N-CSRS 1 ust_ncsrs.htm N-CSRS

united states
securities and exchange commission
washington, d.c. 20549

form n-csr

certified shareholder report of registered management
investment companies

Investment Company Act file number 811-21237

 

Unified Series Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip code)

 

Zachary P. Richmond

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

225 Pictoria Drive. Suite 450

Cincinnati, OH 45246

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 513-587-3400

 

Date of fiscal year end: 08/31

 

Date of reporting period: 02/28/2021

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

(ESSEXFUNDS) 

 

 

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional Class (GEOSX)

Investor Class (EEOFX)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report

February 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fund Adviser:

 

Essex Investment Management Company, LLC
125 High Street, 18th Floor
Boston, MA 02110

 

Toll Free (800) 700-9929

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

Total Returns(a) (for the periods ended February 28, 2021)

 

      Since Inception
  Six Months One Year September 1, 2017
Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund      
Institutional Class 52.72% 83.09% 20.94%
Investor Class 52.54% 82.61% 20.65%
MSCI World Index (b) 11.73% 29.34% 11.77%

 

  Expense Ratios(c)
  Institutional Class Investor Class
Gross 2.43% 2.68%
With Applicable Waivers 1.01% 1.26%

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 700-9929. 

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. The Fund’s returns reflect any fee reductions during the applicable periods. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The MSCI World Index (the “Index”) is a widely followed, unmanaged group of stocks from 23 international markets and is not available for purchase. The Index returns do not reflect the deduction of expenses, which have been deducted from the Fund’s returns. The Index returns assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes and fees. Individuals cannot invest directly in the Index. However, an individual may invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Essex Investment Management Company, LLC (the “Adviser”) contractually has agreed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses so that total annual Fund operating expenses, excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments

in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable pursuant to a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, do not exceed 0.99% through December 31, 2021. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. Each waiver/expense payment by the adviser is subject to recoupment by the adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/ expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratios as of February 28, 2021 can be found in the financial highlights.



You should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before you invest. The Fund’s prospectus contains important information about the Fund’s investment objectives, potential risks, management fees, charges and expenses, and other information and should be read carefully before investing. You may obtain a current copy of the Fund’s prospectus or performance data current to the most recent month by calling (800) 700-9929.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

1

 

Fund Holdings (Unaudited)

 

(BARCHART) 

  

(a)As a percent of net assets.

 

The investment objective of the Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Portfolio holdings are subject to change.

 

Availability of Portfolio Schedule (Unaudited)

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

2

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Schedule of Investments

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Fair Value 
COMMON STOCKS — 90.19%          
Australia — 1.31%          
Materials — 1.31%          
Orocobre Ltd.(a)   203,642   $728,184 
           
Belgium — 2.47%          
Materials — 2.47%          
Umicore SA   23,360    1,373,215 
           
Denmark — 2.46%          
Utilities — 2.46%          
Orsted A/S   8,485    1,367,546 
           
Germany — 7.71%          
Energy — 2.23%          
SMA Solar Technology AG(a)   19,305    1,240,844 
           
Technology — 5.48%          
Infineon Technologies AG   37,854    1,648,104 
PSI Software AG   38,972    1,405,132 
         3,053,236 
Total Germany        4,294,080 
           
Ireland — 2.79%          
Materials — 2.79%          
Kingspan Group PLC   21,370    1,550,974 
           
Israel — 3.20%          
Technology — 3.20%          
Kornit Digital Ltd.(a)   15,720    1,778,404 
           
Japan — 4.22%          
Industrials — 4.22%          
Keyence Corp.   3,026    1,443,105 
Kurita Water Industries Ltd.   22,331    907,283 
         2,350,388 
Total Japan        2,350,388 
           
Netherlands — 2.38%          
Industrials — 2.38%          
Sensata Technologies Holding NV(a)   23,153    1,326,435 
           
Norway — 1.15%          
Energy — 1.15%          
NEL ASA(a)   220,350    638,854 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Fair Value 
COMMON STOCKS — 90.19% (continued)          
Switzerland — 2.30%          
Energy — 2.30%          
Landis+Gyr Group AG(a)   18,447   $1,279,426 
           
United Kingdom — 1.28%          
Consumer Discretionary — 1.28%          
Aptiv PLC   4,736    709,642 
           
United States — 58.92%          
Consumer Discretionary — 3.70%          
Aspen Aerogels, Inc.(a)   60,664    1,349,774 
Lordstown Motors Corp., Class A(a)   36,526    706,413 
         2,056,187 
Consumer Staples — 2.16%          
AppHarvest, Inc.(a)   39,406    1,199,913 
           
Energy — 8.75%          
Array Technologies, Inc.(a)   12,070    447,556 
Enphase Energy, Inc.(a)   7,170    1,262,350 
Sunnova Energy International, Inc.(a)   42,557    1,908,256 
Sunrun, Inc.(a)   20,029    1,253,415 
         4,871,577 
Financials — 3.05%          
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure, Inc.   30,191    1,697,640 
           
Industrials — 26.85%          
Badger Meter, Inc.   11,346    1,232,062 
Cognex Corp.   16,477    1,360,835 
Energy Recovery, Inc.(a)   140,991    2,481,441 
Generac Holdings, Inc.(a)   5,367    1,768,749 
Iteris, Inc.(a)   130,006    716,333 
Itron, Inc.(a)   18,911    2,217,125 
Lindsay Corp.   6,051    969,673 
Raven Industries, Inc.   58,606    2,297,355 
Trimble, Inc.(a)   17,233    1,277,655 
Watts Water Technologies, Inc., Class A   5,492    626,582 
         14,947,810 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Schedule of Investments (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Fair Value 
COMMON STOCKS — 90.19% (continued)          
United States — 58.92% (continued)          
Materials — 12.65%          
Albemarle Corp.   10,787   $1,695,824 
Amyris, Inc.(a)   158,027    2,180,773 
Codexis, Inc.(a)   50,154    1,108,905 
Livent Corp.(a)   51,568    960,196 
MP Materials Corp.(a)   26,014    1,093,369 
         7,039,067 
Technology — 1.76%          
Cree, Inc.(a)   8,650    981,429 
           
Total United States        32,793,623 
Total Common Stocks (Cost $37,846,760)        50,190,771 
           
MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 9.73%          
Fidelity Investments Money Market Government Portfolio, Class I, 0.01%(b)   5,415,280    5,415,280 
Total Money Market Funds (Cost $5,415,280)        5,415,280 
Total Investments — 99.92% (Cost $43,262,040)        55,606,051 
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.08%        45,460 
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $55,651,511 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

(b)Rate disclosed is the seven day effective yield as of February 28, 2021.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited) 

 

Assets    
Investments in securities at fair value (cost $43,262,040)  $55,606,051 
Receivable for fund shares sold   56,486 
Dividends receivable   11,724 
Tax reclaims receivable   10,897 
Prepaid expenses   9,418 
Total Assets   55,694,576 
Liabilities     
Payable to Adviser   22,488 
Payable to Administrator   10,810 
Accrued 12b-1 fees - Investor Class   51 
Other accrued expenses   9,716 
Total Liabilities   43,065 
Net Assets  $55,651,511 
Net Assets consist of:     
Paid-in capital   40,540,497 
Accumulated earnings   15,111,014 
Net Assets  $55,651,511 
Institutional Class:     
Net Assets: Institutional Class  $55,557,796 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   2,907,539 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $19.11 
Investor Class:     
Net Assets: Investor Class  $93,715 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   4,947 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share(a)  $18.95 

 

(a)Per share amounts may not recalculate due to rounding of net assets and/or shares outstanding.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Statement of Operations

For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income    
Dividend income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $2,311)  $84,072 
Total investment income   84,072 
Expenses     
Adviser   123,263 
Fund accounting   22,250 
Administration   17,046 
Transfer agent   11,901 
Legal   9,481 
Audit and tax   9,224 
Registration   6,921 
Trustee   6,800 
Compliance services   5,951 
Custodian   4,722 
Report printing   3,615 
Pricing   1,997 
Insurance   525 
12b-1 - Investor Class   73 
Miscellaneous   12,309 
Total expenses   236,078 
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by Adviser   (72,671)
Net operating expenses   163,407 
Net investment loss   (79,335)
Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments     
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   3,356,544 
Net realized gain on foreign currency translations   1,487 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities and foreign currency translations   8,811,645 
Net realized and change in unrealized gain on investments   12,169,676 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $12,090,341 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   For the     
   Six Months Ended   For the 
   February 28, 2021(a)   Year Ended 
   (Unaudited)   August 31, 2020 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:          
Operations          
Net investment loss  $(79,335)  $(51,248)
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions and foreign currency translations   3,358,031    320,683 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities and foreign currency translations   8,811,645    3,271,582 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   12,090,341    3,541,017 
Distributions to Shareholders from Earnings          
Institutional Class   (499,608)    
Investor Class   (814)    
Total distributions   (500,422)    
Capital Transactions - Institutional Class          
Proceeds from shares sold   24,626,634    11,445,125 
Reinvestment of distributions   483,049     
Amount paid for shares redeemed   (3,616,201)   (1,381,489)
Total Institutional Class   21,493,482    10,063,636 
Capital Transactions - Investor Class          
Proceeds from shares sold   78,650    39,289 
Reinvestment of distributions   814     
Amount paid for shares redeemed   (50,073)   (14,529)
Total Investor Class   29,391    24,760 
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   21,522,873    10,088,396 
Total Increase in Net Assets   33,112,792    13,629,413 
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   22,538,719    8,909,306 
End of period  $55,651,511   $22,538,719 
Share Transactions - Institutional Class          
Shares sold   1,382,180    1,018,044 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   28,183     
Shares redeemed   (270,634)   (131,090)
Total Institutional Class   1,139,729    886,954 
Share Transactions - Investor Class          
Shares sold   4,139    3,703 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   48     
Shares redeemed   (2,753)   (1,788)
Total Investor Class   1,434    1,915 
Net increase in shares outstanding   1,141,163    888,869 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund - Institutional Class
Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the             
   Six Months             
   Ended   For the   For the   For the 
   February 28,   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended 
   2021   August 31,   August 31,   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020   2019   2018 
Selected Per Share Data:                
Net asset value, beginning of period  $12.72   $10.10   $10.71   $10.00 
Investment operations:                    
Net investment loss   (0.02)   (0.03)    (a)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)   6.69    2.65    (0.61)   0.74 
Total from investment operations   6.67    2.62    (0.61)   0.71 
Less distributions to shareholders from:                    
Net realized gains   (0.28)            
Total distributions   (0.28)            
Net asset value, end of period  $19.11   $12.72   $10.10   $10.71 
Total Return(b)   52.72(c)   25.94%   (5.70)%   7.10%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:                    
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $55,558   $22,494   $8,893   $6,286 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   0.99(d)   0.99%   1.03%   1.18%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   1.43(d)   2.41%   3.97%   4.69%
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets   (0.48)% (d)   (0.37)%   (0.02)%   (0.36)%
Portfolio turnover rate(e)   27(c)   37%   30%   23%
                     

 

(a)Rounds to less than $0.005 per share.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

(e)Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis on the Fund as a whole without distinguishing among the classes of shares.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund - Investor Class
Financial Highlights

(For a share outstanding during each period) 

 

   For the             
   Six Months             
   Ended   For the   For the   For the 
   February 28,   Year Ended   Year Ended   Year Ended 
   2021   August 31,   August 31,   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020   2019   2018 
Selected Per Share Data:                
Net asset value, beginning of period  $12.63   $10.05   $10.69   $10.00 
Investment operations:                    
Net investment loss   (0.04)   (0.06)   (0.02)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)   6.64    2.64    (0.62)   0.72 
Total from investment operations   6.60    2.58    (0.64)   0.69 
Less distributions to shareholders from:                    
Net realized gains   (0.28)            
Total distributions   (0.28)            
Net asset value, end of period  $18.95   $12.63   $10.05   $10.69 
Total Return(a)   52.54(b)   25.67%   (5.99)%   6.90%
Ratios and Supplemental Data:                    
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $94   $44   $16   $17 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   1.24(c)   1.24%   1.28%   1.43%
Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   1.68(c)   2.66%   4.22%   4.94%
Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets   (0.75)% (c)   (0.63)%   (0.24)%   (0.54)%
Portfolio turnover rate(d)   27(b)   37%   30%   23%
                     

 

(a)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(b)Not annualized.

 

(c)Annualized.

 

(d)Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis on the Fund as a whole without distinguishing among the classes of shares.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on August 7, 2017, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund commenced operations on September 1, 2017. The investment adviser to the Fund is Essex Investment Management Company, LLC (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

 

The Fund currently offers two classes of shares, Institutional Class and Investor Class. Each share represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to the applicable class of the Fund with each other share of that class and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of income belonging to the applicable class of the Fund as are declared by the Board. On matters that affect the Fund as a whole, each class has the same voting and other rights and preferences as any other class. On matters that affect only one class, only shareholders of that class may vote. Each class votes separately on matters affecting only that class, or expressly required to be voted on separately by state or federal law. Shares of each class of a series have the same voting and other rights and preferences as the other classes and series of the Trust for matters that affect the Trust as a whole. The Fund may offer additional classes of shares in the future.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

11

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations when incurred. During the period, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the previous three tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements and does not expect this to change over the next twelve months.

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board). Expenses specifically attributable to any class are borne by that class. Income, realized gains and losses, unrealized appreciation and depreciation, and fund-wide expenses not allocated to a particular class shall be allocated to each class based on the net assets of that class in relation to the net assets of the entire fund.

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statement and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.

 

Foreign Currency Translation – The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange each business day to determine the value of investments, and other assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of foreign securities, and income and expenses, are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective date of these transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuation arising from changes in market prices of securities held. These fluctuations are included with the realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency translations on the Statement of Operations represents currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. The change in unrealized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency translations for the period is reflected in the Statement of Operations.

 

Dividends and Distributions – The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are

12

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund.

 

NOTE 3. SECTOR CONCENTRATION RISK

 

If the Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. For instance, economic or market factors, regulatory changes or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector, and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio would be adversely affected. As of February 28, 2021, the Fund had 33.45% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Industrials sector.

 

NOTE 4. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

13

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Equity securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

With respect to foreign equity securities that are principally traded on a market outside the United States, the Board has approved the utilization of an independent fair value pricing service to evaluate the effect of market fluctuations on these securities after the close of trading in that foreign market. To the extent that securities are valued using this service, they will be classified as Level 2 securities.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the mutual funds. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

14

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of February 28, 2021:

 

   Valuation Inputs     
Assets  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks(a)  $36,608,104   $13,582,667   $   $50,190,771 
Money Market Funds   5,415,280            5,415,280 
Total  $42,023,384   $13,582,667   $   $55,606,051 

 

(a)Refer to Schedule of Investments for sector classifications.

 

The Fund did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period. The Fund did not hold any derivative instruments during the reporting period.

 

NOTE 5. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund (the “Agreement”), manages the Fund’s investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser earned a fee of $123,263 from the Fund before the waiver and reimbursement described below.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and/or to reimburse certain operating expenses, but only to the extent necessary so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses, excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable pursuant to a plan adopted by the Board; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business, do not exceed 0.99% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The contractual agreement is in place through December 31, 2021. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser waived fees and reimbursed expenses in the amount of $72,671. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Adviser $22,488.

 

Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of

15

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser may seek repayment of investment advisory fee waivers and expense reimbursements in the amount as follows:

 

Recoverable through    
August 31, 2021  $104,109 
August 31, 2022   189,034 
August 31, 2023   195,335 
February 28, 2024   72,671 

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with administration, accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Administrator earned fees of $17,046 for administration services, $22,250 for fund accounting services, $11,901 for transfer agent services, and $5,951 for compliance services. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Administrator $10,810 for such services.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund from the Trust, and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Fund.

 

The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, the Fund will pay the Distributor, the Adviser and/or any registered securities dealer, financial institution or any other person (the “Recipient”) a fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class shares in connection with the promotion and distribution of the Fund’s Investor Class shares or the provision of personal services to shareholders, including, but not necessarily limited to, advertising, compensation to underwriters, dealers and selling personnel, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current Fund shareholders, the printing and mailing of sales literature and servicing shareholder accounts (“12b-1 Expenses”). The Fund or Adviser may pay all or a portion of these fees to any Recipient who renders assistance in distributing or promoting the sale of shares, or who provides certain shareholder services, pursuant

16

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

to a written agreement. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, Investor Class shares’ 12b-1 Expenses incurred by the Fund were $73. The Fund owed $51 for Investor Class 12b-1 Expenses as of February 28, 2021.

 

NOTE 6. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, were $25,064,351 and $8,495,371, respectively.

 

There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. government obligations during the six months ended February 28, 2021.

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes was as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation  $13,156,868 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (820,777)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments  $12,336,091 
Tax cost of investments  $43,269,960 

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed long-term capital gains  $34,380 
Accumulated capital and other losses   (38,239)
Unrealized appreciation on investments   3,524,954 
Total accumulated earnings  $3,521,095 

 

As of August 31, 2020, the Fund had short-term capital loss carryforwards in the amount of $116,337 and long-term capital loss carryforwards in the amount of $180,087, which do not expire and may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains.

 

Certain capital losses and specified gains realized after October 31, and net investment losses realized after December 31 of the Fund’s fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first business day of the Fund’s following taxable year. For the tax period ended August 31, 2020, the Fund deferred qualified late year ordinary losses in the amount of $38,239.

 

NOTE 8. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

17

 

Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

18

 

Liquidity Risk Management Program (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

19

 

Summary of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

Expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, the second line of the table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative costs of owning different funds. In addition, if transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

         Expenses   
   Beginning  Ending  Paid  Annualized
   Account Value  Account Value  During  Expense
   September 1, 2020  February 28, 2021  Period(a)  Ratio
Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund – Institutional Class            
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,527.20  $6.20  0.99%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00  $1,019.89  $4.96  0.99%
Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund – Investor Class            
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,525.40  $7.76  1.24%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00  $1,018.65  $6.21  1.24%
             

 

(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

20

 

Privacy Notice (Unaudited)

 

Rev: January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DOES ESSEX ENVIRONMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND (THE “FUND”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
 
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
 
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

■     Social Security number

 

■     account balances and account transactions

 

■     transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

■     checking account information and wire transfer instructions

 

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

 
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Fund share?
For our everyday business purposes—
such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus
Yes
For our marketing purposes—
to offer our products and services to you
No
For joint marketing with other financial companies No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your transactions and experiences
No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your creditworthiness
No
For nonaffiliates to market to you No

 

Questions? Call (800) 700-9929

21

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice? Essex Environmental Opportunities Fund
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)
What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

■      open an account or deposit money

 

■      buy securities from us or sell securities to us

 

■      make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

■      give us your account information

 

■      make a wire transfer

 

■      tell us who receives the money

 

■      tell us where to send the money

 

■      show your government-issued ID

 

■      show your driver’s license

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

■      sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness

 

■      affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

■      sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions
Affiliates

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

 

■      Essex Investment Management Company, LLC, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

■      The Fund does not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

■      The Fund doesn’t jointly market.

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Proxy Voting

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Fund at (800) 700-9929 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman Cohen & Company, Ltd.
David R. Carson 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Daniel J. Condon Chicago, IL 60606
Gary E. Hippenstiel  
Stephen A. Little LEGAL COUNSEL
Ronald C. Tritschler Thompson Hine LLP
  312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
OFFICERS Cincinnati, OH 45202
David R. Carson, President  
Martin R. Dean, Vice President CUSTODIAN
Zachary P. Richmond, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Huntington National Bank
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance Officer 41 South High Street
  Columbus, OH 43215
INVESTMENT ADVISER  
Essex Investment Management Company, LLC ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
125 High Street, 18th Floor Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
Boston, MA 02110 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
  Cincinnati, OH 45246
DISTRIBUTOR  
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC  
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450  
Cincinnati, OH 45246  

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Fund’s prospectus which contains information about the Fund’s management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

Essex-SAR-21

 

 

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report

 

February 28, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Fund Adviser:

 

Fisher Asset Management, LLC

 

5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive

Camas, Washington 98607

(800) 550-1071 

 

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

Average Annual Total Returns(a)

(for the periods ended February 28, 2021)

 

        Since
        Inception
  Six Months One Year Three Year (3/30/17)
         
Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund (0.40)% (0.70)% (0.20)% (0.28)%
ICE BofA ML 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index  (b) 0.06% 0.40% 1.54% 1.43%

 

Total annual operating expenses, as disclosed in the Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund (the “Fund”) prospectus dated December 29, 2020, were 596.00% of average daily net assets (1.00% after fee waivers/expense reimbursements). Fisher Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2025 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable to financial intermediaries; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers, and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business). This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. Each expense payment by the Adviser (but not management fee waiver) is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratios as of February 28, 2021 can be found in the financial highlights.

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. For more information on the Fund, and to obtain performance data current to the most recent month end or to request a prospectus, please call (800) 550-1071.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. The Fund’s returns reflect any fee reductions during the applicable periods. If such fee reductions had not occurred, the quoted performance would have been lower. Total returns for less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The ICE BofA ML 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index (the “Index”) is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. Each month the Index is rebalanced and the issue selected is the outstanding Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond 3 months from the rebalancing date. The Index returns assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not reflect the deduction of taxes and fees. Individuals cannot invest directly in the Index; however, an individual may invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling the same number as above. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

 

AVAILABILITY OF PORTFOLIO SCHEDULE (Unaudited)

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

As of February 28, 2021, the Fund held its entire cash position in a cash equivalent deposit account; therefore, a Schedule of Investments is not included with this semi-annual report.

1

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents  $35,799 
Interest receivable   1 
Receivable from Adviser   12,562 
Prepaid expenses   572 
Total Assets   48,934  
     
Liabilities     
Payable to Administrator   13,656 
Other accrued expenses   10,555 
Total Liabilities   24,211 
Net Assets  $24,723 
      
Net Assets consist of:     
Paid-in capital   24,883 
Accumulated deficit   (160)
Net Assets  $24,723 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   2,501 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $9.89 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

2

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Statement of Operations

For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income    
Interest income  $12 
Total investment income   12 
      
Expenses     
Fund accounting   14,878 
Administration   14,877 
Legal   10,345 
Trustee   6,867 
Audit and tax   6,039 
Transfer agent   5,951 
Compliance services   5,951 
Custodian   2,351 
Report printing   1,224 
Registration   172 
Pricing   36 
Adviser   31 
Miscellaneous   9,359 
Total expenses   78,081 
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by Adviser   (78,031)
Fees recouped by Administrator   73 
Net operating expenses   123 
Net investment loss   (111)
      
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations  $(111)

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   For the Six Months     
   Ended   For the Year 
   February 28, 2021   Ended August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020 
Decrease in Net Assets due to:          
Operations          
Net investment loss  $(111)  $(49)
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investment securities       (1)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations   (111)   (50)
           
Total Decrease in Net Assets   (111)   (50)
           
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   24,834    24,884 
End of period  $24,723   $24,834 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Financial Highlights
(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the Six                 
   Months Ended   For the Year   For the Year   For the Year   For the Period 
   February 28, 2021   Ended August 31,   Ended August 31,   Ended August 31,   Ended August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020   2019   2018   2017(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:                         
Net asset value, beginning of period  $9.93   $9.95   $9.93   $9.98   $10.00 
Investment operations:                         
Net investment income (loss)   (0.04)   (0.02)   0.02    (0.05)   (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain        (b)    (b)        
Total from investment operations   (0.04)   (0.02)   0.02    (0.05)   (0.02)
Net asset value, end of period  $9.89   $9.93   $9.95   $9.93   $9.98 
Total Return(c)   (0.40)% (d)    (0.20)%   0.20%   (0.50)%   (0.20)% (d) 
Ratios and Supplemental Data:                         
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $25   $25   $25   $25   $25 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   1.00(e)    1.00%   1.00%   1.00%   1.00(e) 
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   635.45(e)   596.00%   589.45%   534.46%   558.98(e) 
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets   (0.90)% (e)   (0.20)%   0.15%   (0.46)%   (0.49)% (e)
Portfolio turnover rate   0(d)   0%   0%   0%   0(d)

 

(a)For the period March 30, 2017 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2017.

 

(b)Rounds to less than $0.005 per share.

 

(c)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(d)Not annualized.

 

(e)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a non-diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on November 14, 2016 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund commenced operations on March 30, 2017. The investment adviser to the Fund is Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Fund is to seek positive total returns over the long-term regardless of market conditions in the U.S. and foreign equity markets.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the Statement of Operations when incurred. During the period, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the previous three tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements and does not expect this to change over the next twelve months.

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statement and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.

6

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Dividends and Distributions – The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund.

 

NOTE 3. NON-DIVERSIFICATION RISK

 

The Fund is non-diversified, which means it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers as compared to other mutual funds that are more broadly diversified. As a result, the Fund’s share price may be more volatile than the share price of some other mutual funds, and the poor performance of an individual holding in the Fund’s portfolio may have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s performance.

 

NOTE 4. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

7

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Debt securities are valued by using the mean between the closing bid and ask prices provided by a pricing service. If the closing bid and ask prices are not readily available, the pricing service may provide a price determined by a matrix pricing method. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used to value fixed income securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices. Matrix pricing takes into consideration recent transactions, yield, liquidity, risk, credit quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue and any other factors or market data the pricing service deems relevant for the actual security being priced and for other securities with similar characteristics. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2 securities. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair value of the securities or when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, securities are valued at fair value as determined by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 3 securities.

 

Equity securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

 

The Fund did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period.

 

NOTE 5. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund, manages the Fund’s investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser earned fees of $31 from the Fund before the waiver and reimbursement described below.

 

The Adviser is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2025 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable to financial intermediaries; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses,

8

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board.

 

Each expense payment by the Adviser (but not management fee waiver) is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser may seek repayment of expense reimbursements in the amount as follow: 

 

Recoverable through  
August 31, 2021 $75,264
August 31, 2022 145,625
August 31, 2023 146,296
February 29, 2024 78,000

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with administration, accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Administrator earned fees of $14,877 for administration services, $14,878 for fund accounting services, $5,951 for transfer agent services, and $5,951 for compliance services. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Administrator $13,656 for such services.

 

The Administrator has agreed to waive fees to the extent necessary that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses (excluding taxes, borrowing costs such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, shareholder servicing fees paid to financial intermediaries, extraordinary expenses and expenses outside the normal course of business) do not exceed $156,000 annually, based on a twelve-month period commencing April 1 and ending March 31 (the “Annual Period”). The waiver will accrue on a monthly basis such that the Fund’s operating expenses for any month during the Annual Period will not exceed the sum of $13,000 (the “Monthly Expense Cap”), provided that Ultimus may recoup any fees waived by Ultimus in a prior month during the Annual Period to the extent of any unused amount of the Monthly Expense Cap in the current month.. The waiver will be suspended and forfeited in any month that the Adviser is not the sole shareholder of the Fund. During the six months ended February 28, 2021, the total amount recouped by the Administrator was $73.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund from the Trust, and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Fund.

9

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 6. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, there were no purchases or sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments.

 

NOTE 7. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser owned 99.96% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. As a result, the Adviser may be deemed to control the Fund.

 

NOTE 8. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the gross appreciation and depreciation of investments and aggregate cost of securities for federal income purpose income tax purposes was zero.

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows: 

 

Accumulated capital and other losses  $(49)
Total accumulated deficit  $(49)

 

NOTE 9. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

10

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

11

 

Summary of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

   Beginning   Ending         
   Account   Account   Expenses     
   Value   Value   Paid   Annualized 
   September 1,   February 28,   During the   Expense 
   2020   2021   Period(a)   Ratio 
Actual  $1,000.00   $996.00   $4.95    1.00%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00   $1,019.84   $5.01    1.00%

 

 
(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

12

 

Investment Advisory Agreement Approval (Unaudited)

 

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversees the management of the Fund and, as required by law, has considered the approval of the continuance of the Fund’s management agreement with its investment adviser, Fisher Asset Management, LLC (“Fisher”).

 

The Board requested and evaluated all information that the Trustees deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with the approval of the continuance of the management agreement.

 

The Trustees held a teleconference on February 17, 2021 to review and discuss materials compiled by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Trust’s administrator, with regard to the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher. At the Trustees’ quarterly meeting held in February 2021, the Board interviewed certain executives of Fisher, including Fisher’s Vice President of Portfolio Engineering. After discussion, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Trust or Fisher (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the continuance of the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher for an additional year. The Trustees’ approval of the continuance of the Fund’s management agreement was based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Trustees, and was not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated this information differently, ascribing different weights to various factors.

 

(i)        The Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Trustees reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services that Fisher will provide to the Fund, which include, but are not limited to, providing a continuous investment program for the Fund, adhering to the Fund’s investment restrictions, complying with the Trust’s policies and procedures, and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees considered the qualifications and experience of Fisher’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as the qualifications and experience of the other individuals at Fisher who will provide services to the Fund. The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of investment management services provided by Fisher to the Fund.

 

(ii)       Fund Performance. The Trustees next noted that Fisher had not deployed the strategy and therefore the Fund did not have performance to report. They discussed market conditions that would trigger deployment of the Fund and the post-deployment investment strategy. The Trustees concluded that Fisher has the ability to manage the Fund successfully in accordance with its investment strategy.

13

 

(iii)      Fee Rate and Profitability. The Trustees noted that Fisher is waiving its management fee and that it has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent they exceed 1.00% annually through December 31, 2025. The Trustees noted that the Fund is not profitable to Fisher.

 

(iv)      Economies of Scale. The Trustees also considered the extent to which Fisher will realize economies of scale if Fisher deploys the Fund’s strategy. The Trustees determined that, so long as Fisher continues to waive its management fee, Fisher will not realize benefits from economies of scale in managing the Fund and therefore reductions or breakpoints are not a consideration at this time.

14

 

Rev: January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DOES TACTICAL MULTI-PURPOSE FUND (THE “FUND”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

●     Social Security number

 

●     account balances and account transactions

 

●     transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

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

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Fund share? Can you limit this
sharing?
For our everyday business purposes—    
such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus Yes No
For our marketing purposes—    
to offer our products and services to you No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your transactions and experiences
No We don’t share
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—
information about your creditworthiness
No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

Questions? Call (800) 550-1071

15

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Tactical Multi-Purpose Fund

 

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●     open an account or deposit money

 

●     make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

●     sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information about your creditworthiness

 

●     affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

●     sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions  
Affiliates

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

 

●     Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

●     The Fund does not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you

Joint marketing A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

●     The Fund doesn’t jointly market.
     

16

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Fund at (800) 550-1071 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman Cohen & Company, Ltd.
David R. Carson 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Daniel J. Condon Chicago, IL 60606
Gary E. Hippenstiel  
Stephen A. Little  
Ronald C. Tritschler  
   
OFFICERS LEGAL COUNSEL
David R. Carson, President Thompson Hine LLP
Martin R. Dean, Vice President 312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
Zachary P. Richmond, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Cincinnati, OH 45202
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance Officer  
   
INVESTMENT ADVISER CUSTODIAN
Fisher Asset Management, LLC MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive 350 California Street, Suite 2018
Camas, WA 98607 San Francisco, CA 94104
   
DISTRIBUTOR ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Cincinnati, OH 45246 Cincinnati, OH 45246

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Fund’s prospectus which contains information about the Fund’s management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

 

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL
GROUP FUND FAMILY

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report

 

February 28, 2021

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group

Stock Fund for Retirement Plans

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group
ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group

Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group

ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fund Adviser:

 

Fisher Asset Management, LLC

5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive,

Camas, Washington 98607

(800) 851-8845

 

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021(a)  
              Since  
              Inception  
  Fund/Index   Six Months   1 Year   (12/13/19)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans   14.49%   43.80%   26.23%  
  MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index(b)   14.88%   31.49%   17.36%  
                 
              Expense  
              Ratios(c)  
  Gross           0.00%  
  With Applicable Waivers           0.00%  

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index is designed to represent performance of all investable large, mid and small cap securities across the developed, emerging and frontier markets. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) pays all of the operating expenses of the Funds except portfolio transaction and other investment related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions, and fees and expenses associated with investments in derivative instruments, such as option and swap fees and expenses), taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), extraordinary expenses, and any indirect expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investment in acquired funds and other collective investment vehicles). The Fund is available only to eligible retirement plans receiving the Adviser’s managed account or other services. The Fund does not pay a management fee to the Adviser. Retirement plans, plan sponsors and/or plan participants pay a separate fee for the Adviser’s services and also pay fees to record keepers and administrators. If paid from plan assets, these fees will reduce the net return to plan participants but are not reflected in net fund performance.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

1

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Investment Results (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021(a)  
              Since  
              Inception  
  Fund/Index   Six Months   1 Year   (12/13/19)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans   13.66%   42.29%   25.47%  
  MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index(b)   14.88%   31.49%   17.36%  
                 
              Expense  
              Ratios(c)  
  Gross           0.00%  
  With Applicable Waivers           0.00%  

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index is designed to represent performance of all investable large, mid and small cap securities across the developed, emerging and frontier markets. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) pays all of the operating expenses of the Funds except portfolio transaction and other investment related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions, and fees and expenses associated with investments in derivative instruments, such as option and swap fees and expenses), taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), extraordinary expenses, and any indirect expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investment in acquired funds and other collective investment vehicles). The Fund is available only to eligible retirement plans receiving the Adviser’s managed account or other services. The Fund does not pay a management fee to the Adviser. Retirement plans, plan sponsors and/or plan participants pay a separate fee for the Adviser’s services and also pay fees to record keepers and administrators. If paid from plan assets, these fees will reduce the net return to plan participants but are not reflected in net fund performance.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

2

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Investment Results (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021(a)  
              Since  
              Inception  
  Fund/Index   Six Months   1 Year   (12/13/19)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans   -0.07%   3.06%   4.29%  
  ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index(b)   -1.99%   0.90%   3.82%  
                 
              Expense  
              Ratios(c)  
  Gross           0.04%  
  With Applicable Waivers           0.04%  

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index measures the performance of US dollar-denominated, investment grade debt securities, including US Treasury notes and bonds, quasi-government securities, corporate securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios, which include acquired fund fees and expenses of 0.04%, are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) pays all of the operating expenses of the Funds except portfolio transaction and other investment related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions, and fees and expenses associated with investments in derivative instruments, such as option and swap fees and expenses), taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), extraordinary expenses, and any indirect expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investment in acquired funds and other collective investment vehicles). The Fund is available only to eligible retirement plans receiving the Adviser’s managed account or other services. The Fund does not pay a management fee to the Adviser. Retirement plans, plan sponsors and/or plan participants pay a separate fee for the Adviser’s services and also pay fees to record keepers and administrators. If paid from plan assets, these fees will reduce the net return to plan participants but are not reflected in net fund performance.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

3

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Investment Results (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021(a)  
              Since  
              Inception  
  Fund/Index   Six Months   1 Year   (12/13/19)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans   -0.24%   2.89%   4.23%  
  ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index(b)   -1.99%   0.90%   3.82%  
                 
              Expense  
              Ratios(c)  
  Gross           0.07%  
  With Applicable Waivers           0.07%  

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index measures the performance of US dollar-denominated, investment grade debt securities, including US Treasury notes and bonds, quasi-government securities, corporate securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios, which include acquired fund fees and expenses of 0.07%, are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) pays all of the operating expenses of the Funds except portfolio transaction and other investment related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions, and fees and expenses associated with investments in derivative instruments, such as option and swap fees and expenses), taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), extraordinary expenses, and any indirect expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investment in acquired funds and other collective investment vehicles). The Fund is available only to eligible retirement plans receiving the Adviser’s managed account or other services. The Fund does not pay a management fee to the Adviser. Retirement plans, plan sponsors and/or plan participants pay a separate fee for the Adviser’s services and also pay fees to record keepers and administrators. If paid from plan assets, these fees will reduce the net return to plan participants but are not reflected in net fund performance.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

4

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Fund Holdings (Unaudited)

 

(BAR CHART)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans seeks to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index.

5

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Fund Holdings (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

(BAR CHART)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of the Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans seeks to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index.

6

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Fund Holdings (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

(BAR CHART)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans seeks to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index.

7

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
Fund Holdings (Unaudited) –
(continued)

 

(BAR CHART)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans seeks to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index.

 

Availability of Portfolio Schedule (Unaudited)

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

8

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29%  Shares   Fair Value 
         
Argentina — 0.82%          
Consumer Discretionary — 0.82%          
MercadoLibre, Inc.(a)   1   $1,638 
Total Argentina        1,638 
           
Australia — 1.66%          
Materials — 1.66%          
BHP Group Ltd.   26    983 
OZ Minerals Ltd.(a)   77    1,326 
Rio Tinto Ltd.   10    978 
Total Australia        3,287 
           
Brazil — 0.90%          
Energy — 0.58%          
Petroleo Brasileiro SA - ADR   146    1,158 
           
Materials — 0.32%          
Vale SA - ADR   38    642 
           
Total Brazil        1,800 
           
Canada — 0.83%          
Materials — 0.83%          
Hudbay Minerals, Inc.(a)   80    572 
Lundin Mining Corp.   93    1,065 
Total Canada        1,637 
           
China — 7.83%          
Communications — 4.22%          
51job Inc. - ADR(a)   6    394 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. - ADR   78    6,802 
Trip.com Group Ltd. - ADR(a)   30    1,184 
         8,380 
Consumer Discretionary — 3.61%          
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. - ADR(a)   16    3,804 
JD.com, Inc. - ADR(a)   36    3,379 
         7,183 
Total China        15,563 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
France — 4.51%          
Consumer Discretionary — 1.12%          
Kering S.A. - ADR   35   $2,215 
           
Energy — 0.83%          
Total S.A.   35    1,621 
           
Financials — 0.48%          
BNP Paribas S.A.   16    952 
           
Health Care — 0.41%          
Sanofi S.A.   9    824 
           
Technology — 1.67%          
Dassault Systemes S.A.   16    3,321 
           
Total France        8,933 
           
Germany — 1.51%          
Consumer Discretionary — 0.37%          
Sixt SE(a)   6    745 
           
Industrials — 1.14%          
MTU Aero Engines AG   3    714 
Siemens AG   9    1,391 
Siemens Energy AG(a)   4    151 
         2,256 
Total Germany        3,001 
           
Hong Kong — 0.80%          
Health Care — 0.80%          
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. - ADR(a)   75    1,582 
Total Hong Kong        1,582 
           
Italy — 0.84%          
Energy — 0.33%          
Eni SpA   58    664 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
Italy — 0.84% - continued          
Financials — 0.51%          
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA(a)   390   $1,005 
           
Total Italy        1,669 
           
Japan — 4.15%          
Industrials — 4.15%          
Daifuku Co. Ltd - ADR(a)   42    1,002 
FANUC Corp. - ADR   99    2,485 
SMC Corp. - ADR   98    2,945 
Yaskawa Electric Corp. - ADR(a)   18    1,833 
Total Japan        8,265 
           
Korea (Republic Of) — 2.79%          
Technology — 2.79%          
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - GDR   3    5,550 
Total Korea (Republic Of)        5,550 
           
Netherlands — 2.20%          
Financials — 0.51%          
ING Groep N.V.(a)   93    1,015 
           
Technology — 1.69%          
ASML Holding N.V.   6    3,371 
           
Total Netherlands        4,386 
           
Spain — 0.75%          
Financials — 0.75%          
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.   142    789 
Banco Santander S.A.   198    693 
         1,482 
Total Spain        1,482 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

11

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
Switzerland — 0.78%          
Health Care — 0.78%          
Novartis AG   18   $1,547 
Total Switzerland        1,547 
           
Taiwan Province Of China — 4.32%          
Technology — 4.32%          
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - ADR   68    8,564 
Total Taiwan Province Of China        8,564 
           
United Kingdom — 1.96%          
Energy — 1.01%          
BP PLC   149    606 
Royal Dutch Shell PLC(a)   69    1,408 
         2,014 
Health Care — 0.95%          
AstraZeneca PLC   12    1,161 
GlaxoSmithKline PLC   44    730 
         1,891 
Total United Kingdom        3,905 
           
United States — 62.64%          
Communications — 6.57%          
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   4    8,087 
Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)   11    2,834 
Netflix, Inc.(a)   4    2,155 
         13,076 
Consumer Discretionary — 5.18%          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   2    6,187 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)   8    2,067 
NIKE, Inc., Class B   8    1,078 
Starbucks Corp.   9    972 
         10,304 
Consumer Staples — 3.71%          
Costco Wholesale Corp.   10    3,310 
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)   13    1,606 
Walmart, Inc.   19    2,468 
         7,384 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

12

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
United States — 62.64% - continued          
Energy — 2.12%          
Chevron Corp.   15   $1,500 
Exxon Mobil Corp.   21    1,142 
Marathon Oil Corp.   40    444 
Schlumberger Ltd.   41    1,144 
         4,230 
Financials — 4.66%          
American Express Co.   13    1,758 
BlackRock, Inc.   3    2,084 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)   5    1,597 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.   11    1,618 
Morgan Stanley   29    2,230 
         9,287 
Health Care — 8.74%          
Abbott Laboratories   9    1,078 
Align Technology, Inc.(a)   7    3,970 
Clovis Oncology, Inc.(a)   23    138 
Danaher Corp.   5    1,098 
Edwards LifeSciences Corp.(a)   9    748 
Eli Lilly & Co.   14    2,867 
Exact Sciences Corp.(a)   7    953 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)   2    1,474 
Merck & Co., Inc.   17    1,235 
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   15    857 
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)   17    169 
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   5    435 
Stryker Corp.   6    1,456 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   2    900 
         17,378 
Industrials — 4.16%          
AeroVironment, Inc.(a)   14    1,541 
Boeing Co. (The)   3    636 
Carrier Global Corp.   6    219 
Cummins, Inc.   4    1,013 
Deere & Co.   4    1,396 
Kansas City Southern   10    2,123 
Otis Worldwide Corp.   3    191 
Raytheon Technologies Corp.   6    432 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

13

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.29% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
United States — 62.64% - continued          
Industrials — 4.16% - continued          
Rockwell Automation, Inc.   3   $730 
         8,281 
Materials — 0.80%          
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.   69    920 
Materion Corp.   10    685 
         1,605 
Technology — 26.70%          
Adobe, Inc.(a)   10    4,597 
Apple, Inc.   72    8,731 
Autodesk, Inc.(a)   7    1,932 
Cisco Systems, Inc.   28    1,256 
Intel Corp.   60    3,647 
MasterCard, Inc., Class A   22    7,785 
Microsoft Corp.   37    8,598 
NVIDIA Corp.   11    6,034 
Oracle Corp.   42    2,709 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   6    2,245 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)   16    3,464 
Visa, Inc., Class A   10    2,124 
         53,122 
Total United States        124,667 
           
Total Common Stocks — 99.29%          
(Cost $150,074)        197,476 
           
Total Investments — 99.29%          
(Cost $150,074)        197,476 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.71%        1,416 
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $198,892 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

GDR - Global Depositary Receipt.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

14

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17%  Shares   Fair Value 
         
Argentina — 0.83%          
Consumer Discretionary — 0.83%          
MercadoLibre, Inc.(a)   1   $1,638 
Total Argentina        1,638 
           
Australia — 1.70%          
Materials — 1.70%          
OZ Minerals Ltd.(a)   70    1,206 
Rio Tinto Ltd.   22    2,152 
         3,358 
Total Australia        3,358 
           
Canada — 0.52%          
Materials — 0.52%          
Lundin Mining Corp.   90    1,030 
Total Canada        1,030 
           
China — 8.16%          
Communications — 4.42%          
51job Inc. - ADR(a)   8    525 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. - ADR   79    6,889 
Trip.com Group Ltd. - ADR(a)   33    1,302 
         8,716 
Consumer Discretionary — 3.74%          
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. - ADR(a)   16    3,804 
JD.com, Inc. - ADR(a)   38    3,567 
         7,371 
Total China        16,087 
           
Colombia — 0.72%          
Energy — 0.72%          
Ecopetrol S.A. - ADR   116    1,421 
Total Colombia        1,421 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

15

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
France — 3.69%          
Consumer Discretionary — 1.05%          
Kering S.A. - ADR(a)   33   $2,089 
           
Financials — 0.45%          
BNP Paribas S.A.   15    892 
           
Health Care — 0.51%          
Sanofi S.A.   11    1,007 
           
Technology — 1.68%          
Dassault Systemes S.A.   16    3,321 
           
Total France        7,309 
           
Germany — 1.16%          
Consumer Discretionary — 0.38%          
Sixt SE(a)   6    745 
           
Industrials — 0.78%          
Siemens AG   9    1,391 
Siemens Energy AG(a)   4    151 
         1,542 
Total Germany        2,287 
           
Hong Kong — 0.81%          
Health Care — 0.81%          
Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd. - ADR(a)   76    1,603 
Total Hong Kong        1,603 
           
Italy — 0.84%          
Energy — 0.35%          
Eni SpA   61    698 
           
Financials — 0.49%          
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA(a)   380    979 
Total Italy        1,677 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

16

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
Japan — 3.09%          
Industrials — 3.09%          
Daifuku Co. Ltd - ADR(a)   43   $1,026 
FANUC Corp. - ADR   92    2,309 
Yaskawa Electric Corp. - ADR(a)   27    2,749 
Total Japan        6,084 
           
Korea (Republic Of) — 1.87%          
Technology — 1.87%          
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. - GDR   2    3,700 
Total Korea (Republic Of)        3,700 
           
Netherlands — 1.71%          
Technology — 1.71%          
ASML Holding N.V.   6    3,371 
Total Netherlands        3,371 
           
Spain — 1.52%          
Energy — 0.76%          
Repsol S.A.   119    1,496 
           
Financials — 0.76%          
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.   137    761 
Banco Santander S.A.   208    728 
         1,489 
Total Spain        2,985 
           
Switzerland — 0.60%          
Industrials — 0.60%          
ABB Ltd.   41    1,177 
Total Switzerland        1,177 
           
Taiwan Province Of China — 4.27%          
Technology — 4.27%          
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - ADR   67    8,439 
Total Taiwan Province Of China        8,439 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

17

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
United Kingdom — 3.10%          
Consumer Staples — 0.68%          
Unilever PLC   26   $1,351 
           
Energy — 0.99%          
BP PLC   479    1,947 
           
Health Care — 0.99%          
AstraZeneca PLC   12    1,161 
GlaxoSmithKline PLC   48    796 
         1,957 
Materials — 0.44%          
Antofagasta PLC   35    869 
           
Total United Kingdom        6,124 
           
United States — 64.58%          
Communications — 6.62%          
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   4    8,087 
Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)   11    2,834 
Netflix, Inc.(a)   4    2,155 
         13,076 
Consumer Discretionary — 5.22%          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   2    6,186 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)   8    2,067 
NIKE, Inc., Class B   8    1,078 
Starbucks Corp.   9    972 
         10,303 
Consumer Staples — 2.94%          
Costco Wholesale Corp.   8    2,648 
PepsiCo, Inc.   11    1,421 
Procter & Gamble Co. (The)   14    1,730 
         5,799 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

18

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
United States — 64.58% - continued          
Energy — 2.11%          
Exxon Mobil Corp.   45   $2,448 
Marathon Oil Corp.   54    599 
Schlumberger Ltd.   40    1,116 
         4,163 
Financials — 4.58%          
American Express Co.   14    1,894 
BlackRock, Inc.   3    2,084 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)   5    1,597 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.   10    1,471 
Morgan Stanley   26    1,999 
         9,045 
Health Care — 10.19%          
Abbott Laboratories   9    1,078 
Align Technology, Inc.(a)   7    3,970 
Danaher Corp.   5    1,098 
Edwards LifeSciences Corp.(a)   9    748 
Eli Lilly & Co.   16    3,278 
Exact Sciences Corp.(a)   8    1,089 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)   3    2,210 
Merck & Co., Inc.   19    1,380 
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   14    799 
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)   61    608 
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   5    435 
Stryker Corp.   6    1,456 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   2    900 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   5    1,063 
         20,112 
Industrials — 4.13%          
Cummins, Inc.   4    1,013 
Deere & Co.   4    1,396 
HEICO Corp.   10    1,258 
Kansas City Southern   9    1,911 
Rockwell Automation, Inc.   8    1,947 
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A   15    642 
         8,167 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

19

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 99.17% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
         
United States — 64.58% - continued          
Materials — 0.82%          
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.   70   $934 
Materion Corp.   10    685 
         1,619 
Technology — 27.97%          
Adobe, Inc.(a)   10    4,597 
Apple, Inc.   76    9,216 
Autodesk, Inc.(a)   7    1,932 
Cisco Systems, Inc.   28    1,256 
Intel Corp.   56    3,404 
MasterCard, Inc., Class A   23    8,138 
Microsoft Corp.   37    8,598 
NVIDIA Corp.   11    6,034 
Oracle Corp.   45    2,903 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   6    2,245 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)   17    3,681 
Visa, Inc., Class A   15    3,186 
         55,190 
Total United States        127,474 
           
Total Common Stocks— 99.17%          
(Cost $149,147)        195,764 
           
Total Investments — 99.17%          
(Cost $149,147)        195,764 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.83%        1,642 
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $197,406 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt.

 

GDR - Global Depositary Receipt.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

20

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Principal     
CORPORATE BONDS — 45.79%  Amount   Fair Value 
         
Communications — 6.13%          
Comcast Corp., 3.55%, 5/1/2028  $100,000   $111,485 
TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp., 3.15%, 9/17/2025   75,000    81,976 
         193,461 
Consumer Staples — 7.66%          
Coca-Cola Co. (The), 2.25%, 9/1/2026   100,000    106,283 
Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 5.50%, 2/1/2034   100,000    135,518 
         241,801 
           
Energy — 1.94%          
Chevron Corp., 2.24%, 5/11/2030   60,000    61,126 
           
Financials — 13.99%          
BlackRock, Inc., 3.25%, 4/30/2029   100,000    111,653 
Citigroup, Inc., 3.50%, 5/15/2023   100,000    106,370 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.50%, 11/16/2026   100,000    109,766 
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.13%, 12/15/2026   100,000    114,365 
         442,154 
           
Health Care — 2.66%          
Pfizer, Inc., 3.45%, 3/15/2029   75,000    84,033 
           
Industrials — 2.95%          
Southwest Airlines Co., 7.38%, 3/1/2027   75,000    93,120 
           
Technology — 10.46%          
Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.95%, 2/28/2026   100,000    108,663 
Microsoft Corp., 3.30%, 2/6/2027   100,000    111,304 
Oracle Corp., 3.25%, 11/15/2027   100,000    110,272 
         330,239 
Total Corporate Bonds          
(Cost $1,397,324)        1,445,934 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements

21

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Principal     
U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES — 20.81%  Amount   Fair Value 
         
United States Treasury Note, 0.13%, 8/31/2022  $220,100   $220,083 
United States Treasury Note, 0.13%, 9/15/2023   220,200    219,581 
United States Treasury Note, 1.50%, 9/30/2024   209,700    217,465 
         657,129 
Total U.S. Government & Agencies          
(Cost $658,981)        657,129 
           
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 31.42%  Shares      
           
iShares MBS ETF   4,956    540,947 
Xtrackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF   9,082    451,103 
Total Exchange-Traded Funds          
(Cost $991,967)        992,050 
           
Total Investments — 98.02%          
(Cost $3,048,272)        3,095,113 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 1.98%        62,387 
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $3,157,500 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

22

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Principal     
CORPORATE BONDS — 45.99%  Amount   Fair Value 
         
Communications — 8.21%          
Comcast Corp., 3.55%, 5/1/2028  $100,000   $111,485 
TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp., 3.15%, 9/17/2025   135,000    147,557 
         259,042 
Consumer Staples — 7.67%          
Coca-Cola Co. (The), 2.25%, 9/1/2026   100,000    106,283 
Procter & Gamble Co. (The), 5.50%, 2/1/2034   100,000    135,518 
         241,801 
Financials — 14.03%          
BlackRock, Inc., 3.25%, 4/30/2029   100,000    111,653 
Citigroup, Inc., 3.50%, 5/15/2023   100,000    106,370 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The), 3.50%, 11/16/2026   100,000    109,766 
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 4.13%, 12/15/2026   100,000    114,365 
         442,154 
Health Care — 2.66%          
Pfizer, Inc., 3.45%, 3/15/2029   75,000    84,033 
           
Industrials — 2.95%          
Southwest Airlines Co., 7.38%, 3/1/2027   75,000    93,120 
           
Technology — 10.47%          
Cisco Systems, Inc., 2.95%, 2/28/2026   100,000    108,663 
Microsoft Corp., 3.30%, 2/6/2027   100,000    111,304 
Oracle Corp., 3.25%, 11/15/2027   100,000    110,271 
         330,238 
Total Corporate Bonds          
(Cost $1,399,704)        1,450,388 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

23

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
– (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Principal     
U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCIES — 20.85%  Amount   Fair Value 
         
United States Treasury Note, 0.13%, 8/31/2022  $220,300   $220,283 
United States Treasury Note, 0.13%, 9/15/2023   220,400    219,780 
United States Treasury Note, 1.50%, 9/30/2024   209,900    217,673 
         657,736 
Total U.S. Government & Agencies          
(Cost $659,589)        657,736 
           
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 31.20%  Shares      
           
iShares MBS ETF   4,925    537,564 
Nuveen ESG High Yield Corporate Bond ETF   18,031    446,628 
Total Exchange-Traded Funds          
(Cost $988,112)        984,192 
           
Total Investments — 98.04%          
(Cost $3,047,405)        3,092,316 
           
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 1.96%        61,885 
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $3,154,201 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

24

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Fisher Investments Institutional Group 
       ESG   Fixed   ESG Fixed 
   Stock Fund   Stock Fund   Income Fund   Income Fund 
   for Retirement   for Retirement   for Retirement   for Retirement 
   Plans   Plans   Plans   Plans 
Assets                
Investments in securities at value (cost $150,074, $149,147, $3,048,272 and $3,047,405)  $197,476   $195,764   $3,095,113   $3,092,316 
Cash   1,219    1,426    47,614    46,657 
Dividends and interest receivable   197    216    14,773    15,228 
Total Assets   198,892    197,406    3,157,500    3,154,201 
Net Assets  $198,892   $197,406   $3,157,500   $3,154,201 
Net Assets consist of:                    
                     
Paid-in capital   152,279    152,465    3,100,490    3,101,346 
Accumulated earnings   46,613    44,941    57,010    52,855 
Net Assets  $198,892   $197,406   $3,157,500   $3,154,201 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   15,182    15,199    309,782    309,874 
Net asset value (“NAV”) and offering price per share  $13.10   $12.99   $10.19   $10.18 

 

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

25

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Fisher Investments Institutional Group 
       ESG   Fixed   ESG Fixed  
   Stock Fund   Stock Fund   Income Fund   Income Fund 
   for Retirement   for Retirement   for Retirement   for Retirement 
   Plans   Plans   Plans   Plans 
Investment Income                
Dividend income  $1,168   $1,117   $16,404   $16,484 
Interest income   1        17,964    17,770 
Foreign dividend taxes withheld   (67)   (49)        
Total investment income   1,102    1,068    34,368    34,254 
                     
Net investment income   1,102    1,068    34,368    34,254 
                     
Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments                    
Net realized gain (loss) on investment securities transactions   (1,165)   (1,158)   20,856    20,929 
Net realized loss on foreign currency translations   (1)   (1)        
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investment securities and foreign currency translations   25,184    23,829    (57,792)   (62,985)
Net realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency   24,018    22,670    (36,936)   (42,056)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations  $25,120   $23,738   $(2,568)  $(7,802)

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

26

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   Fisher Investments   Fisher Investments 
   Institutional Group Stock Fund   Institutional Group ESG Stock 
   for Retirement Plans   Fund for Retirement Plans 
   For the       For the     
   Six Months       Six Months     
   Ended   For the   Ended   For the 
   February 28,   Period Ended   February 28,   Period Ended 
   2021   August 31,   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a)   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:                    
Operations                    
Net investment income  $1,102   $1,526   $1,068   $1,740 
Net realized gain (loss) on investment securities transactions and foreign currency translations   (1,166)   18    (1,159)   (870)
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investment securities and foreign currency translations   25,184    22,218    23,829    22,788 
                     
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   25,120    23,762    23,738    23,658 
                     
Distributions to Shareholders From:                    
Earnings   (2,272)       (2,459)    
Total distributions   (2,272)       (2,459)    
Capital Transactions                    
Proceeds from shares sold       150,010        150,010 
Reinvestment of distributions   2,272        2,459     
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   2,272    150,010    2,459    150,010 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   25,120    173,772    23,738    173,668 
Net Assets                    
Beginning of period   173,772        173,668     
End of period  $198,892   $173,772   $197,406   $173,668 
                     
Share Transactions                    
Shares sold       15,001        15,001 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   181        198     
Net increase in shares outstanding   181    15,001    198    15,001 

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

27

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
– (continued)

 

   Fisher Investments   Fisher Investments 
   Institutional Group Fixed Income   Institutional Group ESG Fixed 
   Fund for Retirement Plans   Income Fund for Retirement Plans 
   For the       For the     
   Six Months       Six Months     
   Ended   For the   Ended   For the 
   February 28,   Period Ended   February 28,   Period Ended 
   2021   August 31,   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a)   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:                    
Operations                    
Net investment income  $34,368   $55,425   $34,254   $54,097 
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions and foreign currency translations   20,856        20,929     
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investment securities and foreign currency translations   (57,792)   104,633    (62,985)   107,896 
                     
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   (2,568)   160,058    (7,802)   161,993 
                     
Distributions to Shareholders From:                    
Earnings   (100,645)       (101,495)    
Total distributions   (100,645)       (101,495)    
Capital Transactions                    
Proceeds from shares sold       3,000,010        3,000,010 
Reinvestment of distributions   100,645        101,495     
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   100,645    3,000,010    101,495    3,000,010 
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets   (2,568)   3,160,068    (7,802)   3,162,003 
                     
Net Assets                    
Beginning of period   3,160,068        3,162,003     
End of period  $3,157,500   $3,160,068   $3,154,201   $3,162,003 
                     
Share Transactions                    
Shares sold       300,001        300,001 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   9,781        9,873     
Net increase in shares outstanding   9,781    300,001    9,873    300,001 

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

28

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:        
Net asset value, beginning of period  $11.58   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.07    0.10 
Net realized and unrealized gain   1.60    1.48 
Total from investment operations   1.67    1.58 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.15)    
Total distributions   (0.15)    
Net asset value, end of period  $13.10   $11.58 
Total Return(b)   14.49(c)   15.80(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $199   $174 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   1.20(d)   1.44(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   1(c)   12(c)

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

29

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG STOCK FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $11.58   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.07    0.12 
Net realized and unrealized gain   1.50    1.46 
Total from investment operations   1.57    1.58 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.16)    
Total distributions   (0.16)    
Net asset value, end of period  $12.99   $11.58 
Total Return(b)   13.66(c)   15.80(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $197   $174 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   1.17(d)   1.64(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   1(c)   15(c)

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

30

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding during each period)

  

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a)
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.53   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.12    0.18 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)   (0.12)   0.35 
Total from investment operations       0.53 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.27)    
Net realized gains   (0.07)    
Total distributions   (0.34)    
Net asset value, end of period  $10.19   $10.53 
Total Return(b)   (0.07)% (c)   5.30(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $3,158   $3,160 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   2.18(d)   2.51(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   21(c)   (c)

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

31

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
ESG FIXED INCOME FUND FOR RETIREMENT PLANS
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a)
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.54   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.11    0.18 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)   (0.13)   0.36 
Total from investment operations   (0.02)   0.54 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.27)    
Net realized gains   (0.07)    
Total distributions   (0.34)    
Net asset value, end of period  $10.18   $10.54 
Total Return(b)   (0.24)% (c)   5.40(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $3,154   $3,162 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   2.18(d)   2.46(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   21(c)   (c) 

 

(a)For the period December 13, 2019 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

32

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Stock Fund”), Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “ESG Stock Fund”), Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fixed Income Fund”) and the Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “ESG Fixed Income Fund”) (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”) were each organized as diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on November 12, 2018 and are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. Each Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Funds commenced operations on December 13, 2019. The investment adviser to the Funds is Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Stock Fund and ESG Stock Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index. The investment objective of the Fixed Income Fund and ESG Fixed Income Fund is to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the ICE Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Funds are investment companies and follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. These policies are in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

33

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

Foreign Currency Translation – The accounting records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange each business day to determine the value of investments, and other assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of foreign securities, and income and expenses, are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective date of these transactions. The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuation arising from changes in market prices of securities held. These fluctuations are included with the realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency translations on the Statements of Operations represents currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. The change in unrealized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency translations for the period is reflected in the Statement of Operations.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Funds make no provision for federal income or excise tax. Each Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. Each Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Funds did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the Statements of Operations when incurred. During the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Funds did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Funds has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., the last tax year and the interim tax period). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

34

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Funds follow industry practice and record security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statement and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized or accreted using the effective interest method. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, related reclaims, and foreign capital gain taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

 

Dividends and Distributions – Each Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of the net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Funds.

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

Each Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that a Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

35

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Equity securities, including common stocks and ETFs, that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a

36

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, a Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

Debt securities are valued by using the mean between the closing bid and ask prices provided by a pricing service. If the closing bid and ask prices are not readily available, the pricing service may provide a price determined by a matrix pricing method. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used to value fixed income securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices. Matrix pricing takes into consideration recent transactions, yield, liquidity, risk, credit quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue and any other factors or market data the pricing service deems relevant for the actual security being priced and for other securities with similar characteristics. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2 securities. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair value of the securities or when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, securities are valued at fair value as determined by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 3 securities.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the mutual funds. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Funds might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be

37

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before a Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of February 28, 2021:

 

   Valuation Inputs 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Stock Fund                    
Assets                    
Common Stocks(a)  $195,894   $1,582   $   $197,476 
Total  $195,894   $1,582   $   $197,476 
                     
ESG Stock Fund                
Assets                
Common Stocks(a)  $194,161   $1,603   $   $195,764 
Total  $194,161   $1,603   $   $195,764 
                     
Fixed Income Fund                
Assets                
Corporate Bonds(a)  $   $1,445,934   $   $1,445,934 
Exchange-Traded Funds   992,050            992,050 
U.S. Government & Agencies       657,129        657,129 
Total  $992,050   $2,103,063   $   $3,095,113 
                     
ESG Fixed Income Fund                
Assets                
Corporate Bonds(a)  $   $1,450,388   $   $1,450,388 
Exchange-Traded Funds   984,192            984,192 
U.S. Government & Agencies       657,736        657,736 
Total  $984,192   $2,108,124   $   $3,092,316 

 

 
(a)Refer to Schedule of Investments for sector classifications.

38

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

The Funds did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period. The Funds did not hold any derivative instruments during the reporting period.

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Funds, manages the Funds’ investments. The Adviser pays all of the operating expenses of the Funds except portfolio transaction and other investment related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions, and fees and expenses associated with investments in derivative instruments, such as option and swap fees and expenses), taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short), extraordinary expenses, and any indirect expenses (such as fees and expenses associated with investment in acquired funds and other collective investment vehicles). In this regard, it should be noted that most investment companies pay their own operating expenses directly, while the Funds’ expenses, except those specified above, are paid by the Adviser. The Funds do not pay a management fee to the Adviser. Retirement plans, plan sponsors and/or plan participants pay a separate fee for the Adviser’s services and also pay fees to record keepers and administrators.

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Funds with administration, fund accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Independent Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund from the Trust and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

39

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES – continued

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Funds’ shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Funds.

 

NOTE 5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments were as follows:

 

           Fixed   ESG Fixed 
   Stock   ESG Stock   Income   Income 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Purchases  $3,111   $2,676   $83,817   $86,223 
Sales   1,797    1,839    648,975    652,280 
U.S. Government Purchases           659,809    660,419 
U.S. Government Sales                

 

NOTE 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under Section 2(a) (9) of the 1940 Act. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser owned 99.99%, 99.99%, 100.00% and 100.00% of the Stock Fund, ESG Stock Fund, Fixed Income Fund and ESG Fixed Income Fund outstanding shares, respectively. As a result, the Adviser may be deemed to control each Fund.

40

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes was as follows:

 

           Fixed   ESG Fixed 
   Stock   ESG Stock   Income   Income 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Gross unrealized appreciation  $53,371   $52,660   $60,529   $59,763 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (5,969)   (6,043)   (13,688)   (14,852)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments  $47,402   $46,617   $46,841   $44,911 
Tax cost of investments  $150,074   $149,147   $3,048,272   $3,047,405 

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

           Fixed   ESG Fixed 
   Stock   ESG Stock   Income   Income 
   Fund   Fund   Fund   Fund 
Undistributed ordinary income  $1,548   $1,729   $55,590   $54,256 
Accumulated capital and other losses       (855)        
Unrealized appreciation on investments   22,217    22,788    104,633    107,896 
Total accumulated earnings  $23,765   $23,662   $160,223   $162,152 

 

Certain capital losses and specified gains realized after October 31, and net investment losses realized after December 31 of the Funds’ fiscal year may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first business day of the Fund’s following taxable year. For the tax period ended August 31, 2020, the ESG Stock Fund deferred post-October capital losses in the amount of $855.

41

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 8. SECTOR RISK

 

If a Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of a Fund than would be the case if a Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss in a Fund and increase the volatility of a Fund’s NAV per share. For instance, economic or market factors, regulatory changes or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector, and therefore the value of a Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of February 28, 2021, the Stock Fund and ESG Stock Fund had 37.17% and 37.50%, respectively, of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Technology sector.

 

NOTE 9. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Funds has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

42

 

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in each Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. Each Fund’s example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

43

 

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited) – (continued)

 

   Beginning  Ending  Expenses   
   Account Value  Account Value  Paid  Annualized
   September 1,  February 28,  During the  Expense
   2020  2021  Period(a)  Ratio
Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans
Actual  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,144.90  $ —  —%
Hypothetical(b)  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,024.79  $ —  —%
             
Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans
Actual  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,136.60  $ —  —%
Hypothetical(b)  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,024.79  $ —  —%
             
Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans
Actual  $ 1,000.00  $    999.30  $ —  —%
Hypothetical(b)  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,024.79  $ —  —%
             
Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans
Actual  $ 1,000.00  $    997.60  $ —  —%
Hypothetical(b)  $ 1,000.00  $ 1,024.79  $ —  —%

 

(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

44

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited)

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Stock Fund”), Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Stock Fund for Retirement Plans (the “ESG Stock Fund”), Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “Fixed Income Fund”) and Fisher Investments Institutional Group ESG Fixed Income Fund for Retirement Plans (the “ESG Fixed Income Fund”) (together, the “Funds”) are series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversees the management of the Funds and, as required by law, considered the approval of the Funds’ management agreement with their investment adviser, Fisher Asset Management, LLC (“Fisher”).

 

The Board requested and evaluated all information that the Trustees deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with the approval of the management agreement.

 

The Trustees held a teleconference on February 17, 2021 to review and discuss materials compiled by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Trust’s administrator, with regard to the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher. At the Trustees’ quarterly meeting held in February 2021, the Board interviewed certain executives of Fisher, including Fisher’s Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager. After discussion, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Trust or Fisher (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the continuance of the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher for an additional year. The Trustees’ approval of the continuance of the Funds’ management agreement was based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Trustees, and was not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated this information differently, ascribing different weights to various factors.

 

(i)       The Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Trustees reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services that Fisher provides to the Funds, which include, but are not limited to, providing a continuous investment program for the Funds, adhering to the Funds’ investment restrictions, complying with the Trust’s policies and procedures, and voting proxies on behalf of the Funds. The Trustees considered the qualifications and experience of Fisher’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds’ portfolios, as well as the qualifications and experience of the other individuals at Fisher who would provide services to the Funds. The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of investment management services provided by Fisher to the Funds.

45

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited) – (continued)

 

(ii)       Fund Performance. The Trustees next reviewed and discussed the performance of the Funds for period ended December 31, 2020. The Trustees noted that the Stock Fund and ESG Stock Fund had significantly outperformed the average and median of their Morningstar World Large Stock category for the one-year and since inception periods, and had also significantly outperformed their benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Investable Markets Index, for both periods. The Trustees also noted that the Stock Fund and ESG Stock Fund performed comparably to composite accounts managed by Fisher with similar investment strategies to the Funds. The Trustees noted that the Fixed Income Fund and ESG Fixed Income Fund underperformed the average and median of their Morningstar Intermediate Core Bond category for the one-year and since inception periods, and had also underperformed their benchmark, the ICE BofA U.S. Broad Market Index, for both periods. The Trustees considered that each of these Funds had commenced operations on December 13, 2019 and had a limited history of operations. Based upon the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Funds’ performance is acceptable.

 

(iii)       Fee Rate and Profitability. The Trustees reviewed fee and expense comparisons for funds in the Funds’ respective Morningstar categories. The Trustees noted that, with respect to the Stock Fund, Fixed Income Fund, ESG Stock Fund and ESG Fixed Income Fund, Fisher does not charge a management fee at the fund level, but that shareholders (retirement plans, plan sponsors, and/or plan participants) would pay a program fee of up to 0.68% of total assets, which fee would be for both investment management services and the retirement plan platform, including ERISA fiduciary services. The Trustees considered that the program fee, which includes fees for the retirement plan platform, is below the median and close to the average of the Morningstar category for the Stock Fund and ESG Stock Fund and above the median and average for the Fixed Income Fund and the ESG Fixed Income Fund. The Trustees also considered that Fisher pays the operating expenses of each of the four Funds, which would result in an estimated net program fee substantially below the average and median net fees in the Funds’ respective Morningstar categories.

 

The Trustees also considered profitability analyses for each Fund prepared by Fisher, which showed that Fisher is not earning a profit from managing any of the Funds. The Trustees noted Fisher’s representation that it does not enter into soft-dollar transactions on behalf of the Funds. The Trustees concluded that the program fee represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of Fisher’s services to the Funds.

 

(iv)       Economies of Scale. In determining the reasonableness of the management fee, the Trustees also considered the extent to which Fisher will realize economies of scale as the Funds grow larger. The Trustees determined that, in light of the size of the Funds and Fisher’s lack of profitability in managing the Funds, it does not appear that Fisher is realizing benefits from economies of scale in managing the Funds to such an extent that breakpoints should be implemented at this time.

46

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
(Unaudited)

 

The Funds have adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Funds’ liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Funds’ investment strategies and the liquidity of their portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; their short and long-term cash flow projections; and their cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Funds did not experience unusual stress or disruption to their operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Funds held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

47

 

PRIVACY NOTICE

 

Rev: January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DO THE FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP FUND FAMILY (THE “FUNDS”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

●    Social Security number

 

●    account balances and account transactions

 

●    transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

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

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Funds chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.
 
Reasons we can share your personal
information
Do the Funds
share?
Can you limit this
sharing?

For our everyday business purposes—

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share
       
Questions? Call (800) 851-8845

 

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Fisher Investments Institutional Group Fund Family
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How do the Funds collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●    open an account or deposit money

 

●    make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

●    sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness

 

●    affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

●    sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions
Affiliates

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

 

●    Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments, the investment adviser to the Funds, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

   The Funds do not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you

Joint marketing

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

 

●    The Funds don’t jointly market.

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures that each Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how each Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Funds at (800) 851-8845 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman Cohen & Company, Ltd.
David R. Carson 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Daniel J. Condon Chicago, IL 60606
Gary E. Hippenstiel  
Stephen A. Little LEGAL COUNSEL
Ronald C. Tritschler Thompson Hine LLP
  312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
OFFICERS Cincinnati, OH 45202
David R. Carson, President  
Martin R. Dean, Vice President CUSTODIAN
Zachary P. Richmond, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance Officer 350 California Street, Suite 2018
  San Francisco, CA 94104
INVESTMENT ADVISER  
Fisher Asset Management, LLC ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
Camas, WA 98607 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
  Cincinnati, OH 45246
DISTRIBUTOR  
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC  
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450  
Cincinnati, OH 45246  

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Funds’ prospectus which contains information about the Funds’ management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

Fisher4-SAR-21

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL
GROUP FUND FAMILY
 
 
 
Semi-Annual Report
 
February 28, 2021
 
 
 
Fisher Investments Institutional Group
All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fund Adviser:
 
Fisher Asset Management, LLC
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive,
Camas, Washington 98607
 (800) 851-8845
 
 
 
 

 

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL
FOREIGN EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021 (a)  
     
        Since  
        Inception  
  Fund/Index    Six Months    (7/17/20)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund  21.28%  25.65%  
  MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index(b)  16.65%  21.26%  
           
        Expense  
        Ratios(c)  
  Gross     95.58%  
  With Applicable Waivers     0.68%  
           

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance of a fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index is a stock market index comprising of non-U.S. stocks from 22 developed markets and 27 emerging markets. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.68% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; certain fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any administrative and/ or shareholder servicing fees payable pursuant to a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business). This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratios as of February 28, 2021 can be found in the financial highlights.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

1

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
Fund Holdings (Unaudited)
 

(BAR CHAT)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the MSCI ACWI ex US Index.

 

Availability of Portfolio Schedule – (Unaudited)

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

2

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24%  Shares   Fair Value 
Australia — 2.58%          
Health Care — 1.07%          
CSL Ltd.   10   $2,020 
           
Technology — 1.51%          
Atlassian Corp. PLC, Class A(a)   12    2,852 
           
Total Australia        4,872 
           
Brazil — 0.96%          
Financials — 0.96%          
Itau Unibanco Holding SA - ADR   401    1,817 
Total Brazil        1,817 
           
Canada — 0.45%          
Technology — 0.45%          
Open Text Corp.   19    846 
Total Canada        846 
           
China — 11.38%          
Communications — 6.30%          
NetEase, Inc. - ADR   20    2,197 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. - ADR   111    9,679 
         11,876 
Consumer Discretionary — 5.08%          
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. - ADR(a)   19    4,517 
JD.com, Inc. - ADR(a)   54    5,069 
         9,586 
Total China        21,462 
           
Colombia — 0.47%          
Energy — 0.47%          
Ecopetrol SA - ADR   72    882 
Total Colombia        882 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Denmark — 3.35%          
Energy — 1.49%          
Vestas Wind Systems A/S   15   $2,810 
           
Health Care — 1.86%          
Coloplast A/S - ADR   51    782 
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B   38    2,701 
         3,483 
Total Denmark        6,293 
           
France — 13.27%          
Consumer Discretionary — 4.05%          
Hermes International SA   4    4,458 
Kering SA   5    3,169 
         7,627 
Consumer Staples — 2.11%          
Danone SA   10    682 
L’Oreal SA   9    3,289 
         3,971 
Financials — 0.80%          
BNP Paribas SA(a)   12    714 
Credit Agricole SA(a)   56    785 
         1,499 
Health Care — 0.92%          
Sanofi   19    1,739 
           
Industrials — 0.77%          
Aeroports de Paris   6    762 
Vinci SA - ADR   27    702 
         1,464 
Materials — 1.94%          
Cie de Saint-Gobain   68    3,647 
           
Technology — 2.68%          
Dassault Systemes SE   15    3,113 
Teleperformance   3    1,062 
Worldline SA/France(a)   10    891 
         5,066 
Total France        25,013 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Germany — 8.36%          
Consumer Staples — 1.05%          
Beiersdorf AG   20   $1,978 
           
Financials — 1.48%          
Deutsche Boerse AG   17    2,782 
           
Industrials — 3.41%          
Deutsche Post AG   70    3,470 
Siemens AG   19    2,936 
         6,406 
Technology — 2.42%          
SAP SE   37    4,559 
           
Total Germany        15,725 
           
Hong Kong — 0.67%          
Financials — 0.67%          
AIA Group Ltd. - ADR   25    1,260 
Total Hong Kong        1,260 
           
India — 1.76%          
Financials — 1.76%          
HDFC Bank Ltd. - ADR(a)   42    3,324 
Total India        3,324 
           
Indonesia — 1.45%          
Financials — 1.45%          
Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT - ADR   168    2,755 
Total Indonesia        2,755 
           
Israel — 1.05%          
Technology — 1.05%          
NICE-Systems Ltd. - ADR(a)   4    918 
Wix.com Ltd.(a)   3    1,046 
         1,964 
Total Israel        1,964 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Italy — 1.79%          
Energy — 1.34%          
Eni SpA   220   $2,518 
           
Financials — 0.45%          
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA(a)   329    848 
Total Italy        3,366 
           
Japan — 12.67%          
Communications — 2.60%          
M3, Inc.   62    4,901 
           
Health Care — 1.45%          
Eisai Co. Ltd. - ADR(a)   10    694 
Hoya Corp. - ADR   11    1,256 
Terumo Corp. - ADR(a)   21    786 
         2,736 
Industrials — 7.99%          
Daifuku Co. Ltd - ADR   50    1,193 
FANUC Corp. - ADR   115    2,887 
Keyence Corp.   15    7,114 
Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd. - ADR(a)   386    3,875 
         15,069 
Technology — 0.63%          
Obic Co. Ltd.   7    1,181 
           
Total Japan        23,887 
           
Korea (Republic Of) — 4.35%          
Technology — 4.35%          
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.   112    8,195 
Total Korea (Republic Of)        8,195 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Netherlands — 12.78%          
Financials — 0.44%          
ING Groep NV(a)   76   $829 
           
Technology — 12.34%          
Adyen NV(a)   1    2,313 
ASML Holding NV   23    12,922 
NXP Semiconductors NV   33    6,024 
Wolters Kluwer NV   25    1,982 
         23,241 
Total Netherlands        24,070 
           
Norway — 1.41%          
Energy — 1.41%          
Equinor ASA   141    2,655 
Total Norway        2,655 
           
Spain — 2.60%          
Energy — 1.66%          
Repsol SA   250    3,143 
           
Financials — 0.39%          
Banco Santander SA   209    731 
           
Technology — 0.55%          
Amadeus IT Group SA   15    1,041 
           
Total Spain        4,915 
           
Switzerland — 1.45%          
Industrials — 0.88%          
ABB Ltd.   58    1,662 
           
Technology — 0.57%          
Temenos AG   8    1,080 
           
Total Switzerland        2,742 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Taiwan Province Of China — 7.42%          
Technology — 7.42%          
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - ADR   111   $13,979 
Total Taiwan Province Of China        13,979 
           
United Kingdom — 15.02%          
Consumer Staples — 2.55%          
Coca-Cola European Partners PLC   55    2,802 
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC   24    2,006 
         4,808 
Energy — 1.21%          
BP PLC   559    2,272 
           
Financials — 0.57%          
London Stock Exchange Group PLC   8    1,072 
           
Health Care — 1.78%          
AstraZeneca PLC   25    2,419 
GlaxoSmithKline PLC   57    945 
         3,364 
Materials — 6.88%          
Anglo American PLC   92    3,553 
Antofagasta PLC   223    5,537 
Rio Tinto PLC   45    3,878 
         12,968 
Technology — 2.03%          
Experian PLC   97    3,071 
RELX PLC   31    731 
         3,802 
           
Total United Kingdom        28,286 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 105.24% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Total Common Stocks — 105.24%
(Cost $160,880)
       $198,308 
           
Total Investments — 105.24%
(Cost $160,880)
        198,308 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (5.24)%        (9,877)
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $188,431 
           
(a)Non-income producing security.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Assets     
Investments in securities at fair value (cost $160,880)  $198,308 
Cash   1,066 
Receivable for investments sold   14,304 
Dividends receivable   287 
Receivable from Adviser   11,424 
Prepaid expenses   791 
Total Assets   226,180 
Liabilities     
Due to custodian   4,830 
Payable to Administrator   10,405 
Other accrued expenses   22,514 
Total Liabilities   37,749 
Net Assets  $188,431 
Net Assets consist of:     
Paid-in capital   150,640 
Accumulated earnings   37,791 
Net Assets  $188,431 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   15,055 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $12.52 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income     
Dividend income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $135)  $1,126 
Total investment income   1,126 
Expenses     
Administration   19,836 
Audit and tax   9,738 
Legal   8,342 
Trustee   6,854 
Transfer agent   5,951 
Compliance services   5,951 
Report printing   3,224 
Pricing   2,849 
Custodian   2,482 
Adviser   520 
Registration   244 
Miscellaneous   8,823 
Total expenses   74,814 
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by Adviser   (74,233)
Net operating expenses   581 
Net investment income   545 
Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments     
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   220 
Net realized loss on foreign currency translations   (3)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities   32,219 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of foreign currency   25 
Net realized and change in unrealized gain on investments   32,461 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $33,006 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

11

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:          
Operations          
Net investment income  $545   $176 
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions and foreign currency translations   217    27 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities and foreign currency translations   32,244    5,212 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   33,006    5,415 
Distributions to Shareholders From:          
Earnings   (630)    
Total distributions   (630)    
Capital Transactions          
Proceeds from shares sold       150,010 
Reinvestment of distributions   630     
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   630    150,010 
Total Increase in Net Assets   33,006    155,425 
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   155,425     
End of period  $188,431   $155,425 
Share Transactions          
Shares sold       15,001 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   54     
Net increase in shares   54    15,001 
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

12

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.36   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.04    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gain   2.16    0.35 
Total from investment operations   2.20    0.36 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.04)    
Total distributions   (0.04)    
Net asset value, end of period  $12.52   $10.36 
           
Total Return(b)   21.28(c)   3.60(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $188   $155 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   0.68(d)   0.68(d)
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   87.58(d)   201.44(d)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   0.64(d)   0.98(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   12(c)   4(c)
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

13

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on November 12, 2018 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund commenced operations on July 17, 2020. The investment adviser to the Fund is Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Foreign Currency Translation – The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange each business day to determine the value of investments, and other assets and liabilities. Purchases and sales of foreign securities, and income and expenses, are translated at the prevailing rate of exchange on the respective date of these transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. These fluctuations are

14

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

included with the realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments. Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency translations on the Statement of Operations represents currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. The change in unrealized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency translations for the period is reflected in the Statement of Operations.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the Statement of Operations when incurred. During the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., inception and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and related reclaims have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

15

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

Dividends and Distributions – The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund.

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

16

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Equity securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the mutual funds. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

17

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of February 28, 2021:

 

   Valuation Inputs 
Assets  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks(a)  $198,308   $   $   $198,308 
Total  $198,308   $   $   $198,308 

 

 

(a)Refer to Schedule of Investments for sector classifications.

 

The Fund did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period. The Fund did not hold any derivative instruments during the reporting period.

18

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund, manages the Fund’s investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.61% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser earned fees of $520 from the Fund before the waiver and reimbursement described below.

 

The Adviser is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.68% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable to financial intermediaries; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser waived fees and reimbursed expenses in the amount of $74,233 for the Fund. At February 28, 2021, the Adviser owed the Fund $11,424.

 

Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser may seek repayment of expense reimbursements in the amount as follow:

 

Recoverable through    
August 31, 2023  $35,943 
February 28, 2024   74,233 

19

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES – continued

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with administration, accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Administrator earned fees of $19,836 for administration services, $5,951 for transfer agent services, and $5,951 for compliance services. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Administrator $10,405 for such services.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund from the Trust, and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Fund.

 

NOTE 5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, were $29,828 and $21,159, respectively.

 

There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. government obligations during the six months ended February 28, 2021.

20

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser owned 99.99% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. As a result, the Adviser may be deemed to control the Fund.

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes was as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation  $41,974 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (4,606)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments  $37,368 
Tax cost of investments  $160,940 

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $263 
Unrealized appreciation on investments   5,152 
Total accumulated earnings  $5,415 

 

NOTE 8. SECTOR RISK

 

If the Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. For instance, economic or market factors, regulatory changes or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector, and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of February 28, 2021, the Fund had 36.00% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Technology sector.

21

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN
EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 9. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

22

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

23

 

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

   Beginning  Ending  Expenses   
   Account Value  Account Value  Paid  Annualized
   September 1,  February 28,  During the  Expense
   2020  2021  Period(a)  Ratio
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,212.80  $3.73  0.68%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00  $1,021.42  $3.41  0.68%

 

(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

24

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited)

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversees the management of the Fund and, as required by law, considered the approval of the Fund’s management agreement with its investment adviser, Fisher Asset Management, LLC (“Fisher”).

 

The Board requested and evaluated all information that the Trustees deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with the approval of the management agreement.

 

The Trustees held a teleconference on February 17, 2021 to review and discuss materials compiled by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Trust’s administrator, with regard to the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher. At the Trustees’ quarterly meeting held in February 2021, the Board interviewed certain executives of Fisher, including Fisher’s Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager. After discussion, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Trust or Fisher (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the continuance of the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher for an additional year. The Trustees’ approval of the continuance of the Fund’s management agreement was based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Trustees, and was not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated this information differently, ascribing different weights to various factors.

 

(i)       The Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Trustees reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services that Fisher provides to the Fund, which include, but are not limited to, providing a continuous investment program for the Fund, adhering to the Fund’s investment restrictions, complying with the Trust’s policies and procedures, and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees considered the qualifications and experience of Fisher’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as the qualifications and experience of the other individuals at Fisher who would provide services to the Fund. The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of investment management services provided by Fisher to the Fund.

 

(ii)       Fund Performance. The Trustees next reviewed and discussed the performance of the Fund for period ended December 31, 2020. The Trustees noted that the Fund had outperformed the average and median of its Morningstar Foreign Large Blend category and its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Ex U.S. Index, since inception. The

25

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited) – (continued)

 

Trustees considered that the Fund had commenced operations on July 17, 2020 and had a limited history of operations. Based upon the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s performance is acceptable.

 

(iii)       Fee Rate and Profitability. The Trustees reviewed a fee and expense comparison for funds in the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees noted that the gross advisory fee of the Fund is equal to the average and below the median of the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees also considered that Fisher has committed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund through at least December 31, 2024.

 

The Trustees also considered a profitability analysis for the Fund prepared by Fisher, which showed that Fisher is not earning a profit from managing the Fund. The Trustees noted Fisher’s representation that it does not enter into soft-dollar transactions on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees concluded that the management fee represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of Fisher’s services to the Fund.

 

(iv)       Economies of Scale. In determining the reasonableness of the management fee, the Trustees also considered the extent to which Fisher will realize economies of scale as the Fund grows larger. The Trustees determined that, in light of the size of the Fund and Fisher’s lack of profitability in managing the Fund, it does not appear that Fisher is realizing benefits from economies of scale in managing the Fund to such an extent that breakpoints should be implemented at this time.

26

 

PRIVACY NOTICE Rev. January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DOES FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP ALL FOREIGN EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND (THE “FUND”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

●    Social Security number

 

●    account balances and account transactions

 

●    transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

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

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the
Fund share?
Can you limit
this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes—

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

Questions? Call (800) 851-8845

 

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Fisher Investments Institutional Group All Foreign Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●    open an account or deposit money

 

●    make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

●    sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness

 

●    affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

●    sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions
Affiliates

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

 

●    Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

   The Fund does not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you

Joint marketing

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

 

●    The Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Fund at (800) 851-8845 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
David R. Carson Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Daniel J. Condon 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Gary E. Hippenstiel Chicago, IL 60606
Stephen A. Little  
Ronald C. Tritschler LEGAL COUNSEL
  Thompson Hine LLP
OFFICERS 312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
David R. Carson, President Cincinnati, OH 45202
Martin R. Dean, Vice President  
Zachary P. Richmond, CUSTODIAN
Treasurer and Chief Financial MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Officer 350 California Street, Suite 2018
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance San Francisco, CA 94104
Officer  
  ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER
INVESTMENT ADVISER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
Fisher Asset Management, LLC Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Camas, WA 98607 Cincinnati, OH 45246
   
DISTRIBUTOR  
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC  
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450  
Cincinnati, OH 45246  

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Fund’s prospectus which contains information about the Fund’s management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

 

 

Fisher1-SAR-21

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL
GROUP FUND FAMILY
 
 
 
Semi-Annual Report
 
February 28, 2021
 
 
 
Fisher Investments Institutional Group
U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fund Adviser:
 
Fisher Asset Management, LLC
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive,
Camas, Washington 98607
 (800) 851-8845
 
 
 
 

 

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021(a)  
     
          Since  
          Inception  
  Fund/Index   Six Months   (7/17/20)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund   37.14%   43.58%  
  Russell 2000 Index(b)   41.69%   50.42%  
             
          Expense  
          Ratios(c)  
  Gross       85.62%  
  With Applicable Waivers       0.75%  
             

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance of a fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The Russell 2000® Index (“Russell Index”) is a widely recognized unmanaged index of equity securities and is representative of a broader domestic equity market and range of securities than are found in the Fund’s portfolio. Individuals can not invest directly in the Russell Index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; certain fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any administrative and/ or shareholder servicing fees payable pursuant to a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business). This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratios as of February 28, 2021 can be found in the financial highlights.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC

1

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
Fund Holdings (Unaudited)
 

(BAR CHAT)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the Russell 2000 Index.

 

Availability of Portfolio Schedule (Unaudited)

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

2

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.00%  Shares   Fair Value 
Communications — 4.72%          
8X8, Inc.(a)   146   $4,995 
Stamps.com, Inc.(a)   16    2,910 
Yelp, Inc.(a)   60    2,263 
         10,168 
Consumer Discretionary — 12.01%          
Builders FirstSource, Inc.(a)   70    3,029 
Domino’s Pizza, Inc.   4    1,386 
Freshpet, Inc.(a)   49    7,638 
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.   36    2,037 
M/I Homes, Inc.(a)   21    1,048 
Papa John’s International, Inc.   23    2,074 
Pool Corp.   14    4,687 
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The)   14    2,984 
Taylor Morrison Home Corp.(a)   36    990 
         25,873 
Consumer Staples — 1.91%          
Boston Beer Co., Inc. (The), Class A(a)   4    4,115 
           
Energy — 1.56%          
ChampionX Corp.(a)   87    1,851 
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.   12    345 
Oceaneering International, Inc.(a)   98    1,156 
         3,352 
Financials — 10.07%          
BancorpSouth Bank   34    1,022 
Cowen Group, Inc., Class A   99    3,352 
East West Bancorp, Inc.   14    1,010 
Evercore Partners, Inc., Class A   16    1,916 
First Merchants Corp.   57    2,397 
Independent Bank Corp.   27    2,309 
Lazard Ltd., Class A   17    658 
Piper Jaffray Cos.   19    2,020 
Stifel Financial Corp.   28    1,710 
SVB Financial Group(a)   8    4,043 
Umpqua Holdings Corp.   73    1,246 
         21,683 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.00% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Health Care — 28.21%          
Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   27   $128 
Align Technology, Inc.(a)   13    7,372 
Alkermes PLC(a)   14    267 
Anika Therapeutics(a)   12    440 
Avid Bioservices, Inc.(a)   56    1,152 
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.(a)   8    2,289 
CONMED Corp.   63    7,752 
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.(a)   52    4,992 
Exact Sciences Corp.(a)   17    2,314 
Haemonetics Corp.(a)   30    3,795 
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   176    7,965 
ImmunoGen, Inc.(a)   37    324 
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   34    314 
Luminex Corp.   156    5,073 
Medpace Holdings, Inc.(a)   24    3,898 
Myriad Genetics, Inc.(a)   27    823 
NanoString Technologies, Inc.(a)   11    768 
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc.(a)   8    876 
PRA Health Sciences, Inc.(a)   12    1,769 
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   21    1,199 
Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)   3    30 
Vericel Corp.(a)   19    917 
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.   7    1,965 
WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.(a)   158    4,381 
         60,803 
Industrials — 11.42%          
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.(a)   52    5,432 
Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.(a)   27    2,373 
Cactus, Inc., Class A   107    3,410 
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., Class A(a)   36    2,085 
Chart Industries, Inc.(a)   24    3,434 
HEICO Corp.   21    2,640 
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.   16    1,890 
Mercury Systems, Inc.(a)   32    2,092 
Moog, Inc., Class A   16    1,243 
         24,599 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.00% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Materials — 7.02%          
Alcoa Corp.(a)   58   $1,424 
AptarGroup, Inc.   16    2,081 
Carpenter Technology Corp.   25    1,017 
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.   266    3,548 
Kaiser Aluminum Corp.   10    1,141 
Rogers Corp.(a)   8    1,452 
Steel Dynamics, Inc.   32    1,331 
UFP Industries, Inc.   23    1,403 
Worthington Industries, Inc.   27    1,724 
         15,121 
Real Estate — 1.19%          
CoreSite Realty Corp.   7    852 
Potlatch Corp.   25    1,269 
QTS Realty Trust, Inc., Class A   7    435 
         2,556 
Technology — 25.89%          
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.(a)   117    1,805 
Alteryx, Inc., Class A(a)   33    3,155 
Aspen Technology, Inc.(a)   36    5,418 
Bottomline Technologies de, Inc.(a)   55    2,468 
Coherent, Inc.(a)   21    5,081 
Diodes, Inc.(a)   68    5,339 
Fair Isaac Corp.(a)   6    2,745 
Knowles Corp.(a)   128    2,661 
Liveperson, Inc.(a)   48    3,150 
Nuance Communications, Inc.(a)   102    4,549 
Omnicell, Inc.(a)   33    4,188 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   9    3,368 
Paylocity Holdings Corp.(a)   37    7,075 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.00% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Technology — 25.89% - continued          
Pegasystems, Inc.   17   $2,250 
SVMK, Inc.(a)   136    2,532 
         55,784 
           
Total Common Stocks — 104.00%
(Cost $161,221)
        224,054 
           
Total Investments — 104.00%
(Cost $161,221)
        224,054 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (4.00)%        (8,614)
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $215,440 
           
(a)Non-income producing security.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Assets     
Investments in securities at fair value (cost $161,221)  $224,054 
Cash   1,056 
Receivable for investments sold   8,693 
Dividends receivable   67 
Receivable from Adviser   10,864 
Prepaid expenses   1,138 
Total Assets   245,872 
Liabilities     
Payable to Administrator   10,405 
Other accrued expenses   20,027 
Total Liabilities   30,432 
Net Assets  $215,440 
Net Assets consist of:     
Paid-in capital   150,263 
Accumulated earnings   65,177 
Net Assets  $215,440 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   15,020 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $14.34 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income     
Dividend income (net of foreign taxes withheld of $1)  $484 
Interest income   2 
Total investment income   486 
Expenses     
Administration   19,836 
Audit and tax   9,460 
Legal   8,342 
Trustee   6,854 
Transfer agent   5,951 
Compliance services   5,951 
Report printing   3,224 
Custodian   1,238 
Pricing   921 
Adviser   624 
Registration   290 
Miscellaneous   8,717 
Total expenses   71,408 
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by Adviser   (70,717)
Net operating expenses   691 
Net investment loss   (205)
Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments     
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   2,560 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities   56,069 
Net realized and change in unrealized gain on investments   58,629 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $58,424 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   For the     
   Six Months     
   Ended   For the 
   February 28,   Period Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:          
Operations          
Net investment income (loss)  $(205)  $54 
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   2,560    188 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities   56,069    6,764 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   58,424    7,006 
Distributions to Shareholders From:          
Earnings   (253)    
Total distributions   (253)    
Capital Transactions          
Proceeds from shares sold       150,010 
Reinvestment of distributions   253     
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   253    150,010 
Total Increase in Net Assets   58,424    157,016 
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   157,016     
End of period  $215,440   $157,016 
Share Transactions          
Shares sold       15,001 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   19     
Net increase in shares   19    15,001 
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months     
   Ended   For the 
   February 28,   Period Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $10.47   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income (loss)   (0.01)    (b)
Net realized and unrealized gain   3.90    0.47 
Total from investment operations   3.89    0.47 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net realized gains   (0.02)    
Total distributions   (0.02)    
Net asset value, end of period  $14.34   $10.47 
           
Total Return(c)   37.14(d)   4.70(d)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $215   $157 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   0.75(e)   0.75(e)
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   77.54(e)   188.33(e)
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets   (0.22)% (e)   0.30(e)
Portfolio turnover rate   11(d)   2(d)
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Rounds to less than $0.005 per share.

 

(c)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(d)Not annualized.

 

(e)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

10

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on November 12, 2018 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund commenced operations on July 17, 2020. The investment adviser to the Fund is Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the Russell 2000 Index.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

11

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the Statement of Operations when incurred. During the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., inception and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and related reclaims have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

 

Dividends and Distributions – The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund.

12

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

13

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Equity securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the mutual funds. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant

14

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of February 28, 2021:

 

   Valuation Inputs 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets                    
Common Stocks(a)  $224,054   $   $   $224,054 
Total  $224,054   $   $   $224,054 

 

 

(a)Refer to Schedule of Investments for sector classifications.

 

The Fund did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period. The Fund did not hold any derivative instruments during the reporting period.

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund, manages the Fund’s investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.68% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser earned fees of $624 from the Fund before the waiver and reimbursement described below.

 

The Adviser is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance

15

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES - continued

 

with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable to financial intermediaries; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser waived fees and reimbursed expenses in the amount of $70,717 for the Fund. At February 28, 2021, the Adviser owed the Fund $10,864.

 

Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser may seek repayment of expense reimbursements in the amount as follow:

 

Recoverable through    
August 31, 2023  $34,216 
February 28, 2024   70,717 

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with administration, accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Administrator earned fees of $19,836 for administration services, $5,951 for transfer agent services, and $5,951 for compliance services. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Administrator $10,405 for such services.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund

16

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES - continued

 

from the Trust, and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Fund.

 

NOTE 5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, were $28,628 and $21,065, respectively.

 

There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. government obligations during the six months ended February 28, 2021.

 

NOTE 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser owned 99.99% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. As a result, the Adviser may be deemed to control the Fund.

17

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes was as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation  $67,938 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (5,097)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments  $62,841 
Tax cost of investments  $161,213 

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $234 
Unrealized appreciation on investments   6,772 
Total accumulated earnings  $7,006 

 

NOTE 8. SECTOR RISK

 

If the Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. For instance, economic or market factors, regulatory changes or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector, and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of February 28, 2021, the Fund had 28.21% and 25.89% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Health Care and Technology sectors, respectively.

18

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 9. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

19

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

20

 

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

   Beginning  Ending  Expenses   
   Account Value  Account Value  Paid  Annualized
   September 1,  February 28,  During the  Expense
   2020  2021  Period(a)  Ratio
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,371.40  $4.41  0.75%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00  $1,021.08  $3.76  0.75%

 

(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

21

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited)

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversees the management of the Fund and, as required by law, considered the approval of the Fund’s management agreement with its investment adviser, Fisher Asset Management, LLC (“Fisher”).

 

The Board requested and evaluated all information that the Trustees deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with the approval of the management agreement.

 

The Trustees held a teleconference on February 17, 2021 to review and discuss materials compiled by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Trust’s administrator, with regard to the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher. At the Trustees’ quarterly meeting held in February 2021, the Board interviewed certain executives of Fisher, including Fisher’s Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager. After discussion, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Trust or Fisher (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the continuance of the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher for an additional year. The Trustees’ approval of the continuance of the Fund’s management agreement was based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Trustees, and was not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated this information differently, ascribing different weights to various factors.

 

(i)       The Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Trustees reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services that Fisher provides to the Fund, which include, but are not limited to, providing a continuous investment program for the Fund, adhering to the Fund’s investment restrictions, complying with the Trust’s policies and procedures, and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees considered the qualifications and experience of Fisher’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as the qualifications and experience of the other individuals at Fisher who would provide services to the Fund. The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of investment management services provided by Fisher to the Fund.

 

(ii)       Fund Performance. The Trustees next reviewed and discussed the performance of the Fund for period ended December 31, 2020. The Trustees noted that the Fund had outperformed the average and median of its Morningstar Small Blend category since inception, but that it had underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index, for that period. The Trustees noted that the Fund performed comparably to

22

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited) – (continued)

 

a composite account managed by Fisher with a similar investment strategy to the Fund. The Trustees considered that the Fund had commenced operations on July 17, 2020 and had a limited history of operations. Based upon the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s performance is acceptable.

 

(iii)       Fee Rate and Profitability. The Trustees reviewed a fee and expense comparison for funds in the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees noted that the gross advisory fee of the Fund is above the average and median of the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees also considered that Fisher has committed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund through at least December 31, 2024.

 

The Trustees also considered a profitability analysis for the Fund prepared by Fisher, which showed that Fisher is not earning a profit from managing the Fund. The Trustees also considered that the management fee is within the range of fees that Fisher charges to the composite account. The Trustees noted Fisher’s representation that it does not enter into soft-dollar transactions on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees concluded that the management fee represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of Fisher’s services to the Fund.

 

(iv)       Economies of Scale. In determining the reasonableness of the management fee, the Trustees also considered the extent to which Fisher will realize economies of scale as the Fund grows larger. The Trustees determined that, in light of the size of the Fund and Fisher’s lack of profitability in managing the Fund, it does not appear that Fisher is realizing benefits from economies of scale in managing the Fund to such an extent that breakpoints should be implemented at this time.

23

 

PRIVACY NOTICE Rev: January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DOES FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP U.S. SMALL CAP EQUITY FUND (THE “FUND”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

■    Social Security number

 

■    account balances and account transactions

 

■    transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

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

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the
Fund
share?
Can you
limit this
sharing?

For our everyday business purposes—

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

Questions? Call (800) 851-8845

 

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Small Cap Equity Fund

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

■    open an account or deposit money

 

■    make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

■    sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness

 

■    affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

■    sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

   
Definitions
Affiliates

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

 

■    Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

   The Fund does not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you

Joint marketing

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

 

■    The Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Fund at (800) 851-8845 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
David R. Carson Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Daniel J. Condon 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Gary E. Hippenstiel Chicago, IL 60606
Stephen A. Little  
Ronald C. Tritschler LEGAL COUNSEL
  Thompson Hine LLP
OFFICERS 312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
David R. Carson, President Cincinnati, OH 45202
Martin R. Dean, Vice President  
Zachary P. Richmond, CUSTODIAN
Treasurer and Chief Financial MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Officer 350 California Street, Suite 2018
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance Officer San Francisco, CA 94104
   
INVESTMENT ADVISER ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER
Fisher Asset Management, LLC AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
Camas, WA 98607 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
  Cincinnati, OH 45246
DISTRIBUTOR  
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC  
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450  
Cincinnati, OH 45246  

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Fund’s prospectus which contains information about the Fund’s management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

 

 

 

Fisher3-SAR-21

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL
GROUP FUND FAMILY
 
 
 
Semi-Annual Report
 
February 28, 2021
 
 
 
Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity
Environmental and Social Values Fund
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fund Adviser:
 
Fisher Asset Management, LLC
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive,
Camas, Washington 98607
 (800) 851-8845
 
 
 
 

 

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
Investment Results (Unaudited)

 

  Total Returns as of February 28, 2021 (a)  
          Since  
          Inception  
  Fund/Index     Six Months     (7/17/20)  
  Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund   7.36%   20.24%  
  S&P 500 Index(b)   9.74%   19.37%  
             
          Expense  
          Ratios(c)  
  Gross       90.61%  
  With Applicable Waivers       0.47%  
             

The performance quoted represents past performance, which does not guarantee future results.

 

The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Current performance of a fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845.

 

(a)Return figures reflect any change in price per share and assume the reinvestment of all distributions. Total returns for periods less than one year are not annualized.

 

(b)The S&P 500® Index (“S&P Index”) is a widely recognized unmanaged index of equity securities and is representative of a broader domestic equity market and range of securities than is found in the Fund’s portfolio. Individuals cannot invest directly in the S&P Index; however, an individual can invest in exchange traded funds or other investment vehicles that attempt to track the performance of a benchmark index.

 

(c)The expense ratios are from the Fund’s prospectus dated December 29, 2020. Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”) is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.47% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; certain fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any administrative and/ or shareholder servicing fees payable pursuant to a plan adopted by the Board of Trustees; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business). This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board of Trustees. Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. Additional information pertaining to the Fund’s expense ratios as of February 28, 2021 can be found in the financial highlights.

 

The Fund’s investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The Fund’s prospectus contains this and other important information about the investment company and may be obtained by calling (800) 851-8845. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The Fund is distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC

1

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
Fund Holdings (Unaudited)
 

(BAR CHAT)

 

(a)As a percentage of net assets.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the S&P 500 Index.

 

Availability of Portfolio Schedule – (Unaudited)

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

2

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.73%  Shares   Fair Value 
Communications — 9.43%          
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   4   $8,088 
Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)   20    5,152 
Netflix, Inc.(a)   7    3,772 
         17,012 
Consumer Discretionary — 8.87%          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   3    9,279 
Home Depot, Inc. (The)   26    6,717 
         15,996 
Consumer Staples — 1.94%          
Costco Wholesale Corp.   4    1,324 
General Mills, Inc.   21    1,155 
Kimberly-Clark Corp.   8    1,027 
         3,506 
Energy — 5.22%          
ConocoPhillips   36    1,872 
Exxon Mobil Corp.   22    1,196 
Halliburton Co.   71    1,550 
Hess Corp.   32    2,097 
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.   12    1,783 
Schlumberger Ltd.   33    921 
         9,419 
Financials — 7.14%          
American Express Co.   26    3,517 
BlackRock, Inc.   5    3,473 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)   12    3,833 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.   14    2,060 
         12,883 
Health Care — 11.67%          
Abbott Laboratories   20    2,396 
Align Technology, Inc.(a)   9    5,104 
Amgen, Inc.   6    1,350 
Biogen, Inc.(a)   6    1,637 
DexCom, Inc.(a)   1    398 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

3

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.73% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Health Care — 11.67% - continued          
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)   1   $520 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)   5    3,684 
Johnson & Johnson   5    792 
Medtronic PLC   14    1,638 
Merck & Co., Inc.   33    2,396 
Pfizer, Inc.   16    536 
ResMed, Inc.   3    578 
Viatris, Inc.(a)   1    15 
         21,044 
Industrials — 5.93%          
3M Co.   7    1,225 
Caterpillar, Inc.   9    1,943 
HEICO Corp.   14    1,761 
Kansas City Southern   7    1,486 
Rockwell Automation, Inc.   9    2,190 
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., Class A   12    514 
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B   10    1,578 
         10,697 
Materials — 1.26%          
Nucor Corp.   38    2,273 
           
Technology — 53.27%          
Adobe, Inc.(a)   11    5,056 
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(a)   69    5,831 
Apple, Inc.   121    14,673 
Autodesk, Inc.(a)   14    3,864 
Cisco Systems, Inc.   53    2,378 
Intel Corp.   69    4,194 
Microsoft Corp.   48    11,155 
MSCI, Inc.   11    4,560 
NVIDIA Corp.   17    9,326 
Oracle Corp.   47    3,032 
PayPal Holdings, Inc.(a)   34    8,835 
QUALCOMM, Inc.   27    3,677 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)   30    6,495 
           

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

4

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

COMMON STOCKS — 104.73% - continued  Shares   Fair Value 
Technology — 53.27% - continued          
Texas Instruments, Inc.   30   $5,168 
Visa, Inc., Class A   37    7,858 
         96,102 
           
Total Common Stocks— 104.73%
(Cost $159,316)
        188,932 
           
Total Investments — 104.73%
(Cost $159,316)
        188,932 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (4.73)%        (8,532)
           
NET ASSETS — 100.00%       $180,400 
           
(a)Non-income producing security.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

5

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Assets     
Investments in securities at fair value (cost $159,316)  $188,932 
Cash   1,007 
Receivable for investments sold   8,323 
Dividends receivable   164 
Receivable from Adviser   10,869 
Prepaid expenses   1,090 
Total Assets   210,385 
Liabilities     
Payable to Administrator   10,405 
Other accrued expenses   19,580 
Total Liabilities   29,985 
Net Assets  $180,400 
Net Assets consist of:     
Paid-in capital   150,515 
Accumulated earnings   29,885 
Net Assets  $180,400 
Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value)   15,044 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share  $11.99 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

6

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the six months ended February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income     
Dividend income  $972 
Interest income   2 
Total investment income   974 
Expenses     
Administration   19,836 
Audit and tax   9,460 
Legal   8,342 
Trustee   6,854 
Transfer agent   5,951 
Compliance services   5,951 
Report printing   3,224 
Custodian   1,237 
Pricing   566 
Adviser   339 
Registration   285 
Miscellaneous   8,720 
Total expenses   70,765 
Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by Adviser   (70,366)
Net operating expenses   399 
Net investment income   575 
Net Realized and Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments     
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   89 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities   11,785 
Net realized and change in unrealized gain on investments   11,874 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $12,449 
      

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

7

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

   For the     
   Six Months   For the 
   Ended   Period 
   February 28,   Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets due to:          
Operations          
Net investment income  $575   $110 
Net realized gain on investment securities transactions   89     
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investment securities   11,785    17,831 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   12,449    17,941 
Distributions to Shareholders From:          
Earnings   (505)    
Total distributions   (505)    
Capital Transactions          
Proceeds from shares sold       150,010 
Reinvestment of distributions   505     
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital transactions   505    150,010 
Total Increase in Net Assets   12,449    167,951 
Net Assets          
Beginning of period   167,951     
End of period  $180,400   $167,951 
Share Transactions          
Shares sold       15,001 
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions   43     
Net increase in shares   43    15,001 
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

8

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(For a share outstanding during each period)

 

   For the     
   Six Months     
   Ended   For the 
   February 28,   Period Ended 
   2021   August 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2020(a) 
Selected Per Share Data:          
Net asset value, beginning of period  $11.20   $10.00 
Investment operations:          
Net investment income   0.03    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gain   0.79    1.19 
Total from investment operations   0.82    1.20 
Less distributions to shareholders from:          
Net investment income   (0.03)    
Total distributions   (0.03)    
           
Net asset value, end of period  $11.99   $11.20 
           
Total Return(b)   7.36(c)   12.00(c)
Ratios and Supplemental Data:          
Net assets, end of period (000 omitted)  $180   $168 
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets   0.47(d)   0.47(d)
Ratio of gross expenses to average net assets before waiver and reimbursement   83.40(d)   185.76(d)
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets   0.68(d)   0.60(d)
Portfolio turnover rate   8(c)   % (c)
           
(a)For the period July 17, 2020 (commencement of operations) to August 31, 2020.

 

(b)Total return represents the rate that the investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of distributions.

 

(c)Not annualized.

 

(d)Annualized.

 

See accompanying notes which are an integral part of these financial statements.

9

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) on November 12, 2018 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Board. The Fund commenced operations on July 17, 2020. The investment adviser to the Fund is Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments (the “Adviser”). The investment objective of the Fund is to seek to outperform, net of fees and expenses, the return of the S&P 500 Index.

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services-Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Federal Income Taxes – The Fund makes no provision for federal income or excise tax. The Fund has qualified and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by complying with the requirements applicable to RICs and by distributing substantially all of its taxable income. The Fund also intends to distribute sufficient net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. If the required amount of net investment income or gains is not distributed, the Fund could incur a tax expense.

10

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

 

As of and during the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not have any liabilities for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the Statement of Operations when incurred. During the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Management of the Fund has reviewed tax positions taken in tax years that remain subject to examination by all major tax jurisdictions, including federal (i.e., inception and the interim tax period since then, as applicable). Management believes that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken.

 

Expenses – Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund of the Trust are allocated to the individual funds based on each fund’s relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).

 

Security Transactions and Related Income – The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date for financial reporting purposes. The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and related reclaims have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

 

Dividends and Distributions – The Fund intends to distribute its net investment income and net realized long-term and short-term capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the period from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of the recognition of certain components of income, expense or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified among the components of net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassifications will have no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value (“NAV”) per share of the Fund.

11

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day the NYSE is open for business. Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

 

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk (the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique). Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained and available from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments and/or registered investment companies where the value per share is determined and published and is the basis for current transactions for identical assets or liabilities at the valuation date

 

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for an identical security in an inactive market, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments based on the best information available)

12

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy which is reported is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Equity securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued at the last quoted sale price on the security’s primary exchange. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using the market quotations and when the market is considered active, the security is classified as a Level 1 security. In the event that market quotations are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Fund values its securities and other assets at fair value in accordance with policies established by and under the general supervision of the Board. Under these policies, the securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.

 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the mutual funds. These securities are categorized as Level 1 securities.

 

In accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies, the Adviser is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single method exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of a security being valued by the Adviser would be the amount that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale. Methods that are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market prices of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Fair-value pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant

13

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS – continued

 

event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of February 28, 2021:

 

   Valuation Inputs 
   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets                    
Common Stocks(a)  $188,932   $   $   $188,932 
Total  $188,932   $   $   $188,932 

 

 

(a)Refer to Schedule of Investments for sector classifications.

 

The Fund did not hold any investments at the end of the reporting period for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value; therefore, no reconciliation of Level 3 securities is included for this reporting period. The Fund did not hold any derivative instruments during the reporting period.

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

The Adviser, under the terms of the management agreement with the Trust with respect to the Fund, manages the Fund’s investments. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser earned fees of $339 from the Fund before the waiver and reimbursement described below.

 

The Adviser is contractually obligated to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses to 0.47% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through December 31, 2024 (excluding portfolio transaction and other investment-related costs (including brokerage fees and commissions); taxes; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expenses on securities sold short); acquired fund fees and expenses; fees and expenses associated with investments in other collective investment vehicles or derivative instruments (including for example option and swap fees and expenses); any amounts payable pursuant to a distribution or service plan adopted in accordance

14

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES - continued

 

with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; any administrative and/or shareholder servicing fees payable to financial intermediaries; expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization; extraordinary expenses (such as litigation expenses, indemnification of Trust officers and Trustees and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers); and other expenses that the Trustees agree have not been incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. This expense cap may not be terminated prior to this date except by the Board. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Adviser waived fees and reimbursed expenses in the amount of $70,366 for the Fund. At February 28, 2021, the Adviser owed the Fund $10,869.

 

Each waiver/expense payment by the Adviser is subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund in the three years following the date the particular waiver/expense payment occurred, but only if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the annual expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver/expense payment and any expense limitation in effect at the time of the recoupment. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser may seek repayment of expense reimbursements in the amount as follow:

 

Recoverable through    
August 31, 2023  $33,995 
February 28, 2024   70,366 

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with administration, accounting, transfer agent and compliance services, including all regulatory reporting. For the six months ended February 28, 2021, the Administrator earned fees of $19,836 for administration services, $5,951 for transfer agent services, and $5,951 for compliance services. At February 28, 2021, the Fund owed the Administrator $10,405 for such services.

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Chairman of the Board and more than 75% of the Trustees are “Independent Trustees,” which means that they are not “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Each Independent Trustee of the Trust receives annual compensation of $2,510 per fund from the Trust, except that the Chairman of the Audit Committee, the Chairman of the Governance & Nominating Committee, and the Chairman of the Pricing & Liquidity Committee each receives annual compensation of $2,960 per fund from the Trust, and the Independent Chairman of the Board receives $3,160 per fund

15

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 4. FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES - continued

 

from the Trust. Independent Trustees also receive $1,000 for attending each special in-person meeting. Prior to January 1, 2021, these fees were $2,290 for non-chairmen and $2,740 for all chairmen. In addition, the Trust reimburses Independent Trustees for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in conjunction with attendance at meetings.

 

One Trustee and certain officers of the Trust are employees of the Administrator or Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor acts as the principal distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Administrator. An officer of the Trust is an officer of the Distributor and such person may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Distributor. Officers, other than the Chief Compliance Officer, who is not an officer or employee of the Administrator or the Distributor, are not paid by the Trust for services to the Fund.

 

NOTE 5. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

For the six months ended February 28, 2021, purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, were $22,899 and $14,553, respectively.

 

There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. government obligations during the six months ended February 28, 2021.

 

NOTE 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

 

The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of a fund creates a presumption of control of a fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of February 28, 2021, the Adviser owned 99.99% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. As a result, the Adviser may be deemed to control the Fund.

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION

 

At February 28, 2021, the net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and tax cost of investments for tax purposes was as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation  $30,724 
Gross unrealized depreciation   (1,108)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments  $29,616 
Tax cost of investments  $159,316 

16

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 7. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION - continued

 

At August 31, 2020, the components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $110 
Unrealized appreciation on investments   17,831 
Total accumulated earnings  $17,941 

 

NOTE 8. SECTOR RISK

 

If the Fund has significant investments in the securities of issuers within a particular sector, any development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the value of the net assets of the Fund than would be the case if the Fund did not have significant investments in that sector. In addition, this may increase the risk of loss in the Fund and increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV per share. For instance, economic or market factors, regulatory changes or other developments may negatively impact all companies in a particular sector, and therefore the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be adversely affected. As of February 28, 2021, the Fund had 53.27% of the value of its net assets invested in stocks within the Technology sector.

 

NOTE 9. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial markets to experience periods of increased volatility due to uncertainty that exists around its long-term effects. COVID-19 has resulted in varying levels of travel restrictions, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, leading to general concern and economic uncertainty. The full impact and duration of the pandemic cannot necessarily be foreseen. Management continues to monitor developments and navigate accordingly, further evaluating the anticipated impact to financial markets.

17

 

FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP
U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
February 28, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Trust indemnifies its officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that may arise from their performance of their duties to the Trust or the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

NOTE 11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Management of the Fund has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date at which these financial statements were issued. Based upon this evaluation, management has determined there were no items requiring adjustment of the financial statements or additional disclosure.

18

 

LIQUIDITY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Unaudited)

 

The Fund has adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) as required by Rule 22e-4 (the “Liquidity Rule”) under the 1940 Act. The Program is reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration, among other factors, the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; its short and long-term cash flow projections; and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Board approved the appointment of the Liquidity Administrator Committee, comprising certain Trust officers and employees of the Adviser. The Liquidity Administrator Committee maintains Program oversight and reports to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding the Program’s operational effectiveness through a written report (the “Report”). The Program’s initial Report, which was presented to the Board for consideration at its meeting held on November 17, 2020, outlined the operation of the Program and the adequacy and effectiveness of the Program’s implementation. During the review period, the Fund did not experience unusual stress or disruption to its operations related to purchase and redemption activity. Also, during the review period the Fund held adequate levels of cash and highly liquid investments to meet shareholder redemption activities in accordance with applicable requirements. The Report concluded that the Program is reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Liquidity Rule and has been effectively implemented.

19

 

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. These examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period from September 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.

 

Actual Expenses

 

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

 

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.

 

   Beginning  Ending  Expenses   
   Account Value  Account Value  Paid  Annualized
   September 1,  February 28,  During the  Expense
   2020  2021  Period(a)  Ratio
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,073.60  $2.42  0.47%
Hypothetical(b)  $1,000.00  $1,022.46  $2.36  0.47%

 

(a)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

(b)Hypothetical assumes 5% annual return before expenses.

20

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited)

 

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund (the “Fund”) is a series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) oversees the management of the Fund and, as required by law, considered the approval of the Fund’s management agreement with its investment adviser, Fisher Asset Management, LLC (“Fisher”).

 

The Board requested and evaluated all information that the Trustees deemed reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with the approval of the management agreement.

 

The Trustees held a teleconference on February 17, 2021 to review and discuss materials compiled by Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, the Trust’s administrator, with regard to the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher. At the Trustees’ quarterly meeting held in February 2021, the Board interviewed certain executives of Fisher, including Fisher’s Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager. After discussion, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the Trust or Fisher (the “Independent Trustees”), approved the continuance of the management agreement between the Trust and Fisher for an additional year. The Trustees’ approval of the continuance of the Fund’s management agreement was based on a consideration of all the information provided to the Trustees, and was not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated this information differently, ascribing different weights to various factors.

 

(i)       The Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Trustees reviewed and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services that Fisher provides to the Fund, which include, but are not limited to, providing a continuous investment program for the Fund, adhering to the Fund’s investment restrictions, complying with the Trust’s policies and procedures, and voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees considered the qualifications and experience of Fisher’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio, as well as the qualifications and experience of the other individuals at Fisher who would provide services to the Fund. The Trustees concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent, and quality of investment management services provided by Fisher to the Fund.

 

(ii)       Fund Performance. The Trustees next reviewed and discussed the performance of the Fund for period ended December 31, 2020. The Trustees noted that the Fund had outperformed the average and median of its Morningstar Large Blend category and its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, since inception. The Trustees noted that the Fund performed comparably to a composite account managed by Fisher with a

21

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT APPROVAL
(Unaudited) – (continued)

 

similar investment strategy to the Fund. The Trustees considered that the Fund had commenced operations on July 17, 2020 and had a limited history of operations. Based upon the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Fund’s performance is acceptable.

 

(iii)       Fee Rate and Profitability. The Trustees reviewed a fee and expense comparison for funds in the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees noted that the gross advisory fee of the Fund is below the average and median of the Fund’s Morningstar category. The Trustees also considered that Fisher has committed to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund through at least December 31, 2024.

 

The Trustees also considered a profitability analysis for the Fund prepared by Fisher, which showed that Fisher is not earning a profit from managing the Fund. The Trustees also considered that the management fee is within the range of fees that Fisher charges to the composite account. The Trustees noted Fisher’s representation that it does not enter into soft-dollar transactions on behalf of the Fund. The Trustees concluded that the management fee represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of Fisher’s services to the Fund.

 

(iv)       Economies of Scale. In determining the reasonableness of the management fee, the Trustees also considered the extent to which Fisher will realize economies of scale as the Fund grows larger. The Trustees determined that, in light of the size of the Fund and Fisher’s lack of profitability in managing the Fund, it does not appear that Fisher is realizing benefits from economies of scale in managing the Fund to such an extent that breakpoints should be implemented at this time.

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PRIVACY NOTICE Rev. January 2020

 

FACTS WHAT DOES FISHER INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL GROUP U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL VALUES FUND (THE “FUND”) DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

■    Social Security number

 

■    account balances and account transactions

 

■    transaction or loss history and purchase history

 

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

How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the
Fund
share?
Can you
limit this
sharing?

For our everyday business purposes—

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

No We don’t share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

Questions? Call (800) 851-8845

 

 

Who we are
Who is providing this notice?

Fisher Investments Institutional Group U.S. Large Cap Equity Environmental and Social Values Fund

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (Distributor)

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Administrator)

What we do
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

■    open an account or deposit money

 

■    make deposits or withdrawals from your account or provide account information

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

■    sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes— information about your creditworthiness

 

■    affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

■    sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

 

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

   
Definitions
Affiliates

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

 

■    Fisher Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a Fisher Investments, the investment adviser to the Fund, could be deemed to be an affiliate.

Nonaffiliates

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

 

   The Fund does not share your personal information with nonaffiliates so they can market to you

Joint marketing

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

 

■    The Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how the Fund voted those proxies during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30, are available (1) without charge upon request by calling the Fund at (800) 851-8845 and (2) in Fund documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

TRUSTEES INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
Kenneth G.Y. Grant, Chairman PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
David R. Carson Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Daniel J. Condon 151 N Franklin Street, Suite 575
Gary E. Hippenstiel Chicago, IL 60606
Stephen A. Little  
Ronald C. Tritschler LEGAL COUNSEL
  Thompson Hine LLP
OFFICERS 312 Walnut Street, 14th Floor
David R. Carson, President Cincinnati, OH 45202
Martin R. Dean, Vice President  
Zachary P. Richmond, CUSTODIAN
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Lynn E. Wood, Chief Compliance Officer 350 California Street, Suite 2018
  San Francisco, CA 94104
INVESTMENT ADVISER  
Fisher Asset Management, LLC  
5525 NW Fisher Creek Drive ADMINISTRATOR, TRANSFER
Camas, WA 98607 AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTANT
  Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC
DISTRIBUTOR 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450
Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC Cincinnati, OH 45246
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450  
Cincinnati, OH 45246  

 

This report is intended only for the information of shareholders or those who have received the Fund’s prospectus which contains information about the Fund’s management fee and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

Distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

 

 

 

Fisher2-SAR-21

 

(b)Not applicable.

Item 2. Code of Ethics. NOT APPLICABLE – disclosed with annual report

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert. NOT APPLICABLE- disclosed with annual report

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services. NOT APPLICABLE – disclosed with annual report

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Companies. NOT APPLICABLE – applies to listed companies only

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments. Schedule filed with Item 1.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. NOT APPLICABLE – applies to closed-end funds only

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies. NOT APPLICABLE – applies to closed-end funds only

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. NOT APPLICABLE – applies to closed-end funds only

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The registrant has not adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of trustees.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)       Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.

 

(b)       There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Investment Companies.

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1) Not Applicable – filed with annual report

 

(a)(2)Certifications by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are filed herewith.

 

(a)(3)Not Applicable – there were no written solicitations to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 during the period

  

(b)Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is filed herewith

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant) Unified Series Trust

 

By /s/ David R. Carson

David R. Carson, President

 

Date 5/6/2021

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By /s/ David R. Carson

David R. Carson, President

 

Date 5/6/2021

 

By /s/ Zachary P. Richmond

Zachary P. Richmond, Treasurer

 

Date 5/6/2021