sentence shall not have any effect upon the standard of care and liability of USBFS as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
 

 
5

 


 
4.
Compensation
 
USBFS shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit C hereto (as amended from time to time). USBFS shall also be compensated for such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by USBFS in performing its duties hereunder.  The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute.  The Trust shall notify USBFS in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith. The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid.  With the exception of any fee or expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to USBFS shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
 
5.
Representations and Warranties
 
 
A.
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.

 
6

 

 
B.
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
 
6.
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
 
 
A.
USBFS shall use best efforts and exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.  USBFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’ reasonable control, except any losses arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, applicable law or from its bad faith, negligence, fraud or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or breach of this Agreement (the “Standard of Care”).  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has acted in accordance with its Standard of Care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the applicable Fund, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all actual claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may actually sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reasonable reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or its Standard of

 
7

 

 
Care.  USBFS shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities it may suffer.  This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, provided that the Fund’s continuing obligations to indemnify USBFS after the termination of this Agreement shall relate solely to those claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) sustained in connection with USBFS’ provision of services pursuant to this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees.  USBFS shall endeavor to provide the Fund such reasonable estimates, including reasonable estimates related to amounts incurred for services provided hereunder, in connection with claims for which USBFS seeks indemnity from the Fund.

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

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, USBFS agrees to indemnify the Trust with respect to any and all claims arising out of or related to occurrences which USBFS is required to insure against pursuant to this Agreement or applicable law.

Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for (i) any consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement; or (ii) any delay by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its reasonable control of transportation or power supply.

In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its reasonable control, USBFS shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues.  USBFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of USBFS.  USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent

 
8

 

appropriate equipment is available.  Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect USBFS’ premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS.  Moreover, USBFS shall provide the Trust, at such times as the Trust may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and procedures of USBFS relating to the services provided by USBFS under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the above, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct non-material administrative errors at its own expense, provided that USBFS shall provide advance written notice to the Fund detailing the action it intends to take prior to taking such action. For material administrative errors, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense upon consultation with the Trust and in such manner as agreed to by the Trust.

 
B.
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification. The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim, and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.

 
C.
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 6 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.

 
D.
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.

 
E.
In conjunction with the tax services provided to each Fund by USBFS hereunder, USBFS shall not be deemed to act as an income tax return preparer for any purpose including as such term is defined under Section 7701(a)(36) of the Code, or any successor thereof.  Any information provided by USBFS to a Fund for income tax reporting purposes with respect to any item of income, gain, loss, or credit will be performed solely in USBFS’ administrative capacity. USBFS shall not be required to determine, and shall not take any position with respect to whether, the reasonable belief standard described in Section 6694 of the Code has

 
9

 

 
been satisfied with respect to any income tax item.  Each Fund, and any appointees thereof, shall have the right to inspect the transaction summaries produced and aggregated by USBFS, and any supporting documents thereto, in connection with the tax reporting services provided to each Fund by USBFS.  USBFS shall not be liable for the provision or omission of any tax advice with respect to any information provided by USBFS to a Fund. The tax information provided by USBFS shall be pertinent to the data and information made available to us, and is neither derived from nor construed as tax advice.
 
7.
Data Necessary to Perform Services
 
The Trust or its agent shall furnish to USBFS the data reasonably necessary to perform the services described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.
 
8.
Proprietary and Confidential Information
 
USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its trustees, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, provided that USBFS shall promptly notify the Trust of such request if permitted by applicable law , or (iii) when so requested by the Trust.  Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
 
Further, USBFS will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time.  In this regard, USBFS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Trust and its shareholders
 
9.
Records
 
USBFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.  USBFS agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by USBFS relating to the services to be performed by USBFS hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and
 

 
10

 

will be promptly surrendered to the Trust or its designee on and in accordance with its request
 
10.
Compliance with Laws
 
The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code, the SOX Act, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Trust relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and SAI.  USBFS’ services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Trustee’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto
 
11.
Terms of Agreement; Amendment
 
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of two (2) years, thereafter continuing in effect for one (1) year terms. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 60 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party specifying in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.  In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for USBFS, or any of its affiliates, by an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by USBFS and the Trust, and authorized or approved by the Board of Trustees.
 
12.
Early Termination
 
In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the initial two year term, the Trust agrees to pay the following fees:
 
 
a)   All monthly fees through the life of the Agreement;
 
b) All fees associated with converting services to a successor service provider;
 
c) All fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a successor provider; and
 
d) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs associated with a-c above.
 
 
11

 
13.
Duties in the Event of Termination
 
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of USBFS’ duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to USBFS, USBFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense (which shall include only reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs) of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by USBFS under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which USBFS has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from USBFS’ personnel in the establishment of books, records, and other data by such successor.  If no such successor is designated, then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the Trust.
 
14.
Assignment
 
This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of USBFS, or by USBFS without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees
 
15.
Governing Law
 
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law principles.  To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
 
16.
No Agency Relationship
 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
 
17.
Services Not Exclusive
 
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict USBFS from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.
 
18.
Invalidity
 
Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties
 

 
12

 

19.
Legal-Related Services
   
Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to appoint USBFS and its officers, directors and employees as the Trust attorneys, form attorney-client relationships or require the provision of legal advice.  The Trust acknowledges that in-house USBFS attorneys exclusively represent USBFS and rely on outside counsel retained by the Trust to review all services provided by in-house USBFS attorneys and to provide independent judgment on the Trust’s behalf.  The Trust acknowledges that because no attorney-client relationship exists between in-house USBFS attorneys and the Trust, any information provided to USBFS attorneys may not be privileged and may be subject to compulsory disclosure under certain circumstances.  USBFS represents that it will maintain the confidentiality of information disclosed to its in-house attorneys on a best efforts basis
 
20.
Notices
 
Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below
 
Notice to USBFS shall be sent to:
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia PA, 19112
Attn: Lisa Matson, Legal Department

21.
Multiple Originals
 
This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument
 
 
13

 
22.
Insurance
 
USBFS shall maintain a fidelity bond covering larceny and embezzlement, an insurance policy with respect to directors and officers errors and omissions coverage and electronic data processing insurance coverage, in amounts that are appropriate in light of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. Upon the request of the Trust, USBFS shall provide evidence that coverage is in place. USBFS shall notify the Trust should its insurance coverage with respect to professional liability or errors and omissions coverage be reduced or canceled. Such notification shall include the date of cancellation or reduction and the reasons therefore. USBFS shall notify the Trust promptly of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the Trust promptly should the total outstanding claims made by USBFS under its insurance coverage materially impair, or threaten to materially impair, the adequacy of its coverage.
 
23.
Entire Agreement
 
This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, appendices or schedules expressly referenced herein, sets forth the sole and complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral, between the parties.
 
24.
Trust Limitations
 
 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by the Fund, shall be satisfied solely from the assets of the Fund and not any other entity or person (such as the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust).  In no event shall USBFS or any of its affiliates have recourse, whether by set-off or otherwise, with respect to any such amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (i) any other series of the Trust other than the applicable Fund to which such obligations relate, (ii) any assets of any person or entity under the management of the investment manager of the Fund or (iii) any assets of the investment manager of the Fund or any affiliate of such investment manager.  Neither the Trust and nor any of its series, other than the Fund, are obligated to make contributions, loans or otherwise provide funding to the Fund.
 
[Signatures on the following page]
 

 
14

 

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

 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST                                                                            U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
 
By: /s/ Lisa Matson                                                                                                By: /s/Michael R. McVoy
 
Name: Lisa Matson                                                                                            Name: Michael R. McVoy
 
Title: Secretary                                                                                           T itle:  Executive Vice President
 


 
15

 


Exhibit A
to the
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement

Fund Names



Separate Series of PENN Capital Funds Trust


Name of Series

PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund





























 
16

 



Exhibit B to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement

REQUIRED PROVISIONS OF MSCI, S&P AND FACTSET

·
The Trust shall represent that it will use the Data solely for internal purposes and will not redistribute the Data in any form or manner to any third party.
 
·
The Trust shall represent that it will not use or permit anyone else to use the Data in connection with creating, managing, advising, writing, trading, marketing or promoting any securities or financial instruments or products, including, but not limited to, funds, synthetic or derivative securities (e.g., options, warrants, swaps, and futures), whether listed on an exchange or traded over the counter or on a private-placement basis or otherwise or to create any indices (custom or otherwise).
 
·
The Trust shall represent that it will treat the Data as proprietary to MSCI, S&P and FACTSET.  Further, the Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI, S&P and FACTSET are the sole and exclusive owners of the Data and all trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in or to the Data.
 
·
The Trust  shall represent that it will not (i) copy any component of the Data, (ii) alter, modify or adapt any component of the Data, including, but not limited to, translating, decompiling, disassembling, reverse engineering or creating derivative works, or (iii) make any component of the Data available to any other person or organization (including, without limitation, the Trust’s  present and future parents, subsidiaries or affiliates) directly or indirectly, for any of the foregoing or for any other use, including, without limitation, by loan, rental, service bureau, external time sharing or similar arrangement.
 
·
The Trust shall be obligated to reproduce on all permitted copies of the Data all copyright, proprietary rights and restrictive legends appearing on the Data.
 
·
The Trust shall acknowledge that it assumes the entire risk of using the Data and shall agree to hold MSCI or S&P or FACTSET harmless from any claims that may arise in connection with any use of the Data by the Trust.
 
·
The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI or S&P or FACTSET may, in its sole and absolute discretion and at any time, terminate USBFS’ right to receive and/or use the Data.
 
·
The Trust shall acknowledge that MSCI, S&P and FACTSET are third party beneficiaries of the Customer Agreement between S&P, MSCI, FACTSET and USBFS, entitled to enforce all provisions of such agreement relating to the Data.
 
THE DATA IS PROVIDED TO THE TRUST ON AN “AS IS” BASIS.  USBFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE DATA (OR THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY THE USE THEREOF).  USBFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS AND ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY,

 
17

 

COMPLETENESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.


Exhibit B (continued) to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement


THE TRUST ASSUMES THE ENTIRE RISK OF ANY USE THE TRUST MAY MAKE OF THE DATA.  IN NO EVENT SHALL USBFS, ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS OR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA, BE LIABLE TO THE TRUST, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY, FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS OR OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE INABILITY OF THE TRUST TO USE THE DATA, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, EVEN IF USBFS, ANY OF ITS INFORMATION PROVIDERS, OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN OR RELATED TO THE MAKING OR COMPILING OF THE DATA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF OR OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.






 
18

 

Exhibit C to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement – PENN Capital Funds Trust

 
19
 
 


 
EX-99.h.2
TRANSFER AGENT SERVICING AGREEMENT
 
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 22 nd day of October, 2015, by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), and U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC , a Wisconsin limited liability company (“USBFS”).
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company, and is authorized to issue shares of beneficial interest in separate series, with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets;
 
WHEREAS, USBFS is, among other things, in the business of administering transfer and dividend disbursing agent functions for the benefit of its customers; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain USBFS to provide transfer and dividend disbursing agent services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:
 
1.
Appointment of USBFS as Transfer Agent
 
The Trust hereby appoints USBFS as transfer agent of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and USBFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.  The services and duties of USBFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against USBFS hereunder.
 
2.
Services and Duties of USBFS
 
USBFS shall provide the following transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent services to a Fund:
 
 
A.
Receive and process all orders for the purchase, exchange, transfer and/or redemption of Fund shares in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, other applicable regulations, and as specified in the Fund’s prospectus (the “Prospectus”).

 
B.
Process purchase orders with prompt delivery, where appropriate, of payment and supporting documentation to the shareholder based on the shareholder’s or the Trust’s custodian instructions, and record the appropriate number of shares being held in the appropriate shareholder account.

 
C.
Process redemption requests received in good order and, where relevant, deliver appropriate documentation to the Trust’s custodian.

 
 

 

 
D.
Pay proceeds upon receipt from the Trust’s custodian, where relevant, in accordance with the instructions of redeeming shareholders.

 
E.
Process transfers of shares in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions, after receipt of appropriate documentation from the shareholder as specified in the Prospectus.

 
F.
Prepare and transmit payments, or apply reinvestments for income dividends and capital gains distributions declared by the Trust with respect to a Fund, after deducting any amount required to be withheld by any applicable laws, rules and regulations and in accordance with shareholder instructions.

 
G.
Serve as the Fund’s agent in connection with systematic plans including, but not limited to, systematic investment plans, systematic withdrawal plans and systematic exchange plans.

 
H.
Make changes to shareholder records, including, but not limited to, address and plan changes (e.g., systematic investment and withdrawal, dividend reinvestment).
 
 
I.
Handle load and multi-class processing, including rights of accumulation and purchases by letters of intent in accordance with the Prospectus.

 
J.
Record the issuance of shares of each Fund and maintain, pursuant to Rule 17Ad-10(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), a record of the total number of shares of each Fund which are authorized, issued and outstanding.

 
K.
Prepare ad-hoc reports as necessary at prevailing rates.

 
L.
Mail shareholder reports and Prospectuses to current shareholders.

 
M.
Prepare and file U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate information returns required with respect to dividends and distributions for all shareholders.

 
N.
Provide shareholder account information upon shareholder or Trust requests and prepare and mail confirmations and statements of account to shareholders for all purchases, redemptions and other confirmable transactions as agreed upon with the Trust.

 
O.
Mail and/or obtain shareholders’ certifications under penalties of perjury and pay on a timely basis to the appropriate federal or state authorities any taxes to be withheld on dividends and distributions paid by the Trust, all as required by applicable federal and state tax laws and regulations.

 
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P.
Answer correspondence from shareholders, securities brokers and others relating to USBFS’ duties hereunder within required time periods established by applicable regulation.
 
 
Q.
Reimburse the Fund for all material losses resulting from “as of” processing errors for which USBFS is responsible in accordance with the “as of” processing guidelines set forth on Exhibit B hereto.
 
 
R.
Calculate average assets held in shareholder accounts for purposes of paying Rule 12b-1 and/or shareholder servicing fees as directed by a Fund.
 
 
S.
Provide service and support to financial intermediaries including but not limited to trade placements, settlements and corrections.
 
 
T.
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any rules or regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) thereunder, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’ standard of care as set forth herein.
 
 
U.
In order to assist the Trust in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), USBFS will provide the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer with reasonable access to USBFS’ personnel and records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in the Rule) involving USBFS that affect or could affect the Trust.
 
3.
Additional Services to be Provided by USBFS
 
 
A.
If the Trust so elects, by including the service it wishes to receive in its fee schedule, USBFS shall provide the following services that are further described and that may be subject to additional terms and conditions specified in their respective exhibits, as such may be amended from time to time:
 
Internet Access, Fan Web, Vision Mutual Fund Gateway ( Exhibit C )

The Trust hereby acknowledges that exhibits are an integral part of this Agreement and, to the extent services included in Exhibit C are selected by the Trust, such services shall also be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  To the extent the terms and conditions of this Agreement conflict with the terms and conditions included in Exhibit C , the exhibits shall control.  The provisions of Exhibit C , as applicable, shall continue in effect for as long as this Agreement remains in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 13 hereof.

 
B.
USBFS shall allow the Trust access to various fund data, systems, industry information and processes as the parties may agree to from time to time, through Mutual Fund eXchange (“MFx”), subject to the terms of this Agreement and the

 
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additional terms and conditions contained in the on-line MFx access agreement to be entered into upon accessing MFx for the first time.  USBFS shall enable the Trust to access MFx services by supplying the Trust with necessary software, training, information and connectivity support as mutually agreed upon, all of which shall constitute confidential knowledge and information of USBFS and shall be used by the Trust only as necessary to access MFx services pursuant to this Agreement.  The Trust shall provide for the security of all codes and system access mechanisms relating to MFx provided to it by USBFS and implement such security procedures and/or devices to ensure the integrity of MFx.  The Trust hereby understands that USBFS will perform periodic maintenance to the MFx hardware and software being accessed, which may cause temporary service interruptions.  USBFS shall notify the Trust of all planned outages and, to the extent possible, will perform any necessary maintenance during non-business hours.

 
The Trust hereby acknowledges that all programs, software, manuals and other written information relating to MFx access provided by USBFS pursuant to this Agreement shall remain the exclusive property of USBFS at all times.

The Trust   acknowledges that it is responsible for determining the suitability and accuracy of the information obtained through its access to MFx.  USBFS MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SUITABILITY AND ACCURACY OF FUND DATA, SYSTEMS, INDUSTRY INFORMATION AND PROCESSES ACCESSED THROUGH MFx.  However, USBFS will assist the   Trust   in verifying the accuracy of any of the information made available to the Trust   through MFx and covered by this Agreement.

In the event of termination of this Agreement, in addition to the requirements set forth in Section 14 hereof, the Trust shall immediately end its access to MFx and return all codes, system access mechanisms, programs, manuals and other written information to USBFS, and shall destroy or erase all such information on any diskettes or other storage medium, unless such access continues to be permitted pursuant to a separate agreement.

4.
Lost Shareholder Due Diligence Searches and Servicing
 
The Trust hereby acknowledges that USBFS has an arrangement with an outside vendor to conduct lost shareholder searches required by Rule 17Ad-17 under the Exchange Act.  Costs associated with such searches will be passed through to the Trust as an out-of-pocket expense in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in Exhibit D hereto.  If a shareholder remains lost and the shareholder’s account unresolved after completion of the mandatory Rule 17Ad-17 search, the Trust hereby authorizes vendor to enter, at its discretion, into fee sharing arrangements with the lost shareholder (or such lost shareholder’s representative or executor) to conduct a more in-depth search in order to locate the lost shareholder before the shareholder’s assets escheat to the applicable state.  The Trust hereby acknowledges that USBFS is not a party to these arrangements and
 

 
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does not receive any revenue sharing or other fees relating to these arrangements.  Furthermore, the Trust hereby acknowledges that vendor may receive up to 35% of the lost shareholder’s assets as compensation for its efforts in locating the lost shareholder.
 
5.
Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Programs
 
USBFS acknowledges and represents that (1) it is a financial institution subject to the law entitled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (“USA Patriot”) Act of 2001 and the Bank Secrecy Act (collectively the “AML Acts”) and shall comply with the AML Acts and applicable regulations adopted thereunder (collectively, the “Applicable AML Laws”) in all relevant respects; and (2) it is subject to a rule implementing 31 U.S.C. 5318(h) (the anti-money laundering program provision of the USA Patriot Act) and is regulated by a federal functional regulator such as a federal banking regulator or the SEC.
 
The Trust acknowledges that it has had an opportunity to review, consider and comment upon the written procedures provided by USBFS describing various tools used by USBFS which are designed to promote the detection and reporting of identity theft and potential money laundering activity by monitoring certain aspects of shareholder activity as well as written procedures for verifying a customer’s identity (collectively, the “Procedures”).  Further, the Trust has determined that the Procedures, as part of the Trust’s overall anti-money laundering program and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention program, are reasonably designed to prevent identity theft and to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities and to achieve compliance with the applicable provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the implementing regulations thereunder.
 
Based on this determination, the Trust hereby instructs and directs USBFS to implement the Procedures on the Trust’s behalf, as such may be amended or revised from time to time.  It is contemplated that these Procedures will be amended from time to time by the parties as additional regulations are adopted and/or regulatory guidance is provided relating to the Trust’s anti-money laundering and identity theft responsibilities.
 
USBFS agrees to provide to the Trust:
 
 
A.
Prompt written notification of any transaction or combination of transactions that USBFS believes, based on the Procedures, evidence money laundering or identity theft activities in connection with the Trust or any shareholder of the Fund;
 
 
B.
Prompt written notification of any customer(s) that USBFS reasonably believes, based upon the Procedures, to be engaged in money laundering or identity theft activities, provided that the Trust agrees not to communicate this information to the customer;
 
 
C.
Any reports received by USBFS from any government agency or applicable industry self-regulatory organization pertaining to USBFS’ anti-money laundering
 

 
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monitoring or the Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program on behalf of the Trust;
 
 
D.
Prompt written notification of any action taken in response to anti-money laundering violations or identity theft activity as described in (a), (b) or (c); and
 
 
E.
Certified annual and quarterly reports of its monitoring and customer identification activities on behalf of the Trust.
 
The Trust hereby directs, and USBFS acknowledges, that USBFS shall (i) permit federal regulators access to such information and records maintained by USBFS and relating to USBFS’ implementation of the Procedures, on behalf of the Trust, as they may request, and (ii) permit such federal regulators to inspect USBFS’ implementation of the Procedures on behalf of the Trust.
 
6.
Compensation
 
USBFS shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit D hereto (as amended from time to time).  USBFS shall also be compensated for such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by USBFS in performing its duties hereunder.  USBFS shall also be compensated for any increase in costs due to the adoption of any new or amended industry, regulatory or other applicable rules.  The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute.  The Trust shall notify USBFS in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith.  The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid.  With the exception of any fee or expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to USBFS shall only be paid out of assets and property of the particular Fund involved.
 
7.
Representations and Warranties
 
 
A.
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its

 
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terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and

 
(4)
A registration statement under the 1940 Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, will be made effective prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will remain effective during the term of this Agreement, and appropriate state securities law filings will be made prior to the effective date of this Agreement and will continue to be made during the term of this Agreement as necessary to enable the Trust to make a continuous public offering of its shares.

 
B.
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement; and
 
 
(4)
It is a registered transfer agent under the Exchange Act.
 
8.
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
 

 
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A.
USBFS shall use best efforts and exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. USBFS shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’ reasonable control, except any losses arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, applicable law or from its bad faith, fraud, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or breach of this Agreement (the “Standard of Care”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has acted in accordance with its Standard of Care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the applicable Fund, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that USBFS may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reasonable reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Trust, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”), except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or its Standard of Care or breach of this Agreement. USBFS shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities it may suffer. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, provided that the Fund’s continuing obligations to indemnify Fund Services after the termination of this Agreement shall relate to solely those claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) sustained in connection with USBFS’ provision of services pursuant to this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees. USBFS shall endeavor to provide the Fund such reasonable estimates, including reasonable estimates related to amounts incurred for services provided hereunder, in connection with claims for which USBFS seeks indemnity from the Fund.
 
 
 
USBFS shall indemnify and hold the Trust harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that the Trust may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against the Trust by any person arising out of any action taken or omitted to be taken by USBFS as a result of USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or from its bad faith, fraud, negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of USBFS, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement. As used in this paragraph, the term “Trust” shall include the Trust’s trustees, officers and employees.
 

 
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, USBFS agrees to indemnify the Trust with respect to any claims arising out of or related to occurrences which USBFS is required to insure against pursuant to this Agreement or applicable law.
 
Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the other party for consequential, special or punitive damages under any provision of this Agreement; or (ii) any delay by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its control of transportation or power supply.
 
In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its reasonable control, USBFS shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues.  USBFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of USBFS.  USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.  Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect USBFS’ premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS.  Moreover, USBFS shall provide the Trust, at such times as the Trust may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and procedures of USBFS relating to the services provided by USBFS under this Agreement.
 
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct non-material administrative errors at its own expense, provided that Fund Services shall provide advance written notice to the Fund detailing the action it intends to take prior to taking such action. For material administrative errors, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense upon consultation with the Trust and in such manner as agreed to by the Trust.
 
 
B.
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this Section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification.  The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or

 
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other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this Section.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.

 
C.
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 8, and in Exhibit C , if applicable, shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement.

 
D.
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.
 
9.
Data Necessary to Perform Services
 
The Trust or its agent shall furnish to USBFS the data reasonably necessary to perform the services described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.

10.
Proprietary and Confidential Information
 
USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, provided that USBFS shall promptly inform the Trust of such request if permitted by applicable law to do so, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust.  Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.
 
Further, USBFS will adhere to the privacy policies adopted by the Trust pursuant to Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, as may be modified from time to time.  In this regard, USBFS shall have in place and maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards reasonably designed to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of, and to prevent unauthorized access to or use of, records and information relating to the Trust and its shareholders.
 
11.
Records
 
USBFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities,
 

 
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in particular, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.  USBFS agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by USBFS relating to the services to be performed by USBFS hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Trust or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
 
12.
Compliance with Laws
 
The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its Prospectus and statement of additional information.  USBFS’ services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Trustees’ oversight responsibility with respect thereto.
 
13.
Term of Agreement; Amendment
 
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of two (2) years, thereafter continuing in effect for one (1) year terms.  This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 60 days prior written notice to the other party, or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party specifying in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.  In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for USBFS, or any of its affiliates, by an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by USBFS and the Trust and authorized or approved by the Board of Trustees.  The provisions of this Section 13 shall also apply to Exhibit C .
 
14.
Duties in the Event of Termination
 
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of USBFS’ duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to USBFS, USBFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense (which shall include only reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs) of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence, and other data established or maintained by USBFS under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which USBFS has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from USBFS’ personnel in the establishment of books,
 

 
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records, and other data by such successor.  If no such successor is designated, then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the Trust.
 
15.
Early Termination
 
In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the initial two year term, the Trust agrees to pay the following fees:
 
a)   All monthly fees through the life of the Agreement;
 
b) All fees associated with converting services to a successor service provider;
 
c) All fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a successor provider; and
 
d) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs associated with a-c above.
 
16.
Assignment
 
This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of USBFS, or by USBFS without the written consent of the Trust, accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Trust’s Board of  Trustees.
 
17.
Governing Law
    
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law principles.  To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
 
18.
No Agency Relationship
 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
 
19.
Services Not Exclusive
    
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict USBFS from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.

 
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20.
Invalidity
 
Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.
 
21.
Notices
      
Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:
 
Notice to USBFS shall be sent to:
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202

and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia PA, 19112
Attn: Lisa Matson, Legal Department

22..
Multiple Originals
 
This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
 
23.
Insurance
   
USBFS shall maintain a fidelity bond covering larceny and embezzlement, an insurance policy with respect to directors and officers errors and omissions coverage and electronic data processing insurance coverage, in amounts that are appropriate in light of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. Upon the request of the Trust, USBFS shall provide evidence that coverage is in place. USBFS shall notify the Trust should its insurance coverage with respect to professional liability or errors and omissions coverage be reduced or canceled. Such notification shall include the date of cancellation or reduction and the reasons therefore. USBFS shall notify the Trust promptly of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they
 

 
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may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the Trust promptly should the total outstanding claims made by USBFS under its insurance coverage materially impair, or threaten to materially impair, the adequacy of its coverage.
 
24.
Entire Agreement
        
This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, appendices or schedules expressly referenced herein, sets forth the sole and complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral, between the parties.
 
25.
Trust Limitations
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by the Fund, shall be satisfied solely from the assets of the Fund and not any other entity or person (such as the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust).  In no event shall USBFS or any of its affiliates have recourse, whether by set-off or otherwise, with respect to any such amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (i) any other series of the Trust other than the applicable Fund to which such obligations relate, (ii) any assets of any person or entity under the management of the investment manager of the Fund or (iii) any assets of the investment manager of the Fund or any affiliate of such investment manager.  Neither the Trust and nor any of its series, other than the Fund, are obligated to make contributions, loans or otherwise provide funding to the Fund.
 
[Signatures on the following page]
 

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


PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST                                                                                     U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC


By: /s/ Lisa Matson                                                                                                               By: /s/ Ian Martin

Name: Lisa Matson                                                             Name: Ian Martin

Title:  Secretary                                                                                                                      Title: Executive Vice President



 
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Exhibit A
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

Fund Names

Separate Series of PENN Capital Funds Trust

Name of Series
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund


































 
16

 

Exhibit B
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – PENN Capital Funds Trust


As Of Processing Policy

USBFS will reimburse each Fund for any Net Material Loss that may exist on the Fund’s books and for which USBFS is responsible, at the end of each calendar month.  “Net Material Loss” shall be defined as any remaining loss, after netting losses against any gains, which impacts a Fund’s net asset value per share by at least ½ cent.  Gains and losses will be reflected on the Fund’s daily share sheet, and the Fund will be reimbursed for any net material loss on a monthly basis.  USBFS will reset the as of ledger each calendar month so that any losses which do not exceed the materiality threshold of ½ cent will not be carried forward to the next succeeding month.  USBFS will notify the advisor to the Fund on the daily share sheet of any losses for which the advisor may be held accountable.



 
17

 

Exhibit C
to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement

INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES

1.
Services Covered

USBFS shall make the following electronic, interactive and processing services (“Electronic Services”) available to the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Exhibit C :

 
A.
Fan Web – Shareholder internet access by shareholders to their shareholder account information and investment transaction capabilities.  Internet service is connected directly to the Trust group’s web site(s) through a transparent hyperlink.  Shareholders can access, among other information, account information and portfolio listings within the Trust’s Funds, view their transaction history, and purchase additional shares through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”).

 
B.
Vision Mutual Fund Gateway – Permits broker/dealers, financial planners, and registered investment advisors to use a web-based system to perform order and account inquiry, execute trades, print applications, review Prospectuses, and establish new accounts.

2.
Duties and Responsibilities of USBFS

 
USBFS shall:

 
A.
Make Electronic Services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subject to scheduled maintenance and events outside of USBFS’ reasonable control.  Unless an emergency is encountered, no routine maintenance will occur during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time.
 
 
B.
Provide installation services, which shall include review and approval of the Trust’s network requirements, recommending method of establishing (and, as applicable, cooperate with the Trust to implement and maintain) a hypertext link between the Electronic Services site and the Trust’s web site(s) and testing the network connectivity and performance.
 
 
C.
Maintain and support the Electronic Services, which shall include providing error corrections, minor enhancements and interim upgrades to the Electronic Services that are made generally available to the Electronic Services customers and providing help desk support to provide assistance to the Trust’s employees and agents with their use of the Electronic Services.  Maintenance and support, as used herein, shall not include (i) access to or use of any substantial added functionality, new interfaces, new architecture, new platforms, new versions or
 

 
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major development efforts, unless made generally available by USBFS to the Electronic Services customers, as determined solely by USBFS or (ii) maintenance of customized features.
 
 
D.
Establish systems to guide, assist and permit End Users (as defined below) who access the Electronic Services site from the Trust’s web site(s) to electronically perform inquiries and create and transmit transaction requests to USBFS.
 
 
E.
Address and mail, at the Trust’s expense, notification and promotional mailings and other communications provided by the Trust to shareholders regarding the availability of the Electronic Services.
 
 
F.
Issue to each shareholder, financial adviser or other person or entity who desires to make inquiries concerning the Trust or perform transactions in accounts with the Trust using any of the Electronic Services (the “End User”) a unique personal identification number (“PIN”) for authentication purposes, which may be changed upon an End User’s reasonable request in accordance with policies to be determined by USBFS and the Trust.  USBFS will require the End User to provide his/her PIN in order to access the Electronic Services.
 
 
G.
Prepare and process new account applications received through the Electronic Services from shareholders determined by the Trust to be eligible for such services and in connection with such, the Trust agrees as follows:
 
 
(1)
to permit the establishment of shareholder bank account information over the Internet in order to facilitate purchase activity through ACH; and
 
 
(2)
the Trust shall be responsible for any resulting gain/loss liability associated with the ACH process.
 
 
H.
Provide the End User with a transaction confirmation number for each completed purchase, redemption, or exchange of the Trust’s shares upon completion of the transaction.

 
I.
Utilize encryption and secure transport protocols intended to prevent fraud and ensure confidentiality of End User accounts and transactions.  In no event shall USBFS use encryption weaker than 128-bit or any stronger technology industry standard that becomes common for used in similar applications. USBFS will take reasonable actions, including periodic scans of Internet interfaces and the Electronic Services, to protect the Internet web site that provides the Electronic Services and related network, against viruses, worms and other data corruption or disabling devices, and unauthorized, fraudulent or illegal use, by using appropriate anti-virus and intrusion detection software and by adopting such other security procedures as may be necessary.

 
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J.
Inform the Trust promptly of any malfunctions, problems, errors or service interruptions with respect to the Electronic Services of which USBFS becomes aware.
       
 
K.
Exercise reasonable efforts to maintain all on-screen disclaimers and copyright, trademark and service mark notifications, if any, provided by the Trust to USBFS in writing from time to time, and all “point and click” features of the Electronic Services relating to shareholder acknowledgment and acceptance of such disclaimers and notifications.

 
L.
Establish and provide to the Trust written procedures, which may be amended from time to time by USBFS with the written consent of the Trust, regarding End User access to the Electronic Services.  Such written procedures shall establish security standards for the Electronic Services.

 
M.
Provide the Trust with daily reports of transactions listing all purchases or transfers made by each End User separately.  USBFS shall also furnish the Trust with monthly reports summarizing shareholder inquiry and transaction activity without listing all transactions.

 
N.
Annually engage a third party to audit its internal controls for the Electronic Services and compliance with all guidelines for the Electronic Services included herein and provide the Trust with a copy of the auditor’s report promptly.

 
O.
Maintain its systems and perform its duties and obligations hereunder in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

3.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trust

The Trust assumes exclusive responsibility for the consequences of any instructions it may give to USBFS, for the Trust’s or End Users’ failure to properly access the Electronic Services in the manner prescribed by USBFS, and for the Trust’s failure to supply accurate information to USBFS.

 
Also, the Trust shall:

 
A.
Revise and update the applicable Prospectus(es) and other pertinent materials, such as user agreements with End Users, to include the appropriate consents, notices and disclosures for Electronic Services, including disclaimers and information reasonably requested by USBFS.
 
 
B.
Be responsible for designing, developing and maintaining one or more web sites for the Trust through which End Users may access the Electronic Services, including provision of software necessary for access to the Internet, which must be acquired from a third-party vendor.  Such web sites shall have the functionality necessary to facilitate, implement and maintain the hypertext links to the Electronic Services and the various inquiry and transaction web pages.  The Trust
 

 
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shall provide USBFS with the name of the host of the Trust’s web site server and shall notify USBFS of any change to the Trust’s web site server host.
 
 
C.
Provide USBFS with such information and/or access to the Trust’s web site(s) as is reasonably necessary for USBFS to provide the Electronic Services to End Users.
 
 
D.
Promptly notify USBFS of any problems or errors with the applicable Electronic Services of which the Trust becomes aware or any changes in policies or procedures of the Trust requiring changes to the Electronic Services.
 
4.
Additional Representation and Warranty

The parties hereby warrant that neither party shall knowingly insert into any interface, other software, or other program provided by such party to the other hereunder, or accessible on the Electronic Services site or Trust’s web site(s), as the case may be, any “back door,” “time bomb,” “Trojan Horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” “virus” or other computer software code or routines or hardware components designed to disable, damage or impair the operation of any system, program or operation hereunder.  For failure to comply with this warranty, the non-complying party shall immediately replace all copies of the affected work product, system or software.  All costs incurred with replacement including, but not limited to, cost of media, shipping, deliveries and installation, shall be borne by such party.

5.
Proprietary Rights

 
A.
Each party acknowledges and agrees that it obtains no rights in or to any of the software, hardware, processes, trade secrets, proprietary information or distribution and communication networks of the other hereunder.  Any software, interfaces or other programs a party provides to the other hereunder shall be used by such receiving party only in accordance with the provisions of this Exhibit C .  Any interfaces, other software or other programs developed by one party shall not be used directly or indirectly by or for the other party or any of its affiliates to connect such receiving party or any affiliate to any other person, without the first party’s prior written approval, which it may give or withhold in its sole discretion.  Except in the normal course of business and in conformity with Federal copyright law or with the other party’s consent, neither party nor any of its affiliates shall disclose, use, copy, decompile or reverse engineer any software or other programs provided to such party by the other in connection herewith.
 
 
B.
The Trust’s web site(s) and the Electronic Services site may contain certain intellectual property, including, but not limited to, rights in copyrighted works, trademarks and trade dress that is the property of the other party.  Each party retains all rights in such intellectual property that may reside on the other party’s web site, not including any intellectual property provided by or otherwise obtained from such other party.  To the extent the intellectual property of one party is cached to expedite communication, such party grants to the other a
 

 
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limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for a period of time no longer than that reasonably necessary for the communication.  To the extent that the intellectual property of one party is duplicated within the other party’s web site to replicate the “look and feel,” “trade dress” or other aspect of the appearance or functionality of the first site, that party grants to the other a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to such intellectual property for the period during which this Exhibit C is in effect.  This license is limited to the intellectual property needed to replicate the appearance of the first site and does not extend to any other intellectual property owned by the owner of the first site.  Each party warrants that it has sufficient right, title and interest in and to its web site and its intellectual property to enter into these obligations, and that to its knowledge, the license hereby granted to the other party does not and will not infringe on any U.S. patent, copyright or other proprietary right of a third party.
 
 
C.
Each party agrees that the nonbreaching party would not have an adequate remedy at law in the event of the other party’s breach or threatened breach of its obligations under this Section of this Exhibit C and that the nonbreaching party would suffer irreparable injury and damage as a result of any such breach.  Accordingly, in the event either party breaches or threatens to breach the obligations set forth in this Section of this Exhibit C , in addition to and not in lieu of any legal or other remedies a party may pursue hereunder or under applicable law, each party hereby consents to the granting of equitable relief (including the issuance of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or permanent injunction) against it by a court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of proving actual damages or posting any bond or other security therefor, prohibiting any such breach or threatened breach.  In any proceeding upon a motion for such equitable relief, a party’s ability to answer in damages shall not be interposed as a defense to the granting of such equitable relief.  The provisions of this Section relating to equitable relief shall survive termination of the provision of services set forth in this Exhibit C .
 
6.
Compensation

USBFS shall be compensated for providing the Electronic Services in accordance with the fee schedule set forth in Exhibit D (as amended from time to time).

7.
Additional Indemnification; Limitation of Liability

 
A.
Subject to Section 2(A), USBFS CANNOT AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES.  Accordingly, USBFS’ sole liability to the Trust or any third party (including End Users) for any claims, notwithstanding the form of such claims (e.g., contract, negligence, or otherwise), arising out of the delay of or interruption in the Electronic Services to be provided by USBFS hereunder shall be to use its best reasonable efforts to commence or resume the Electronic Services as promptly as is reasonably possible.
 
 
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B.
USBFS shall, at its sole cost and expense, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Trust and its trustees, officers and employees from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to (a) any infringement, or claim of infringement, of any United States patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights based on the use or potential use of the Electronic Services and (b) the provision of the Trust Files (as defined below) or Confidential Information (as defined below) to a person other than a person to whom such information may be properly disclosed hereunder.
 
 
C.
If an injunction is issued against the Trust’s use of the Electronic Services by reason of infringement of a patent, copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights of a third party, USBFS shall, at its own option and expense, either (i) procure for the Trust the right to continue to use the Electronic Services on substantially the same terms and conditions as specified hereunder, or (ii) after notification to the Trust, replace or modify the Electronic Services so that they become non-infringing, provided that, in the Trust’s judgment, such replacement or modification does not materially and adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Trust.  If in the Trust’s judgment, such replacement or modification does materially adversely affect the performance of the Electronic Services or significantly lessen their utility to the Trust, the Trust may terminate all rights and responsibilities under this Exhibit C immediately on written notice to USBFS.

 
D.
Because the ability of USBFS to deliver Electronic Services is dependent upon the Internet and equipment, software, systems, data and services provided by various telecommunications carriers, equipment manufacturers, firewall providers and encryption system developers and other vendors and third parties, USBFS shall not be liable for delays or failures to perform its obligations hereunder to the extent that such delays or failures are attributable to circumstances beyond its reasonable control which interfere with the delivery of the Electronic Services by means of the Internet or any of the equipment, software and services which support the Internet provided by such third parties.  USBFS shall also not be liable for the actions or omissions of any third party wrongdoers (i.e., hackers not employed by USBFS or its affiliates) or of any third parties involved in the Electronic Services and shall not be liable for the selection of any such third party, unless USBFS selected the third party in bad faith or in a negligent manner.

 
E.
USBFS shall not be responsible for the accuracy of input material from End Users nor the resultant output derived from inaccurate input.  The accuracy of input and output shall be judged as received at USBFS’ data center as determined by the records maintained by USBFS.

 
F.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, USBFS shall not be obligated to ensure or verify the accuracy or actual receipt, or the transmission, of any data or information contained in any transaction via the Electronic Services or

 
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the consummation of any inquiry or transaction request not actually reviewed by USBFS.

8.
File Security and Retention; Confidentiality

 
A.
USBFS and its agents will provide reasonable security provisions to ensure that unauthorized third parties do not have access to the Trust’s data bases, files, and other information provided by the Trust to USBFS for use with the Electronic Services, the names of End Users or End User transaction or account data (collectively, “Trust Files”).  USBFS’ security provisions with respect to the Electronic Services, the Trust’s web site(s) and the Trust Files will be no less protected than USBFS’ security provisions with respect to its own proprietary information.  USBFS agrees that any and all Trust Files maintained by USBFS for the Trust hereunder shall be available for inspection by the Trust’s regulatory authorities during regular business hours, upon reasonable prior written notice to USBFS, and will be maintained and retained in accordance with applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.  USBFS will take such actions as are necessary to protect the intellectual property contained within the Trust’s web site(s) or any software, written materials, or pictorial materials describing or creating the Trust’s web site(s), including all interface designs or specifications.  USBFS will take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect all rights to the source code and interface of the Trust’s web site(s).  In addition, USBFS will not use, or permit the use of, names of End Users for the purpose of soliciting any business, product, or service whatsoever except where the communication is necessary and appropriate for USBFS’ delivery of the Electronic Services.

 
B.
USBFS shall treat as confidential and not disclose or otherwise make available any of the Trust’s lists, information, trade secrets, processes, proprietary data, information or documentation (collectively, the “Confidential Information”), in any form, to any person other than agents, employees or consultants of USBFS.  USBFS will instruct its agents, employees and consultants who have access to the Confidential Information to keep such information confidential by using the same care and discretion that USBFS uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets.  Upon termination of the rights and responsibilities described in this Exhibit C for any reason and upon the Trust’s request, USBFS shall return to the Trust, or destroy and certify that it has destroyed, any and all copies of the Confidential Information which are in its possession.

 
C.
Notwithstanding the above, USBFS will not have an obligation of confidentiality under this Section with regard to information that (1) was known to it prior to disclosure hereunder, (2) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach hereof, (3) is disclosed to it by a third party not subject to a duty of confidentiality, or (4) is required to be disclosed under law or by order of court or governmental agency.
 
 
 
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9.
Warranties

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS EXHIBIT, THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY USBFS “AS IS” ON AN “AS-AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND USBFS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR COURSE OF PERFORMANCE.

10.
Duties in the Event of Termination

In the event of termination of the services provided pursuant to this Exhibit C , (i) End Users will no longer be able to access the Electronic Services and (ii) the Trust will return all codes, system access mechanisms, programs, manuals and other written information provided to it by USBFS in connection with the Electronic Services provided hereunder, and shall destroy or erase all such information on any diskettes or other storage medium.



 
25

 

Exhibit D to the
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – PENN Capital Funds Trust

 
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EX-99.h.3

FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICING AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 22 nd day of October, 2015, by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust   (the “Trust”) and U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC , a Wisconsin limited liability company (“USBFS”).

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

WHEREAS, USBFS is, among other things, in the business of providing mutual fund accounting services to investment companies; and

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain USBFS to provide accounting services to each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A hereto (as amended from time to time) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).

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

1.
Appointment of USBFS as Fund Accountant
 
The Trust hereby appoints USBFS as fund accountant of the Trust on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and USBFS hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the services and duties set forth in this Agreement.  The services and duties of USBFS shall be confined to those matters expressly set forth herein, and no implied duties are assumed by or may be asserted against USBFS hereunder.

2.
Services and Duties of USBFS
 
USBFS shall provide the following accounting services to a Fund:
 
A.           Portfolio Accounting Services:

 
(1)
Maintain portfolio records on a trade date+1 basis using security trade information communicated from the Fund’s investment adviser.

 
(2)
For each valuation date, obtain prices from a pricing source approved by the board of trustees of the Trust (the “Board of Trustees”) and apply those prices to the portfolio positions.  For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Board of Trustees shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities.

 
 

 

 
(3)
Identify interest and dividend accrual balances as of each valuation date and calculate gross earnings on investments for each accounting period.

 
(4)
Determine gain/loss on security sales and identify them as short-term or long-term; account for periodic distributions of gains or losses to shareholders and maintain undistributed gain or loss balances as of each valuation date.

 
(5)
On a daily basis, reconcile cash of the Fund with the Fund’s custodian.

 
(6)
Transmit a copy of the portfolio valuation to the Fund’s investment adviser daily.

 
(7)
Review the impact of current day’s activity on a per share basis, and review changes in market value.

B.           Expense Accrual and Payment Services:

 
(1)
For each valuation date, calculate the expense accrual amounts as directed by the Trust as to methodology, rate or dollar amount.

 
(2)
Process and record payments for Fund expenses upon receipt of written authorization from the Trust.

 
(3)
Account for Fund expenditures and maintain expense accrual balances at the level of accounting detail, as agreed upon by USBFS and the Trust.

 
(4)
Provide expense accrual and payment reporting.

C.           Fund Valuation and Financial Reporting Services:

 
(1)
Account for Fund share purchases, sales, exchanges, transfers, dividend reinvestments, and other Fund share activity as reported by the Fund’s transfer agent on a timely basis.

 
(2)
Apply equalization accounting as directed by the Trust.

 
(3)
Determine net investment income (earnings) for the Fund as of each valuation date.  Account for periodic distributions of earnings to shareholders and maintain undistributed net investment income balances as of each valuation date.

 
(4)
Maintain a general ledger and other accounts, books, and financial records for the Fund in the form as agreed upon.

 
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(5)
Determine the net asset value of the Fund according to the accounting policies and procedures set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus.

 
(6)
Calculate per share net asset value, per share net earnings, and other per share amounts reflective of Fund operations at such time as required by the nature and characteristics of the Fund.

 
(7)
Communicate to the Trust, at an agreed upon time, the per share net asset value for each valuation date.

 
(8)
Prepare monthly reports that document the adequacy of accounting detail to support month-end ledger balances.

 
(9)
Prepare monthly security transactions listings.

D.           Tax Accounting Services:

 
(1)
Maintain accounting records for the investment portfolio of the Fund to support the tax reporting required for “regulated investment companies” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 
(2)
Maintain tax lot detail for the Fund’s investment portfolio.

 
(3)
Calculate taxable gain/loss on security sales using the tax lot relief method designated by the Trust.

 
(4)
Provide the necessary financial information to calculate the taxable components of income and capital gains distributions to support tax reporting to the shareholders.

E.           Compliance Control Services:

 
(1)
Support reporting to regulatory bodies and support financial statement preparation by making the Fund’s accounting records available to the Trust, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the independent accountants.

 
(2)
Maintain accounting records according to the 1940 Act and regulations provided thereunder.

 
(3)
Perform its duties hereunder in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide any sub-certifications reasonably requested by the Trust in connection with any certification required of the Trust pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOX Act”) or any rules or

 
3

 
 
 
 
 
regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, provided the same shall not be deemed to change USBFS’ standard of care as set forth herein.

 
(4)
In order to assist the Trust in satisfying the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule”), USBFS will provide the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer with reasonable access to USBFS’ personnel and records relating to the services provided by it under this Agreement, and will provide quarterly compliance reports and related certifications regarding any Material Compliance Matter (as defined in the Rule) involving USBFS that affect or could affect the Trust.

 
(5)
Cooperate with the Trust’s independent accountants and take all reasonable action in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement to ensure that the necessary information is made available to such accountants for the expression of their opinion on the Fund’s financial statements without any qualification as to the scope of their examination.

3.
License of Data; Warranty; Termination of Rights
 
 
A.
The valuation information and evaluations being provided to the Trust by USBFS pursuant hereto (collectively, the “Data”) are being licensed, not sold, to the Trust.  The Trust has a limited license to use the Data only for purposes necessary to valuing the Trust’s assets and reporting to regulatory bodies (the “License”).  The Trust does not have any license nor right to use the Data for purposes beyond the intentions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, resale to other users or use to create any type of historical database.  The License is non-transferable and not sub-licensable.  The Trust’s right to use the Data cannot be passed to or shared with any other entity.

The Trust acknowledges the proprietary rights that USBFS and its suppliers have in the Data.

 
B.
THE TRUST HEREBY ACCEPTS THE DATA AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER MATTER.

 
C.
USBFS may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust if USBFS’ suppliers terminate any agreement to provide Data to USBFS.  Also, USBFS may stop supplying some or all Data to the Trust if USBFS reasonably believes that the Trust is using the Data in violation of the License, or breaching its duties of confidentiality provided for hereunder, or if any of USBFS’ suppliers demand that the Data be withheld from the Trust.  USBFS will provide notice to the Trust of any termination of provision of Data as soon as reasonably possible.

 
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4.
Pricing of Securities
 
 
A.
For each valuation date, USBFS shall obtain prices from a pricing source recommended by USBFS and approved by the Board of Trustees and apply those prices to the portfolio positions of the Fund.  For those securities where market quotations are not readily available, the Board of Trustees shall approve, in good faith, procedures for determining the fair value for such securities.

If the Trust desires to provide a price that varies from the price provided by the pricing source, the Trust shall promptly notify and supply USBFS with the price of any such security on each valuation date.  All pricing changes made by the Trust will be in writing and must specifically identify the securities to be changed by CUSIP, name of security, new price or rate to be applied, and, if applicable, the time period for which the new price(s) is/are effective.

 
B.
In the event that the Trust at any time receives Data containing evaluations, rather than market quotations, for certain securities or certain other data related to such securities, the following provisions will apply:  (i) evaluated securities are typically complicated financial instruments.  There are many methodologies (including computer-based analytical modeling and individual security evaluations) available to generate approximations of the market value of such securities, and there is significant professional disagreement about which method is best.  No evaluation method, including those used by USBFS and its suppliers, may consistently generate approximations that correspond to actual “traded” prices of the securities; (ii) methodologies used to provide the pricing portion of certain Data may rely on evaluations; however, the Trust acknowledges that there may be errors or defects in the software, databases, or methodologies generating the evaluations that may cause resultant evaluations to be inappropriate for use in certain applications; and (iii) the Trust assumes all responsibility for edit checking, external verification of evaluations, and ultimately the appropriateness of using Data containing evaluations, regardless of any efforts made by USBFS and its suppliers in this respect.

5.
Changes in Accounting Procedures
 
Any resolution passed by the Board of Trustees that affects accounting practices and procedures under this Agreement shall be effective upon written receipt of notice and acceptance by USBFS.

6.
Changes in Equipment, Systems, Etc.
 
USBFS reserves the right to make changes from time to time, as it deems advisable, relating to its systems, programs, rules, operating schedules and equipment, so long as such changes do not adversely affect the services provided to the Trust under this Agreement.

 
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7.
Compensation
       
USBFS shall be compensated for providing the services set forth in this Agreement in accordance with the fee schedule set forth on Exhibit B hereto (as amended from time to time).  USBFS shall also be compensated for such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., telecommunication charges, postage and delivery charges, and reproduction charges) as are reasonably incurred by USBFS in performing its duties hereunder.  The Trust shall pay all such fees and reimbursable expenses within 30 calendar days following receipt of the billing notice, except for any fee or expense subject to a good faith dispute.  The Trust shall notify USBFS in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of each invoice if the Trust is disputing any amounts in good faith.  The Trust shall pay such disputed amounts within 10 calendar days of the day on which the parties agree to the amount to be paid.  With the exception of any fee or expense the Trust is disputing in good faith as set forth above, unpaid invoices shall accrue a finance charge of 1½% per month after the due date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, amounts owed by the Trust to USBFS shall only be paid out of the assets and property of the particular Fund involved.

8.
Representations and Warranties
 
 
A.
The Trust hereby represents and warrants to USBFS, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:

 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.

 
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B.
USBFS hereby represents and warrants to the Trust, which representations and warranties shall be deemed to be continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, that:
 
 
(1)
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;

 
(2)
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by USBFS in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of USBFS, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and

 
(3)
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.

9.
Standard of Care; Indemnification; Limitation of Liability
 
 
A.
USBFS shall use best efforts and exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement.  Neither USBFS nor its suppliers shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or any third party in connection with its duties under this Agreement, including losses resulting from mechanical breakdowns or the failure of communication or power supplies beyond USBFS’ reasonable control, except any losses arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, applicable law or from its bad faith, negligence, fraud or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or breach of this Agreement (the “Standard of Care”).  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if USBFS has acted in accordance with its Standard of Care in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the applicable Fund, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless USBFS and its suppliers from and against any and all actual claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable external attorneys’ fees) that USBFS or its suppliers may sustain or incur or that may be asserted against USBFS or its suppliers by any person arising out of or related to (X) any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in performing the services hereunder (i) in accordance with the foregoing standards, or (ii) in reasonable reliance upon any written or oral instruction provided to USBFS by any duly authorized officer of the Fund, as approved by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or (Y) the Data, or any information, service, report, analysis or publication derived therefrom, provided that USBFS shall be liable any errors or omissions in its own calculations contained in such information, service, report or analysis, except for any and all claims, demands, losses, expenses, and liabilities arising out of or relating to USBFS’ refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement or its

 
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Standard of Care.  USBFS shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to mitigate any losses, expenses or liabilities it may suffer.  This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of the Fund, its successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.  As used in this paragraph, the term “USBFS” shall include USBFS’ directors, officers and employees.  USBFS shall endeavor to provide the Fund such reasonable estimates, including reasonable estimates related to amounts incurred for services provided hereunder, in connection with claims for which USBFS seeks indemnity from the Fund.

The Trust acknowledges that the Data are intended for use as an aid to institutional investors, registered brokers or professionals of similar sophistication in making informed judgments concerning securities.  The Trust accepts responsibility for, and acknowledges it exercises its own independent judgment in, its selection of the Data, its selection of the use or intended use of such, and any results obtained.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver of any rights existing under applicable law for the protection of investors.

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

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, USBFS agrees to indemnify the Trust with respect to any and all claims arising out of or related to occurrences which USBFS is required to insure against pursuant to this Agreement or applicable law.

In the event of a mechanical breakdown or failure of communication or power supplies beyond its reasonable control, USBFS shall take all reasonable steps to minimize service interruptions for any period that such interruption continues.  USBFS will make every reasonable effort to restore any lost or damaged data and correct any errors resulting from such a breakdown at the expense of USBFS.  USBFS agrees that it shall, at all times, have reasonable business continuity and disaster recovery contingency plans with appropriate parties, making reasonable provision for emergency use of electrical data processing equipment to the extent appropriate equipment is available.  Representatives of the Trust shall be entitled to inspect USBFS’ premises and operating capabilities at any time during regular business hours of USBFS, upon reasonable notice to USBFS.  Moreover, USBFS shall provide the Trust, at such times as the Trust may reasonably require, copies of reports rendered by independent accountants on the internal controls and

 
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procedures of USBFS relating to the services provided by USBFS under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the above, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct non-material administrative errors at its own expense, provided that USBFS shall provide advance written notice to the Fund detailing the action it intends to take prior to taking such action. For material administrative errors, USBFS reserves the right to reprocess and correct administrative errors at its own expense upon consultation with the Trust and in such manner as agreed to by the Trust.

In no case shall either party be liable to the other for (i) any special, indirect or consequential damages, loss of profits or goodwill (even if advised of the possibility of such); or (ii) any delay by reason of circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, labor difficulties, fire, mechanical breakdown, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, or failure beyond its reasonable control of transportation or power supply.

 
B.
In order that the indemnification provisions contained in this section shall apply, it is understood that if in any case the indemnitor may be asked to indemnify or hold the indemnitee harmless, the indemnitor shall be fully and promptly advised of all pertinent facts concerning the situation in question, and it is further understood that the indemnitee will use all reasonable care to notify the indemnitor promptly concerning any situation that presents or appears likely to present the probability of a claim for indemnification.  The indemnitor shall have the option to defend the indemnitee against any claim that may be the subject of this indemnification.  In the event that the indemnitor so elects, it will so notify the indemnitee and thereupon the indemnitor shall take over complete defense of the claim and the indemnitee shall in such situation initiate no further legal or other expenses for which it shall seek indemnification under this section.  The indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnitor will be asked to indemnify the indemnitee except with the indemnitor’s prior written consent.

 
C.
The indemnity and defense provisions set forth in this Section 9 shall indefinitely survive the termination and/or assignment of this Agreement, provided that the Fund’s continuing obligations to indemnify USBFS after the termination of this Agreement shall relate to solely those claims, demands, losses, expenses, and
 
 

 
 
9

 
 
 
liabilities of any and every nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) sustained in connection with USBFS’ provision of services pursuant to this Agreement.
 
 
 
D.
If USBFS is acting in another capacity for the Trust pursuant to a separate agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve USBFS of any of its obligations in such other capacity.

10.
Notification of Error
 
 
The Trust will notify USBFS of any discrepancy between USBFS and the Trust, including, but not limited to, failing to account for a security position in the Fund’s portfolio, upon the later to occur of: (i) three business days after receipt of any reports rendered by USBFS to the Trust; (ii) three business days after discovery of any error or omission not covered in the balancing or control procedure; or (iii) three business days after receiving notice from any shareholder regarding any such discrepancy.
 
11.
Data Necessary to Perform Services
 
The Trust or its agent shall furnish to USBFS the data reasonably necessary to perform the services described herein at such times and in such form as mutually agreed upon.
 
12.
Proprietary and Confidential Information
 
 
A.
USBFS agrees on behalf of itself and its directors, officers, and employees to treat confidentially and as proprietary information of the Trust, all records and other information relative to the Trust and prior, present, or potential shareholders of the Trust (and clients of said shareholders), and not to use such records and information for any purpose other than the performance of its responsibilities and duties hereunder, except (i) after prior notification to and approval in writing by the Trust, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where USBFS may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to comply, (ii) when requested to divulge such information by duly constituted authorities, provided that USBFS will promptly notify the Trust of such request if permitted by applicable law, or (iii) when so requested by the Trust.  Records and other information which have become known to the public through no wrongful act of USBFS or any of its employees, agents or representatives, and information that was already in the possession of USBFS prior to receipt thereof from the Trust or its agent, shall not be subject to this paragraph.

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

 
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B.
The Trust, on behalf of itself and its trustees, officers, and employees, will maintain the confidential and proprietary nature of the Data and agrees to protect it using the same efforts, but in no case less than reasonable efforts, that it uses to protect its own proprietary and confidential information.

13.
Records
 
 
USBFS shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder in the form and manner, and for such period, as it may deem advisable and is agreeable to the Trust, but not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of appropriate government authorities, in particular, Section 31 of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder.  USBFS agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by USBFS relating to the services to be performed by USBFS hereunder are the property of the Trust and will be preserved, maintained, and made available in accordance with such applicable sections and rules of the 1940 Act and will be promptly surrendered to the Trust or its designee on and in accordance with its request.
 
14.
Compliance with Laws
 
The Trust has and retains primary responsibility for all compliance matters relating to the Fund, including but not limited to compliance with the 1940 Act, the Code, the SOX Act, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the policies and limitations of the Fund relating to its portfolio investments as set forth in its current prospectus and statement of additional information.  USBFS’ services hereunder shall not relieve the Trust of its responsibilities for assuring such compliance or the Board of Trustee’s oversight responsibility with respect thereto.

15.
Term of Agreement; Amendment
 
This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above and will continue in effect for a period of two (2) years, thereafter continuing in effect for one (1) year terms.  This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon giving 60 days prior written notice to the other party or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated by any party upon the breach of the other party of any material term of this Agreement if such breach is not cured within 15 days of notice of such breach to the breaching party specifying in reasonable detail the nature of such breach.  In addition, the Trust may, at any time, immediately terminate this Agreement in the event of  the appointment of a conservator or receiver for USBFS, or any of its affiliates, by an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent jurisdiction.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by written agreement executed by USBFS and the Trust, and authorized or approved by the Board of Trustees.

 
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16.
Early Termination
 
Early Termination.  In the absence of any material breach of this Agreement, should the Trust elect to terminate this Agreement prior to the end of the initial two year term, the Trust agrees to pay the following fees :
 
a)   All monthly fees through the life of the Agreement;
 
b) All fees associated with converting services to a successor service provider;
 
c) All fees associated with any record retention and/or tax reporting obligations that may not be eliminated due to the conversion to a successor provider; and
 
d) All reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs associated with a-c above.
 
17.
Duties in the Event of Termination
 
In the event that, in connection with termination, a successor to any of USBFS’ duties or responsibilities hereunder is designated by the Trust by written notice to USBFS, USBFS will promptly, upon such termination and at the expense (which shall include only reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs) of the Trust, transfer to such successor all relevant books, records, correspondence and other data established or maintained by USBFS under this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Trust (if such form differs from the form in which USBFS has maintained the same, the Trust shall pay any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses associated with transferring the data to such form), and will cooperate in the transfer of such duties and responsibilities, including provision for assistance from USBFS’ personnel in the establishment of books, records and other data by such successor.  If no such successor is designated, then such books, records and other data shall be returned to the Trust.
 
18.
Assignment
        
This Agreement shall extend to and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Trust without the written consent of USBFS, or by USBFS without the written consent of the Trust accompanied by the authorization or approval of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

19.
Governing Law
  
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts of law principles.  To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter shall control, and nothing herein shall be construed in a manner inconsistent with the 1940 Act or any rule or order of the SEC thereunder.
 
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20.
No Agency Relationship
 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower either party to act as agent for the other party to this Agreement, or to conduct business in the name, or for the account, of the other party to this Agreement.
 

21.
Services Not Exclusive
 
Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict USBFS from providing services to other parties that are similar or identical to some or all of the services provided hereunder.

22.
Invalidity
 
Any provision of this Agreement which may be determined by competent authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  In such case, the parties shall in good faith modify or substitute such provision consistent with the original intent of the parties.

23.
Notices
 
Any notice required or permitted to be given by either party to the other shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date delivered personally or by courier service, or three days after sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or on the date sent and confirmed received by facsimile transmission to the other party’s address set forth below:

Notice to USBFS shall be sent to:

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202


and notice to the Trust shall be sent to:

PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia PA, 19112
Attn: Lisa Matson, Legal Department

 
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24.
Multiple Originals
          
This Agreement may be executed on two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

25.
Insurance
 
USBFS shall maintain a fidelity bond covering larceny and embezzlement, an insurance policy with respect to directors and officers errors and omissions coverage and electronic data processing insurance coverage, in amounts that are appropriate in light of its duties and responsibilities hereunder. Upon the request of the Trust, USBFS shall provide evidence that coverage is in place. USBFS shall notify the Trust should its insurance coverage with respect to professional liability or errors and omissions coverage be reduced or canceled. Such notification shall include the date of cancellation or reduction and the reasons therefore. USBFS shall notify the Trust promptly of any material claims against it with respect to services performed under this Agreement, whether or not they may be covered by insurance, and shall notify the Trust promptly should the total outstanding claims made by USBFS under its insurance coverage materially impair, or threaten to materially impair, the adequacy of its coverage.
  
26.
Entire Agreement
 
This Agreement, together with any exhibits, attachments, appendices or schedules expressly referenced herein, sets forth the sole and complete understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral, between the parties.

27.
Trust Limitations
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any amounts owed or liabilities incurred by the Fund, shall be satisfied solely from the assets of the Fund and not any other entity or person (such as the Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust).  In no event shall USBFS or any of its affiliates have recourse, whether by set-off or otherwise, with respect to any such amounts owed or liabilities incurred, to or against (i) any other series of the Trust other than the applicable Fund to which such obligations relate, (ii) any assets of any person or entity under the management of the investment manager of the Fund or (iii) any assets of the investment manager of the Fund or any affiliate of such investment manager.  Neither the Trust and nor any of its series, other than the Fund, are obligated to make contributions, loans or otherwise provide funding to the Fund.

[SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]
 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date first above written.
 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST                                                                                    U.S. BANCORP FUND SERVICES, LLC
 
By:  /s/ Lisa Matson                                                                                                             By:  /s/ Michael R. McVoy
 
Name:  Lisa Matson                                                                                                            Name: Michael R. McVoy
 
Title:  Secretary                                                                                                                   Title: Executive Vice President
 






 
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Exhibit A
to the
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement

Fund Names

Separate Series of PENN Capital Funds Trust


Name of Series


PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund





 
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Exhibit B
to the
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement – PENN Capital Funds Trust

 
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EX-99.h.4

FUND CCO AGREEMENT


AGREEMENT made as of January 14, 2015 by and between PENN Capital Funds Trust , a Delaware statutory trust, with its principal office and place of business at Navy Yard Corporate Center, 3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112 (the “Fund Company”), and Foreside Compliance Services, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, with its principal office and place of business at Three Canal Plaza, Portland, Maine 04101 (“Foreside”).

WHEREAS , the Fund Company is, or will be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company and has created and issued shares in one or more series (each such series a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”); and

WHEREAS , the Fund Company desires that Foreside perform certain compliance services and Foreside is willing to provide those services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Fund Company and Foreside hereby agree as follows:

SECTION 1.  PROVISION OF CCO; DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

(a)           Foreside hereby agrees to provide a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), as described in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 38a-1”), to the Fund Company for the period and on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.  Pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, the CCO shall also serve as the Anti-Money Laundering Officer for the Fund Company.

(b)           In connection therewith, the Fund Company has or will deliver to Foreside copies of, and shall promptly furnish Foreside with all amendments of or supplements to: (i) the Fund Company’s Declaration of Trust and Bylaws (collectively, as amended from time to time, “Organizational Documents”); (ii) the Fund Company’s current Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and/or the 1940 Act (the “Registration Statement”); (iii) the then current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (collectively, as amended or supplemented, the “Prospectus”) in place for each Fund; (iv) each plan of distribution or similar document that may be adopted by the Fund Company under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and each current shareholder service plan or similar document adopted by the Fund Company with respect to any or all Funds; (v) copies of the Fund Company’s then current annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders; and (vi) all compliance and risk management policies, programs and procedures adopted by the Fund Company with

 
 

 
respect to the Funds. The Fund Company shall deliver to Foreside a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Fund Company (the “Board”) appointing the CCO in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, the Fund Company shall deliver, or cause to deliver, to Foreside upon Foreside’s reasonable request any other documents that are necessary for Foreside to perform the services described in this Agreement.
 
SECTION 2.  DUTIES OF FORESIDE

(a)             Subject to the approval of the Board, Foreside shall make available a qualified person who is competent and knowledgeable regarding the federal securities laws to act as the Fund Company’s CCO.  Foreside’s responsibility for the activities of the CCO are limited to the extent that the Board shall make all decisions regarding the designation and termination of the CCO and shall review and approve the compensation of the CCO pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as provided by Rule 38a-1 .

(b)           With respect to the Fund Company, Foreside shall provide the CCO who shall:

(i)           report directly to the Board;

(ii)           develop, review and administer the Fund Company’s compliance program policies and procedures and review and oversee those policies and procedures of the  adviser, administrator, principal underwriter and transfer agent (collectively, “Service Providers”) that relate to the Fund Company or its Funds;

(iii)           conduct periodic reviews of the Fund Company’s compliance program and incorporate any new or changed regulations, best practice recommendations or other guidelines that may be appropriate;

(iv)           review, no less frequently than annually, the adequacy of the policies and procedures of the Fund Company and its Service Providers and the effectiveness of their implementation;

(v)           design and assist in the implementation of testing methods for the Fund Company’s compliance program policies and procedures;

(vi)           perform and document periodic testing of certain key control procedures (as appropriate to the circumstances), including reviewing reports, investigating exceptions, and making inquiries of Fund Company management and Service Providers;

(vii)           conduct periodic site visits to the adviser and other Service Providers, as necessary;

(viii)           prepare CCO Reports for the Board and attend Board meetings quarterly and as requested; and

 
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(ix)           no less than annually, meet separately with those members of the Board that are not “interested persons” of the Fund Company.

(c)           Foreside may provide other services and assistance relating to the affairs of the Fund Company as the Fund Company may, from time to time, request subject to mutually acceptable compensation and implementation agreements.

(d)           Foreside shall maintain records relating to its services, such as compliance policies and procedures, relevant Board presentations, annual reviews, and other records, as are required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and Rule 38a-1 thereunder (collectively, the “Records”).  Such Records shall be maintained in the manner and for the periods as are required under such laws and regulations.  The Records shall be the property of the Fund Company.  The Fund Company, or the Fund Company’s authorized representatives, shall have access to the Records at all times during Foreside’s normal business hours.  Upon the reasonable request of the Fund Company, copies of any of the Records shall be provided promptly by Foreside to the Fund Company or its authorized representatives at the Fund Company’s expense. Additionally, Foreside will provide in an electronic form, on an annual basis, any such working papers supporting the CCO Reports referenced in (b)(viii) above not already in possession or generated by Fund Company.

(e)           Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require Foreside to perform any service that could cause Foreside to be deemed an investment adviser for purposes of the 1940 Act or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or that could cause any Fund to act in contravention of such Fund’s Prospectus or any provision of the 1940 Act.  Further, while Foreside will provide consulting and other services under this Agreement to assist the Fund Company with respect to the Fund Company’s obligations under and compliance with various laws and regulations, Fund Company understands and agrees that Foreside is not a law firm and that nothing contained herein shall be construed to create an attorney-client relationship between Foreside and Fund Company or to require Foreside to render legal advice or otherwise engage in the practice of law in any jurisdiction.  Thus, except with respect to Foreside’s duties as set forth in this Section 2 and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Fund Company assumes all responsibility for ensuring that the Fund Company and each of its Funds complies with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), the 1940 Act and any laws, rules and regulations of governmental authorities with jurisdiction over the Fund Company or the Funds. All references to any law in this Agreement shall be deemed to include reference to the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under authority of the law and all official interpretations of such law or rules or regulations.

(f)           Foreside does not offer legal or accounting services and does not provide substitute services for the services provided by legal counsel or that of a certified public accountant.  Foreside will make every reasonable effort to provide the services described in this Agreement; however, Foreside does not guarantee that work performed by Foreside or the CCO for the Fund Company would be favorably received by any regulatory agency.

 
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(g)           In order for Foreside to perform the services required by this Section 2, the Fund Company shall (1) instruct all Service Providers to furnish any and all information to Foreside as reasonably requested by Foreside, and assist Foreside as may be required and (2) ensure that Foreside has access to all records and documents maintained by the Fund Company or any Service Provider.

SECTION 3.  STANDARD OF CARE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

(a)           Foreside shall be under no duty to take any action except as specifically set forth herein or as may be specifically agreed to by Foreside in writing.  Foreside shall use its best judgment and efforts in rendering the services described in this Agreement and shall not be liable to the Fund Company, any Fund or any of the Funds’ stockholders for any action or inaction of Foreside or the CCO relating to any event whatsoever in the absence of bad faith, reckless disregard, gross negligence, willful misfeasance, fraud or breach of Foreside’s obligations and duties under this Agreement.  Further, neither Foreside nor the CCO shall be liable to the Fund Company, any Fund or any of the Funds’ stockholders for any action taken, or failure to act, in good faith reliance upon: (i) the advice and opinion of Fund Company counsel; and/or (ii) any certified copy of any resolution of the Board.  Neither Foreside nor the CCO shall be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any statement, oral or written instruction, resolution, signature, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or any other document or instrument which Foreside or the CCO reasonably believe in good faith to be genuine.

(b)           The Fund Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Foreside, its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents and any person who controls Foreside within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (any of Foreside, its affiliates, their respective officers, employees, agents and directors or such control persons, for purposes of this paragraph, a “Foreside Indemnitee”) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) Foreside’s performance of its duties under this Agreement, or (ii) the breach of any obligation, representation or warranty under this Agreement by the Fund Company.

In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Fund Company in favor of any Foreside Indemnitee to be deemed to protect or indemnify the Foreside Indemnitee against any liability to which the Foreside Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard or breach of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is the Fund Company to be liable with respect to any claim made against any Foreside Indemnitee unless the Foreside Indemnitee notifies the Fund Company in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim are served upon the Foreside Indemnitee (or after the Foreside Indemnitee receives notice of service on any designated agent).

 
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure to notify the Fund Company of any claim shall not relieve the Fund Company from any liability that it may have to any Foreside Indemnitee against whom such action is brought unless failure or delay to so notify the Fund Company prejudices the Fund Company’s ability to defend against such claim. The Fund Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if the Fund Company elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event the Fund Company elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Fund Company does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Foreside Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

(c)           Foreside agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund Company, its affiliates, and each of their directors, trustees, officers, employees, and agents, and any person who controls the Fund Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (for purposes of this paragraph, the Fund Company, its affiliates and each of their directors, trustees, officers, employees, and agents and such control persons are collectively referred to as the “Fund Indemnitees”) against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense and reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon (i) the breach of any obligation, representation or warranty under this Agreement by Foreside, or (ii) Foreside’s failure to comply in any material respect with applicable securities laws.

In no case (i) is the indemnity of Foreside in favor of any Fund Indemnitee to be deemed to protect or indemnify any Fund Indemnitee against any liability to which such Fund Indemnitee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, fraud or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard or breach of its obligations and duties under this Agreement, or (ii) is Foreside to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph with respect to any claim made against any Fund Indemnitee unless the Fund Indemnitee notifies Foreside in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim are served upon the Fund Indemnitee (or after the Fund Indemnitee has received notice of service on any designated agent).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure to notify Foreside of any claim shall not relieve Foreside from any liability that it may have to the Fund Indemnitee against whom such action is brought unless failure or delay to so notify Foreside prejudices Foreside’s ability to defend against such claim. Foreside shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims, but if Foreside elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to the Fund Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit. In the event that Foreside elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the Fund Indemnitee, defendant or

 
5

 
defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If Foreside does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the Fund Indemnitee, defendant or defendants in the suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.
 
(d)           No indemnified party shall settle any claim against it for which it intends to seek indemnification from the indemnifying party, under the terms of Section 3(b) or 3(c) above, without prior written notice to and consent from the indemnifying party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  No indemnified or indemnifying party shall settle any claim unless the settlement contains a full release of liability with respect to the other party in respect of such action.

(e)           The Fund Company, and not Foreside, shall be solely responsible for approval of the designation of the CCO, as well as for removing the CCO, as the case may be, from his or her responsibilities related to the Funds in accordance with Rule 38a-1.  Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3, the Fund Company shall supervise the activities of the CCO with regard to such activities.

(f)           The Fund Company agrees that Foreside, its employees, officers and directors shall not be liable to the Fund Company for any actions, damages, claims, liabilities, costs, expenses or losses in any way arising out of or relating to the services described in this Agreement for an aggregate amount in excess of two times the amount of fees paid to Foreside in performing services hereunder. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply regardless of the form of action, damage, claim, liability, cost, expense or loss, whether in contract, statute, tort (including, without limitation, negligence) or otherwise.

In no event shall either party or their respective employees, officers, directors and trustees be liable for consequential, special, indirect, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, costs, expenses or losses (including, without limitation, lost profits and opportunity costs or fines).

(g)             Foreside shall not be liable for the errors of service providers to the Fund Company or their systems.

SECTION 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

(a)           Foreside covenants, represents and warrants to the Fund Company that:

(i)           it is a limited liability company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

(ii)           it is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of Maine and other states as necessary to fulfill the requirements of this Agreement;

(iii)           it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Operating Agreement to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;

 
6

 


(iv)           all requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;

(v)           it has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, business contingency planning and back up processes, and personnel with the requisite knowledge and experience to fulfill its responsibilities under this Agreement and will maintain the necessary capital to finance its operations;

(vi)           this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Foreside, enforceable against Foreside in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

(vii)           it shall make available a person who is competent and knowledgeable regarding the federal securities laws and the regulations thereunder and is otherwise qualified to act as a CCO and who will, in the exercise of his or her duties to the Fund Company, act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by him or her to be in the best interests of the Funds;

(viii)           it shall compensate the CCO fairly, subject to the Board’s right under any applicable regulation (e.g., Rule 38a-1) to approve the designation, termination and level of compensation of the CCO.  In addition, it shall not retaliate against the CCO should the CCO inform the Board of a compliance failure or take aggressive action to ensure compliance with the federal securities laws by the Fund Company or a Service Provider;

(ix)           it shall report to the Board promptly if it learns of CCO malfeasance or in the event the CCO is terminated as a CCO by another fund company for cause or if the CCO is terminated by Foreside or if the CCO or Foreside is subject to a regulatory enforcement action or is named as a defendant in a lawsuit that may materially impact Foreside’s operations; and

(x)           it shall report to the Board if at any time the CCO is subject to the disqualifications set forth in Section 15(b)(4) of the Exchange Act or Section 9 of the 1940 Act.

(b)           The Fund Company covenants, represents and warrants to Foreside that:

(i)           it is a statutory trust duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

 
7

 

(ii)           it is empowered under applicable laws and by its Organizational Documents to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;

(iii)           all requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into this Agreement and perform its duties under this Agreement;

(iv)           it is, or will be within a reasonable date, an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act;

(v)           this Agreement, when executed and delivered, will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Fund Company, enforceable against the Fund  Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties;

(vi)           a registration statement under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act is or will be effective and will remain effective and appropriate State securities law filings will be or have been made and will continue to be made with respect to the Funds;

(vii)           The CCO shall be covered by the Fund Company’s Directors & Officers Liability Insurance Policy (the “Policy”), and the Fund Company shall use reasonable efforts to ensure that such coverage be (a) reinstated should the Policy be cancelled; (b) continued after the CCO ceases to serve as an officer of the Fund Company on substantially the same terms as such coverage is provided for all other Fund Company officers after such persons are no longer officers of the Fund Company; and (c) continued in the event the Fund Company merges or terminates, on substantially the same terms as such coverage is provided for all other Fund Company officers (and for a period of no less than six years).  The Fund Company shall provide Foreside with proof of current coverage, including a copy of the Policy, and shall notify Foreside immediately should the Policy be cancelled or terminated; and

(viii)             the CCO is a named officer in the Fund Company’s corporate resolutions and subject to the provisions of the Fund Company’s Organizational Documents regarding indemnification of its officers .
 
SECTION 5.  COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES

(a)           In consideration of the compliance services provided by Foreside pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund Company shall pay Foreside the fees and expenses set forth in Appendix A hereto.

Except as otherwise set forth in Appendix A hereto, all fees payable hereunder shall be accrued daily by the Fund Company and shall be payable monthly in arrears on the first business

 
8

 

day of each calendar month for services performed during the prior calendar month.  All out-of-pocket charges incurred by Foreside shall be paid as incurred.  If fees begin to accrue in the middle of a month or if this Agreement terminates before the end of any month, all fees for the period from that date to the end of that month or from the beginning of that month to the date of termination, as the case may be, shall be prorated according to the proportion that the period bears to the full month in which the effectiveness or termination occurs.  Upon the termination of this Agreement, the Fund Company shall pay to Foreside such compensation as shall be due and payable as of the effective date of termination.

(b)           Upon prior approval by Fund Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, Foreside may, with respect to questions of law relating to its services hereunder, apply to and obtain the advice and opinion of Fund Company counsel. The costs of any such advice or opinion shall be borne by the Fund Company.

(c)           The CCO is serving solely as an officer of the Fund Company and neither the CCO nor Foreside shall be responsible for, or have any obligation to pay, any of the expenses of the Fund Company or any of its Funds.  All Fund Company expenses shall be the sole obligation of the Fund Company, which shall pay or cause to be paid all Fund expenses.

SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVENESS, DURATION, TERMINATION AND ASSIGNMENT

(a)           This Agreement shall become effective on the date indicated above or at such time as Foreside commences providing services under this Agreement, whichever is later (the “Effective Date”).  Upon the Effective Date, this Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and shall supersede all previous agreements between the parties, whether oral or written, relating to the Fund Company.

(b)           This Agreement shall continue in effect until terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(c)           This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty (i) by the Board on sixty (60) days’ written notice to Foreside or (ii) by Foreside on ninety (90) days’ written notice to the Fund Company, provided, however, that the Board will have the right and authority to remove the individual designated by Foreside as the Fund Company’s CCO at any time, with or without cause, without payment of any penalty.  In this case, Foreside will designate another employee of Foreside, subject to approval of the Board and the Independent Trustees, to serve as temporary CCO until the earlier of: (i) the designation of a new permanent CCO; or (ii) the termination of this Agreement.

(d)           Should the employment of the individual designated by Foreside to serve as the Fund Company’s CCO be terminated for any reason, Foreside will immediately designate another qualified individual, subject to ratification by the Board and the Independent Trustees, to serve as temporary CCO until the earlier of: (i) the designation, and approval by the Board, of a new permanent CCO; or (ii) the termination of this Agreement.

 
9

 

(e)           The provisions of Sections 3, 6(e), 7, 10, 11, and 12 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

(f)           This Agreement and the rights and duties under this Agreement shall not be assignable by either Foreside or the Fund Company except by the specific written consent of the other party.  All terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

           SECTION 7.  CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall comply with the laws and regulations applicable to it in connection with its use of confidential information, including, without limitation, Regulation S-P (if applicable).  Foreside agrees to treat all records and other information related to the Fund Company as proprietary information of the Fund Company and, on behalf of itself and its employees, to keep confidential all such information, except that Foreside may release such information (a) as approved in writing by the Fund Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld and may not be withheld where Foreside  is advised by counsel that it may be exposed to civil or criminal contempt proceedings for failure to release the information (provided, however, that Foreside shall seek the approval of the Fund Company as promptly as possible so as to enable the Fund Company to pursue such legal or other action as it may desire to prevent the release of such information); (b) when so requested by the Fund Company; (c) to a regulatory agency or otherwise pursuant to law, rule, regulation or court or administrative order (provided, however, that, to the extent permitted by law, Foreside shall notify the Fund Company as promptly as possible of such release of information); or (d) to Foreside’s affiliates as Foreside deems necessary to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

SECTION 8.  FORCE MAJEURE

Foreside shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of civil or military authority, national emergencies, fire, mechanical breakdowns, flood or catastrophe, acts of God, insurrection, war, riots or failure of the mails, transportation, communication system or power supply.  In addition, to the extent Foreside’s obligations hereunder are to oversee or monitor the activities of third parties, Foreside shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of Foreside’s duties caused, directly or indirectly, by the failure or delay of such third parties in performing their respective duties or cooperating reasonably and in a timely manner with Foreside.


 
10

 

SECTION 9.  ACTIVITIES OF FORESIDE

(a)           Except to the extent necessary to perform Foreside’s obligations under this Agreement, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit or restrict Foreside’s right, or the right of any of Foreside’s managers, officers or employees who also may be a director, trustee, officer or employee of the Fund Company (including, without limitation, the CCO) , or who are otherwise affiliated persons of the Fund Company, to engage in any other business or to devote time and attention to the management or other aspects of any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to render services of any kind to any other corporation, trust, firm, individual or association.

(b)           Upon prior written approval by the Fund Company, Foreside may subcontract any or all of its functions or responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement to one or more persons, which may be affiliated persons of Foreside who agree to comply with the terms of this Agreement; provided, that any such subcontracting shall not relieve Foreside of its responsibilities hereunder.  Foreside may pay those persons for their services, but no such payment will increase Foreside’s compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the Fund Company.

SECTION 10.  COOPERATION WITH INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Foreside and the CCO shall cooperate with the Fund Company’s independent public accountants and shall take reasonable action to make all necessary information available to the accountants for the performance of such accountants’ duties.

SECTION 11.  LIMITATION OF STOCKHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

The trustees of the Fund Company and the stockholders of the Funds shall not be liable for any obligations of the Fund Company under this Agreement, and Foreside agrees that, in asserting any rights or claims under this Agreement with regard to the Fund Company, it shall look only to the assets and property of the Fund Company and the Funds.

SECTION 12.  MISCELLANEOUS

(a)           This Agreement shall be governed by, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted under and in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

(b)           This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and all of the counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

(c)           If any part, term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, in conflict with any law or otherwise invalid, the remaining portion or portions shall be considered

 
11

 

severable and not be affected, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the particular part, term or provision held to be illegal or invalid.  This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by both Foreside and Fund Company and no presumptions shall arise favoring any party by virtue of authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

(d)           Section headings in this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

(e)           Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder by either party to the other shall be deemed sufficiently given if in writing and personally delivered or sent by facsimile or registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, addressed by the party giving such notice to the other party at the address furnished below unless and until changed by Foreside or the Fund Company, as the case may be. Notice shall be given to each party at the following address:

(i)   To Foreside:
(ii)   To Fund Company:
Foreside Compliance Services, LLC
Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100
Portland, ME 04101
Attn: Legal Department
 
Phone:  (207) 553-7110                                                                        
Fax:      (207) 553-7151
PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Attn: Legal Department
 
Phone:  (215) 302-1500

(f)           Invoices for fees and expenses due to Foreside hereunder and as set forth in Appendix A hereto shall be sent by Foreside to the address furnished below unless and until changed by the Fund Company (Fund Company to provide reasonable advance notice of any change of billing address to Foreside):

PENN Capital Funds Trust
Attn: Principal Financial Officer of PENN Capital Funds Trust
Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Phone: (215) 302-1525
Email: jmcbride@penncapital.com

(g)           The term “affiliate” and all forms thereof used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the 1940 Act.

(h)           No amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and executed by all parties hereto.


[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 
12

 



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.


PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST



By:  /s/ Gerald McBride                                                       
Name: Gerald McBride
Title: Treasurer


 
FORESIDE COMPLIANCE SERVICES, LLC



By: /s/ David Whitaker                                                       
David Whitaker, President



 
13

 

Appendix A
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14
 
 
 
EX-99.h.5

 
PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST (THE “TRUST”)
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN
 
WHEREAS, the Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, is registered as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust is authorized (i) to issue shares in separate series, with the shares of each such series representing the interests in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets, and (ii) to divide the shares within each such series into two or more classes; and
 
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to compensate parties for providing the services described herein to shareholders (the “Shareholders”) who from time to time beneficially own Investor Class and Institutional Class shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the series of the Trust identified on Schedule A as may be amended from time to time (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).
 
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”) hereby adopts this shareholder servicing plan (the “Plan”) on behalf of the Funds on the following terms and conditions:
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING ACTIVITIES.  Subject to the supervision of the Board, the Trust may engage, directly or indirectly, in financing any activities relating to shareholder account administrative and servicing functions, including, without limitation, making payments for one or more of the following activities:  (a) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to Shareholders who invest in Shares of the Funds; (b) aggregating and processing orders involving the Shares of the Funds and related payments; (c) maintaining and operating websites or other systems through which Shareholders access the Funds and receive related services; (d) processing dividend and other distribution payments from a Fund on behalf of Shareholders; (e) providing information to Shareholders as to their ownership of Fund shares or about other aspects of the operations of the Funds; (f) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of Shareholders; (g) facilitating the transmission of proxy statements, annual and semiannual reports, prospectuses (including summary prospectuses) and other communications from the Funds to Shareholders; (h) assisting Shareholders in changing the Funds’ records as to their addresses, dividend options, account registrations or other data; (i) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by Shareholders, or the information to a Fund necessary for sub-accounting; (j) responding to Shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed and other matters pertaining to the Funds; (k) providing Shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; (l) receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Funds proxies executed with respect to special meetings of Shareholders of the Funds; (m) assisting in responding to regulatory inquiries regarding Shareholders and the Funds; and (n) providing such other related services as the Trust or customers of the intermediary may reasonably request.
 
The Trust is authorized to engage in the activities listed above either directly or through other persons with which the Trust has entered into agreements pursuant to the Plan.
 

 
 

 

MAXIMUM EXPENDITURES.  The expenditures to be made by any class of Shares pursuant to this Plan and the basis upon which payment of such expenditures will be made shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees, but in no event may such expenditures exceed the following: (i) with respect to the Shares of any class, an annual rate of 0.15% of the average daily value of net assets represented by such Shares, and (ii) with respect to the Shares of any class subsequently established by the Trust and made subject to this Plan, the annual rate as agreed upon and specified in an addendum hereto.
 
PAYMENTS.  Pursuant to this Plan, the Trust may make periodic payments at the annual rate provided for in the related agreement with respect to the Shares of each class.  The servicing expenses of a particular class will be borne solely by that class and no series will use fees charged to one class within a series to support the servicing relating to any other class within that series or any other series.
 
TERM AND TERMINATION.
 
Effectiveness.  This Plan shall not take effect with respect to any class of Shares of the Trust until it has been approved by vote of the majority of the Trustees.
 
Continuation.  This Plan shall continue in effect with respect to any class of Shares of the Trust provided the continuation shall have been approved annually by vote of the majority of the Trustees.
 
Amendment.  This Plan may be amended at any time by the vote of a majority of the Trustees.
 
Termination.  This Plan may be terminated at any time with respect to a particular class of Shares by the vote of a majority of the Trustees.
 
QUARTERLY REPORTS.  An officer of the Trust shall provide to the Trustees and the Trustees shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended pursuant to this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
 
RECORDKEEPING.  The Trust shall preserve copies of this Plan for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan and the related agreements or such reports, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
 
Dated:  November [__], 2015
 


 
2

 

SCHEDULE A
 
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund

 
 
 
 

 
EX-99.i

 
  Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
 
2005 Market Street, Suite 2600
 
Philadelphia, PA  19103-7098
 
Telephone  215.564.8000
 
Fax  215.564.8120
 
www.stradley.com


November 18, 2015


Board of Trustees of PENN Capital Funds Trust
Three Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112


 
Subject:
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of PENN Capital Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust
Registration No. 333-200168; File No. 811-23011

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to PENN Capital Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”), including its new series, PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital High Yield Fund and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund (the “Series”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement of the Trust on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Amendment No. 3 to such Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Amendment”).

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

This opinion is based exclusively on the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and does not extend to the securities or “blue sky” laws of the State of Delaware or other States.

We have assumed the following for purposes of this opinion:

1.  
The shares of the Series will be issued in accordance with the Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, By-Laws (each as amended to date) and resolutions of the Trust’s Board of Trustees relating to the creation, authorization and issuance of shares of the Series.
 
 
 
 

 

 
2.  
The Series’ shares will be issued against payment therefor as described in the Series’ then-current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information relating thereto and that such payment will have been at least equal to the applicable offering price.

On the basis of the foregoing, it is our opinion that, when issued and paid for upon the terms provided in the Amendment, the shares of beneficial interest, without par value, of the Series to be issued pursuant to the Amendment will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Amendment.

Very truly yours,

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP


By:    /s/ Michael P. O’Hare                                                           
         Michael P. O’Hare, a Partner
 
 

 
EX-99.j.1

 
 
 
Consent of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm
 
 

 
To the Shareholder and Board of Trustees
of PENN Capital Funds Trust:
 
We consent to the use of our report dated November 18, 2015 included herein, with respect to the statements of assets and liabilities (in Organization) of PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Funds”), comprised of PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund, PENN Capital High Yield Fund, and PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund, as of November 17, 2015, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
   
 
/s/ KPMG LLP
   
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 18, 2015


 
EX-99.j.2

 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 

 
The undersigned Trustees and/or Officers of PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a registered investment company, hereby appoint Richard A. Hocker, Lisa L.B. Matson, Gerald McBride, Robert J. McLaughlin and Peter Townsend (with full power to each of them to act alone) his or her attorney-in-fact and agent, in all capacities, to execute, deliver and file in the names of the undersigned, any and all instruments that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Trust to comply with or register any security issued by the Trust under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, including but not limited to, any registration statement on Form N-1A, including any and all pre- and post-effective amendments thereto, any other document to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any and all documents required to be filed with respect thereto with any other regulatory authority.  Each of the undersigned grants to each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her, substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
This Power of Attorney may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall be deemed to be a single document.
 
(Remainder of page left intentionally blank)



 
 
 

 

 
SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF ,   the undersigned have executed this Power of Attorney as of the 21 st day of October, 2015.

 
Signature
Title
   
   
/s/ Richard A. Hocker             
Trustee and President
Richard A. Hocker
 
   
   
   
/s/ Dennis S. Hudson, III
Trustee
Dennis S. Hudson, III
 
   
   
   
/s/ John R. Schwab     
Trustee
John R. Schwab
 
   
   
   
/s/ Lisa L.B. Matson
Secretary
Lisa L.B. Matson
 
   
   
   
/s/ Gerald McBride
Treasurer
Gerald McBride
 

 
EX-99.j.3

 

 







 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT  VERIFICATION FIRM
 
 

As   the   independent   verification   firm   for   Penn   Capital   Management, we   hereby   consent   to reference   to   the   fir m - wide   verification   for   the   period   January   1,   2004   to   December   31,   2014   and performance   examinations   of   (1)   the   Small   Cap Equity   composite   for   the   period   January   1, 2004 to   December   31,   2014,   (2)   the   Small   to   Mid   Cap   Equity   composite   for   the   period   January   1,   2004 to   December   31,   2014,   (3)   the   Opportunistic   High   Yield   composite   for   the   period   January   1 ,   2004   to   December   31, 2014,   and   (4)   the   Senior   Floating   Rate   Loan   composite   for   the   period   July 1,   2013   to   December   31,   2014,   issued   by   ACA   Performance   Services,   LLC,   and   to   related references   to   our firm,   included   in or   made   a   part   of   the Prospectus   for   the   PENN   Capital   Funds Trust.
 

November 18, 2015
 
ACA Performance Services, LLC
 
 
By: /s/ Theodore Eichenlaub
       Theodore Eichenlaub
       Executive Vice President
 
 

 
EX-99.l
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc. (the “Adviser”), a Delaware corporation, hereby agree as follows:
 
1.           The Trust hereby offers to sell to the Adviser and the Adviser hereby agrees to purchase 10,000 shares of the PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund, a series of the Trust, at a price of $10 per share.  The Trust hereby acknowledges receipt from the Adviser of funds in full payment for the foregoing shares.
 
2.           The shares were purchased pursuant to Section 14 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 to serve as the seed money for the Trust prior to the commencement of the public offering of its shares.
 
3.           The Adviser represents and warrants to the Trust that the foregoing shares are being acquired for investment purposes only and that it has no present intention of redeeming or reselling the shares so acquired.
 

IN AGREEMENT WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto have executed this Purchase Agreement as of the 2 nd day of November, 2015.
 

PENN CAPITAL FUNDS TRUST


By: /s/ Gerald McBride                            
Name:  Gerald McBride
Title:    Treasurer



PENN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.


By: /s/ Christian M. Noyes                                                     
Name:  Christian M. Noyes
Title:    Senior Managing Partner
 
EX-99.m

 

INVESTOR CLASS DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICING PLAN
 
Preamble to Distribution and Servicing Plan

The following Distribution and Servicing Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), by PENN Capital Funds Trust   (the “Trust”) for the use of the Investor Class shares of each series of the Trust listed on Exhibit A hereto (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).  The Plan has been approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (the “Independent Trustees”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.

In reviewing the Plan, the Board considered the schedule and nature of payments and terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and PENN Capital Management Company, Inc.   (the “Adviser”), and the terms of the Distribution   Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”).  The Board concluded that the compensation of the Adviser, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, and of the Distributor, under the Distribution   Agreement, was fair and not excessive; however, the Board also recognized that uncertainty may exist from time to time with respect to whether payments to be made by a Fund to the Adviser, Distributor, or others or by the Adviser or Distributor to others may be deemed to constitute distribution expenses of the Fund.  Accordingly, the Board determined that the Plan should provide for such payments and that adoption of the Plan would be prudent and in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders of the Class.  Such approval included a determination that in the exercise of their reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties, there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit each Fund and its shareholders of the Class.

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICING PLAN

1.           The Trust, on behalf of each Fund, shall pay the Distributor or others for all expenses (subject to the limitations described below) incurred by the Distributor or others in the promotion and distribution of the Investor Class shares of the Fund, as well as for shareholder services provided for existing shareholders of the Fund.  Distribution expenses may include, but are not limited to, the printing and mailing of prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, preparing and distributing sales literature (and any related expenses), advertisements, and other distribution-related expenses; certain promotional distribution charges paid to broker-dealer firms or others, or for participation in certain distribution channels (otherwise referred to as marketing support), including business planning assistance, advertising, educating dealer personnel about the Fund and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on dealers’ lists of offered funds, access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of dealers, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other employees, client and investor events and other dealer sponsored events, and ticket charges; or payment of dealer commissions and wholesaler compensation in connection with sales of the Fund’s Investor Class shares.  Shareholder service expenses may include, but are

 
A-1

 

not limited to, the expenses of assisting in establishing and maintaining customer accounts and records, assisting with purchase and redemption requests, arranging for bank wires, monitoring dividend payments from the Fund on behalf of customers, forwarding certain shareholder communications from the Fund to customers, receiving and answering correspondence, and aiding in maintaining the investment of their respective customers in the Fund.  These expenses may also include any distribution or service fees paid to securities dealers or their firms or others.  Agreements for the payment of distribution and service fees to securities dealers or their firms or others shall be in a form which has been approved from time to time by the Board, including the Independent Trustees.

2.           The amount paid by the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, to the Distributor or others pursuant to Paragraph 1 herein shall be 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to the Investor Class shares of the Fund.  These payments shall be made monthly by the Fund.

3.           In addition to the payments which the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, is authorized to make pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, to the extent that the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor or other parties on behalf of a Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor make payments that are deemed to be payments by the Fund for the financing of any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by the Fund within the context of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, then such payments shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to the Plan.

In no event shall the aggregate asset-based sales charges which include payments specified in paragraphs 1 and 2, plus any other payments deemed to be made pursuant to the Plan under this paragraph, exceed the amount permitted to be paid pursuant to Rule 2830(d) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or any successor thereto.

4.           The Distributor or Adviser shall furnish to the Board, for its review, on a quarterly basis, a written report of the monies reimbursed to it and to others under the Plan, including the purposes thereof, and shall furnish the Board with such other information as the Board may reasonably request in connection with the payments made under the Plan in order to enable the Board to make an informed determination of whether the Plan should be continued.

5.           The Plan, and any agreements related to this Plan, shall continue in effect for a period of more than one year only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board, and of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan and any related agreements.

6.           The Plan may be terminated with respect to a Class of a Fund at any time by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Class, as and to the extent required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, including Rule 18f-3(a)(3).

7.           Any agreement related to this Plan:

 
(a)
may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by vote a majority of the outstanding voting

 
A-2

 

 
securities of the Class on not more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to any other party to the agreement; and

(b)           will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

8.           The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for distribution pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof without approval by a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities of the Class (as and to the extent required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, including Rule 18f-3(a)(3)).

9.           All material amendments to the Plan shall be approved by a vote of the Board, and of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.

10.           So long as the Plan is in effect, the Board shall satisfy the fund governance standards as defined in Rule 0-1(a)(7) under the 1940 Act, including that the selection and nomination of the Trust’s Independent Trustees shall be committed to the discretion of such incumbent Independent Trustees.


 
A-3

 

Exhibit A

Fund
Effective Date of Plan
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
November [__], 2015
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
November [__], 2015
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
November [__], 2015
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
November [__], 2015








 
A-4
 
 

 
EX-99.n
MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 18F-3


This Multiple Class Plan (the “Plan”) has been adopted by a majority of the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of PENN Capital Funds Trust (the “Trust”), with respect to the separate series of the Trust identified on Appendix A as may be amended from time to time (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Board has determined that the Plan, including the allocation of expenses, is in the best interests of the Trust as a whole, each Fund, and each class of shares offered by the Funds. The Plan sets forth the provisions relating to the establishment of multiple classes of shares for each Fund. To the extent that a subject matter set forth in this Plan is covered by the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”) or By-Laws, such Declaration of Trust or By-Laws will control in the event of any inconsistencies with descriptions contained in this Plan.

CLASSES

1.
Appendix A to this Plan describes the classes to be issued by each Fund and identifies the names of such classes.

FRONT-END SALES CHARGE

2.
Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares are sold without front-end sales charges.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

3.
Investor Class and Institutional Class shares are not subject to contingent deferred sales charges.

RULE 12b-1 PLANS

4.
In accordance with the Distribution and Servicing Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 12b-1 Plan”) for the Investor Class shares of each Fund, each Fund shall pay to Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), the principal underwriter for the Funds, or others a monthly fee not to exceed the maximum rate set forth in Appendix A as may be determined by the Board from time to time for distribution or shareholder services.

5.
A Rule 12b-1 Plan has not been adopted for the Institutional Class shares of any Fund.

ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES

6.
Each Fund shall allocate to each of its classes of shares any fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with the distribution or servicing of such class of shares under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if any, adopted for such class. In addition, each Fund will allocate fees and expenses of the following nature to a particular class of shares of a Fund (to the extent that

 
 

 
such fees and expenses actually vary among each class of shares or vary by types of services provided to each class of shares of the Fund):
 
 
(i)
transfer agency and other recordkeeping costs;

 
(ii)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and blue sky registration or qualification fees;

 
(iii)
printing and postage expenses related to printing and distributing class-specific materials, such as shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxies to current shareholders of a particular class or to regulatory authorities with respect to such class of shares;

 
(iv)
audit or accounting fees or expenses relating solely to such class;

 
(v)
the expenses of administrative personnel and services as required to support the shareholders of such class;

 
(vi)
litigation or other legal expenses relating solely to such class of shares;

 
(vii)
Trustees’ fees and expenses incurred as a result of issues relating solely to such class of shares; and

 
(viii)
other expenses subsequently identified and determined to be properly allocated to such class of shares.

7.
All expenses incurred by a Fund will be allocated to each class of shares of such Fund on the basis of the net asset value of each such class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund, except for any expenses that are allocated to a particular class as described in paragraph 6 above.

ALLOCATION OF INCOME AND GAINS

8.
Income and realized and unrealized capital gains and losses of a Fund will be allocated to each class of shares of such Fund on the basis of the net asset value of each such class in relation to the net asset value of the Fund.

CONVERSIONS

9.
There shall be no conversion features associated with Investor Class and Institutional Class shares.

EXCHANGES

10.
Holders of Investor Class and Institutional Class shares of a Fund shall have such exchange privileges as set forth in the relevant prospectuses and statements of additional information.

 
2

 
All exchanges are subject to the eligibility and minimum purchase requirements set forth in the Funds’ prospectuses and statements of additional information.
 
OTHER PROVISIONS

11.
Shares of each class will have: (a) exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to its arrangements, including with respect to the Rule 12b-1 Plan related to that class; and (b) separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of the other class.

12.
On an ongoing basis, the Trustees, pursuant to their fiduciary responsibilities under the 1940 Act and otherwise, will monitor each Fund for the existence of any material conflicts between the interests of all the classes of shares offered by such Fund. The Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust, shall take such action as is reasonably necessary to eliminate any such conflict that may develop. PENN Capital Management Company, Inc., investment adviser to the Funds, and the Distributor shall be responsible for alerting the Board to any material conflicts that arise.

13.
The Trust may in the future alter the terms of the existing classes of each Fund or create new classes in compliance with applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

14.
All material amendments to this Plan must be approved by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust.

Initially Effective as of November [__], 2015

 
3

 

APPENDIX A

Fund/Class
Maximum Annual Distribution Fee (as a percentage of average daily net assets of class)
PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
 
Investor Class
0.25%
Institutional Class
None
   
PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
 
Investor Class
0.25%
Institutional Class
None
   
PENN Capital High Yield Fund
 
Investor Class
0.25%
Institutional Class
None
   
PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
 
Investor Class
0.25%
Institutional Class
None


 
4
 
 

EX-99.p.1

 
PENN Capital Funds Trust Code of Ethics

Effective [       ]

Legal Requirement

This Code of Ethics has been adopted by the Board of the Trust in accordance with Rule 17j 1(c)(1) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ 1940 Act”).  Rule 17j 1 under the 1940 Act generally proscribes fraudulent or manipulative practices with respect to purchases or sales of securities held or to be acquired by investment companies, if affected by certain associated persons of such companies.  The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to provide regulations for the Fund consistent with the 1940 Act and Rule 17j 1. Specifically, Rule 17j-l makes it unlawful for any officer or director of the Fund (as well as other persons), in connection with the purchase or sale by such person of a Security Held or to be Acquired by the Fund: 1

 
1.
To employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud the Fund;

 
2.
To make to the Fund any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to the Fund a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

 
3.
To engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Fund; or

 
4.
To engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Fund.

Definitions

 
1.
“Access Person” means any trustee, director, officer, general partner, or Advisory Person of the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor. For purposes of this Code of Ethics, an Access Person does not include persons that are otherwise required to report to a review officer under a Code of Ethics that has been adopted by the investment advisor to the Fund and approved by the Board or persons employed by a subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (including, Foreside Compliance Services, LLC) who are subject to securities transaction reporting requirements of their employer’s Code of Ethics if that Code of Ethics complies with Rule 17j-1 under the Act and has been approved by the Board.

 
2.
“Advisory Person” means (i) any trustee, director, officer, general partner or employee of the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor (or of any Company in a Control Relationship with the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor), who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a Covered Security by the Fund, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales, including


 
1
A security is “held or to be acquired” if within the most recent 15 days it has (i) been held by the Fund, or (ii) is being or has been considered by the Fund or its investment adviser for purchase by the Fund.

 
 

 
 
 
 
without limitation, employees who execute trades and otherwise place and process orders for the purchase or sale of a Covered Security by the Fund, and research analysts who investigate potential investments for the Fund; but excluding, marketing and investor relations personnel, financial, compliance, accounting and operational personnel, and all clerical, secretarial or solely administrative personnel; and (ii) any natural person in a Control Relationship to the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of a Covered Security. For purposes of this Code of Ethics, an Advisory Person does not include persons that are otherwise required to report to a review officer under a Code of Ethics that has been adopted by the investment advisor  to the Fund and approved by the Board or persons employed by a subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (including, Foreside Compliance Services, LLC) who are subject to securities transaction reporting requirements of their employer’s Code of Ethics if that Code of Ethics complies with Rule 17j-1 under the Act and has been approved by the Board.

 
3.
A security is “being considered for purchase or sale” when a recommendation to purchase or sell a security has been made and communicated, and with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.

 
4.
“Beneficial ownership” shall be interpreted in the same manner as it would be in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder (see Appendix A)

 
5.
“Company” means a corporation, partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a Fund, a limited liability company, a limited liability partnership, a fund, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not; or any receiver, Director or similar official or any liquidating agent for any of the foregoing, in his capacity as such.

 
6.
“Covered Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it shall not include direct obligations of the Government of the United States, Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements) and shares issued by registered open-end investment companies except those of the Fund and exchange traded funds.

 
7.
“Review Officer” shall be the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) or, in the event that the Review Officer is unavailable, another Fund officer.  The CCO reports her personal securities transactions under another Code of Ethics approved by the Fund’s Board, the Foreside Financial Group, LLC Code of Ethics. See Section V(A).

 
8.
“Control Relationship” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a Company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position.  Any person who owns beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25 per centum of the voting securities of a

 
 

 
 
 
 
Company shall be presumed to control such Company.  Any person who does not so own more than 25 per centum of the voting securities of any Company shall be presumed not to control such Company.

 
9.
“Disinterested Trustee” means a Trustee of the Fund who is not an “interested person” of the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor or principal underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 
10.
“Initial Public Offering” means an offering of securities registered under the Securities Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act.

 
11.
“Investment Personnel” means (i) any employee of the Fund or the Fund’s investment advisor (or any company in a Control Relationship with the Fund or its investment advisor) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes or participates in making recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund and (ii) any natural person who controls the Fund or its investment advisor and who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of securities by the Fund.

 
12.
“Limited Offering” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) or Section 4(a)(6) or pursuant to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 under the Securities Act.

 
13.
“Purchase or sale of a Covered Security” includes, inter alia, the writing of an option to purchase and sell a Covered Security.

Exempted Transactions.

The prohibitions of Section IV of this Code shall not apply to:

 
1.
Purchases or sales effected in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control.

 
2.
Purchases or sales which are non-volitional on the part of the Access Person.

 
3.
Purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

 
4.
Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.

Prohibited Purchases and Sales

 
1.
No Access Person shall, directly or indirectly, purchase or sell any Covered Security (except Fund shares which are addressed in paragraph B below) in which such person

 
 

 
 
 
has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership if, as of the time of the transaction, he/she had actual knowledge that, on the date of the transaction or during a period of three business days immediately preceding or following the transaction, the security was purchased or sold or was “being considered for purchase or sale” by the Fund, or is the subject of an outstanding purchase or sale order by the Fund, unless such purchase or sale is effected later than the third business day after the Fund has completed all of its intended trades in said Covered Security.

 
2.
No Access Person shall, directly or indirectly, purchase or sell Fund shares in which such person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect ownership if he/she is in possession of information regarding Fund portfolio activity that has occurred three business days prior to the transactions date, on the transaction date, or three business days after the transaction date.

 
3.
No Access Person shall engage in any act, practice or course of conduct that would violate the provisions of Rule 17j-l as set forth in Section I above.

 
4.
Requirement for Pre-clearance.  Investment Personnel must obtain prior written approval from the designated Review Officer before:

 
a.
directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in securities in an Initial Public Offering for which no public market in the same or similar securities of the issue has previously existed; and
 
b.
directly or indirectly acquiring  beneficial ownership in securities in a Limited Offering.

In determining whether to pre-clear the transaction, the Review Officer shall consider, among other factors, whether such opportunity is being offered to Investment Personnel by virtue of their position with the Fund.  If the transaction is not completed on the date of clearance, a new clearance must be obtained.  Post-approval is not permitted under this Code of Ethics.  If it is determined that a trade was completed before approval was obtained, it will be considered a violation of this Code of Ethics.

Reporting

 
1.
Access Persons (except Disinterested Trustees). Every Access Person must comply with the following reporting requirements:

 
a.
Initial Holding Reports.   No later than ten (10) days after a person becomes an Access Person, the person must report the following information: (a)  the title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership as of the date they became an Access Person; (ii)  the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the person maintains an account in which any securities were held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit as of the date they became an Access Person; and (iii) the date that the report is submitted

 
 

 
 
 
by the Access Person. The information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.
 
b.
Quarterly Transaction Reports.   No later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a quarterly transaction report which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions during the quarter in a Covered Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, and provide the following information:

 
1.
the date of the transaction, the title, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Covered Security involved;
 
2.
the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
 
3.
the price of the Covered Security at which the transaction was effected;
 
4.
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
 
5.
the date that the report is submitted.
 
c.
Quarterly New Account Report .  No later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a quarterly new account report with respect to any account established by such a person in which any securities (whether or not publicly traded) were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person.  The Quarterly New Account Report shall cover, at a minimum, all accounts at a broker-dealer, bank or other institution opened during the quarter and provide the following information:

 
1.
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person has established the account;
 
2.
the date the account was established; and
 
3.
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.
 
d.
Annual Holdings Reports.   Annually, each Access Person must report the following information (which information must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the report is submitted):

 
1.
the title, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;
 
2.
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit; and
 
3.
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.

 
a.
Alternative Reporting.  The submission to the Review Officer of duplicate broker trade confirmations and statements on all securities transactions required to be reported under this Section
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
V(A) shall satisfy the reporting requirements of Section V(A). The annual holdings report may be satisfied by confirming annually, in writing, the accuracy of the information delivered by, or on behalf of, the Access Person to the Review Officer and recording the date of the confirmation.
 
 
b.
Report Qualification.  Any report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making the report that he or she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Covered Securities to which the report relates.

 
2.
Disinterested Trustees.  A Disinterested Trustee of the Fund must make a quarterly transaction report containing the information required by Section V(A) no later than 30 days after the end of a calendar quarter with respect to transactions occurring in such quarter in a Covered Security (other than Fund shares) only if such Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee of the Fund, should have known that on the date of and during the 15-day period immediately before or after such Trustee’s transaction in a Covered Security, the Fund purchased or sold the Covered Security, or the Fund or its investment advisor considered purchasing or selling the Covered Security. 2   A Disinterested Trustee must also submit a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions occurring in such quarter in Fund shares if such Trustee knew, or in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee of the Fund, should have known details of specific securities transactions made or being considered for the Fund’s portfolio on the date of and during the 15-day period immediately before or after the Trustee’s transaction in Fund shares.

 
3.
Providing Access to Account Information.  Access Persons will promptly:

 
a.
provide full access to the Fund, its agents and attorneys to any and all records and documents which the Fund considers relevant to any securities transactions or other matters subject to the Code;
 
b.
cooperate with the Fund, or its agents and attorneys, in investigating any securities transactions or other matter subject to the Code;
 
c.
provide the Fund, its agents and attorneys with an explanation (in writing if requested) of the facts and circumstances surrounding any securities transaction or other matter subject to the Code; and
 
d.
promptly notify the Review Officer or such other individual as the Fund may direct, in writing, from time to time, of any incident of noncompliance with the Code by anyone subject to this Code.
 
 




2
Ordinarily, reports would need to be filed only if a Disinterested Trustee actually knows of a Fund transaction since, generally, Disinterested Trustees would not be expected to be in a position in which they “should have known” of a Fund transaction.
 
 
 

 
 
4.
Confidentiality of Reports.  Transaction and holding reports will be maintained in confidence, except to the extent necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this Code or to comply with requests for information from government agencies.

 
5.
The provisions of this Section V shall not apply to transactions involving Covered Securities that occur automatically following the instruction and in accordance with standing instructions (“Automatic Trades”), such as dividend or distribution reinvestments, paycheck contributions, and periodic or automatic withdrawal programs.

Review of Reports Required by this Code of Ethics

 
1.
Each report required to be submitted under Section V of this Code of Ethics will be promptly reviewed by the Review Officer (or his or her designee) when submitted.

 
2.
Any material violation of this Code of Ethics shall be brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Fund within five business days of its discovery.

 
3.
The Review Officer will investigate any violation or potential violation of this Code of Ethics and report to the Chairman of the Fund with a recommendation of appropriate action to be taken against any individual whom it is determined has violated this Code of Ethics as is necessary to cure the violation and prevent future violations.

 
4.
The Review Officer will keep a written record of all investigations in connection with any Code of Ethics violations including any action taken as a result of the violation.

Recordkeeping

The Fund shall cause the records enumerated in this Section VII (a) through (e) below to be maintained in an easily accessible place and shall cause such records to be made available to the Commission or any representative of the Commission at any time and from time to time for reasonable periodic, special or other examinations.

Specifically, the Fund shall maintain:

 
1.
a copy of the Code of Ethics adopted by the Fund that is in effect, or at any time within the previous five (5) years was in effect in an easily accessible place;

 
2.
a record of any violation of the Code of Ethics, and of any action taken as a result of such violation, in an easily accessible place, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;

 
3.
a copy of each report made by an Access Person as required by this Code of Ethics for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made or the information is provided, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place;

 
 

 
 
 
4.
a record of all persons, currently or within the past five years, who are or were required to make reports under Section V of this Code of Ethics, or who are or were responsible for reviewing these reports, in an easily accessible place; and

 
5.
a copy of each report required by Section V of this Code of Ethics, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place.

The Fund must maintain a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition by Investment Personnel of securities under Section IV(D), for at least five years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees

 
1.
No less frequently than annually, the Review Officer will prepare a written report to be furnished to the Board of the Fund that:

 
a.
Describes any issues arising under this Code of Ethics since the last report to the Board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of this Code of Ethics and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and
 
b.
Certifies that the Fund has adopted the procedures that are reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code of Ethics.

 
2.
No less frequently than annually, the Fund’s investment advisor must prepare a written report to be furnished to the Board of the Fund that:

 
a.
Describes any issues arising under its code of ethics since the last report to the Board, including, but not limited to, information about material violations of its code of ethics and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and
 
b.
Certifies that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating its code of ethics.

Code Provisions Applicable Only to Foreside Financial Group, LLC

 
1.
Code of Ethics.  The provisions of the Foreside Financial Group, LLC (including Foreside Compliance Services, LLC) (“Foreside”) Code of Ethics are hereby adopted as the Code of Ethics of the Funds applicable to the respective employees of Foreside that also serve as officers of the Funds (each, a “Foreside Employee”).  A violation of Foreside’s Code of Ethics by such a Foreside Employee shall also constitute a violation of the Funds’ Code of Ethics.  Any amendment or revision of Foreside’s Code of Ethics shall be deemed to be an amendment or revision of Section IX.(a) of the Funds’ Code of Ethics, and any such amendment or revision shall be promptly furnished to the Funds’ Board.

 
 
 

 
 
 
2.
Reports.  Foreside Employees shall file the reports required by Foreside’s Code of Ethics.  Such filings shall be deemed to be filings with the Funds under this Code of Ethics, and shall at all times be available to the Funds.

 
3.
Annual Issues and Certification Report.  At periodic intervals established by the Funds’ Board, but no less frequently than annually, the Compliance Officer of Foreside shall provide a written report to the Funds’ Board of all issues involving Foreside Employees under Foreside’s Code of Ethics during such period including, but not limited to, information about material code or procedure violations and sanctions imposed in response to those material violations.  Additionally, Foreside will provide the Funds’ Board a written certification which certifies to the Board of the Funds that Foreside has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its access persons from violating its code of ethics.


Certification

Each individual covered by this Code of Ethics shall:  (a) receive a copy of this Code of Ethics at the time of his/her appointment, employment or other engagement, (b) certify in writing that he/she has read and understood the Code of Ethics; and (c) retain a copy at all times.  Any questions regarding this Code of Ethics should be referred to the Review Officer.

Amendments

This Code may be amended from time to time solely upon written consent of the Secretary and Review Officer to the Fund, in consultation with Fund counsel, for the purpose of correcting ambiguities, inconsistencies or incompleteness in the Code of Ethics or the implementation thereof and to conform the Code of Ethics to federal or state tax, legal, securities or other requirements or regulations, including amendments necessary to preserve the Fund’s registration under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that the Board of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons must  approve any material changes to this Code of Ethics no later than six (6) months after the adoption of such change by the Secretary and Review Officer.

Adopted:

 
EX-99.p.2
As of October 1, 2015

Code of Ethics
Adopted under Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act.

While affirming its confidence in the integrity and good faith of its officers and employees, PENN recognizes that the knowledge of present or future portfolio transactions and the power to influence portfolio transactions which may be possessed by certain of its officers and employees could place such individuals in a position where their personal interest may conflict with that of PENN’s clients.

In view of the foregoing and of the provisions of Rules 17j-1 and 201A-1, PENN has determined to adopt this Code of Ethics to specify and prohibit certain types of transactions deemed to create conflicts of interest (or at least the appearance of such a conflict), and to establish reporting requirements and enforcement procedures.

Statement of General Principles
In recognition of the trust and confidence placed in PENN by its clients, and to give effect to PENN’s belief that its operations should be directed to the benefit of its clients, PENN hereby adopts the following general principles to guide the actions of its officers and employees:
1.  
The interests of PENN’s clients and investors are paramount, and PENN's personnel must conduct themselves and their operations to give maximum effect to this tenet by placing the interests of clients and investors before their own.
2.  
Personal transactions in securities by PENN's personnel must be accomplished so as to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest on the part of such personnel with the interests of PENN and its clients.
3.  
PENN's personnel must avoid actions or activities that allow a person to profit or benefit from his or her position with PENN, or that otherwise bring into question the person's independence or judgment.
4.  
PENN’s personnel are required to adhere and promote compliance with applicable federal securities laws and governmental rules and regulations.
5.  
PENN’s personnel are required to promptly report to their department head and to the Chief Compliance Officer any “CODE VIOLATIONS”.

Definitions
1.  
"Access Person" shall mean (i) each officer of PENN, (ii) each employee of PENN (or of any company in a control relationship to PENN) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a security by PENN’s clients (herein a "Client"), or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales,  (iii) any natural person in a control relationship to PENN who obtains information concerning recommendations made to or by PENN with respect to the purchase or sale of a security, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; (iv) each director, officer or general partner of any principal underwriter for a Client, but only where such person in the ordinary course either makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of securities, or
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
or whose functions relate to the making of recommendations regarding securities to the Clients; and (v) any natural person in a control relationship with a Client or any of the Client’s advisers or sub advisers who obtain information concerning recommendations made with regard to the purchase or sale of a security.
2.  
"Beneficial ownership" of a security is to be determined in the same manner as it is for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“34 Act”).  This means that a person should generally consider himself/herself the beneficial owner of any securities in which he/she has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest.  In addition, a person should consider himself/herself the beneficial owner of securities held by his/her spouse, his/her minor children, a relative who shares his home, or other persons by reason of any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship that provides him/her with sole or shared voting or investment power.
3.  
"Control" shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a) (9) of the 1940 Act.  Section 2(a) (9) provides that "control" means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company.  Ownership of 25% or more of a company's outstanding voting security is presumed to give the holder thereof control over the company.  Such presumption may be countered by the facts and circumstances of a given situation.
4.  
"Independent Trustee" means a Trustee of a fund who is not an "interested person" of PENN within the meaning of Section 2(a) (19) of the 1940 Act.
5.  
“Initial Public Offering” (“IPO”) means an offering of Securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933, the issuer of which, immediately before registration, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 34 Act.
6.  
“Private Placement” means an offering that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) in the Securities Act of 1933.
7.  
"Special Purpose Investment Personnel" means each Access Person who, in connection with his or her regular functions (including, where appropriate, attendance at Board meetings and other meetings at which the official business of PENN or any Client thereof is discussed or carried on), obtains contemporaneous information regarding the purchase or sale of a security by PENN.  Special Purpose Investment Personnel shall occupy this status only with respect to those securities which he or she obtains such contemporaneous information.
8.  
"Purchase or sale of a security" includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a security.
9.  
"Security" shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it shall not include securities issued by the Government of the United States or an agency thereof, bankers' acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and registered, open end mutual funds.
10.  
A "Security held or to be acquired" by PENN for any Client means (A) any Security which, within the most recent seven (7) days, (i) is or has been held by PENN or any Client advised by PENN, or (ii) is being or has been considered by the Client’s investment adviser for purchase; (B) and any option to purchase or sell and any Security convertible into or exchangeable for any Security described in (A) above.
 
 
 
 

 
 
11.  
A Security is "being purchased or sold" by a Client from the time when a purchase or sale program has been communicated to the person who places the buy and sell orders for PENN until the time when such program has been fully completed or terminated.

Prohibited Purchases and Sales of Securities
1.  
No Access Person shall, in connection with the purchase or sale of a Security held or to be acquired by any Client advised by PENN:
a.  
Employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud such Client;
b.  
Make to such Client any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
c.  
Engage in any act, practice or course of business which would operate as a fraud or deceit upon such Client; or
d.  
Engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a Client.
2.  
No Special Purpose Investment Personnel may purchase or sell any Security as to which such person is a Special Purpose Investment Personnel in which he had (or by reason of such transaction acquires) any Beneficial Ownership at any time within 7 calendar days before or after the time that the same (or a related) Security is being purchased or sold by any Client.
3.  
No Special Purpose Investment Personnel may sell a Security which he or she is a Special Purpose Investment Personnel within 60 days of acquiring beneficial ownership of that Security.

Additional Restrictions and Requirements
1.  
Pre-approval of IPOs and Private Placements   Each Access Person must obtain approval from the Review Officer before acquiring beneficial ownership of any securities offered in connection with an IPO or a Private Placement.
2.  
No Access Person shall accept or receive any gift of more than de-minimis value from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of PENN.
3.  
Each Access Person must provide to the Review Officer a complete listing of securities owned by such person as of the end of a calendar quarter.  The initial listing must be submitted within 10 days of the date upon which such person first becomes an Access Person of PENN, and each update thereafter must be provided no later than 30 days after the start of the subsequent year.

Reporting Obligation
1.  
Each Access Person shall request from their respective brokerage firm, copy(s) of personal trade confirms to be sent to PENN.  The written request should be imprinted in the company’s letterhead and signed by the Chief Compliance Officer.
2.  
Each Access Person shall report transactions in securities in which the person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership.  Reports shall be filed with the Review Officer quarterly.  The Review Officer shall submit confidential quarterly reports with respect to his or her own personal securities transactions to an officer designated to receive his or her reports ("Alternate Review Officer"), who shall act in all respects in the manner prescribed herein for the Review Officer.
 
 
 
 

 
 
3.  
Every report shall be made no later than 10 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected, and shall contain the following information:
a.  
The date of the transaction, the title and the number of shares or the principal amount of each security involved;
b.  
The nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
c.  
The price at which the transaction was effected;
d.  
The name of the broker, dealer or bank through whom the transaction was effected; and
e.  
The date the report was submitted by the Access Person.
4.  
In the event no reportable transactions occurred during the quarter, the report should be completed and returned, signed and dated.
5.  
An Independent Trustee shall report transactions in securities only if the Trustee knew at the time of the transaction or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a trustee, should have known, that during the 15 day period immediately preceding or following the date of the transaction, such security was purchased or sold, or was being considered for purchase or sale, by a fund.  (The "should have known" standard implies no duty of inquiry, does not presume there should have been any deduction or extrapolation from discussions or memoranda dealing with tactics to be employed meeting any fund's investment objectives, or that any knowledge is to be imputed because of prior knowledge of any fund's portfolio holdings, market considerations, or such fund’s investment policies, objectives and restrictions.)
6.  
Any such report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such report that he has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.

Review and Enforcement
1.  
The Review Officer shall compare reported personal securities transactions with completed portfolio transactions of PENN and a list of securities being considered for purchase or sale by PENN for Clients to determine whether a violation of this Code may have occurred.  Before making any determination that any person has committed a violation, the Review Officer shall give such person an opportunity to supply additional explanatory material.
2.  
If the Review Officer determines that a violation of this Code may have occurred, he shall submit his written determination, together with the confidential monthly report and any additional explanatory material provided by the individual, to the Executive Committee of PENN and outside counsel, who shall make an independent determination as to whether a violation has occurred.
3.  
If the Executive Committee or outside counsel finds that a violation has occurred, the Executive Committee shall impose upon the individual such sanctions as they deem appropriate and shall report the violation and the sanction imposed to the Board of Trustees of each fund advised by PENN.
4.  
No person shall participate in a determination of whether he has committed a violation of the Code or of the imposition of any sanction against himself.  If a securities transaction


 
 

 
 
 
of an Executive Committee member is under consideration, the other members shall act in all respects in the manner prescribed herein.
 
Records
PENN shall maintain records in the manner and to the extent set forth below, which records may be maintained under the conditions described in Rules under the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act and shall be available for examination by representatives of the SEC
1.  
A copy of this Code and any other code, which is, or at any time within the past five years has been, in effect shall be preserved in an easily accessible place.
2.  
A record of any violation of this Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation shall be preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs.
3.  
A copy of each report made by an officer or employee pursuant to this Code shall be preserved for a period of not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
4.  
A list of persons who are, or within the past five years have been, required to make reports pursuant to this Code shall be maintained in a convenient accessible place.
5.  
A copy of each annual report to the Board of Trustees will be maintained for at least five years, and the first two years in an easily accessible place.

Miscellaneous
1.  
Confidentiality .  Reports of securities transactions and any other information filed with PENN pursuant to this Code shall be treated as confidential.
2.  
Anti-Retaliation Policy . Any employee of PENN who is the subject of a violation report, or PENN itself, is prohibited from any form of retaliation against the reporting employee.  Any matter deemed to be retaliation shall be subject to serious sanctions, up to and including, termination of employment.
3.  
Interpretation of Provisions .  The Executive Committee of PENN may from time to time adopt such interpretations of this Code as it deems appropriate.
4.  
Periodic Review and Reporting .  The Compliance Committee Chairman shall report to the Executive Committee at least annually regarding the operation of this Code and shall address in any such report the need (if any) for changes or modifications to this Code.

 
EX-99.p.3








Code of Ethics
















 
 

 

Code of Ethics
 

INTRODUCTION
1
1.    STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
2
 
(a)
Fiduciary Duties
2
 
(b)
Compliance with Laws
2
 
(c)
Corporate Culture
2
 
(d)
Professional Misconduct
3
 
(e)
Disclosure of Conflicts
3
 
(f)
Undue Influence
3
 
(g)
Confidentiality and Protection of Material Nonpublic Information
3
 
(h)
Personal Securities Transactions
4
 
(i)
Gifts
4
 
(j)
Service on Boards
4
 
(k)
Prohibition Against Market Timing
4
2.    WHO IS COVERED BY THIS CODE
4
3.    PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS
4
 
(a)
Blackout Period
4
 
(b)
Requirement for Pre-clearance
4
 
(c)
Fund Officer Prohibition
5
4.    REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ACCESS PERSONS
5
 
(a)
Reporting
5
 
(b)
Exceptions from Reporting Requirement of Section 4
5
 
(c)
Initial Holdings Reports
5
 
(d)
Quarterly Transaction Reports
6
 
(e)
New Account Opening; Quarterly New Account Report
6
 
(f)
Annual Holdings Reports
6
 
(g)
Alternative Reporting
7
 
(h)
Report Qualification
7
 
(i)
Providing Access to Account Information
7
 
(j)
Confidentiality of Reports
7
5.    ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE
7
6.    REPORTING VIOLATIONS
8
7.    TRAINING
8
8.    REVIEW OFFICER
8
 
(a)
Duties of Review Officer
8
 
 
 
i

 
 
 
(b)
Potential Trade Conflict
9
 
(c)
Required Records
9
 
(d)
Post-Trade Review Process
10
 
(e)
Submission to Fund Board
10
 
(f)
Report to the Chief Executive Officer
11
       
Appendix A - Foreside Companies
12
Appendix B - Definitions
13
 
Attachment A - Acknowledgement
15


 
ii

 
               

INTRODUCTION

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) has been adopted by Foreside Financial Group, LLC (“Foreside”) and each of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries as listed in Appendix A (each, a “Company” and collectively, the “Companies”).  This Code pertains to the Companies’ distribution services to registered management investment companies or series thereof, as well as those funds for which certain employees of the Companies (or an affiliate thereof) serve as an officer or director of a registered investment company (“Fund Officer”), (each a “Fund” and as set forth in the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer 1 ).  This Code:

 
1.
establishes standards of professional conduct;
 
2.
establishes standards and procedures for the detection and prevention of activities by which persons having knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of a Fund may abuse their fiduciary duties to the Fund; and
 
3.
addresses other types of conflict of interest situations.

Definitions of underlined terms are included in Appendix B.

Each Company, through its President, may impose internal sanctions should Access Persons of any Company (as identified on the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer) violate these policies or procedures.  A registered broker-dealer and its personnel may be subject to various regulatory sanctions, including censure, suspension, fines, expulsion or revocation of registration for violations of securities rules, industry regulations and the Company’s internal policies and procedures.  In addition, negative publicity associated with regulatory investigations and private lawsuits can negatively impact and severely damage business reputation.

Furthermore, failure to comply with this Code is a very serious matter and may result in internal disciplinary action being taken.  Such action can include, among other things, warnings, suspension or termination.  In addition to sanctions, violations may result in referral to civil or criminal authorities where appropriate.

Should Access Persons require additional information about this Code or have ethics-related questions, please contact the Review Officer, as defined under Section 8 below, directly.



 
1   Each Company is adopting this Code pursuant to Rule 17j-1 with respect to certain funds that it distributes.  Adopting and approving a Rule 17j-1 code of ethics with respect to a Fund, as well as the Code’s administration, by a principal underwriter is not required unless:

 
Ø
the principal underwriter is an affiliated person of the Fund or of the Fund’s adviser, or
 
Ø
an officer, director, or general partner of the principal underwriter serves as an officer, director or general partner of the Fund or of the Fund’s investment adviser.

A Fund Officer is permitted to report as an Access Person under this Code with respect to the Funds listed on the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer.

 
1

 

1.           STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Each Company forbids any Access Person from engaging in any conduct that is contrary to this Code.  Furthermore, certain persons subject to the Code are also subject to other restrictions or requirements that affect their ability to open securities accounts, effect securities transactions, report securities transactions, maintain information and documents in a confidential manner and other matters relating to the proper discharge of their obligations to the Company or to a Fund.

Each Company has always held itself and its employees to the highest ethical standards.  Although this Code is only one manifestation of those standards, compliance with its provisions is essential.  Each Company adheres to the following standards of professional conduct, as well as those specific policies and procedures discussed throughout this Code:

(a)               Fiduciary Duties .  Each Company and its Access Persons are fiduciaries and shall:

 
Ø
act solely for the benefit of the Funds; and
 
Ø
place each Fund’s interests above their own.

(b)             Compliance with Laws .  Access Persons shall maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, and shall not knowingly participate or assist in any violation of such laws, rules or regulations.

It is unlawful for Access Persons to use any information concerning a security held or to be acquired by a Fund, or their ability to influence any investment decisions, for personal gain or in a manner detrimental to the interests of a Fund.

Access Persons shall not, directly or indirectly in connection with the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by a Fund:

 
(i)
employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud a Fund or engage in any manipulative practice with respect to a Fund;
 
(ii)
make to a Fund any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to a Fund a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;
 
(iii)
engage in any act, practice, or course of business that operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon a Fund; or
 
(iv)
engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.

(c)             Corporate Culture .  Access Persons, through their words and actions, shall act with integrity, encourage honest and ethical conduct, and adhere to a high standard of business ethics.

 
2

 

(d)             Professional Misconduct .  Access Persons shall not engage in any professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation or commit any act that reflects adversely on their honesty, trustworthiness, or professional competence.  Access Persons shall not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about a Company to a Fund, a Fund’s shareholders, regulators or any member of the public.  Disclosure in reports and documents should be fair and accurate.

(e)             Disclosure of Conflicts .  As a fiduciary, each Company has an affirmative duty of care, loyalty, honesty and good faith to act in the best interests of a Fund.  Compliance with this duty can be achieved by trying to avoid conflicts of interest and by fully disclosing all material facts concerning any conflict that does arise with respect to any Fund.  Access Persons must try to avoid situations that have even the appearance of conflict or impropriety.

Access Persons shall support an environment that fosters the ethical resolution of, and appropriate disclosure of, conflicts of interest.

This Code prohibits inappropriate favoritism of one Fund over another that would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty.  Access Persons shall comply with any prohibitions on activities imposed by a Company if a conflict of interest exists.

(f)             Undue Influence .  Access Persons shall not cause or attempt to cause any Fund to purchase, sell or hold any security in a manner calculated to create any personal benefit to them.

(g)             Confidentiality and Protection of Material Nonpublic Information.   Information concerning the identity of portfolio holdings and financial circumstances of a Fund is confidential.  Access Persons are responsible for safeguarding nonpublic information about a Fund, portfolio recommendations and fund holdings.  Except as required in the normal course of carrying out their business responsibilities and as permitted by a Fund’s policies and procedures, Access Persons shall not reveal information relating to the investment intentions or activities of any Fund, or securities that are being considered for purchase or sale on behalf of any Fund.

Each Company shall be bound by a Fund’s policies and procedures with regard to disclosure of an investment company’s identity, affairs and portfolio holdings.  The obligation to safeguard such Fund information would not preclude Access Persons from providing necessary information to, for example, persons providing services to a Company or a Fund’s account such as brokers, accountants, custodians and fund transfer agents, or in other circumstances when the Fund consents, as long as such disclosure conforms to the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.

In any case, Access Persons shall not:

 
Ø
trade based upon confidential, proprietary information where Fund trades are likely to be pending or imminent; or
 
Ø
use knowledge of portfolio transactions of a Fund for personal benefit or the personal benefit of others.

 
3

 


(h)             Personal Securities Transactions .  All personal securities transactions shall be conducted in such a manner as to be consistent with this Code and to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of any Access Person’s position of trust and responsibility.

(i)             Gifts .  Access Persons shall not accept or provide anything in excess of $100.00 (per individual per year) or any other preferential treatment, in each case as a gift, to or from any broker-dealer or other entity with which a Company or a Fund does business.

(j)             Service on Boards .  Access Persons shall not serve on the boards of trustees (or directors) of publicly traded companies, absent prior authorization based upon a determination by the Review Officer that the board service would be consistent with the interests of the Company, a Fund and its shareholders.

(k)             Prohibition Against Market Timing .  Access Persons shall not engage in market timing of shares of Reportable Funds (a list of which are provided in the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer).  For purposes of this section, an Access Person’s trades shall be considered ‘market timing’ if made in violation of any stated policy in the Fund’s prospectus.

2.           WHO IS COVERED BY THIS CODE

All Access Persons, in each case only with respect to the Reportable Funds as listed on the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer, shall abide by this Code.  Access Persons are required to comply with specific reporting requirements as set forth in Sections 3 and 4 of this Code.

3.           PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS

(a)             Blackout Period .  Access Persons shall not purchase or sell a Reportable Security in an account in their name, or in the name of others in which they hold a beneficial ownership interest or over which they have direct or indirect influence or control, if they had actual knowledge at the time of the transaction that, during the 24 hour period immediately preceding or following the transaction, the security was purchased or sold or was considered for purchase or sale by a Fund.

(b)             Requirement for Pre-clearance .  Access Persons must obtain prior written approval from the Review Officer before:

 
(i)
directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in securities in an initial public offering for which no public market in the same or similar securities of the issue has previously existed; and
 
(ii)
directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership in securities in a private placement.

 
4

 

In determining whether to pre-clear the transaction, the Review Officer shall consider, among other factors, whether such opportunity is being offered to the Access Person by virtue of his or her position with the Fund.

(c)             Fund Officer Prohibition .  No Fund Officer shall directly or indirectly seek to obtain information (other than that necessary to accomplish the functions of the office) from any Fund portfolio manager regarding (i) the status of any pending securities transaction for a Fund or (ii) the merits of any securities transaction contemplated by the Fund Officer.

4.           REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF ACCESS PERSONS

(a)             Reporting .  Access Persons must report the information described in this Section with respect to transactions in any Reportable Security in which they have, or by reason of such transaction acquire, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership .  Access Persons must submit the appropriate reports to the Review Officer, unless they are otherwise required by a Fund, pursuant to a Code of Ethics adopted by the Fund, to report to the Fund or another entity.

(b)             Exceptions from Reporting Requirement of Section 4 .  Access Persons need not submit:

 
(i)
any report with respect to securities held in accounts over which the Access Person had no direct or indirect influence or control;
 
(ii)
a quarterly transaction report with respect to transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan.  However, any transaction that overrides the pre-set schedule or allocations of the automatic investment plan must be included in a quarterly transaction report; or
 
(iii)
a quarterly transaction report if the report would duplicate information contained in broker trade confirmations or account statements that the Company holds in its records so long as the Company receives the confirmations or statements no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the applicable calendar quarter.

(c)             Initial Holdings Reports .  No later than ten (10) days after a person becomes an Access Person, the person must report the following information:

 
(i)
the title, type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the person has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership as of the date they became an Access Person;
 
(ii)
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the person maintains an account in which any securities were held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit as of the date they became an Access Person; and
 
(iii)
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.

The information must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date the person becomes an Access Person.

 
5

 

(d)             Quarterly Transaction Reports .  No later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a quarterly transaction report which report must cover, at a minimum, all transactions during the quarter in a Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership, and provide the following information:

 
(i)
the date of the transaction, the title, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, the interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), the number of shares and the principal amount of each Reportable Security involved;
 
(ii)
the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);
 
(iii)
the price of the Reportable Security at which the transaction was effected;
 
(iv)
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and
 
(v)
the date that the report is submitted.

(e)             New Account Opening; Quarterly New Account Report .  Each Access Person shall provide written notice to the Review Officer prior to opening any new account with any entity through which a Reportable Securities (whether or not publicly traded) transaction may be effected for which the Access Person has direct or indirect beneficial ownership.

In addition, no later than thirty (30) days after the end of a calendar quarter, each Access Person must submit a Quarterly New Account Report with respect to any account established by such a person in which any Reportable Securities (whether or not publicly traded) were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of the Access Person.  The Quarterly New Account Report shall cover, at a minimum, all accounts at a broker-dealer, bank or other institution opened during the quarter and provide the following information:

 
(1)
the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person has established the account;
 
(2)
the date the account was established; and
 
(3)
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.

(f)             Annual Holdings Reports .  Annually, each Access Person must report the following information (which information must be current as of a date no more than forty-five (45) days before the report is submitted):

 
(i)
the title, type of security, and as applicable the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of shares and principal amount of each Reportable Security (whether or not publicly traded) in which the Access Person had any direct or indirect beneficial ownership;
 
(ii)
the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the Access Person maintained an account in which any securities are held for the Access Person’s direct or indirect benefit; and
 
(iii)
the date that the report is submitted by the Access Person.


 
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(g)             Alternative Reporting .  The submission to the Review Officer of duplicate broker trade confirmations and statements on all securities transactions required to be reported under this Section shall satisfy the reporting requirements of Section 4.  The annual holdings report may be satisfied by confirming annually, in writing, the accuracy of the information delivered by, or on behalf of, the Access Person to the Review Officer and recording the date of the confirmation.

(h)             Report Qualification .  Any report may contain a statement that the report shall not be construed as an admission by the person making the report that he or she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Reportable Securities to which the report relates.

(i)             Providing Access to Account Information .  Access Persons will promptly:

 
(i)
provide full access to a Fund, its agents and attorneys to any and all records and documents which a Fund considers relevant to any securities transactions or other matters subject to the Code;
 
(ii)
cooperate with a Fund, or its agents and attorneys, in investigating any securities transactions or other matter subject to the Code;
 
(iii)
provide a Fund, its agents and attorneys with an explanation (in writing if requested) of the facts and circumstances surrounding any securities transaction or other matter subject to the Code; and
 
(iv)
promptly notify the Review Officer or such other individual as a Fund may direct, in writing, from time to time, of any incident of noncompliance with the Code by anyone subject to this Code.

(j)             Confidentiality of Reports .  Transaction and holdings reports will be maintained in confidence, expect to the extent necessary to implement and enforce the provisions of this Code or to comply with requests for information from regulatory or government agencies where applicable.

5.           ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

Each Access Person is required to acknowledge in writing, initially and annually (in the form of Attachment A), that the person has received, read and understands the Code (and in the case of any amendments thereto, shall similarly acknowledge such amendment) and recognizes that he or she is subject to the Code.  Further, each such person is required to certify annually that he or she has:

 
Ø
read, understood and complied with all the requirements of the Code;
 
Ø
disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions pursuant to the requirements of the Code; and
 
Ø
not engaged in any prohibited conduct.

If an Access Person is unable to make the above representations, he or she shall report any violations of this Code to the Review Officer.

 
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6.           REPORTING VIOLATIONS

Access Persons shall report any violations of this Code promptly to the Review Officer, unless the violations implicate the Review Officer, in which case the individual shall report the violations to the General Counsel or the Chief Executive Officer of Foreside, as appropriate.  Such reports will be confidential, to the extent permitted by law, and investigated promptly and appropriately.  Retaliation against an individual who reports a violation is prohibited and constitutes a further violation of this Code.

Reported violations of the Code will be investigated and appropriate actions will be taken.  Types of reporting that are required include, but are not limited to:

 
Ø
Noncompliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;
 
Ø
Fraud or illegal acts involving any aspect of the Company’s business;
 
Ø
Material misstatements in regulatory filings, internal books and records, Fund records or reports;
 
Ø
Activity that is harmful to a Fund, including Fund shareholders; and
 
Ø
Deviations from required controls and procedures that safeguard a Fund or a Company.

Access Persons should seek advice from the Review Officer with respect to any action or transaction that may violate this Code, and refrain from any action or transaction that might lead to the appearance of a violation.  Access Persons should report apparent or suspected violations in addition to actual or known violations of this Code.

7.           TRAINING

Training with respect to the Code will occur periodically and all Access Persons are required to attend any training sessions or read any applicable materials.  Training may include, among other things, (1) periodic orientation or training sessions with new and existing personnel to remind them of their obligations under the Code and/or (2) certifications that Access Persons have read and understood the Code, and require re-certification that they have re-read, understand and have complied with the Code.

8.           REVIEW OFFICER

(a)             Duties of Review Officer .  The President of Foreside has been appointed by the President of each Company as the Review Officer to:

 
(i)
review all securities transaction and holdings reports and maintain the names of persons responsible for reviewing these reports;
 
(ii)
identify all persons of each Company who are Access Persons subject to this Code, promptly inform each Access Person of the requirements of this Code and provide them with a copy of the Code and any amendments;

 
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(iii)
compare, on a quarterly basis, all Reportable Securities transactions with each Fund’s completed portfolio transactions to determine whether a Code violation may have occurred;
 
(iv)
maintain signed acknowledgments and certifications by each Access Person who is then subject to this Code, in the form of Attachment A;
 
(v)
inform all Access Persons of their requirements to obtain prior written approval from the Review Officer prior to directly or indirectly acquiring beneficial ownership of a security in any private placement or initial public offering;
 
(vi)
ensure that Access Persons receive adequate training on the principles and procedures of this Code;
 
(vii)
review, at least annually, the adequacy of this Code and the effectiveness of its implementation; and
 
(viii)
submit a written report to a Fund’s Board and Foreside’s senior management as described in Section 8(e) and (f), respectively.

The Chief Executive Officer of Foreside shall review the Review Officer’s personal transactions.  The Chief Executive Officer shall assume the responsibilities of the Review Officer in his or her absence.  The Review Officer may delegate responsibilities to an appropriate Foreside representative.

( b)             Potential Trade Conflict .  When there appears to be a Reportable Securities transaction that conflicts with the Code, the Review Officer shall request a written explanation of from the Access Person with regard to the transaction.  If, after post-trade review, it is determined that there has been a violation of the Code, a report will be made by the Review Officer with a recommendation of appropriate action to be taken to the Chief Executive Officer of Foreside, the President of each Company, where applicable, and a Fund’s Board of Trustees (or Directors), where applicable.

(c)             Required Records .  The Review Officer shall maintain and cause to be maintained:

 
(i)
a copy of any code of ethics adopted by each Company that is in effect, or at any time within the past five (5) years was in effect, in an easily accessible place;
 
(ii)
a record of any violation of any code of ethics, and of any action taken as a result of such violation, in an easily accessible place for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the last entry was made on any such report, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place;
 
(iii)
a copy of each holdings and transaction report (including duplicate confirmations and statements) made by anyone subject to this Code as required by Section 4 for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the report is made, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place;
 
(iv)
a record of all written acknowledgements and certifications by each  Access Person who is currently, or within the past five (5) years was, an Access Person (records must be kept for 5 years after individual ceases to be a Access Person under the Code);

 
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(v)
a list of all persons who are currently, or within the past five years were , required to make reports or who were responsible for reviewing these reports pursuant to any code of ethics adopted by each Company, in an easily accessible place;
 
(vi)
a copy of each written report and certification required pursuant to Section 8(e) of this Code for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which it is made, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place;
 
(vii)
a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, approving the acquisition of securities by Access Persons under Section 3(b) of this Code, for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted; and
 
(viii)
a record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, granting an Access Person a waiver from, or exception to, the Code for at least five (5) years after the end of the fiscal year in which the waiver is granted.

(d)             Post-Trade Review Process .  Following receipt of trade confirms and statements, transactions will be screened by the Review Officer (or his or her designee) for the following:

 
(i)
same day trades :  transactions by Access Persons occurring on the same day as the purchase or sale of the same security by a Fund for which they are an Access Person.
 
(ii)
fraudulent conduct :  transaction by Access Persons which, within the most recent fifteen (15) days, is or has been held by a Fund or is being or has been considered by a Fund for purchase by a Fund.
 
(iii)
market timing of Reportable Funds :  transactions by Access Persons that appear to be market timing of Reportable Funds.
 
(iv)
other activities :  transactions which may give the appearance that an Access Person has executed transactions not in accordance with this Code or otherwise reflect patterns of abuse.

(e)             Submission to Fund Board .

 
(i)
The Review Officer shall, at a minimum, annually prepare a written report to the Board of Trustees (or Directors) of a Fund listed in the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer that:

 
A.
describes any issues under this Code or its procedures since the last report to the Trustees (or Directors), including, but not limited to, information about material violations of the code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and
 
B.
certifies that each Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code.

 
(ii)
The Review Officer shall ensure that this Code and any material amendments are approved by the Board of Trustees (or Directors) for those funds listed in the List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer.

 
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(f)             Report to the Chief Executive Officer .  The Review Officer shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Foreside regarding his or her annual review of the Code and shall bring material violations to the attention of senior management.



Adopted:                        May 1, 2009
Amended:                      October 14, 2009 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      September 29, 2011 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      March 15, 2012 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      April 4, 2012 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      July 5, 2012 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      November 30, 2012 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      December 24, 2013 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      March 26, 2014
Amended:                      July 11, 2014 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      June 10, 2015 (updated Appendix A)
Amended:                      October 16, 2015 (updated Appendix A)

 
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FORESIDE FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC
CODE OF ETHICS

APPENDIX A
FORESIDE COMPANIES


The following direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Foreside Financial Group, LLC are subject to the Code of Ethics:

Arden Securities LLC*
Fairholme Distributors, LLC*
Foreside Consulting Services, LLC (f/k/a Foreside Alternative Investment Services, LLC)
Foreside Distribution Services, L.P.*
Foreside Distributors, LLC
Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC (f/k/a Foreside Compliance Services, LLC)
Foreside Fund Services, LLC*
Foreside Funds Distributors LLC*
Foreside Global Services, LLC (f/k/a Fund Source US, LLC) *
Foreside Investment Services, LLC*
Foreside Management Services, LLC
Foreside Securities, LLC*
Foreside Services, Inc.
Funds Distributor, LLC*
IMST Distributors, LLC*
IVA Funds Distributors, LLC*
MGI Funds Distributors, LLC*
Northern Funds Distributors, LLC*
Orbis Investments (U.S.), LLC*
PNC Funds Distributor, LLC*
RidgeWorth Distributors LLC*
Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC*


*   FINRA-registered broker-dealer
 

 
The companies listed on this Appendix A may be amended from time to time, as required.


 
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FORESIDE FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC
CODE OF ETHICS

APPENDIX B
DEFINITIONS

(a)            Access Person :

 
(i)(1)
of a Company means each director or officer of the Companies who in the ordinary course of business makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Reportable Securities for a Fund or whose functions or duties as part of the ordinary course of business relate to the making of any recommendation to a Fund regarding the purchase or sale of Reportable Securities.

 
(ii)(2)
of a Fund, whereby an employee or agent of a Company serves as an officer of a Fund (“ Fund Officer ”).  Such Fund Officer is an Access Person of a Fund and is permitted to report under this Code unless otherwise required by a Fund’s Code of Ethics.

 
(iii)(3)
of a Company includes anyone else specifically designated by the Review Officer.

(b)
Beneficial Owner shall have the meaning as that set forth in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except that the determination of direct or indirect beneficial ownership shall apply to all Reportable Securities that an Access Person owns or acquires.  A beneficial owner of a security is any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest (the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the subject securities) in a security.  An Access Person is presumed to be a beneficial owner of securities that are held by his or her immediate family members sharing the Access Person’s household.

(c)
Indirect pecuniary interest in a security includes securities held by a person’s immediate family sharing the same household.   Immediate family means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships).

(d)
Control means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of an entity, unless this power is solely the result of an official position with the company.  Ownership of 25% or more of a company’s outstanding voting securities is presumed to give the holder thereof control over the company.  This presumption may be rebutted by the Review Officer based upon the facts and circumstances of a given situation.

 
13

 
 
(e)
Purchase or sale includes, among other things, the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Reportable Security.

(f)
Reportable Fund (see List of Access Persons & Funds maintained by the Review Officer) means any fund that triggers the Company’s compliance with a Rule 17j-1 Code of Ethics or any fund for which an employee or agent of the Company serves as a Fund Officer.

(g)
Reportable Security means any security such as a stock, bond, future, investment contract or any other instrument that is considered a ‘security’ under Section 2(a)(36) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, except:

 
(i)
direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
(ii)           bankers’ acceptances and bank certificates of deposits;
 
(iii)
commercial paper and debt instruments with a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and that are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
 
(iv)
repurchase agreements covering any of the foregoing;
 
(v)
shares issued by money market mutual funds;
 
(vi)
shares of SEC registered open-end investment companies ( other than a Reportable Fund ); and
 
(vii)
shares of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more open-end funds, none of which are Reportable Funds.

Included in the definition of Reportable Security are:

 
Ø
Options on securities, on indexes, and on currencies;
 
Ø
All kinds of limited partnerships;
 
Ø
Foreign unit trusts, UCITs, SICAVs and foreign mutual funds; and
 
Ø
Private investment funds, hedge funds and investment clubs.

(h)            Security held or to be acquired by the Fund means

 
(i)
any Reportable Security which, within the most recent fifteen (15) days (x) is or has been held by the applicable Fund or (y) is being or has been considered by the applicable Fund or its investment adviser for purchase by the applicable Fund; and
 
(ii)
and any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Reportable Security.


 
14

 


FORESIDE FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC
CODE OF ETHICS


ATTACHMENT A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT


 
I understand that I am an Access Person subject to the Code of Ethics (the “Code”) adopted by each Company.  I have read and understand the current Code, and will comply with it in all respects.  In addition, I certify that I have complied with the requirements of the Code in that I have disclosed or reported all personal securities transactions required to be disclosed or reported pursuant to the requirements of the Code.



     
 
_________________________________________                             _________________________________________
                         Signature                                                                                               Date



     _________________________________________
                         Printed Name


This form must be completed and returned to the Corporate Compliance Department:

Foreside Financial Group, LLC
ATTN: Review Officer (or his or her designee)
Three Canal Plaza, Third Floor
Portland, ME  04101


Received By:  _________________________________________

Date:  _______________________________________________

 
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