REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
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Post-Effective Amendment No.
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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Amendment No.
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3
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Richard A. Hocker
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Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
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Lisa L.B. Matson, Esq.
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Navy Yard Corporate Center
3 Crescent Drive, Suite 400
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112
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Michael P. O’Hare, Esq.
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Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
2005 Market Street, Suite 2600
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
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1
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PENN Capital Small/Mid Cap Equity Fund
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1
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PENN Capital Small Cap Equity Fund
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6
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PENN Capital High Yield Fund
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11
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PENN Capital Senior Floating Rate Income Fund
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17
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
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22
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PRINCIPAL RISKS
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26
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
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32
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CLASSES OF SHARES
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35
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HOW TO BUY, SELL, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER SHARES.
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37
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS
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44
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DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
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46
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HISTORICAL INVESTMENT ADVISOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
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49
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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54
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
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55
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Institutional Class
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Investor Class
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the original purchase price)
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None
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None
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
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None
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None
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Redemption Fee Paid to the Fund (as a percentage of amount redeemed in 90 days or less from date of purchase)
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2.00%
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2.00%
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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|||
Management Fees
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0.90%
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0.90%
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Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees
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0.00%
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0.25%
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Other Expenses
(1)
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2.20%
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2.20%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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3.10%
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3.35%
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Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(2)
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-2.04%
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-2.04%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement)
(2)
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1.06%
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1.31%
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__________________
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(1)
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“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.
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(2)
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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.
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1 Year
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3 Years
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Institutional Class
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$108
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$765
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Investor Class
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$133
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$840
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·
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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.
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·
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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
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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·
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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
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·
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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.
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·
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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.
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Portfolio Managers:
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Richard A. Hocker, Founder, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
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Eric J. Green, CFA, Senior Managing Partner and Director of Research of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
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Joseph C. Maguire, CFA, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Advisor. He has managed the Fund since inception in 2015.
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Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Institutional Class
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Investor Class
|
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
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None
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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
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0.00%
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0.25%
|
|
Other Expenses
(1)
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2.20%
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2.20%
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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3.15%
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3.40%
|
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Less Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(2)
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-2.06%
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-2.06%
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|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement)
(2)
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1.09%
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1.34%
|
|
__________________
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(1)
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“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)
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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.
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1 Year
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3 Years
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|||
Institutional Class
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$111
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$778
|
||
Investor Class
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$136
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$853
|
·
|
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
|
·
|
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
|
·
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
|||
Institutional Class
|
$74
|
$720
|
||
Investor Class
|
$99
|
$795
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
|||
Institutional Class
|
$76
|
$804
|
||
Investor Class
|
$101
|
$879
|
·
|
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
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
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.
|
·
|
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.
|
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.
|
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
|
|
·
|
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;
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
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%
|
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%
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
If You Want To
|
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
|
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
|
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
.
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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.
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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;
|
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.
|
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
|
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.
|
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.
|
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%
|
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 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
|
|
·
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
·
|
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).
|
1.
|
Organization
|
2.
|
Significant Accounting Policies
|
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%
|
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%
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
1.
|
Advisor or principals have a business or personal relationship with participants in a proxy contest, corporate directories or candidates for directorships;
|
|
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.
|
(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)
|
|
(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)
|
(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
|
|
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
|
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
|
PENN Capital Funds Trust
|
|
By:
/s/ Richard A. Hocker
|
|
Richard A. Hocker*
|
|
President and Trustee
|
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)
|
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
|
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
|
|
||
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
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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)
|
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.
|
|
(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
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
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%
|
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%
|
|
(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
|
|
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.
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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;
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(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
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(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.
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(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;
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(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;
|
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(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
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(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.
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(a)
|
A copy of the Trust’s declaration of trust, certified by the Secretary;
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|
(b)
|
A copy of the Trust’s bylaws, certified by the Secretary;
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|
(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”);
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|
(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
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(f)
|
An executed authorization required by the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985, attached hereto as
Exhibit D
.
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(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;
|
|
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.
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(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.
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(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).
|
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(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.
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|
(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.
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(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
|
|
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.
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(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.
|
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(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.
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(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.
|
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(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.
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|
(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.
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(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.
|
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(g)
|
With respect to its responsibilities under this Section 3.05 and pursuant to Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, the Custodian hereby warrants to the Trust that it agrees to
|
|
(i) exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain such assets, (ii) provide, promptly upon request by the Trust, such reports as are available concerning the Custodian’s internal accounting controls and financial strength, and (iii) require any Sub-Custodian to exercise due care in accordance with reasonable commercial standards in discharging its duty as a securities intermediary to obtain and thereafter maintain assets corresponding to the security entitlements of its entitlement holders.
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(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;
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(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;
|
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(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;
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(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;
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|
(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.
|
|
(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;
|
|
(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;
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(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
|
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(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.
|
|
(a)
|
Subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis all income and other payments to which the Fund is entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business;
|
|
(b)
|
Present for payment and, subject to Section 9.04 below, collect on a timely basis the amount payable upon all Securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, or retired, or otherwise become payable;
|
|
(c)
|
Endorse for collection, in the name of the Fund, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;
|
|
(d)
|
Surrender interim receipts or Securities in temporary form for Securities in definitive form;
|
|
(e)
|
Execute, as custodian, any necessary declarations or certificates of ownership under the federal income tax laws or the laws or regulations of any other taxing authority now or hereafter in effect, and prepare and submit reports to the IRS and the Trust at such time, in such manner and containing such information as is prescribed by the IRS;
|
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(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.
|
|
(a)
|
The Custodian shall maintain complete and accurate records with respect to Securities, cash or other property held for the Fund, including (i) journals or other records of original entry containing an itemized daily record in detail of all receipts and deliveries of Securities and all receipts and disbursements of cash; (ii) ledgers (or other records) reflecting (A) Securities in transfer, (B) Securities in physical possession, (C) monies and Securities borrowed and monies and Securities loaned (together with a record of the collateral therefor and substitutions of such collateral), (D) dividends and interest received, and (E) dividends receivable and interest receivable; (iii) canceled checks and bank records related thereto; and (iv) all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement. The Custodian shall keep such other books and records of the Fund as the Trust shall reasonably request, or as may be required by the 1940 Act,
|
|
including, but not limited to, Section 31 of the 1940 Act and Rule 31a-2 promulgated thereunder.
|
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(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.
|
|
(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.
|
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(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
|
|
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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(a)
|
It is duly organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with full power to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
|
|
(b)
|
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with all requisite action and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and secured parties; and
|
|
(c)
|
It is conducting its business in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, both state and federal, and has obtained all regulatory approvals
|
|
necessary to carry on its business as now conducted; there is no statute, rule, regulation, order or judgment binding on it and no provision of its charter, bylaws or any contract binding it or affecting its property which would prohibit its execution or performance of this Agreement.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
Name
|
Telephone/Fax Number
|
Signature
|
______________________
|
||
______________________
|
||
______________________
|
||
______________________
|
||
______________________
|
______ 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.
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Administrator
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
|
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:
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
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.
|
4.
|
Compensation
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
8.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
9.
|
Records
|
10.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
11.
|
Terms of Agreement; Amendment
|
12.
|
Early Termination
|
13.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
14.
|
Assignment
|
15.
|
Governing Law
|
16.
|
No Agency Relationship
|
17.
|
Services Not Exclusive
|
18.
|
Invalidity
|
19.
|
Legal-Related Services
|
20.
|
Notices
|
21.
|
Multiple Originals
|
22.
|
Insurance
|
23.
|
Entire
Agreement
|
24.
|
Trust
Limitations
|
·
|
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.
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Transfer Agent
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
|
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.
|
|
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:
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
4.
|
Lost Shareholder Due Diligence Searches and Servicing
|
5.
|
Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Programs
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
6.
|
Compensation
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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 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
|
10.
|
Proprietary and Confidential Information
|
11.
|
Records
|
12.
|
Compliance with Laws
|
13.
|
Term of Agreement; Amendment
|
14.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
15.
|
Early Termination
|
16.
|
Assignment
|
17.
|
Governing Law
|
18.
|
No Agency Relationship
|
19.
|
Services Not Exclusive
|
20.
|
Invalidity
|
21.
|
Notices
|
22..
|
Multiple Originals
|
23.
|
Insurance
|
24.
|
Entire Agreement
|
25.
|
Trust Limitations
|
1.
|
Services Covered
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
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
|
|
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
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
9.
|
Warranties
|
10.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
1.
|
Appointment of USBFS as Fund Accountant
|
2.
|
Services and Duties of USBFS
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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
|
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
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
|
6.
|
Changes in Equipment, Systems, Etc.
|
7.
|
Compensation
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
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.
|
|
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
|
15.
|
Term of Agreement; Amendment
|
16.
|
Early Termination
|
17.
|
Duties in the Event of Termination
|
18.
|
Assignment
|
19.
|
Governing Law
|
20.
|
No Agency Relationship
|
21.
|
Services Not Exclusive
|
22.
|
Invalidity
|
23.
|
Notices
|
24.
|
Multiple Originals
|
25.
|
Insurance
|
26.
|
Entire Agreement
|
27.
|
Trust Limitations
|
(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
|
|
FORESIDE COMPLIANCE SERVICES, LLC
|
|
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
|
|
Subject:
|
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of PENN Capital Funds Trust, a Delaware statutory trust
|
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.
|
/s/ KPMG LLP
|
|
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
|
|
(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
|
|
securities of the Class on not more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to any other party to the agreement; and
|
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
|
1.
|
Appendix A to this Plan describes the classes to be issued by each Fund and identifies the names of such classes.
|
2.
|
Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares are sold without front-end sales charges.
|
3.
|
Investor Class and Institutional Class shares are not subject to contingent deferred sales charges.
|
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.
|
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
|
|
(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.
|
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.
|
9.
|
There shall be no conversion features associated with Investor Class and Institutional Class shares.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
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”.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
Ø
|
act solely for the benefit of the Funds; and
|
|
Ø
|
place each Fund’s interests above their own.
|
|
(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.
|
|
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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
(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;
|
|
(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.
|
|
(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;
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(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;
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(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
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(iii)
|
market timing of Reportable Funds
: transactions by Access Persons that appear to be market timing of Reportable Funds.
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(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.
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(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:
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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
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|
B.
|
certifies that each Company has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from violating this Code.
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(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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(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.
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|
(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.
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|
(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.
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(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.
|
(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:
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|
(i)
|
direct obligations of the Government of the United States;
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|
(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;
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|
(iv)
|
repurchase agreements covering any of the foregoing;
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|
(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.
|
|
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.
|
|
(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.
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